Democrat Keith Ellison, a leading contender for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, was a member of the Nation of Islam, led by Louis Farrakhan, now led by his son. The Nation of Islam is rabidly anti-Semitic and anti-white. It is a classically racist organization.

This is no secret.

Should Ellison’s membership in the National of Islam disqualify him from the chairmanship of the DNC? His defenders say that he has long since repudiated the Nation of Islam, and that his recent service as a congressman from Minnesota is spotlessly clean of racism.

Fair enough.

The same standard should be applied to Republican Jeff Sessions, the Alabama senator nominated to be the attorney general. It is reported that in 1986, when he was nominated for a federal judgeship, he made racist remarks.

Should this disqualify him from serving as attorney general of the US now? His defenders say that his long service in the US Senate from Alabama is spotlessly clean of racism.

Fair enough.

It is hypocritical to demand of Sessions what one would not demand of Ellison, and vice-versa: eternal disqualification from high office due to reprehensible yet early attitudes or affiliations.

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