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AMP Research – December 2004

Muslim & Arab organizations endorse Kerry

The higher leadership of both the Democratic as well as the Republican party ignored the Muslims. The apparent reason may be that the democrats were getting feedback that the Muslims and Arabs are not going to vote for Bush because they were disenchanted with his policies in the aftermath of 9/11 and particularly by the Patriot Act. One the other hand, the Republicans had no hope to woo the Muslim and Arab vote. However, the Democrats tried to reach the Muslims and Arabs at various levels.

The Muslim and Arab organizations that have formally endorsed Senator Kerry included: The Muslim-American Political Action Committee, an affiliate of Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation; the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC), a major Arab American group that has supported George Bush in 2000, endorsed John Kerry; Muslims for a Better North Carolina and Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic Hope in Los Angeles, which represents African-American Muslims. The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), a coalition of ten Muslim organizations announced its belated qualified endorsement for Senator Kerry on Oct. 21, 2004. 

The Muslim-American Political Action Committee endorses Kerry for President

The Muslim-American Political Action Committee, an affiliate of Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, was the first Muslim organization that formally endorsed Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Oct. 5, 2004.

The decision was reached after “months of consideration, discussions with Muslim American leaders across the country, and extensive dialogue with the Kerry campaign and the Democratic party leadership,” according to a MAPAC statement.

Mukit Hossain, MAPAC's president said that the group had concluded Bush's re-election meant, more constricting laws and policies to curtail the civil liberties of the Muslim Americans, and harsher foreign policies toward Muslim countries -- in the name of combating terrorism.

It also means, Hossain added, a continuing and menacing rise of anti-Muslim sentiment in America, covertly nurtured by the neoconservatives, and openly fanned by government officials like Lt. General Boykin and Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Hossain stressed that a Kerry victory, because the Massachusetts Democrats is not controlled by religious and political ideologues, leaves open the opportunity for productive dialogue between the American Muslim community and the federal government.

“The Kerry campaign has already shown an eagerness to be inclusive, and an inclination to engage in such a dialogue. So, the only viable option open to the Muslim Americans is to strongly support John Kerry and assert ourselves as an important part of the electorate - as swing votes in the battleground states, we are poised to do so. At the same time, before the election, we must extensively strive to impress on the Kerry campaign the crucial importance of Muslim American voters through active engagement.” MAPAC website http://www.mapac-us.org/home.asp

Arab Americans formally endorse Kerry

Two days later on Oct. 7, 2004, the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC), a major Arab American group that has supported George Bush in 2000, endorsed John Kerry.

"The Arab American community is ready to work with the Kerry campaign to get out the vote for Kerry and ensure victory in the race for President," said AAPAC President Abed Hammoud. "We believe Senator Kerry will make America stronger, safer and more respected throughout the world," he added.

"John Kerry understands our values. He understands our people and cares about our quality of life. I look to the future with hope and happiness for my community under John Kerry's leadership," said Arab American community leader Wafa Syed.

The AAPAC’s endorsement of John Kerry comes despite some reservations about his stance on the Palestinian issue. However, it was argued that when it comes to the Middle East problem the Arabs do not see any difference between Bush and Kerry policies.

During the AAPAC endorsement deliberations in Dearborn, Michigan, on Oct. 7, 2004, members of this leading Arab American organization reflected on promises made by Bush in 2000.

In 2000, George Bush wrote to AAPAC in his endorsement request that security "doesn't justify a disregard for fairness, dignity, or the civil rights of Arab Americans". Yet, under George Bush, hate crimes against Americans of Middle Eastern descent increased by 1600%. He also wrote that he was troubled by some of the government methods used in collecting secret evidence. Yet, less than 11 months after taking office, he allowed the FBI to monitor personal records and break into homes and offices, without probable cause.

George Bush has shaken the very foundations of this country with his assault on civil rights, said AAPAC ex-President and former Bush supporter Osama Siblani.

Senator John Kerry, while accepting the AAPAC's endorsement, said his administration would work to restore civil rights for all Arab Americans.

Kerry said: "I am honored to have the support of Arab Americans. My administration will continue to work with this important community to form a strong partnership, based on trust and understanding. Together, we will protect civil liberties of Arab Americans, American Muslims and all Americans to make our country stronger at home and more respected in the world." AAPAC Press Release Oct. 7, 2004

Muslims for a better North Carolina endorses John Kerry for president

On Oct. 9, 2004, Muslims for a Better North Carolina endorsed John Kerry's run for the presidency of the United States and urged Muslims in North Carolina to vote for the Kerry/Edwards ticket on Nov. 2. "John Kerry is a Catholic and has a strong faith," said Badi Ali, president of Muslims for a Better North Carolina, "but Kerry isn't determined to impose his belief system on Americans and the world."

Kerry and his running mate, North Carolina' own John Edwards, support a revamping of the USA PATRIOT Act, a sweeping piece of legislation proposed by a fear-mongering Bush administration in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. The PATRIOT Act itself constricts freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, by allowing "sneak-and-peak" searches by F.B.I. agents and suspicion-less covert investigations of all religious houses of worship across the United States.

Kerry and Edwards, with support from both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress, seeks to restore many American freedoms stolen by the Bush administration and the PATRIOT Act in the name of fear.

On the war in Iraq, Kerry's adamant support of a world-wide coalition to restore order to Iraq is more even-handed than Bush's heavy-handed, "you with us or you're against us" approach.

Kerry's vision for peace in the Middle East, Ali said, is much more like that of former President Bill Clinton, who worked openly and fairly to create a lasting peace n the area. The Bush administration's forays into the Middle East on all fronts have done nothing but increase tensions and hatred toward Americans.

A Kerry/Edwards will in November may be the difference between bringing peace and understanding to the Middle East and the world and continued war, death and despair advocated by the policies of the Bush administration. Press Release Muslims for Better North California Oct. 9, 2004

On Oct. 19, 2004, Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic Hope in Los Angeles, which represents African-American Muslims and belongs to the American Muslim Task Force, personally endorsed Kerry. About one-third of American Muslims are U.S.-born blacks, who vote overwhelmingly Democratic. (AP Report 10/20/2004)

The qualified endorsement of the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections

On Oct. 21, 2004, the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), a coalition of ten Muslim organizations, announced its decision to support Senator Kerry but described this support a protest vote against Bush policies. “Mindful of disagreements with Sen. Kerry on some domestic and international issues, including the war in Iraq, we are willing to work with him to help restore due process and equal justice in accordance with the U.S. Constitution,” said the AMT recommendation announcement which came too late to impact the decision of Muslim voters who had made up their minds long before as was confirmed by various polls, studies and media reports. (CAIR Press Release – Oct. 21, 2004)

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), that was once part of the AMT, announced its decision of non-endorsement one day before the AMT decision. “Our decision not to endorse a candidate in the 2004 Presidential election must not be viewed as a directive for American Muslims to reconsider their decision. Rather it is a reminder that although candidates are willing to take our votes, they are not yet willing to announce such to the country,” the MPAC said. (MPAC Press Release – Oct. 20, 2004)