Muslim Americans say they will flex political muscle in 2004

WCBS880 ^

[Sub-Driver]

Muslim Americans say they will flex political muscle in 2004 Sunday April 11, 2004 By JENNIFER FRIEDLIN Associated Press Writer NEW YORK (AP) Nizar Yaghi hasn't decided for whom he'll vote on Election Day, but one thing is certain the Muslim American will cast his ballot this November.

``After Sept. 11, I understood that Muslim Americans need to come out and present themselves to the Americans,'' said Yaghi, a 28-year-old engineer from Schenectady, N.Y. ``One way to do this is through the political process.''

With the 2004 presidential election approaching, people like Yaghi are stepping up efforts to encourage their fellow Muslims to register to vote and to convince the presidential candidates that they need to be accountable to the Muslim American community, which numbers up to 7 million, according to estimates.

Although Muslim groups say there are only about 4.2 million eligible Muslim voters out of 200 million eligible voters overall, they believe these voters could have considerable influence on the November election.

``We believe this election will be a very tight one and small communities can play a major role, particularly in battleground states such as Michigan, Ohio and Florida, where a majority of Muslims live,'' Omar Ahmad, national chairman of the Council on American Islamic Relations, said at a news conference on Saturday.

Ahmad's group is one of several that belong to the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections, an umbrella organization that aims to register 1 million Muslims to vote and to educate Muslims about the presidential candidates' positions.

Agha Saeed, the chairman of the task force, said his group hasn't decided which presidential candidate it will endorse, but he said it would weigh the candidates' positions on civil rights issues, the economy, crime prevention and education.

``We are going to hold town hall meetings all over the United States for the community and for the candidates to engage in a dialogue where we bring ourselves up to speed on these issues and create common cause with fellow Americans,'' Saeed said.

Muslim leaders made their first unified endorsement in a presidential race in 2000, backing George W. Bush. Many thought he would take a harder line against Israel and, based on statements he made while campaigning, would protect the rights of immigrants facing deportation.

Many Muslims said they have been disappointed on both counts. They also have objected to the USA Patriot Act, which gave the government broad powers to monitor citizens after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

A spokesman for the Bush re-election campaign, Scott Stanzel, said the president would work to maintain the support of the Muslim community by appealing to its beliefs in ``strong family, opportunity and the ability to achieve the American dream.''

A spokesman for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry could not be reached by telephone for comment.

[Sub-Driver]

well, well, well. another hyphened minority.

[Hildy]

Good...I'd like the see signs saying MUSLIMS FOR KERRY all over the place.

[Betaille]

"Many Muslims said they have been disappointed on both counts. They also have objected to the USA Patriot Act"
Well then that "genocidal maniac" wing of the American Muslim community should be deported to Syria... i'm sure they would love all the civil liberties they enjoy there. The right to wear a headscarf and keep your mouth shut for one. Or how about the right to be killed or imprisoned if you refuse to come out to an anti-Israel street demonstration?

[bogdanPolska12]

They better pray nothing happens here or in Poland. For only flexing muscle will be us, and it would not be pretty.

[Viking2002]

They're hyphenated nothings - just terrorist sympathizers that can order Big Macs in English.

[zygoat]

Very perceptive. After reading this, all I had in my head was the imaginary image of what my steel toed Corolinas' could do to the cancerous tumor masquerading as a legitimate immigrant. You have shown me the bright side, and I thank ya.

[cajungirl]

Muslims for Kerry,,,an idea whose time has come. This article positively nauseates me and I thought I was beyond nausea into pounding headaches and hi blood pressure. My last nausea was during the Lewinsky saga.

[angkor]

``After Sept. 11, I understood that Muslim Americans need to come out and present themselves to the Americans,'' said Yaghi, a 28-year-old engineer from Schenectady, N.Y. ``One way to do this is through the political process.''

These do not strike me as the comments of a naturalized American citizen with the right to vote in U.S. elections.

a) If he can vote, he IS an American, so this "present themselves to the Americans" sounds fishy.

b) His comments about "the political process" seem extremely naive for an engineer who (presuambly) has gone through the study of American government necessary to obtain naturalization.

Could it be that Yaghi is just a shill green carder who's unable to vote but intends to do some activist work to influence U.S. elections?

[Aracelis]

the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections, an umbrella organization that aims to register 1 million Muslims to vote and to educate Muslims about the presidential candidates' positions.

There is something terribly, terribly wrong with this effort. Certainly, all Americans should exercise their Constitutional Rights...but perhaps a little history lesson is in order too. Japanese Americans could fill them in on the details...then let's find out if American Muslims still think they are being treated unfairly or disrespectfully.

[Arpege92]

My friend told me of an incident that occured in our local mall just a few short weeks ago. A Muslim woman in full head dress was walking on one side of mall with her children, when everyone who saw this lady, moved over to the opposite side of the mall so that they wouldn't have to be near her. My friend told me that these people were throwing hateful stares at this woman, although she wasn't sure if this woman was aware of what was going on around her.

I see a growing number of people becoming suspicious of any Muslim and I can't say that I blame them.

[Sabatier]

Why, Kevin Phillips was just saying today on Bill Moyers that 50,000 Muslims voted for Bush in Florida in the last election and maybe that's why Bush won Florida, so go figure. The Left has to get its story straight.

[Smartass]

"Muslim Americans say they will flex political muscle in 2004"
I say, AMERICA, LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!

[whereasandsoforth]

I know what you mean. I'm as guilty of that behavior as your local mall patrons. Whenever I see a moving bed ensemble with eyes heading my way, I cross over. I don't want anything to do with those people. I don't care how bigoted this reads.

[2nd Amendment]

I never thought it would come to this. I believe there are two different types of people in the U.S., Muslims and the rest of us. These Islamofascists are just too dangerous to keep around!. If they want to stay here they ought to submit to mandatory sodium penathol and lie detector tests to prove there loyalty or get themselves and their moongod religion out of this country!

[Parley Baer]

I guess he does not like to see a Democracy establihed in an Arab state. So he is going to vote for Kerry. Makes since to me if he is against Democracy.

[al baby]

Freeper-American?

[FlashBack]

A vote for Kerry is a vote for Islamofacism!
Bumper sticker that one!!!!!

[SouthernFreebird]

They shouldn't be allowed to vote in our Country.

[EGPWS]

I understood that Muslim Americans need to come out and present themselves to the Americans,''

Interesting statement to say the least.

[mercy]

The adherents of The Religion of Peace will undoubtedly vote for Mssr. Kerry ... he being so much more peacefull and anti-war. They are such a loving people. Moderate in their religious faith and desirous only to be good Americans.