Farrakhan defends, forgives Barbara-Rose Collins

"I have never known BarbaraRose Collins to shrink from standing for principles that are in the best interests of our people," Farrakhan said to wild cheers.

Farrakhan capped his 1-hour, 40-minute speech in the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church with a promise to Collins, D-Detroit, that he would mail a check for $1,000 -- the maximum an individual donor can give -- to her re-election campaign the next day.

He then called on others in the audience of more than 3,000 -which included U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, state Rep. Ed Vaughn, D-Detroit, and other political and community leaders -- to give what they could. Hundreds filled the aisles to bring checks and cash forward.

Farrakhan said Collins should not be blamed for her problems. Instead, he said, they are the fault of her constituents for not being aware of and grateful for Collins' many accomplishments and of a racist media out to bring down a powerful black leader.

"There isn't none of us in public life don't make mistakes," Farrakhan said. "If sister Barbara-Rose Collins has worked on our behalf and done a good job, then we ought to return her and encourage her to keep on doing good for us."

In addition to having the thirdworst voting record in the U.S. House, Collins is being investigated by the Justice Department and House ethics committee after allegations she misused her office, campaign and scholarship funds.

Also, a House grievance board last year found that Collins fired an aide who is gay because she feared he had the virus that causes AIDS. In an unprecedented loss for a House member, the aide won back pay and reimbursement of legal fees.

Partly as a result of those problems, Collins faces six challengers from within her own party in next month's primary election as she seeks a fourth two-year term.

Before Farrakhan's speech, Collins once again portrayed herself as an unfairly accused victim of a racist news media, calling herself "just a little person ... just a sister from the east side of Detroit" and comparing her re-election contest to a "holy jihad."

She said her home has been broken into and said she cannot pay her bills because checks sent to her in the mail have been stolen.

"I have come under some of the most vicious and racist and vile attacks ever seen upon an AfricanAmerican woman since Harriet Tubman," Collins said.

"I don't know what to do. I don't know who is against me. ... I'm going to tell you why -- it's about power."

One Detroit political analyst called Collins' courting of Farrakhan "a brilliant move" that was sure to resonate with many voters in the 15th District, 90 percent of which is in Detroit and includes many of the city's poorest neighborhoods.

"It will be hard for all the others to combat that," Mario Morrow said.

A large part of Farrakhan's speech was a passionate and broad message about the power of the vote, particularly for black.

He also urged those at the rally not to feel angry at state Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, by most accounts Collins' most serious challenger and an old friend of the congresswoman.

Collins' other Democratic challengers are: funeral home executive and former congressman's son Douglas Diggs; freshman state Sen. Henry Stallings, who has been accused of using his campaign funds for personal and business expenses; defrocked judge Leon Jenkins, who has been practicing law in Los Angeles; state Sen. George Hart, who does not live in the district; and political unknown Godfrey Dillard, an attorney.

Farrakhan, the subject of much controversy, brought thousands of men to Washington in October for the Million Man March. He also launched a nationwide voter registration drive last month.

But he has been accused of being anti-Semitic and was criticized sharply by U.S. officials this year for trips to "rogue" countries, including Iraq, and visits with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Inez Wynder, 58, welcomed Farrakhan's words, believing he was encouraging blacks to vote for whomever would best serve their needs, regardless of race.

"He's a leader and a teacher," Wynder said. "He doesn't talk against other people. He wants us to think."