(Video) Ellison Calls Herman Cain Dishonest, Says GOP Field 'Not Worthy' of Candidacy

Editor's Note: The Ellison Report offers a look at last week's news coverage of Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who represents five Patch communities.

Questions Cain's honesty in Muslim "extremist views" remark

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), one of two Muslim congressmen, criticized Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain for saying that a "very well known Muslim voice" told Cain that "a majority of Muslims share extremist views" in an interview with GQ magazine.

While on Martin Bashir Friday afternoon on MSNBC, Ellison called Cain's comment "an absurd, ridiculous, gross over-generalization." Ellison said his conclusion was that Cain wasn't telling the truth.

"Herman Cain has distinguished himself as being not worth of the presidency or even candidacy many times," Ellison told Bashir.  "So not surprised coming from him."

Says field of GOP presidential candidates is not worthy

Ellison went on to discuss GOP candidates Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry and told Bashir he was underwhelmed by the Republican candidates for president.

"I haven't seen anyone in the field that the Republicans have put up so far who's either worth of the candidacy, let alone the presidency," he said.  "The are an interesting cast of characters. I am ever more grateful for Barack Obama."

Defends the Occupy Wall Street Movement

Ellison, the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, appeared on The O'Reilly Factor following a segment in which host Bill O'Reilly criticized the movement for "depraved" behavior and said it "is finished as a legitimate political force in this country."

The Minnesota representative disagreed with O'Reilly's assertion that the movement is dead and argued that people shouldn't blame the entire movement for the bad actions of a few people.

"The fact is that this movement has raised important points, and I believe the movement has been successful in that it has changed the national dialog," Ellison said.