Posted on 09/06/2004 9:53:23 AM PDT by Land_of_Lincoln_John
Anti-terrorism policy drives away Muslims, Arab-Americans, who favored Bush in 2000. George W. Bush got the Arab-American and Muslim vote in the 2000 presidential election, and the endorsement of local Arab and Muslim organizations, because he courted those communities.
His aides met and spoke to advocacy groups and to mosques across the country. The president, while campaigning, said he would repeal Clinton administration laws that made it possible to charge someone without revealing the evidence against that person.
But this year, the invasion of Iraq and the increased scrutiny of immigrants from Muslim nations has mobilized Arab-American and Muslim voters to turn away from Bush. The secret evidence laws Bush once hoped to overturn are now a centerpiece of anti-terrorism policy.
Bush took nearly half of all Arab-American votes in 2000; a recent poll by Zogby International found his support last month had fallen to 25 percent.
However, voters leaving Bush are not necessarily going to Democratic nominee John Kerry. Republicans are popular with Muslims because of their opposition to abortion and to same-sex marriage, both of which are forbidden in Islam.
Moin "Moon" Khan, chairman of a coalition of politically moderate Muslims based in the west suburbs, said Bush should be spending more time reaching out to Muslims here at home, instead of abroad.
"He is spending billions of dollars broadcasting programs in the Middle East," Khan said, referring to the U.S.-backed Arabic news channel Al-Hurra. "If he spent at least a fraction of the time concentrating on Muslims who live in this country and reaching out to them over local issues, networking with them, he might have a better chance."
Khan, founder and president of the DuPage Minority Caucus, said that observant Muslims held conservative views on social issues. However, he felt most would vote for Republican candidates in local elections and Democrats or independent candidates in national races.
"I will be working only on a local level," Khan said, declining to say whom he planned to vote for.
Kareem Irfan, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, said Muslims voted for Bush in 2000 because they truly felt he valued their community's concerns.
Irfan led a seminar in leadership at the American Islamic community, which began Friday and concludes today at the national Islamic Society of North America annual conference in Rosemont. He said many Muslim voters may switch to independent candidate Ralph Nader.
"John Kerry cannot just take Muslim votes for granted," Irfan said. "He must earn them."
In Illinois, where Kerry is predicted to win easily, the hearts and minds of local Arabs and Muslims likely won't be a deciding factor in the race. But in nearby swing states like Michigan and Ohio, where Bush narrowly won or lost in 2000, the votes of several hundred thousand Muslims and Arab-Americans may mean the presidency.
"It's crucial in Michigan, which has the largest concentration of Arabs outside of the Middle East," said Aminah McCloud, a professor of religion at DePaul University and an expert on Muslims in America. "Not only have people there seen their neighbors getting interrogated, they're losing their jobs as well."
In Ohio, supporters of the president set up a web site called MuslimsforBush.com. The site's members point to Bush's accomplishments, such as the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the Taliban government in Afghanistan, as reasons to re-elect the president.
But not all visitors are convinced.
"Muslims for Bush?" one e-mail response on the site read. "May Allah forgive you."
Well there goes the exploding vest vote.
And for GOP voters Muslims loose their allure.
exploding vest vote.
the best ever.
sleeper cells for kerry.
So, should we take this to mean that they support terrorist regimes?
You're either with us or with the terrorists. So much for the moderate religion of peace.
Yeah, Bush's emphasis on being tough on terrorists has only giving him an 11 point lead. Perhaps it is time to reconsider this and pander to the terrorists....
Oh I can't believe that the members of the religion of peace would object to combating terrorism. Tell me it isn't so. Big surprise here hugh.
"Muslims in America" not "Muslims for America". That says it all.
This voting black could be the next soccer moms of 2004...
Good ridance to bad rubish.
exploding vest vote.
CLASSIC! had to respond again. im still laughing.
We better wake up. The only thing that matters to Muslims is
Allah.
The democratic party has nothing in common with the ultra conservative values of Islam but Bush's stance with Israel or his attack on that monster Saddam in worse.
These people do not deserve our freedoms.
The die hard Muslim will not assimilate.
..."..."Not only have people there seen their neighbors getting interrogated, they're losing their jobs as well."...
Good--go home to Muslim-land. America is not the Land of Opportunity for those who plan to kill us and enslave us in an Islamic Caliphate.
Gee, WHODATHUNKIT? I suppose the next Zogby poll will continue to point out this devastating turn of events from such an expansive demographic.
Even more reason to reduce immigration into this country.
..."you must reach out to us!", they say...
These Muslims will have a lot more to worry about than which craven politician panders hardest to their incessant whining if what happened in Beslan happens in this country. Then, there will be a lot of Americans "reaching out" to them in a way they aren't going to like.
They would be much better served by actively getting rid of the murderous extremists among themselves and actively joining in the fight on America's side. But then, that would be like Christians denying Jesus, wouldn't it?
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