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U.S. Muslims regret support for Bush, won’t repeat it in ’04
Wilmington Star ^ | 9-1-03 | Staff

Posted on 09/01/2003 12:14:25 PM PDT by veronica

Even before the Sept. 11 attacks and the crackdown that followed, American Muslim leaders generally had come to believe they had made a mistake.

In 2000, they made their first unified endorsement in a presidential race, 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.

Muslims say they were disappointed on both counts. Now, feeling the additional sting of being scrutinized in the domestic hunt for terrorists, they are mobilizing to express their anger at the polls in 2004.

At their largest convention of the year, which ends today, national Muslim leaders announced plans to register 1 million Muslim voters and make civil rights a top issue in any endorsement of a presidential candidate.

"A defining moment of Islam in America is approaching," said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group based in Washington. "We cannot surrender our future and our destiny to hate in this country."

Agha Saeed, head of the Muslim American Congress, led the crowd in a chant. "I am an American, I am a Muslim and I vote," he said, joined by thousands gathered for the Islamic Society of North America meeting.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Mr. Bush won points with American Muslims by visiting a mosque and declaring Islam a peaceful religion.

But since then, the federal government has detained hundreds of immigrants, shut down U.S. Muslim charities suspected of terrorist ties and gained broad new powers to monitor citizens under the USA Patriot Act.

The Bush administration said these moves have been crucial for U.S. security. American Muslims say they are being scapegoated.

A White House spokesman referred questions about the presidential race to the Bush campaign, whose spokeswoman did not immediately reply to a request for comment Sunday.

It is unclear what effect Muslims can have in the 2004 elections.

Estimates of the number of U.S. Muslims vary dramatically from 2 million to 6 million. But immigrant Muslims generally are highly educated professionals with the means to make significant campaign donations.

Also, their community has matured dramatically in the past four years.

The assault on Islam that followed the suicide hijackings that killed thousands in New York and Washington compelled Muslims around the country to defend their faith.

National Muslim organizations, including Mr. Awad’s, reported a dramatic increase in donations and membership.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2004election; 501c3nonprofits; 501c3violations; allegianceselsewhere; antiamerican; antibush; antisemites; antisemitism; bombvest; bushbashing; cair; chruchandstate; election2004; electionlaw; fifthcolumn; fifthcolumnists; gwb2004; irs; irsaudit; islammeanspeace; israel; jewishvote; killers; loyaltieselsewhere; mediabias; murderers; muslimamericans; muslimvote; nuts; propalestinianwar; religionofpeace; religionofpieces; religionopeacetm; taxlaw; theterroritstvote; troglodytes; unamerican; voterdrives
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To: .cnI redruM
Yes, in fact I read on the Internet that Carl and Sander Levin were photographed in Jenin recruiting young Arab girls as suicide bombers.
141 posted on 09/01/2003 7:04:40 PM PDT by HostileTerritory
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To: rintense
Seems as though some here would continue to perpetuate the stereotype that conservatives/Republicans are bigoted, racist, Bible-thumping, holier-than-thou Christians.

Believe me, this isn't unique to conservatives or Republicans. There are plenty of hysterically frightened, bigoted folks on all sides. ;-)

142 posted on 09/01/2003 7:04:42 PM PDT by Scenic Sounds
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To: veronica
Course I never believed Bush got the Muslim vote last time either. If he had, he would have won Michigan.

Bush did win Dearborn(a swing area, and the whites there tend to be union dems like the rest of Downriver) last time, and it was spread out among the precincts, so East Dearborn as well. In fact, it was the only 'Downriver' suburb he won outside of Grosse Ile(very affluent).

Although Dearborn is heavily Iraqi in particular, and Arabs are spread out around the Detroit area.

143 posted on 09/01/2003 7:04:50 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan ("Boom Boom! Out go the lights!" - Pat Travers)
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To: veronica
Only groups of blockheads vote as a bloc.
144 posted on 09/01/2003 7:05:48 PM PDT by F.J. Mitchell (Our enemies within are very slick, but slime is always treacherously slick, isn't it?)
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To: veronica
Aside from corporate endorsements, how did this group actually vote?
145 posted on 09/01/2003 7:06:38 PM PDT by RightWhale (Repeal the Law of the Excluded Middle)
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Comment #146 Removed by Moderator

To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
Maybe I bristle at the broad brush thing 'cause I'm a professional musician, and you know what people think of us. ; )

Yeah, I've been a member of a profession that hasn't yet won universal adoration. ;-)

147 posted on 09/01/2003 7:08:08 PM PDT by Scenic Sounds
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To: RobbyS
"For most American Jews, social democracy is their true religion. If they didn't think of Israel as a kind os socialist oasis in the Middfle East, ythey wouldn't support it. When its government is not in the hands of the Labor Party, their interest flags. If a crisis appears, their interest spikes but soon drops back to normal levels."

Hate to admit it, but you are spot on.

Year after year, Democrat office holders and candidates make blatantly anti-Israel comments, and still most Jewish voters blindly support the Dems and slam the GOP.

(Think Jessie Jackson, Hillary Clinton, Al Sharpton, Mosely Braun, and recently Congressman Moran from West Virginia)

And now rabid Muslim groups are joining the Democrats and still, many Jews hate Republicans.

I guess old misconceptions die hard in the Jewish community.

148 posted on 09/01/2003 7:09:03 PM PDT by Edit35
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To: rintense; LurkerNoMore!
I prdefer to the the Man Himself judge.

Sorry.

149 posted on 09/01/2003 7:09:39 PM PDT by Senator Pardek
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Comment #150 Removed by Moderator

To: Senator Pardek
Sorry Mr. Spell checker. :) I'm on drugs right now so my typing skills are not good.
151 posted on 09/01/2003 7:12:17 PM PDT by rintense
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
You don't see any drool, do you? ; )

No, but the stage could be tipped back...

152 posted on 09/01/2003 7:12:41 PM PDT by null and void
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To: Scenic Sounds
Ah! YOU'RE the drummer...
153 posted on 09/01/2003 7:14:16 PM PDT by null and void
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To: The Ghost of Richard Nixon
If Muslims become a significant population in America do you know what you'll have?

And what do you propose to do about that?

154 posted on 09/01/2003 7:18:03 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet ("I'm just a caveman. Your modern world frightens and confuses me...")
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Comment #155 Removed by Moderator

To: The Ghost of Richard Nixon
Okay. What if they are Americans? Sterilize them, put them in internment camps...what?
156 posted on 09/01/2003 7:19:49 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet ("I'm just a caveman. Your modern world frightens and confuses me...")
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To: null and void
No drummer would be smart enough to think of that.
157 posted on 09/01/2003 7:20:13 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet ("I'm just a caveman. Your modern world frightens and confuses me...")
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To: null and void
Ah! YOU'RE the drummer...

Shhhh! (Please, I'm undercover.) ;-)

158 posted on 09/01/2003 7:21:14 PM PDT by Scenic Sounds
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To: LVjinx
Exactly.

Nuke 'em...especially the ones who were kissing photographs of President Bush and waving American flags. Those people are just no good. Irredeemable, really. Start with that guy who kicked off the rescue of Jessica Lynch.< /sarcasm >
159 posted on 09/01/2003 7:25:35 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet ("I'm just a caveman. Your modern world frightens and confuses me...")
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To: Senator Pardek
Senator, report with said cousin forthwith to Riyadh singles club. Since she'll have to be covered from head to toe, and masked, I think we might possibly strike a deal.

As limited as the sweet young thing's possibilities may appear to be here, she'll be a definite genetic asset to the friendly regime. She ain't nobody's cousin over there, and that's a good thing.

160 posted on 09/01/2003 7:34:22 PM PDT by Kenny Bunk
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