Arab-American (Muslim) Vote

JUST AS PROTESTANTS can be divided into different sects based on religious beliefs and ideology, so can Muslim-Americans in the political process. The American Muslim community has made a visible impact since the 2000 presidential election, and was poised to be a major force in the 2008 campaign. Prior to 1965, the Muslim-American population was quite small, with limited involvement in the political process due, in part, to a limited socioeconomic status and prejudicial fear associated with Middle Eastern terrorism. However, following major changes in immigration policy in 1965, large numbers of college-educated Muslims came to the United States and brought with them financial muscle and a sense of community involvement. Recent statistics indicate that more than 6 million Muslims now live in the United States. More than 50 percent have a college degree, which is a higher percentage than the American population at large. At the same time, 20 percent do not have a high school diploma, placing them well below the national average.

There are differences within the Muslim faith that affect political participation and civic engagement activities. Moderate Muslims are patriotic towards American principles and work to integrate into American society. Fundamentalist Muslims (Islamists) strive to turn the United States into an Islamic state and choose to focus on international events such as the War in Iraq and the conflict between Israel and Palestine. There was a huge debate within the American Muslim community prior to the 2000 presidential election pertaining to Muslim involvement. Many Muslims, primarily those with ties to Islam, felt that involvement in an election of a secular, socialized democracy not only violated Islamic law, but also supported a system that focused on elites, corruption, and immorality. Proponents of participation viewed civic engagement through voting as a way of demonstrating their support for democracy, in direct opposition to their Islamic counterparts. For them, participation was not an option, but a requirement that was necessary for them to obtain, protect, and secure their perceived rights under the Constitution.

Gaining political influence in a democracy requires four major steps: raising campaign funds, recruiting qualified candidates to run for political office, getting voters to engage, and creating a voter base to participate. Muslim Americans headed into 2000 with great expectations, but had somewhat mixed success at accomplishing these four tasks.

American Muslim participation in fundraising activities is scarce at best. Political Action Committees (PACs) raised just $218 for President George W, Bush in 2000 and the Washington Report notes that Muslim-Americans contributed just over $113,000 toward congressional campaigns in 2000. In the state of Michigan with a large Muslim-American population contributions totaled just $11,000. Hillary Clinton reported a total of $50,000 in campaign contributions from Muslim Americans in her senatorial campaign.

Both the Republican and Democratic Parties have embraced Muslim-American candidates. At both national conventions in 2000, Muslim Americans were invited to deliver invocations and speeches. Talat Othman, chair of the Islamic Institute spoke at the Republican National Convention, and Maher Hathout, senior adviser at the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) spoke at the Democrat Convention.

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