Muslims and the US election

The imminent American presidential elections could see Muslims and Arab-Americans making a critical impact for the first time.

The Wall Street Journal, commented about Democrat Al Gore's Jewish running mate, Joseph Lieberman, that 'There are now a few more Muslims in America (6m) than Jews (5.7 million). Muslims make up 5% of the vote in Michigan, 2% in Illinois and 1% in California and Ohio. These are critical states where the margin of difference between Gore and Bush is 5% or less.

Since the Jewish turnout is already high and already solidly Democratic, those numbers are a problem'. The Journal also noted that 'there are two million Arab Christians', and observed that 'Lieberman's staunch support of Israel may not endear him to them.'

Before selecting Lieberman, Gore enjoyed slightly more Muslim voter support lead than Bush, according to a poll by the Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The figures probably reflected the belief that the Democrats were more minority-friendly than Republicans. Gore and Lieberman's hard-line Zionism may change this. Hussein Ibish, spokesman for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee saw little difference between the candidates, though on Palestine, Republicans were marginally 'the lesser of two evils'. Ibish felt Arab and Muslim voters might find Green Party candidate Ralph Nader, himself an Arab-American, an attractive choice.

Palestine is the central foreign policy issue for Muslim and Arab-Americans, closely followed by Iraq. There has been some conflict with Christians over foreign human rights issues, when US Christians have tried to politically address religious discrimination in Muslim states. However, the Muslim Public Affairs Council have called for Muslim-Christian reconciliation in Indonesia, and CAIR have demanded equal rights for both Palestinian Muslims and Christians suffering Israeli discrimination.

'Terrorist' smears

Domestic concerns include anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia, ethno-religious discrimination, 'terrorist' smears and media hostility. In particular Hollywood's virulent anti-Arabism/ Islamophobia, typified by the recent film 'Rules of Engagement', perpetuates the cycle of hostility and hate crimes against the community. There are some Muslim judges. As yet there are no Muslim congressmen, though there are some Arab Christian representatives. Recently, a Bangladeshi-born American was appointed Ambassador to Fiji.

To redress both domestic Islamophobia and negative US policies towards Muslim countries, Muslim-Americans have recently intensified their political mobilisation, actively seeking high voter registration and turn-outs. A sophisticated guide to evaluating congressional hopefuls has been published, including questionnaires explaining the Muslim agenda to candidates and re-questing a response.

Sophisticated

Muslim-Americans are more politically sophisticated than their UK counterparts. The major reason for this has been the presence of the Arab-American community, which is majority Christian. Their presence stretches back into the 19th century, although their political campaigning largely began after the 1967 war, and only began to have any influence in the last ten years. Well-established, educated and prosperous, they provided a natural support-base for the millions of Muslim immigrants arriving after 1960 - when there were only 100,000 Muslim-Americans. Since so many of their concerns and membership overlap, notably on Palestine and Iraq, Arab and Muslim Americans officially collaborate at all levels.

'Election 2000' - the voter mobilisation of Arabs and Muslims - is the major, possibly crucial Arab-American / Muslim-American co-operative project. The Muslims boost Arab voting numbers, while the Arabs give the Muslims the benefit of long-standing political and lobbying experience. The joint Arab and Muslim lobby represents a constituency of up to ten million people, and if electors voted tactically and en bloc in certain states this year, they could be effective in deciding the outcome.

What about Christians?

There are positive and negative elements for Christians in this development. Positively, a less biased American policy on the Muslim world - especially Palestine - would undermine the impression that the 'Christian' West was the Enemy, and thus relieve pressure on Christian minorities in Muslim countries. Anything helping Palestinian Christians is to be welcomed. Domestically, Muslims share many moral concerns with Christians, especially in the face of abortionist and homosexual lobbies.

The fact that the Christian-led Arab-American community works so closely with Muslim-Americans is also likely to have a positive effect on Muslim perceptions. Negatively, the arrival of Muslim influence in America could undermine Christian advocacy on human rights issues, affecting Christian communities in Muslim states. The emergence of Muslim-American power is inevitable, given their burgeoning numbers. We can only pray that their presence in 'the Land of the Free' promotes a concern for religious liberty in the Muslim world.

Anthony McRoy has extensive contacts with prominent Muslims. He is available to speak in churches about Islam and Christian-Muslim relations.

Muslims and the US election

The imminent American presidential elections could see Muslims and Arab-Americans making a critical impact

'Terrorist' smears

Sophisticated

What about Christians?

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