Democrats court vote of disgruntled Muslims; Dean is overwhelming favorite

Reuters ^ | December 26, 2003

[nwrep]

WASHINGTON - Three years after Muslim Americans overwhelmingly voted for George W Bush, democratic presidential candidates are courting these disenchanted voters in hopes of winning millions of backers in key states.

"I want to earn the support of Muslims and Muslim leaders across the United States," Senator John Kerry, a Democrat from Massachusetts, told a major Muslim conference outside Los Angeles last weekend.

"I very much hope for your support," Democratic front-runner and former Vermont governor, Howard Dean, told the same meeting, the Muslim Public Affairs Council annual convention.

Dean, Kerry and Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich all called in from the campaign trail, and the audience was receptive.

Angered by post-September 11 legislation like the USA Patriot Act which Muslims feel discriminates against them, upset about wars against two Muslim countries, and frustrated by a perceived pro-Israeli bias in Middle East peacemaking, many United States Muslims are shifting their political allegiance.

This marks a sharp turn from previously widespread sentiment that the Republicans under Bush would support Palestinian aspirations in the Middle East.

Bush had in the past aggressively courted the Muslim vote, and the traditional pro-business stance of Republicans had also appealed to many middle class Muslim voters.

With Bush's approval ratings at 59 per cent -- the highest since August -- disgruntled Muslims and leading democratic candidates hope this non-traditional voting bloc could swing the election in major states which have large Muslim populations such as California, New York, Florida and Michigan.

"I think that this November we will see American Muslims coming to the polls in unsurpassed numbers," said MPAC executive director Salam al-Marayati.

"This is due to actions our elected leaders took in response to 9/11 as well as the dramatic increase in voter registration drives and the large number of American Muslim youth who have become eligible to vote since the last presidential election," he said.

US census statistics do not detail religious affiliation, and unofficial estimates vary widely. Islamic groups say there are around 6 million American Muslims.

American Muslims endorsed and strongly backed Bush in 2000, a decision many criticised after September 11, 2001, when they say anti-Islamic sentiment began to rise.

"Today I go to mosques and many people tell me they'll vote for ABB -- anybody but Bush," said Hossam Ayloush, head of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in southern California.

A straw poll among the 800 MPAC delegates showed more than 67 per cent planned to vote for Dean, compared to just 2 per cent for Bush. Upon hearing the poll results, one delegate said, "How did Bush manage to get 2 per cent?"

Aslam Abdullah, an activist and head of the Muslim Electorates' Council of America, said his surveys in seven key states showed two-thirds of 1.7 million Muslim voters backed Bush in 2000.

He said the size of the Muslim electorate had now jumped to almost 3 million, thanks to massive voter registration drives, a large number of new citizens and an increase in Muslim-Americans who have reached the voting age of 18.

Yahya Basha, a staunch Republican and a prominent Muslim leader in Michigan, said Bush could still win the Islamic vote, but had to do more to court it.

"It is going to be a challenge," he said. "I'd hate to see them giving up on that community ... I think there is potential and they (the Bush campaign) should do a bit more to reach out."

[nwrep]

PING

[ken5050]

For every Muslim vote the dems try to get, Bush will pick up 5 Jewish voters, and lots of campaign cash...

[dead]

They'll vote for the candidate most likely to surrender to militant islam.

Gee, what a freaking surprise.

[Maceman]

Who would Osama vote for?

[FreedomPoster]

>>For every Muslim vote the dems try to get, Bush will pick up 5 Jewish voters, and lots of campaign cash...

I hope you're right, but old voting patterns die hard. For what rational reason is Zell Miller still a Democrat, for instance?

[expatpat]

Thre aren't that many Muslims in the US. The vast majority of the arabs here are Christian, and most of the US Muslims are blacks -- who wouldn't vote Republican, anyway.

[BigLittle]

For every Muslim vote the dems try to get, Bush will pick up 5 Jewish voters, and lots of campaign cash...

One would think that were true, especially after the Soha Arafat kiss, but hey she's a NY Senator (thanks in large part to the Jewish vote)

[Thebaddog]

Dean can have them. And he should advertise heavily that they are his supporters. Heck, he's doing a bang up job as it is irritating everybody. Why not this.

[Guillermo]

Mohammedans hate Bush because it was he who liberated 2 Mohammedan countries from tyrants.

For them, it's shameful to be "rescued" by Christian. They'd rather Afghanis and Iraqis live under the old brutality, just so they could save face.

Mohammedans live in an alternate universe.

[AngieGOP]

Sounds like a great campaign slogan for Howie and the other Democrats.

[tbpiper]

"disgruntled Muslims" is redundant. Seems like "disgruntled Muslims" are trying to destroy America which why I think they would favor Dean.

[hoyaloya]

Additional evidence contradicting the notion that most "American" Muslims were appalled by the events of September 11th. This article suggests 98% or so think dialogue is the way to address the problem -- and we all know "dialogue - with terrorists" is really just doublespeak for "surrender."

[expatpat]

And he should advertise heavily that they are his supporters

If he doesn't, the Republicans should.

[ken5050]

Miller didn't have to cross the aisle..he gave Bush his votes when needed. I think, after Jeffords jumped, Miller decided not to jump, because in his mind, unlike Jeffords, the consequences of that action would go beyond his state...and since the GOP took it back..it wasn't necessary...look, she doesn't even caucus with them..go to their lunches..what's important about the Jewish vote, is that, unlike the blacks, and the Arabs, who are centered mainly in a few congressional districts..the Jewish vote is spread throughout the country..thus, a few thousand votes swing could have a real impact..and of course, the money..not so much as Bush needs it, rather, it's denied to the dems..

[Sir Gawain]

Seriously, what values do fundamentalist Muslims share with the Democrat platform? You think a right-wing Christian government is bad, liberals? Wait until you get a Muslim government. Your heads will be the first to roll.

[Maceman]

Sounds like a great campaign slogan for Howie and the other Democrats.

I rather see it as a very effective campaign slogan for George W. Bush.

[SJackson]

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