Obama or McCain: Muslim Voters - IslamOnline.net - News
Obama or McCain: Muslim Voters
By Zeyad Maasarani, Mukhtar A. Khan, IOL Correspondents
WASHINGTON — Hours before the opening of America’s historic White House elections, IslamOnline.net correspondents interviewed American Muslims in different states.
We asked if they would be casting their ballot, their favorite candidate, the basis for their election choice, candidates’ stances on Islam, and whether America is ready for a Muslim president.
Malik Mohammad Hussain, 54, a Pakistani-born salesman in Halal Meat Store
I favor Obama over John McCain and think that Barack Obama is a Muslim.
I have heard that Obama will end all the war politics and there will be no bombing in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq when he occupies his place in the White House.
The Democrats go with the facts while the Republicans with fear-mongering in all the present and past elections.
A black man in a White House will change the things into a Black & White, separating truth from false.
There are at least 6-7 million Muslims in the US and I’m sure they can make a difference in swing states like Virginia, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania.
I think the USA is a good country. It has all the human rights and freedom of speech.
I think if Obama can become a Democrat nominee for presidency then why not any other person.
I’m sure that any Muslim can become the president of USA, provided he is capable and has good character.
Abdul Nasir, 30, a Cab Driver in Washington D.C.
I’m a staunch supporter of Barack Obama but I’m not sure that he will win the presidency.
Obama has got a popular support among the youth, urban cities, and over the media but majority of the white conservatives living in the countryside will never vote for a black man.
If Obama wins it will be only a miracle, and this will be by a thin margin.
The elite-influential class of American population, whose vote and support is always solid, is backing Senator John McCain.
While Senator Barack Obama draws his support mainly from the minorities, youth and liberal population, whose pre-election noise is high but on Election Day it somehow will subside a little.
If Obama wins, it will stamp the American democracy as the World No.1 democracy, and then anybody, even a Muslim, can expect to become the president of this sole World Super Power.
Samar Alhinnawi, Yalla Vote Field Organizer, San Fernando Valley, California
I am voting as an Arab American, a Muslim, a citizen and a participant of this democratic nation that we live in. As a field organizer with the Yalla Vote campaign I advocate the importance of voting and I reiterate that voting is very important for several key reasons. As Arab Americans we need to vote because more so than ever this election will determine many important issues for us such as our civil liberties, the Iraq war, our economy, etc. It is also important since we live in a democratic nation that we exercise our rights as active participants. For Arab Americans its important to go and show that we are an important factor for the candidates, by voting. Power is in numbers and the only way to achieve that is through voicing our opinion.
The issues are more important to me because the candidates are just a puppet to the face of issues. One of the main problems in our country is that the majority of people vote based on personality/candidates versus the most important factor, the issues.
Simply, we as a group are not united and do not represent a significant voting block for the candidates. We need to be more coherent as a group and try to be more active participants in mainstream America. Yes, I think both candidates should visit a mosque but I do not blame them for not doing so. At the present time, they will bring more negative attention than positive and I believe that we are partly to blame for this.
I do not like the way [Sen. Obama] handled it. Instead Obama should have displayed the good things Muslims have done for this country and show that being Muslim should not be used as an accusation. The problem with all this is our Muslim community did not show aggressive outrage in what was going on.
America is not ready for a Muslim president. The simple fact that [Sen. Obama] was accused of being Muslim as an attack shows how unready this country is for a Muslim president. Our country is going through Islamophobia and will not elect a Muslim candidate. Maybe in my children’s lifetime this will change. Nobody thought Kennedy would win running as a Catholic president, though; this shows ‘hope’ for our country.
Abdullah Aljammal, Junior Biochemistry Major at UCLA, Westwood, California
I hope to vote this election cycle. I believe it is important to vote in order to command what is good and forbid what is evil, as well as choose the best leader for the position in question since he will be directly leading us whether we vote or not. Also, to vote for what may do the community good and vote against what may be harmful to the community as in propositions
To me the issues on the ballot are much more important than the candidates. I don’t like to discriminate against candidates.
The main reason I believe neither presidential candidate visited a mosque during their campaign is due to the enormous amount of negative media and attention given to Islam post 9-11. It is very unfortunate that this is so; however at the same time it is understandable in context of the position these candidates are in at this time. This also reflects the Muslim community’s lack of spreading knowledge and information about Islam, as is required of us as Muslims. It is also more important that we lead by example rather than words and that is the best of form of representation of Islam.
I believe that Obama had to do what he did in order to obtain any remote chance of succeeding in his presidential run. Although I do believe he would of been more optimistic about Islam and Muslims, it may have back fired and further reflected the authenticity of the accusation.
A Muslim is only a human being and therefore has his own unique set of opinions and ideas on running a country. If however, this individual is to follow the teachings of Islam and do what is honest, truthful, and righteous and be prepared to serve the people for the sake of the Creator and not himself or any personal agenda then this is definitely what we need in a leader for any country place or time.
Anas Abu Abah, 27, a Saudi-born political science student
The November 4 will be the most historic day in US elections. I’m excited to cast my vote in favor of Democrat Presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama.
I think Obama can bring improvement in the much-debated healthcare issues but I’m more interested in Obama’s foreign policy issues.
I hope Obama will not only put an end to Iraq War but will also resolve the long-drawn-out Palestine-Israel conflict.
I’m optimistic that Obama has the potential to bring Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the table talk and convince Iran capping its nuclear program.
I think it was a wise strategy that Obama didn’t visit any mosque during his election campaign. If he had, there would have been an unending controversy labeling Obama as Muslim and endangering his vote bank with fear mongering of Islamophobia. When there were some rumors that he is a Muslim, his popularity graph had gone downward in the survey polls.
I’m pessimistic about a Muslim candidate becoming a president of the United States of America.
Although legally it is acceptable but the present Muslims’ image in America will not let any Muslim become the Commander-in-Chief of this country.
Khadija, 56, an Iraqi woman teaching in an Islamic School
My whole family of five will be casting vote for Senator John McCain.
I think McCain is a wise and tested politician. At this critical moment when the whole world is in the grip of crises, only a sage person and not a stylish demagogue can be a savior.
McCain does belong to the Republican Party but this never means that he is another George Bush.
The Republican and not the Democratic Party has been pro-Muslim countries. I cannot see any reason why the majority of Muslims in the US is backing Obama, though Obama has always resisted the Muslim identity and never visited or approached any mosque.
However, on the other hand he has been to several churches and synagogues during his election campaign.
I’m optimistic that anybody from any background or religion can become a US president, provided he has the integrity of character and the skill and experience to run this great country.
Shafeeq Kakar, 30, Afghan banker in Virginia
Two days ago I voted for Senator Obama.
My family in the US and their nation back in Afghanistan have got fed up with the unending war in Afghanistan.
I want some one who believes in dialogue. Barack Obama has the potential and statesmanship to resolve the crises in Afghanistan with dialogue and jirga.
I’m impressed by Obama’s charisma and also the issues he speaks of. I think that Obama will get the country out from the current economic recession and will restore the investors’ confidence in US financial institutions.
I think it was a wise strategy on the part of Democratic presidential hopeful to have not visited any mosque or Islamic Center, otherwise, rival Republicans would have got an opportunity to point fingers at Obama that he is a covert Muslim.
The current image of Muslims, mostly painted with negativity, shows that it will take at least 20 years for a Muslim candidate to become the president of the United States of America.
Sophia Momand, Family Doctor, Torrance, California
I have already voted by absentee ballot. Voting is important because it gives me a voice among many and keeps me involved with what is happening in my world.
In this election both are equally important, the candidates as well as the issues.
The fact that the candidates did not visit mosques has something to do with the overall need for more education on their parts and more effort on our part to make them realize that we are important to them for issues and voting etc.
Sen. Obama acted the way he did in large part to quell the Islamophobic hysteria and ignorance which had the potential of hurting his campaign. It will take a long time to educate people about the love and peace in Islam while Obama’s election is now.
America is ready for any person who is honest and sincere in leading her to do justice in the world and to take care of her own people. Whether that person is a Muslim or Jew or Christian does not matter much to me as long as they do not harbor prejudice against anyone else.
Khalid, 50, resident of Virginia, Bread-Baker
If I get time, I will definitely cast my vote for Obama. This is my first chance to be polling my vote after becoming a US citizen.
I favor Obama because this time all the Muslim community is backing him.
I don’t know the details but I’m optimistic that Obama will change America.
Ata Nabawi, Substitute Teacher, Compton, CaliforniaI am voting because voting is important. Enfranchisement is the key to political power. Being a black man, coming out of the history of Jim Crow laws and the struggle for civil rights, to finally have the political power to vote and not exercise defeats that entire purpose of that political struggle.
[Issues and candidates] are equally important, because one affects me locally and the other affects me nationally which will eventually affect me locally.
However, I don’t always agree with the candidates. Barack Obama is for gay marriage, but I’m not, so I’m voting yes on Prop. 8 [to only allow traditional marriage]. Obama just tries to please everybody.
The Muslim community in America is considered to not wield any effective political power therefore it isn’t targeted in elections. This is not based on demographics, but based on the power in Washington, D.C. As a political force, Muslims have not showed their muscles. We don’t have a strong lobby. We’re not organized enough.
[Sen. Obama] did what is politically expedient. He has a Muslim father and was raised in Indonesia, a Muslim country. I also believe he’s been to Pakistan before. He has extensive knowledge of the Muslim world. His name is Arabic, which is the language of the Qur’an. He had to distance himself as much as he can from Muslims and Arabs in order to show his loyalty and patriotism to America. America has created an enemy in Islam.
I personally believe that America needs some Islamic leadership; however I don’t think the American public is politically mature enough to have Islamic leadership in general.
Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director of the Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations
I am voting, as I have done in almost every election since I became eligible to vote.
In a democracy, the voice, values, and concerns of citizens are addressed and heard through political participation. Voting is an important part of that participation.
Both ballot issues and candidates are important. The ballots issues as well as candidates impact the various aspects of our life. They are two means to passing new laws or implementing policies.
It is a shame that Islam has been turned into a political liability in this election. The last few years of concerted defamation and demonization of Islam and Muslims by right-wing and extremist pro-Israel groups have resulted in an alarming sentiment of anti-Muslim bigotry and Islamophobia.
Many politicians are afraid to interact, affiliate or be perceived to be close to Muslims for fear of getting attacked by the growing loud voice of anti-Muslim bigots.
This only shows how much more work is needed from the Muslim community to better acquaint the public with who we truly are, build coalitions with fair-minded fellow Americans, and become more involved in the affairs of our country.
As for the issue of the two leading presidential candidates not visiting a masjid (mosque) yet, there are greater concerns and worries that impact not only our Muslim community or Americans alone, but the whole world and those concerns take precedence over our narrow ones.
Knowing the level of exposure and interaction with Islam that Senator Obama has, I had expected a better response from him.
The best answer from Senator Obama would have been one similar to General Colin Powell’s; an answer that says that while Senator Obama is Christian, the real issue is that there should be no problem if he were Muslim. There is nothing wrong in being a Muslim and nothing wrong in having a Muslim running for president.
No. America today is not ready for a Muslim president. Sadly, America was not even ready for a presidential candidate who had Muslim relatives. A few decades ago, America was not ready for a Catholic president or a Black president. It is now, at least most Americans are. And as we become more involved, America will be ready for a president who is Muslim.
Mirna Hmaydani-Hudspeth, Homemaker, Rancho Mirage, California
I am voting this election more eagerly so then any other time because I have hope that Mr. Obama will be the change that this country desperately needs.
Although we have some serious issues that need attention in our country, the candidates are more important to me because it takes a candidate with compassion, integrity & intelligence to follow through these issues.
Unfortunately, we are living in a biased nation, where freedom is an illusion. We are monitored & pretty much controlled. Since Islam is not an accepted religion in America I believe Mr. Obama was looking after his own reputation.
There is no shame in ones religion and one needs to be open and accepting of all religions, in order to live together in harmony. The American government has made a mockery out of Islam and it will be a far fetched wish of enlightenment in this candidacy.
I don’t think America has been exposed enough to the beauty of the Muslim religion, the only news they hear is negative. I don’t think America is ready for a Muslim president & I don’t believe Mr. Obama to be a true Muslim. I do know that this country needs more then just a president with faith for his religion, this country needs to be reborn!