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.

[EGPWS]

I say, AMERICA, LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!

Sadly enough your statement is outdated.

These days the statement that better reflects a present mindset by "Anti-American philosophy" is "America, love it or destroy it"!

[PokeyJoe]

``One way to do this is through the political process.''

Hmmm.... and what implied other ways are there?

[Thom Pain]

Don't forget; Muslim-Americans are first & foremost Muslims. America just happens to be a place where they seek to gain influence; followed by control. When the Mullah calls them, they will vote the way he tells them to. Take a guess which way that will be.

[Thom Pain]

While I'm at it: Has anyone heard outcries from the Muslim-American community condemning the atrocities or in support of the war against terrorism? I haven't. And, I don't expect to.

[knak]

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?

Could be; but he's probably just one of those muslims that think they're going to take-over the world and turn it into an islamic state.

[ArrogantBustard]

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

It's a symptom of the same attitude that produces an "Council on American Islamic Relations". To them "American" and "Islamic" are incompatible. Contrast with, eg. Christians and Jews. There are many devout folks who consider themselves (Christians|Jews) first, and Americans second. But a Council on Christian Americans Relations, or a Council on Jewish American Relations is preposterous. Being Jewish or being Christian does not preclude being American. Being islamic, apparently, does preclude being American. At least to some folks.

[monkeywrench]

Oh, you remember, that little presentation on 911.

[geedee]

well, well, well. another hyphened minority.

Hey! I resent that.

Signed,
A Proud Indian-English-French-Canuck-Texan-MexTex-Irish-Indian-Indian-American.

Visit us at our website . . . www.NoWampumNoPeace.com

[DonaldDuke]

...battleground states such as Michigan, Ohio and Florida, where a majority of Muslims live...

Until someone wakes up and deport them. Along with their treacherous friends in the State Department.

[4integrity]

'....they shouldn't be allowed to vote in our country.....'

If Orrin Hatch (R)and many of our other Senators have their way, the DREAM ACT will be passed which, among other things, will allow a naturalized citizen to become President of the United States if they've lived in the US for 20 yrs. The,recently declassified, infamous Aug 6 memo talks to how Bin Laden wants to recruit Muslim Americans who will or have lived in America for a long time......hmmmmm. The terrorists have money, money buys power, the Dream Act begets President.... Call your Senators/Congresspeople to defeat the Dream Act. BTW, the Dream Act also gives education grants to children of illegals. So we legals better work a little harder to pay for their education.

[Holden Magroin]

Funny how Republicans can find the time to push a constitutional amendment to allow foreigners run for President, but they can't find the time to push a constitutional amendment to ban homosexual marriage.

[4integrity]

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. Republicans try to be polite and nice and don't want to offend anyone. Frist and Company need a trip to OZ to find some courage.

[whereasandsoforth]

They stated goal of Muslims (the activist and the dormant) is to not accept anything but complete dominance over the world nations and force every human to convert to their religion and live by their laws. Since we know this to be the way things are, why should we accommodate and make room in our nation for those that seek to destroy our way of life?

It is harsh reality, but the line is drawn. It is time to throw "politically correct" out the window and deal in truths for a change. Just because justice is blind is no reason to blindfold common sense.

[whereasandsoforth]

Remember the key here: Common sense. When Catholics become terrorist bent on destoying this country, that's when we should decide whether or not to include them in this discussion.

You write with an emotional slant. I must deal in truths and reality.

[dalebert]

They are either for us or against us. I do have a problem with people who uphold killers and hate defenders of freedom.

[DonaldDuke]

Is adherence to the Constitution just "politically correct"?

The Koran is nothing more than a statement of intent. The intent is genocide.

If you would claim that is compatible with the Constitution, you'd better run for the desert.

Samuel Pepys, huh? :))))

[Imagine]

Let's start with a big "M" branded into their foreheads. Then................