Top quotes by Keith Ellison

Donald Trump is using an age-old trick of right wing populism, much like George Wallace, much like Joe McCarthy, Pitchfork Ben Tillman who in the 1880s and `90s was a rabid hateful racists who whipped up hate and hysteria for his own political benefit. Votes: 32

Vehicle emissions standards directly sparked the development and application of a wide range of automotive technologies that are now found throughout the global automobile market. Votes: 14

Environmental spending creates jobs in engineering, manufacturing, construction, materials, operations and maintenance. Votes: 12

We need a strong farm bill that gives assistance to farmers during times of drought, creates markets for local goods, protects our environment, and helps struggling families bridge the gap between hard times and a full dinner table. Votes: 11

There must be something in the water in Minnesota because historically, despite its seemingly homogeneous population, the state has produced some of our more radical political thinkers, and its people have put their prejudices aside to vote for them. Votes: 10

Progressive policies implemented since the early 1900s launched America into the modern age and created a vibrant middle class. Votes: 7

If you unpack the statistics on who is supporting , Donald Trump, it means that there is a lot of people who hold very bigoted racist ideas and there is a lot of them. Votes: 7

Every now and again, people on the far right take a quote from a progressive out of context and use it to attack them. Votes: 6

[Coming back for Democrats] is simply a matter of energy and resources. Votes: 6

A Republican philosophy goes something like this: If you take your car to the mechanic, and instead of fixing it, they take out the engine and charge you an arm and a leg, you should conclude that mechanics can't fix cars and you should probably just take yours to the junkyard and sell it for scrap metal. Votes: 5

Our democracy is not something to be taken for granted. You have to fight for it. You have to commit yourself to working for it - for the long haul. Votes: 5

Progressive economic policies lead to a sustainable economy. Votes: 5

Clean air and a healthy climate benefit all of us, but it will take a diverse coalition to step up to the threat posed by unchecked climate change. Votes: 4

[ Big infrastructure investment mentioned by Donald Trump] that would be a welcome development. We'll see if he wants to deliver on that. The truth is that if he does, we want to see infrastructure development too. Votes: 3

After I win the job and even in the course of seeking it, we're going to be building bridges. And we're going to be meeting people and addressing the concerns that they have. Votes: 3

Americans used to be able to depend on their jobs to provide a stable retirement. Votes: 3

As chairman of the DNC, [Keith ] Ellison says he would replicate that kind of turnout on a national scale. But we spoke yesterday about some history that could stand in the way. Votes: 3

Here's the real thing. Democrats got to understand that the first line in the Republican playbook is going to be smear, you know? And there's nobody who's going to be able to avoid it. Votes: 3

I didn't pay close enough scrutiny to some of the other things that Louis Farrakhan was saying, that's something I just live and learn. Votes: 3

Those who seek the divine want to make this world a better place, which first requires that we communicate. Votes: 2

Middle class families should not be forced to scrape by with less while oil companies get away with more. Votes: 2

Hopefully folks will look at the good things that I've done over the years, you know, my 10 years in Congress, my 12 years in state legislature, my many years of community organizing for the environment, for police accountability, for criminal justice reform, economic empowerment, trying to fight for small-business people, all these things. Votes: 2

All I want to say is that anybody, well, from the Democratic side of the fence who thinks that - who's terrified of the possibility of President [Donald] Trump better vote, better get active, better get involved, because this man has got some momentum and we better be ready for the fact that he might be leading the Republican ticket. Votes: 0

Can't be all men, can't be all white, can't be all black, can't be all straight. [It has] got to be a wide range of people. Can't be all people of one faith group. We need diversity so we can have the views of all Americans reflected in congressional outcomes. Votes: 0

Do you have the vision to help empower and channel the energy at the grassroots level?This is not about one person; this is about millions of people all working together to protect and advance the interests of working Americans. Votes: 0

Even Hamas - Hamas is a terrorist group - do you know that Hamas came out in opposition to [Donald ]Trump`s statement? That puts the Republican Party, the Democrat Party, and everybody else in the establishment and [Barack]Obama on the same side Hamas is on. And over here all by himself is Donald Trump. Votes: 0

Here's what I'm saying, that there is now ongoing a post-mortem review of what could have gone better [during Hillary Clinton campaign] and what mistakes may have been made. Votes: 0

I - to say the word "scared", I don`t know if I`m scared because, I have faith that we will see this through. But I take Donald Trump seriously. He has literally millions of people who support him. Votes: 0

I do believe that we should have to - make the voters first; not the donors first. Votes: 0

I don't feel that I've been hampered by [ racism or discrimination], and the reason why is that we reach out to people on the basis of where everyone meets, and try to build common cause on that basis. Because of that, I think we've cut through some of the issues that normally divide people. Votes: 0

I hope what we can talk about is something that happened, you know, within the last 25 years, the things that are relevant to our country right here, right now, including all people, fighting for the rights of working people, fighting for the rights of people struggling for dignity and respect in our society. Votes: 0

I know that everybody who supported Bernie Sanders supported him because they believe that college debt is too high. They believe that the minimum wage needs to be increased. They believe that we have to take on climate action. Votes: 0

I love the donors and we thank them, but it has to be that the guys in the barber shop, the lady at the diner, the folks who are worried about whether that plant is going to close, they've got to be our focus. They've got to be a laser-beam focus on everything we do, and everything we do should animate and empower them at the grassroots level for working people across this country. That's how we come back. Votes: 0

I raised my right hand and placed my left on the Quran, which was being held by my wife and mom. Suddenly, I was blinded by a cascade of camera flashes... Votes: 0

I think it's a good idea to be - to fairly identify where things could have gone better once you get the facts, once you get the data and once you're able to review. Votes: 0

I think that Donald Trump picked on people's fears, their anxieties and he gave them somebody to blame, and some folks just really turned out for him for that. Votes: 0

I think that you need all perspectives to reflect the needs of the country. If you only give people one perspective, inputting their views into the congressional process, you're going to have a skewed outcome. Votes: 0

I want to avoid sounding like I'm criticizing because I don't have all the facts in front of me yet. And I am trying to be a unifier. Votes: 0

I was very proud to be part of the Million Man March. I think it's one of the best things that I ever did. Votes: 0

I was very proud to be part of the Million Man March. I think it's one of the best things that I ever did. Just the fact that, you know, at the time I didn't pay close enough scrutiny to some of the other things that he was saying. You know, that's something I just live and learn. Votes: 0

I worked at McDonald's. I cooked. It was one of the toughest jobs I've ever had. These people earn every single penny they get. In fact, they earn way more than they get. Votes: 0

I'd rather frame [Clintons] in terms of what I think we need to do going forward. Votes: 0

If people are given a TV-educated idea of what Islam is, I have the opportunity to push back on that and say ISIS does not speak for the Muslim world, and in fact, you have people right here in front of you who are much more representative than homicidal maniacs. Votes: 0

If you ignore somebody's record and only focus on something that happened 25 years ago when all they were doing even then was trying to stand up for a minority group that felt excluded and discriminated against, then I don't - I think that is a distortion of a person's record. I mean, a person's record is full, not just the parts that you want to use against them. Votes: 0

If you put everything, your heart and soul into a campaign, it might take you a while to come around to the realization that, you know, another person has won. Votes: 0

I'll just say, you know, over the course of the last quarter century I've learned a lot. Votes: 0

I'm an optimistic guy.It's just as much the case that people will come to me and ask my opinion about how to properly include the Muslim community, as it is that people will come with some hateful stuff too. When people come to me about my religion, it's not always a thing of "we don't want people like you here," which happens sometimes. But mostly it's people who would like to know more. I get a chance to help people understand the religion better. Votes: 0

I'm happy to talk to anybody about anything. Votes: 0

I'm not against trade...but they're not really trade deals. They're really investment deals between international corporations...They're saying we want to get a race to the bottom so we can exploit the most unfortunate worker. Votes: 0

I'm not here to cast aspersions on anyone. I'm trying to unify the party, not find fault. Votes: 0

I'm not here to say what [Clintons] did wrong. I mean, there's going to be plenty of post-mortem review of what should have gone differently. Votes: 0

I'm particularly good at turnout. So in my district, I had the lowest voter turnout in 2006. Votes: 0

I'm particularly good at turnout. So in my district, I had the lowest voter turnout in 2006. And now I have the highest turnout in the state of Minnesota. And Minnesota is the highest turnout state in the country. Votes: 0

I've been talking to people all over the country, city council members, grassroots leaders, party leaders, members in Congress - and you know what? The truth is I'll have something to say real soon. Votes: 0

I've been winning with 70 percent of the vote, and if you look at my district, you know it's a majority Christian district, and yet we've still been winning with high margins, so I don't feel like I've had any disadvantages for being a minority. Votes: 0

Now [in 2016] I have the highest turnout in the state of Minnesota. And Minnesota is the highest turnout state in the country. Votes: 0

One of the most important things we can do right now is empower ordinary working Americans who really do deserve a fair shot in this economy. But I'm not afraid to talk about any issue. But I do believe it is a distraction. Votes: 0

One thing that I'd just remind young people of is that when John Lewis, who's a member of Congress today, defied George Wallace and led the march from Selma to Montgomery, he was 23 years old. Martin Luther King was the old man in the bunch, and he was 35, so young people need to know that they've always been an important part of our society, have always been at the forefront of pushing for a more just America, and we can't be successful without the impatience, the vigor that young people bring to the fight for social justice. Votes: 0

One time, the Library of Congress was giving books to local libraries around the country on Islam. The library of a guy named Walter Jones, who's a member of Congress from North Carolina, got some books and resource materials, and he got up in the press and said he didn't want any Muslim books in the library. And the people said, "Wait a minute, that's kind of anti-Muslim." He said, "Oh no, Keith Ellison is a friend of mine." And I said, "You know what? We are friends, but you're wrong about this. Votes: 0

Opposing [Donald]Trump aligns you with Hamas. Votes: 0

Our message of strengthening the middle class, working people, we just didn't penetrate well enough and we didn't have the kind of turn out that we really needed or expected. Votes: 0

Over the course of the last quarter century I've learned a lot. And the main thing I've learned is that we're better together and that our society needs inclusion - right? - not exclusion. Votes: 0

Publicly criticizing people, even when I don't have the facts, is not that good of an idea. Votes: 0

San Bernardino involved two killers were actually radicalized before they started courting or dating each other online, and online as late as - as early as the end of 2013, they were talking to each other about jihad and martyrdom before they became engaged and then married and lived together in the United States. Votes: 0

The conversation should've been about middle class people. The conversation should've been about how to raise the minimum wage and strengthen Social Security. But then we started talking about this whole email stuff again. And now the outcome is that, you know, Donald Trump has somebody who he's looking at to put on his Cabinet who's a lobbyist to privatize Social Security. Votes: 0

The First Amendment says that we can protest and call to - on our government to address grievances. Votes: 0

The main thing I've learned is that we're better together and that our society needs inclusion - right? - not exclusion. Votes: 0

The most important criteria for a DNC chair is going to be vision. Votes: 0

These folks are telling Donald Trump that if he tries to move out on his plan to have a deportation squad, to harm Americans, and if he does - and if he has - he tries to do that, we're going to be there to stand and say no. We don't - we oppose his misogyny. We oppose his picking on people of different ethnic and religious groups. Votes: 0

This is what people do in America. They get out. They demonstrate. They let their voices with heard. Votes: 0

To strengthen the grassroots at the party - at the party unit, at the county level, at the precinct level, and then to help motivate and facilitate the local grassroots to get out there and turn out the vote and boost turn out. And then to help govern in places where we do hold city councils and state legislatures. Votes: 0

Vision and the ability to mobilize and inspire people at the grassroots. That's what the most important criteria is going to be for any DNC chair. Votes: 0

We do know that [Hillary Clinton] was probably attacked and smeared as much as any candidate ever has been. We know that. Votes: 0

We had Jesse Ventura in Minnesota win the governorship, nobody thought he was going to win. I'm telling you, stranger things have happened. Votes: 0

We need to invest at the local party unit and focus our energy on turn out. That's how we come back, and we can come back. Votes: 0

We need young people to be involved, and we have to expect that young people are going to be impatient, they don't want to wait, and they've got new ideas and new ways of looking at problems. Votes: 0

We'll see if [Donald Trump] really means it though; he will get a chance to deliver on that promise. And if he doesn't, we'll make sure the people know about it. Votes: 0

We've got to build a durable relationship of trust with voters around the things that they are most concerned about. Votes: 0

What I'm saying is we [Democratic Party] need to get much more granular. Votes: 0

Worked hard on [our message of strengthening the middle class, working people], but it didn't come through in places like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania.It really should have, because people are struggling. And the Democratic message and the Democratic platform would help them, but somehow it didn't come up the way it should have. But it will. Votes: 0

We want to be making clear that if [Donald Trump] tries to deliver on his word, that we will be there to say no. Votes: 0

We think all over this country we need to rebuild everything from transit, fiber optic broadband in our rural areas and urban areas. Votes: 0