Fallout Continues On Congressman Taking Oath Using Quran

At yesterday's White House press briefing (full text), Press Secretary Tony Snow was asked about last week's announcement by newly-elected Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison that he intended to take his oath of office on the Quran. (See prior posting.) Here is Snow's exchange with a reporter (also covered by WorldNet Daily):

Q- Members of Congress, the Judiciary -- have been sworn in with a Bible since our nation began, including Jewish members, even though they don't subscribe to the New Testament. Now Congressman-elect Ellison of Minnesota has asked that he be sworn in with the Koran. And my question, the first of two: Does the President support this request, because he believes the Koran teaches nothing contrary to the freedoms in our Constitution? And if so, would he support the Book of Mormon being used to swear in LDS members of Congress if they ever ask for that?

MR. SNOW: That is an issue that the President does not need to adjudicate, and therefore, will not.

The Ellison debate was triggered by an article by conservative talk-show host Dennis Prager who insisted that Ellison should use a Bible for his oath of office. Yesterday the Council on American-Islamic Relations called on President Bush to rescind Prager's recent appointment to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. The appointment, made last August, is for a term ending in 2011.