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| US Moslems Angry That Kerry Supports Bush’s Policy on Israel |
| 2004-06-03 |
| From The Muslim News, reprint of an article from The Daily Star The battle for the hearts and minds of Arab-American voters has taken a decidedly negative turn for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Senator John Kerry. A raft of statements by Kerry lauding President George W. Bush’s unequivocal support of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has alienated some in a community that, though relatively small, is strategically situated in certain states expected to be closely contested in the November election. Kerry has recently endorsed Sharon’s Gaza disengagement plan as well as Bush’s April 14 commitment to Sharon, acquiescing to Israel’s retention of large West Bank settlements, and the denial of Palestinian refugees’ right of return. Previously, Kerry has expressed support for Israel’s assassinations of Palestinian leaders, the construction of its separation barrier and the isolation of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. ... The relatively small Arab-American community - estimated at 3.5 million - has gained prominence beyond its numbers due to its generally high voter turnout and preponderance in several "battleground" states - notably Michigan. A majority of Arab-Americans voted for Bush in 2000, partly due to a perception that, like his father, he would be relatively evenhanded on the Arab-Israeli issue. But, polls now give Kerry a double-digit lead over Bush, with a large number undecided or leaning toward independent candidate Ralph Nader, who many supported in 2000 and who is of Lebanese descent. Judge William Shaheen, the head of the Kerry campaign in New Hampshire, is the senator’s unofficial liaison with the Arab-American community and the husband of former New Hampshire governor Jeanne Shaheen, Kerry’s national campaign chair. Judge Shaheen is adamant that a Kerry presidency would offer hope on Palestine. It would bring "a breath of fresh air" to the peace process Shaheen told The Daily Star. Shaheen maintains that Kerry’s individual positions are less important than his willingness to mediate. According to Shaheen, the real problem is "that we have a president who’s not engaged in the peace process. ... Kerry’s recently expressed views have been a letdown to community leaders like James Zogby, president of the Arab-American Institute (AAI), who is in close contact with the Kerry campaign. At an AAI conference in October, Kerry had won plaudits for labeling Israel’s separation barrier "provocative and counter-productive." But he has since called it a "legitimate act of self-defense." Zogby says that Kerry’s views on Israeli-Palestinian issues risk alienating those for whom that issue is paramount. ... A poll commissioned by the AAI in late April in four battleground states that have sizeable Arab-American populations - Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio - found that while Kerry leads Bush by 45 to 28 percent, the remainder intend to vote for Nader or are undecided. The number of Arab-American voters in those states - 510,000 - is approximately equivalent to the combined margin of victory in all four in 2000. Some 170,000 of those votes are still up for grabs, says Zogby, and convincing undecided voters to support Kerry hinges on his stance on Palestine. Charlie Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report, says the Kerry campaign is simply deferring to Jewish supporters, who provide significant funding for the Democratic party. And Jewish voters are turning to Bush in unprecedented numbers because of his pro-Israel policies, he says. "There’s no question that President Bush is going to get a bigger percentage of the Jewish vote than Republicans normally get, and maybe than a Republican has ever gotten," says Cook. Kerry’s campaigns are "just trying to cut their losses." ... |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |
| #9 Dan, Of course you didn't hear about this...the media was too busy ramming down our throats about this being a "tiny minority" of muslim extremists line. They also had the protection of the NYC Police Dept. Liberalhawk, as you can imagine, its even uglier now. |
| Posted by: zooloo 2004-06-03 4:20:51 PM |
| #8 I don't think is that big a surprise, unless the South Koreans chose to ignore the signals from the US. There has been talk, for a while, of moving 2 brigades out of SK. The 12,000 troop withdrawl was proposed last year. SK has twice the population and 40 times the wealth of NK. Withdraw the rest of the troops and let them defend themselves. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-06-03 3:56:47 PM |
| #7 lol - caught between a rock and a hard place.... zoolo - never heard of this - muslims in the US dancing after 9-11 - sure wouldn't happen in my neigborhood... they would have some real problems....we are a very patriotic bunch ...street parties every 4th.... and please do not try and whine about civil liberties ..what about the rights of the those who died?? especially the ones that had to jump to avoid being burned to death...BASTARDS!NEVER FORGET AND NEVER FORGIVE...RETRIBUTION IS ALL WE CAN OFFER THESE BASTARDS..YESTERDAY,TODAY AND TOMMAROW! |
| Posted by: Dan 2004-06-03 3:50:27 PM |
| #6 According to Shaheen, the real problem is "that we have a president who’s not engaged in the peace process. ... Ummm, wasn't it President Bush who proposed the 'roadmap to peace'? Personal aside - my cousin met Jeanne Shaheen three years ago. His unvarnished opinion of her: 'dumb as a box of rocks'. Seems the hubby is equally endowed intellectually. |
| Posted by: Raj 2004-06-03 12:50:50 PM |
| #5 what're they gonna do? Seethe? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-06-03 11:14:11 AM |
| #4 Would these Muslims be the ones who danced in the streets on McDonald Avenue and Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, NY after 9/11? Hmmm...muslims support Democrats....interesting. |
| Posted by: zooloo 2004-06-03 10:55:36 AM |
| #3 Would these same Muslims be the ones who danced in the streets on McDonald Avenue and Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn? Hmmm...muslims support Democrats....interesting. |
| Posted by: zooloo 2004-06-03 10:54:39 AM |
| #2 Judge William Shaheen, the head of the Kerry campaign Oh Shaheen! Never mind. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-03 10:46:22 AM |
| #1 Just wait a few days--he'll change his mind. He always does. "I was for Israel before I was against it." |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-06-03 6:19:05 AM |