Posted on 10/22/2004 2:50:47 AM PDT by familyop
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| The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections - Political Action Committee (AMT-PAC) on Thursday announced a qualified endorsement for Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry. |
WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (MASNET) - A coalition of American Muslim groups on Thursday announced a qualified endorsement for Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry.
The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections - Political Action
Committee (AMT-PAC), in endorsing Kerry, said they came to the decision after assessing overall U.S. interests, their interactions with Kerry campaign officials and input from the American Muslim community.
The group, however, called their endorsement “qualified” and urged American Muslims to vote for the Massachusetts senator in the form of a protest vote against the policies of President George W. Bush’s administration. There are an estimated seven million Muslims in the United States.
"We believe that our vote is the best guarantee of our civil rights and the best expression of our citizenship,” read an AMT-PAC statement. "Unfortunately, the Bush administration has been insensitive to the civil liberties and human rights of American Muslims, Arab-Americans and South Asians,” who are being treated like second-class citizens.
“The current administration, despite its verbal posturing has not matched its rhetoric with deeds,” said Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation Executive Director Mahdi Bray. “Sadly, one of the greatest purveyors of injustice against the Muslim Community is this current administration.”
Both the Democratic and Republican parties attempted to seek the backing of the American Muslim community, but the AMT-PAC based its decision on the performance of the Bush administration.
"American Muslims are…disappointed with a number of domestic and foreign policies instituted by the Bush administration since the 9/11 terror attacks,” the statement read, saying they were satisfied in discussions with Democratic campaign officials concerning the Patriot Act.
"We acknowledge the considerable outreach to our community by Senator Kerry's campaign, particularly by his campaign co-chair Sen. Edward Kennedy,” the statement read. “We also appreciate the ongoing dialogue with Muslim leaders about problems posed by the USA Patriot Act.”
“I think it is quite clear that both in foreign policy and domestic issues, especially in civil rights and liberties, that this administration’s war on terror is poorly focused and has targeted its own citizens,” said Bray.
The group, however, in offering the qualified endorsement, recognized areas of concern they had with the Democratic presidential contender, especially concerning current domestic policy directed at the American Muslim community.
"While the Kerry campaign has critiqued a number of Bush administration polices, it has so far failed to explicitly affirm support for due process, equal justice and other Constitutional norms,” they said.
“We are also disappointed that his campaign has shied away from expressing unambiguous support for principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution that prohibit use of ex post facto laws, secret proceedings and secret evidence.”
The AMT-PAC concludes that it “is vital for the protection of our liberties to vote together, in high numbers, and for a common purpose."
The group also acknowledged independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader for “highlighting the denial of civil liberties to religious and ethnic minorities.”
In 2000, a committee comprised mainly of the same U.S. Muslim groups endorsed Bush over Democrat Al Gore, because Bush had indicated he was sensitive to their concerns about deporting immigrants.
The AMT-PAC describes itself as an affiliated political action committee of the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT).
The AMT, in turn, is an umbrella organization representing the American Muslim Alliance (AMA), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), Muslim Student Association-National (MSA-N), Project Islamic Hope (PIH), and United Muslims of America (UMA).
Great endorsement for Kerry. LOL.
American Muslims Form Group to Re-elect Bush 10.21.04
LOS ANGELES – A newly formed group touting themselves as Muslims for Bush is campaigning for the incumbent President who they feel is the only U.S. politician currently defending Muslims.
The group is appealing to primarily other American Muslims to re-elect President Bush. "The group plans to present the Muslim point-of-view on many issues, demonstrating why President Bush is the better candidate, not only for American Muslims, but for all Americans," read an email message received by Pakistan Link.
"In comparing President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry, the founders of the group, Muhammad Ali Hasan and Seeme Hasan, strongly felt that even on issues like the Patriot Act, Iraq war, Palestine and Afghanistan wars, President Bush’s management, leadership, and most importantly, vision, have been above expectations, warranting a 2004 victory," the message adds.
Hasan was quoted as saying the rebuilding effort in Afghanistan is going well. "Given a similar amount of time and patience, I’m confident that only positive results will start showing in Iraq. Any man or woman who vigorously fights for the creation of peace in the Muslim World is a person who has our unquestioned support! After the tragic 9-11 attacks, there was only one politician (George W. Bush) out there, defending Muslims.”
Hasan said that they are very proud of Pakistan’s involvement in the War on Terrorism. "No country has arrested more members of Al-Qaeda than they have. With countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Pakistan, and Turkey involved, the United States has never had a stronger network of allied countries. President Bush deserves great credit for creating this network and keeping it together.”
The group’s mission is also to increase America’s diversity, prosperity, and education, which according to Hasan, are at all time highs: “The time to create world peace is now! No other country out there is going to do it and no other country is willing.”
Muslims For Bush is also announcing $10,000 in prizes for the best artwork, op-ed pieces, and movies that can demonstrate why all Americans, especially American Muslims, should re-elect President Bush. The top prize, of $7,000, will go to the 30 to 60 second commercial that best argues for President Bush’s re-election. The winning commercial may be aired a few weeks before the November 2nd election. Everyone, regardless of religion, is welcome to enter. See www.muslimsforbush.com for details.
I seriously doubt this Muslim group will get much press attention.
Note how careful they are not to quote Zogby, but rather the Subaltern of the Committee for This or That. I think they have finally figured out that all of these Zogby statements from CAIR have a negative effect on the credibility of the more important polling end of the business.
In "unrelated" news... Zogby Has It Tied Today - B46, K46
And did anyone find where the trickle down money from "Oil for Food" went to? The Arab American PAC received $500 in 2002, while James Zogby's Arab American Leadership Council PAC received $5,000 in 2000.
That's true. The only publisher that I knew of who gave the Muslim pro-Bush coalition much circulation is David Horowitz' FrontPage Magazine.
Islamists For Kerry.
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