Rep. Ellison: Muslims Want Democracy

Posted by Brian Montopoli 

(AP)

Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, told host Bob Schieffer on CBSNews.com's "Washington Unplugged" Friday that President Obama is "much more willing to reach out and talk" to the Muslim world than his predecessor, George W. Bush. 

"When's the last time an American president gave New Year's greetings in Farsi in honor of Nowruz?" he asked. "When's the last time an American president went to Turkey and gave a speech and talked about the important issues of the day?" 

"He gave one of his first interviews to Al-Arabia," Ellison continued. "In his inaugural speech he mentioned a new way forward with the Muslim world. This is a big deal." 

"The Muslim world has always looked at the United States as a country where freedom and Democracy abound, and they'd like to have some of it," Ellison added. 

Watch the interview, as well as Schieffer's discussion with Turkish expert Soner Cagaptay, below. You can watch the entire show, which includes an interview with Arianna Huffington and a story on political tattoos, here. 

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Click here to watch the full show, including Arianna Huffington and a feature on people getting Obama tattoos.