Muslim Voters Detect a Snub From Obama

[niceypoo]

While the senator has visited churches and synagogues, he has yet to appear at a single mosque. Muslim and Arab-American organizations have tried repeatedly to arrange meetings with Mr. Obama, but officials with those groups say their invitations — unlike those of their Jewish and Christian counterparts — have been ignored. Last week, two Muslim women wearing head scarves were barred by campaign volunteers from appearing behind Mr. Obama at a rally in Detroit.

In interviews, Muslim political and civic leaders said they understood that their support for Mr. Obama could be a problem for him at a time when some Americans are deeply suspicious of Muslims. Yet those leaders nonetheless expressed disappointment and even anger at the distance that Mr. Obama has kept from them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/us/politics/24muslim.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[blondeatlast]

1. One poster posted this THREE times yesterday; really doesn't need another run. Thank you. nt

[niceypoo]

4. This came out in todays NYT

So I dont see how that is possible

[blogslut]

11. The article came out yesterday

If you take the time to browse the topics on this forum you will see there are several threads already dedicated to this subject.

[NYC_SKP]

13. RE: Multiple postings on the same topic/issue/concept/concern (rant)

Did that one poster start three NEW threads? (I don't even want to go looking for it)

I'll excuse the posts that occur within five minutes of one another, folks are composing a breaking item and by the time they hit "post", two or three others are on the board.

But when "new" threads are started and the topic is already there just 12 or 15 posts down, it's unacceptable.

And the same individual posting new threads on the same topic???

Whoa!

:banghead:

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NightWatcher]

2. duh stupid, if Obama is photographed NEAR a mosque or anything "Muslim"

the reich wing will use it to further the "Obama is a secret muslim" meme.

Thought you'd understand and excuse

(the implied "you" is directed at Muslims and not the OP)

[Douglas Carpenter]

18. actually, he has been on occasion and I am proud that Sen. Obama is not a bigot

http://bp3.blogger.com/_L6pDyjqqsvY/SC7uaItbHpI/AAAAAAAANsI/h2W7yFNCz4Q/s400/Imam+Hassan+Qazwini+and+Obama.jpg

Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, met privately with Sen. Barack Obama at Macomb Community College on May 14, 2008
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080515/NEWS05/80515096

And yes right-wing bloggers have tried to jump on this story and this photo.

I for one will hope that the campaign for "Change That We Can Believe In" takes even bolder and more public initiatives to show that this is a campaign against, ignorance, exclusion, intolerance and bigotry.

[TeamJordan23]

22. So we should just cave into Right Wing fears.

That sure is courageous. The people who would find it offensive will not be voting for Obama anyways.

[randr]

3. And their choice for President would be?

[niceypoo]

6. Good point...

...lol

[Tatiana]

5. DEAR GOD HOW MANY TIMES IS THIS GOING TO BE POSTED? n/t

[blondeatlast]

9. This would be four by my count. nt

[TeamJordan23]

24. Can you show me where this NYT has been posted four times? nm

[crankychatter]

7. incessant horse-shit - this place is infested - NT

[JimGinPA]

8. Google "Muslims For McCain"

You won't find any groups.

[TeamJordan23]

25. so that should be our justification?

nice liberal ideals.

[Love Bug]

10. Damned if he does; damned if he doesn't

I say he should just say 'screw it' and visit a Mosque and have lots of photos taken while he's at it. The ignorant and bigoted in this country are not going to vote for him anyway and he needs to do the right thing and show he understands the Constitution supports freedom of religion in this country, unlike Bush and Bob Barr in 1999, who didn't think the Wiccans at Ft. Hood, TX had a right to worship.

He should call Congressman Keith Ellison, who supports him, to help with his.

[endarkenment]

12. Coordinated rovian initiative in progress.

Thanks for doing your part.

[ProSense]

14. The media is really blowing this out of proportion, aren't they?

Local Muslim leader met privately with Obama

This was May 18.

Sen. Obama is the only current presidential candidate known to have had a one-on-one meeting with an American Muslim leader during this election cycle. Many Muslims empathize with him as he is attacked for being "Muslim," which is erroneous since he is Christian. However, many were concerned when he recently told American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference attendees, "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided." Current U.S. policy does not recognize Israel's claim to the city, the eastern part of which is occupied territory according to international law.

link

[Catherina]

35. They're totally blowing it out of proportion. We need to counter this

but not with spin and excuses. Obama will handle this one brilliantly, I have no fears.

[CanonRay]

15. This is the last group we should worry about in the fall.

Who are they going to vote for, McCain? He'd just as soon see them all in detention camps. Snubbed my ass. What a lot of media hype and drivel. Slow news day so they invent shit.

[Douglas Carpenter]

16. does ANYONE believe for that Obama can carry Michigan without the Arab-American and Muslim-American

community - turning out in a big way for him?

There are approximately 3.25 Arab-American citizens in the U.S. (70% if whom are Christian)

and approximately 7 million Muslim-Americans citizens in the U.S. of various ethnicities -(only 24% are Arabic)

http://www.allied-media.com/AM /

http://www.allied-media.com/Arab-American/Arab_demographics.htm

Thanks to George W. Bush most now vote overwhelmingly Democratic.

The largest single concentration of both is in the state of Michigan

But aside from the point of election strategy, I would hope very much that part of the change that we can believe in is a change toward the politics of inclusion and a change away from the politics of racism, bigotry and exclusion.

[dsc]

32. they also have a large continguent in Ohio

the West side of Cleveland has many Arabic people of both Christian and Muslim religions.

[TeamJordan23]

23. here here for equality. nm

[elocs]

17. Yes, this certainly does seem to surpass the usual DU posting of the same story over and over again.

What exactly is the motive or point?

[Douglas Carpenter]

26. right, liberals should understand that bigotry is not important when Arabs or Muslims are involved.

After all, Arabs and Muslims are not REALLY human beings, are they?

I don't believe for one second that Sen. Obama is a bigot in any way shape or form. But I would hope that the campaign for "Change that We Can Believe In" is campaign against racims and bigotry and a campaign for inclusion and acceptance.

[TeamJordan23]

30. I couldn't agree more. In the 50s/60s, many politicans avoided being seen with blacks.

I am also shocked by some of the reaction on this progressive board. Justification to alienate a group that is already alienated in this country is wrong. I am sure it is not how Obama feels either, but he likely got pressure from his political consultants that it is the wise thing to do. And it may be.

But that does not make it right.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

27. *cough* concern trolling *cough*

[Occam Bandage]

21. I think this needs to be posted over and over and over again. Nothing is more important than this.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

28. Seriously

I mean, it's been days since someone Obama is tangentially associated with has done or said something outrageous that the media can fixate on endlessly while ignoring real news. What do you expect them to do??!?

:sarcasm:

[Occam Bandage]

38. I can't wait to find out what demographic group Obama's neighbor's therapist offends tomorrow!

[JudyInTheHeartland]

29. Ugh - let's keep our eyes on the ball

I'm so sick of hearing about this. Obama is the only one who wants to conduct real diplomacy to solve the mess that Bush&Co have created. Can't we keep the big picture in mind?

[TeamJordan23]

31. look, this should be a place for fair and honest debate.

We are not changing any minds here. We are all Democrats and we are rooting for Obama because he is the best politician of my generation. But that does not mean we can have fair criticisms about him. There is no reason for us to be an apologist for him on anything. If you have read articles about how Obama runs his campaign meetings with his staff; he presses all of them to vent out their criticism of what is going right and what is going wrong.

You cannot get the full picture of something by being oblivious to things that can be improved.

[sourmilk]

33. Can we give this RW shit a rest? Please?

How many times am I going to have to read about this GARBAGE?

[TeamJordan23]

34. Keith Ellison is a Right-Winger? nm

[sourmilk]

36. I didn't even read it. Same shit posted yesterday.

[JVS]

37. Who farted in here?

Oh wait, that must be the BULLSHIT