Muslim candidates running in record numbers face backlash

Associated Press ^ | Jul. 15, 2018 11:11 PM EDT | Philip Marcelo and Jeff Karoub

[Olog-hai]

A liberal woman of color with zero name recognition and little funding takes down a powerful, long serving congressman from her own political party.

When Tahirah Amatul-Wadud heard about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s stunning upset over U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley in New York’s Democratic primary last month, the first-time candidate saw parallels with her own longshot campaign for Congress in western Massachusetts.

The 44-year-old Muslim, African-American civil rights lawyer, who is taking on a 30-year congressman and ranking Democrat on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, says she wasn’t alone, as encouragement, volunteers and donations started pouring in. […]

Still, the path to victory can be tougher for a Muslim American. Some promising campaigns already have fizzled out while many more face strong anti-Muslim backlash.

In Michigan, Democrat candidate for governor Abdul El-Sayed continues to face unfounded claims from a GOP rival that he has ties to the controversial Muslim Brotherhood, even though Republican and Democratic politicians alike have denounced the accusations as “conspiracy theories.”

In Rochester, Minnesota, mayoral candidate Regina Mustafa has notified authorities of at least two instances where anti-Muslim threats were posted on her social media accounts.

And in Arizona, U.S. Senate candidate Deedra Abboud received a torrent of Islamophobic attacks on Facebook last July that prompted outgoing U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, the Republican lawmaker Abboud is hoping to replace, to come to her defense on Twitter. …

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Proper term is ISLAMOMISIA and Homomisia, a revulsion of all things islamic and homo.

I learned that term from a FReeper several years ago and only use it now.

[OddLane]

Buchanan was prescient.

[GingisK]

Yes, yes. I see. ;-D

[Deplorable American1776]

CD-1 has the Berkshires area, too. I know that the small towns gets outvoted by Pittsfield, Adams and Springfield. I think if Neal gets defeated, you might see a pick up...if Connecticut CD-1 (John Liarson, oops I meant Larson) gets defeated be an ultraliberal, it might be a pick up, too..

At least I hope so...