The American
Muslim Vote in Election 2004
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
CA
Gaining political influence requires
three main steps: fundraising, recruiting candidates,
and voting. The American Muslim community’s
performance on fundraising for candidates and recruiting
candidates to contest various offices was not appreciable
in 2004 Election. However, the community was more
active politically. This is the silver lining to
9/11, the Patriot Act and the mass detentions. It
has pushed us to be proactive and take a stand,
to be part of the political process. Now the Muslims
are realizing that America's politics is about numbers:
dollars you donate to your favorite candidates,
or votes you can generate for them. Although their
campaigns fundraisers produced meager results but
they were able to mobilize the community to get
out and vote.
Evidently, whether intended or not, Muslims voted
en bloc on November 2, 2004 presidential election,
a behavior that is undoubtedly the outcome of personal
and collective experiences, not a political strategy
per se. The only reason for en mass Muslim and Arab
vote for Senator Kerry was the civil rights issue
as they endured much of the brunt of the Bush administration’s
transgression on the country’s rights, and
particularity their civil liberties.
At the same time, the Muslim community showed its
eagerness to participate in the political process.
This was confirmed by various studies and hundreds
of media reports. A study, which surveyed Muslims
in and around Detroit, Michigan -- an area that
has the largest concentration of Muslims in the
country -- demonstrated the growing perception that
Muslim communities, which in the past have been
viewed as isolated and inward-looking, are now seeking
greater political involvement in the US. Over 60
percent of those polled cited civil rights issues
as their top public policy concern, according to
the study by Michigan-based Institute of Social
Policy and Understanding released in April 2004.
The mainstream media played an important role in
highlighting the concerns of Arabs and Muslims,
particularly abridgment of their civil rights during
the 2004 election campaign. It helped in motivating
them to participate in the political process by
registering as voters. The media reported extensively
about the voter registration campaigns by various
local Muslim and Arab community organizations as
well as Islamic centers and mosques throughout the
nation.
A study of more than 100 media reports shows that
the mainstream media was well aware that civil rights
is the defining issue for the Muslims and Arabs
after the 9/11. For example, according to Seattle
Post-Intelligencer (2/4/2004), Muslims in cities
across the nation voiced concern over an anti-Muslim
backlash after the 2001 terror attacks, and what
they call the subsequent assault on civil liberties
by the Bush administration. Of the more than 1,200
detainees caught up in the post-Sept. 11 dragnet,
most were Muslims or people from Arab or southern
Asian nations. An Agence France Presse report (2/6/2004)
said: The three million Arab-Americans, who have
felt ostracized since September 11, 2001, want to
show they can be a mighty political force in this
year's presidential election.
As the American Muslim community grows, it is becoming
increasingly aware of its social and political potential.
American Muslims have distinct views on issues such
as abortion, prayer in public schools, welfare reform,
immigration, and civil rights. They seek to promote
family values, prevent crime, combat drug abuse,
and encourage other worthwhile social goals but
it will not be an exaggeration to say that abridgement
of civil rights was the single issue that galvanized
the Muslim and Arab community.
A barrage of post 9/11 policies impacted them. This
is not to say that the Muslims and Arabs were not
concerned with other election issues. But obviously
all communities are motivated by the issues that
affect them most. A Democratic Presidential hopeful,
Dennis Kucinich best reflected their sentiments
when he said during a visit to a Florida Mosque:
“The defining issue for Muslims is the restriction
of civil liberties.''
However, in this election, the voters from the very
beginning of the campaign were seen to concentrate
mainly on the civil rights issue because they were
affected by the policies of the administration in
the aftermath of 9/11. The civil rights issue even
overshadowed the Middle East problem and Muslims
and Arabs supported Senator Kerry despite their
reservations about his support toward Israel.
During the
last one year, the Muslim and Arab political activism
was extensively reported by the mainstream media
with such headlines (few examples): Arab vote poses
a challenge for Bush - Civil liberties concerns,
foreign policy have cut support from 2000. (The
Dallas Morning News - October 18, 2003; ) Muslim-American
Activism: Enhanced Muslim Interest in American Politics.
(Washington Report on Middle East Affairs –
October 2003); Arab-Americans organize to influence
elections. (News Day - December 13, 2003); Muslim
vote may be shifting: Bush enjoyed support from
Islamic community - before Sept. 11, terrorist attacks
and wars. (Dallas News – January 9, 2004);
New Jersey Muslims stressing political participation.
(News Day - January 5, 2004); Muslim vote may shift
to Democrats. (Deseret Morning News - February 09,
2004); Arab-American group fights bias, rallies
voters. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel - February 7,
2004): - U.S. Muslims seek greater electoral clout.(Seattle
Post-Intelligencer - February 4, 2004.
While media reported Muslim and Arab political activism,
opinion polls gauged the presidential candidates’
preferences.
President Bush still had some support within the
Muslim community. Muhammad Ali Hasan, co-founder
of a group called "Muslims for Bush,"
argued that Muslims can support Bush for bringing
liberation and democracy to the Islamic world. Non-endorsement
of any presidential candidate by the Muslim Public
Affairs Council (MPAC) was also interpreted by many
as an implied endorsement for Bush because the Muslim
community was going to vote for Kerry.
American Muslim and Arab voters went to poll with
a deep conviction that their vote is the best guarantee
to safeguard their rights. During the last one year
the Muslims and Arabs have shown great political
maturity and enthusiasm to participate in the national
political process. Their political activism was
also reflected in dozens of voter registration campaigns
during the last one year.
The Muslim and Arabs organizations had set a goal
to register one million new voters. The endorsements
of the Muslim and Arab organizations in October
came too late to impact the decision of the Muslim
and Arab voters who had made up their minds long
before as was confirmed by various polls, studies
and media reports.
As a matter of fact, it appears that it was the
mood of the community that forced these organizations
to endorse Senator Kerry. Michael Meehan, a Kerry
campaign spokesman, made this point very clear when
he said endorsements were helpful, but "at
this late point in the election cycle, we are trying
to turn supporters into voters and recent polling
shows we have support among American Muslims 10-to-1."
However, the American Muslims must realize that
voting is not the end of the road, but the beginning
of a long struggle that requires commitment, skill
and resolve. In the next election cycle they have
to be more active in local elections and make alliances
with other communities. Otherwise, after the election,
their success will be confined to self-congratulating
press releases espousing false hopes.
Abdus Sattar Ghazali is the Executive Editor American
Muslim Perspective online magazine www.amperspective.com
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