Posted on 09/06/2004 7:00:33 AM PDT by Dubya
ROSEMONT, Ill. - American Muslim leaders ended their largest annual meeting with a rousing plea to thousands of community members that they vote in the presidential election.
Muslims urgently want to register their political presence in this country as a step toward ending what many believe are excesses in the war on terror.
"We have to demand justice," said Mahdi Bray, head of the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, as the convention wound down Sunday night. "We have to stand up to this government and say, `What you're doing is wrong.'"
The American Muslim Taskforce, an umbrella group for top U.S. Muslim organizations, met behind closed doors separately from the weekend conference, deliberating whether to make an endorsement in the race.
Both Democrats and Republicans are seeking their support.
American Muslims hold special importance this election year because they have strong communities in battleground states such as Michigan, Ohio and Florida. Also, immigrant Muslims tend to be educated professionals - an attractive demographic for both parties.
Despite bitter feelings over how President Bush has conducted the war on terror, Muslim leaders said an endorsement for his challenger, Democratic Sen. John Kerry, was not guaranteed. Independent Ralph Nader traveled here Saturday and made an aggressive pitch for their backing.
A decision is expected by next month.
In 2000, leaders of major Muslim organizations made their first endorsement in a presidential race, choosing Bush over Democrat Al Gore. The Texas governor had indicated he was sympathetic to their concerns about the use of secret evidence in immigration hearings.
However, many rank-and-file Muslims - especially U.S.-born blacks, who vote overwhelmingly Democratic - opposed that 2000 decision. After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and the anti-terror policies that followed, the Muslim leaders who had organized the Bush endorsement said openly they had made a mistake.
Still, Bush did not give up on the Muslim vote.
About a year ago, the Bush administration had increased contacts with Muslim leaders, inviting them for briefings with the Department of Justice and the White House faith-based office, among other gestures, according to Salam al-Marayati, head of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
But Bush appears to have little chance of winning the leaders' endorsement, given widespread anger over terror prevention laws the president insists are critical to national security.
Nader, in an interview, said he alone was addressing Muslim issues.
"We are the only ones who are speaking up on Israel, the Palestinians, civil liberties and malicious prosecution," he said. But many Muslim leaders have argued that voting for Nader would just end up helping Bush.
Regarding Kerry, some Muslim leaders say his campaign has missed opportunities to capitalize on Muslim resentment of the president.
At the convention this weekend, organized by the nonpartisan Islamic Society of North America, several speakers said Kerry had become too timid on civil rights issues. They said his pledge on repealing parts of the USA Patriot Act, which gave the government broad new powers to monitor citizens, did not go far enough.
"Please improve your position," said Agha Saeed, head of the task force, in a plea to Kerry at the convention's closing rally. "Only then can we talk to you."
Others complained that high-level Kerry staff have been slow to reach out to Muslim leaders. However, Aslam Abdullah, editor of Minaret magazine, who is helping organize Muslim support for Kerry, said those leaders were thinking too narrowly.
"It is not whether Bush meets with Muslims or whether Kerry meets with Muslims," he said in a phone interview. "The question is who is more capable of steering the country out of the trouble it is in?"
Whatever the task force decision, it is not clear that they can deliver the Muslim vote. They have sponsored voter registration drives and "town hall" meetings about the election nationwide, but many American Muslims are not affiliated with national Muslim organizations and may not be influenced by an endorsement.
ON THE NET
American Muslim Taskforce: http://www.americanmuslimvoter.net
More misinformation double speak rhetoric from our domestic islamic terror funding mills.
Could there be a more stunning demonstration of the danger posed by massive immigration from Third World countries, without the traditional reverence for American values?
Just my humble opinion.
Ishaq:550 “The Muslims met them with their swords. They cut through many arms and skulls. Only confused cries and groans could be heard over our battle roars and snarling.”
I have boycotted Muslim owned businesses since 9/11. It might be time to call for a National Boycott of these "fronts" for supporting radical Islamic terrorists.
This makes me so angry.
Tabari VIII:96 “A raiding party led by Zayd set out against Umm in Ramadan. During it, Umm suffered a cruel death. Zyad tied her legs with rope and then tied her between two camels until they split her in two. She was a very old woman. Then they brought Umm’s daughter and Abdallah to the Messenger. Umm’s daughter belonged to Salamah who had captured her. Muhammad asked Salamah for her, and Salamah gave her to him.”
I understand your sentiments. THIS ARTICLE HAS MADE ME ANGRIER THAN I HAVE BEEN IN A LONG TIME. I think it's time to do two things:
#1. Reach out to the Jewish community and say: "Do you want to support the same man for President that Muslims who are sympathetic with Radical Islamic terrorists support?
#2. Call for a national boycott of all Muslim businesses and drive their asses back to wherever they came from.
I find this very interesting when you read this thread's article alongside the one I just linked to there. HMMMMM!!!
Back to my mantras...
ohmmmmmmm.....ohhmmmmm.... Islam is a peaceful and loving religion... ohhmmmmm.....
Would Mr. Bray be so kind as to publish the names of those making the decision?
5.56mm
Don't be in such a hurry for justice my friend, Many of us would like to deliver justice to the whole muslim community. Beslan is still very fresh in peoples' minds and the muslim community doesn't look too good right now.
Baby killers!!!
I can say with 100% certainty that these people will support Barack Obama over Alan Keyes in the Illinois Senate race.
CAIR and Co. hate the good Doc with a purple passion.
The Republican hacks who have been playing footsy with them lo these many years, primarily in the pursuit of campaign cash, should be ashamed...and they would be ashamed if they had any shame.
About four or five years ago in an article published in Chronicles magazine, writer Serge Trifkovic observed that Mohammed was part John Gotti, part Charles Manson -- in other words, a psychopathic serial killer. What's worse, Mohammed is considered the beau ideal model of humanity for all time, which means that the ideal human being is a psychopathic serial killer Muslim. Explains a great deal, doesn't it?
I'll be more impressed when you stand up to your radical brothers and tell them the same thing.
I've done the same thing -- I no longer patronize a Pakistani-owned convenience store a short walk from where I live, and avoid 7-11 and Dunkin'Donuts, which are very frequently owned by Arabs or Pakistanis. The Quik-Checks here in northern NJ are refreshingly free of middle eastern employees so I buy my paper and coffee from them. I also purchase my gas from either BP or Sunoco -- non-Saudi oil.
Where was your big rally to decry and condemn the slaughter of more than 3,000 innocents on 9/11/01? Where was your demand for justice in finding Osama Bin Laden and hanging his ass?
Where was your pledge of support to assist in every way in tracking down and destroying barbarians behind this savagery?
You want justice? Be careful what you seek. You came to the wrong country if you call Christians infidels. You may get a lot more justice than you asked for.
Exactly like its founder was.
Using both hands NoControllingLegalAuthority says...
"Dear offended American Muslims, I got your "justice" right here."
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