Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| U.S. Muslim Coalition Endorses Bush |
|---|
| Asim |
| 10/24/00 at 08:54:05 |
| Election 2000: American Muslim Group Endorses Bush Copyright: http://www.iviews.com Published Monday October 23, 2000 By iviews.com staff report (WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/23/2000) - The American Muslim Political Coordinating Council Political Action Committee (AMPCC-PAC) today announced its endorsement of George W. Bush for president, citing his outreach to the Muslim community and his stand on the issue of secret evidence. AMPCC-PAC is made up of the American Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Council, Council on American-Islamic Relations, and Muslim Public Affairs Council. There are an estimated six million Muslims in the United States. Muslims constitute a potential swing-voting bloc in states such as California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. In several surveys of Muslim voters, the majority said they would vote for Bush. "Governor Bush took the initiative to meet with local and national representatives of the Muslim community. He also promised to address Muslim concerns on domestic and foreign policy issues," said AMPCC-PAC head Agha Saeed. Bush also said during a recent interview with Beliefnet.com, a multi-faith website, that he supports taxpayer money to teach the Qur'an in American prisons. A poll conducted by CAIR in September indicated that 40 percent of eligible Muslim voters said they would vote for Bush, 25 percent favored Nader and just 24 percent said they support Al Gore. According to CAIR's survey of 1022 individuals, 90 percent said they would vote in the November election. That figure is higher than the national average of about 50 percent. The Muslim leaders also noted that Bush challenged the use of "secret evidence" at the second presidential debate. American Muslims and civil libertarians believe secret evidence, as it is currently used in Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) deportation hearings, is unconstitutional. They believe that it is used disproportionately against Muslims in America. A number of Muslim detainees have been held for up to four years based on evidence that is not revealed to them or their attorneys. The Secret Evidence Repeal Act currently awaits passage in the House and Senate. Ralph Nader, an American of Lebanese descent, also enjoys popularity among American Muslim voters. He has said he would cut aid to Israel and end sanctions on Iraq, but many Muslim leaders fear voting for a third party candidate could waste an opportunity to garner future support from the Democratic or Republican parties. http://www.iviews.com/scripts/articles/stories/default.cfm?id=7808&category_id=40 ======================================== Monday October 23 6:40 PM ET U.S. Muslim Coalition Endorses Bush By PAUL SHEPARD, AP National Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - A new national Muslim coalition is endorsing George W. Bush for president, citing the Texas governor's openness to American Muslims' concerns. ``The main factor was the governor's accessibility to Muslim leaders. He has promised to address American Muslim concerns when and if he goes into office,'' said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the American Muslim Political Coordination Council, a political action committee that made the endorsement Monday. Agha Saeed, director of the committee, said, ``Bush has promised to address Muslim concerns on domestic and foreign policy issues.'' Bush helped his standing during the second televised debate with Vice President Al Gore when he challenged the use of secret evidence by officials in the Immigration and Naturalization service. Under a 1996 anti-terrorism bill, INS officials can hold people based on anonymous accusations. Some American Muslims believe that rule is used disproportionately against them. ``We believe Governor Bush is our best chance to do away with secret evidence,'' Hooper said. Monday's endorsement is part of an effort to boost the visibility and voting clout among the nation's Muslims, estimated by the group at 6 million. In August, the Council on American-Islamic Relations distributed voter guides to raise political awareness among Muslims. On Sept. 15, designated as American Muslim Voter Registration Day by activists, voter registration tables were set up at mosques and Islamic centers nationwide. ``There is an awareness that voting in a bloc makes your voice heard so we think the endorsement should have a galvanizing effect.'' Hooper said. The political action committee is made up of the American Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Council, Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Public Affairs Council. In recent years, religious leaders including civil rights advocate Jesse Jackson and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson have sought the presidency. And for generations, black ministers have held great sway on how congregation members cast their votes on Election Day. JeDon A. Emenhiser, a professor in the department of Government & Politics at Humboldt State University, said an overt political endorsement by affiliates of a major religion might sway some voters. ``We have to see how strongly attached people in the Islamic community will be to the endorsement to know if it will have any effect,'' Emenhiser said. ``I think it will be something Muslim voters weight along with other concerns like how the candidates feel about immigration or the budget. It should help him,'' meaning Bush. James Reichley, a Georgetown University political scientist, agreed: ``I don't know if it will draw overwhelming support for Bush among Muslims but it should get some.'' Polls taken by an Islamic group have shown Bush with the most support but with widely swinging totals for various candidates. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/ap/20001023/el/muslims_politics_1.html |
Individual posts do not necessarily reflect the views of Jannah.org, Islam, or all Muslims. All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the poster and may not be used without consent of the author.The rest © Jannah.Org |