Despite anger at Bush Adm. Muslims aren't giving up on Republicans

[No Passaran]

http://beliefnet.com/frameset.asp?pageLoc=/story/128/story_12879_1.html&storyID=12879&boardID=60622

Let's not forget that if it wasn't for Muslims in Florida, who voted for Bush, Gore would have been our President.

[xxqqqzme]

1. I just don't understand this.

When will people learn that the rabid, religious, radical, rethuglican right ONLY represent white, christian, straight men. Women R OK but only if they keep their mouths shut and a roast in the oven. If U R not a white christian straight male, U do not matter. U do not have a voice. U will not B represented. Get a f*cking clue people.

[Yupster]

3. My guess is

supporting the Democratic Party with its positions in favor of abortion rights and gay rights will be a hard pill for many Muslims to swallow.

It seems like a ready made targetted mail campaign to me.

Were I a Republican strategist in charge of the Muslim vote drive, I would also use the term "Democratic candidate and Penthouse magazine founder Larry Flynt" a lot in my mailings.

[Iris]

10. well, no one in the Democratic Party is supporting

forced abortions or gay sex.

[Llewlladdwr]

12. Doesn't matter.

The mere fact that the Democratic Party supports abortion and Gay rights at all is very problematic for many Muslims. It's difficult for me to see how a truly devout Muslim could support the party at all in fact.

[Resistance Is Futile]

13. Self perservation

At some point self-preservation should come into play.

They're going to have to decide between swallowing a portion of their religion and voting for a party of fascist thugs that wouldn't think twice about shipping them to a gulag.

[w4rma]

14. Easy

Live up to ones own standards. Don't try to codify them into law. Separation of church and state.

[SmileyBoy]

15. I'm a truely devout Muslim, and I support gay rights and abortion rights.

Well, technically, I'm personally pro-life, but I'm also against the concept of making abortion illegal. Also, the Koran is not specific at all when mentioning homosexuality, and a lot of Muslims have interpreted it to mean that God is against gays, or something. Either way, there are a lot more socially progressive Muslims than you think. Like the majority of the population of Turkey, for example.

[Bandit]

21. "Democratic candidate and Penthouse magazine founder Larry Flynt"

I wish they would use that sentence because it would show them for the fools they are. It ain't true.

[w4rma]

2. Dean decries civil rights abuses for Arabs and Muslims.

in the wake of this kind of atmosphere, it is encouraging to see at least one candidate have the courage to address the scapegoating of Muslims in general and Arabs in particular: Howard Dean comes out with a moving statement:

Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean issued the following statement on the forthcoming Inspector General’s report documenting abuse of Arabs and Muslims detained under the Patriot Act:

“For the second time in recent weeks, the Justice Department Inspector General will be reporting serious abuses of the civil rights of Arabs and Muslims in the war on terror. These abuses are wrong and must stop immediately.

“I am appalled by allegations – which the Inspector General has deemed credible – that Department of Justice employees have, among other things, beaten Muslim and Arab detainees.

“This should not happen in America.

“The Inspector General’s report confirms my fear that we have unnecessarily compromised constitutional freedoms in the name of fighting terrorism. The ongoing abuses alienate the community whose cooperation we need most and diminish our moral credibility in the eyes of the world. The rule of law and due process must continue to be the hallmarks of our judicial system.

“I urge Congress to reconsider aspects of the Patriot Act and other anti-terror tactics that lead to such abuses.

“The government must protect Americans against terrorism while protecting basic civil liberties every step of the way.”

posted by Shi'a Pundit | 21.7.03
http://shiapundit.blogspot.com/2003_07_20_shiapundit_archive.html

[ComerPerro]

4. Maybe they are concerned

That if they don't vote for Bush, they will be secretly arrested, labeled as terrorists, and sent to Gitmo for life, never seeing a trial.
Sounds rather Orwellian, but the Patriot Act now makes such instances possible.

[disgruntella]

5. This is a good article

One quote:
"It's by no means a done deal for us siding with Democrats against the administration," said Hussein Ibish, communications director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Washington, the largest of the Arab advocacy groups. "We'll have to have a good look at all the options."
<end quote>

The message I see here is that Democratic candidates can't rely solely on opposition to Bush -- they need to make some serious outreach efforts as well. Not that that's news, but just a reminder that calling Bush out isn't enough to convince thinking voters.

[ClintonTyree]

6. The chickens...........

voting for Colonel Sanders syndrome.

[_Jumper_]

7. Don't be alarmed folks

These special interest groups are going to claim they are open-minded just so they can try to extract some concessions from both sides and get the best deal. They aren't going to officially write anyone off until they endorse a candidate late in 2004.

[Paschall]

8. "Giving up" on Republicans would be slightly foolish

That's usually how PACs and such lobby groups work. Their endorsement is not automatic and won't be forthcoming until later in the campaign. All that is perfectly normal.

Several groups mentioned in this article have supported Democratic and Republican candidates during particular election cycles, depending on the candidate, the race, etc. Check out the party affiliations of these candidates endorsed by the American Muslim Alliance.

As far as the Muslims in Florida who voted for Bush and supposedly threw the election to him, those kind of claims are abusive. Andrew Sullivan also claims that because 10-25 percent of gays voted for Bush, they carried him into the winner's circle. All that is blustering and fuzzy math; things are not that simple.

Whatever the case may be, it's clear that the GOP strategy put in place at least as early as April 2000 to snatch the Muslim vote, and use it to counter the long-standing Jewish vote for the Dems, is dead in the water.

The article you cite lays out a number of issues where Muslims are looking for progress from the administration. It seems pretty obvious there won't be any. Besides which, the Arab-American population has a higher educational level than the American population on the average. That, I think, suggests they are more likely to endorse Dem candidates in 2004, as they have done in the past. And I don't see the Black Muslim vote going to Shrub, do you?

[Malikshah]

9. Much is tied to A-I conflict

Bush Sr. held Shamir's feet to the fire in the early 90's-- this resonated well with both the Arab and Muslim population.

Clinton did not do so well in this regard. Democrats have traditionally been more on Israel's side than their Republican counterparts. This of course changed with the rise of the neocon moral majority right wing regime we have now.

I'm surprised at the report--but let me tell you -- if Lieberman is on the ticket--his history of support and recent statements will lose him any votes from the Arab and Muslim community. They have consisently called for a more even handed approach to the conflict.

What they are seeing now is a double standard.

Where the Democratic contenders fall on the "expelling/killing of Arafat" will determine many peoples votes within in the Arab and/or Muslim community..

Just my humble opinion of course.. I will not speak for an entire community.

[No Passaran]

16. I agree

I agree with Malikshah. I know for a fact, talking with bosnian-muslim and arab-muslim population, that because Lieberman was on the ticket in 2000, they voted for Bush. It all comes down to this: Candidate's position on Israel-Palestinian conflict.

[_Jumper_]

18. For some, particularly Arabs that is the case

However, I believe moderate Muslims--the vast majority--will vote based on economic and civil rights issues.

[Paschall]

11. The Arab American Leadership Council

... is clearly bipartisan.

Arab American Democrats
Arab American Republicans

[alphafemale]

17. Not any of the Muslims I know.

And yes, many did Bush the first time.

Not now though.

[DinahMoeHum]

19. Basically, they're saying the Dems have to do more outreach. . .

and that means that campaign workers for each of the candidates have to make an effort to go to neighborhoods where there are considerable numbers of Muslims.

They are a swing group.

:kick:

[robbedvoter]

20. heard phone calls on WNYC: people personally hurt by Patriot

act, unhappy with the ME positions were saying: "but it's the fault of congress, not W" so I'll still vote for him"