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Announcement :: Elections & Legislation |
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Arab-Americans Gain Clout |
Current rating: 0 |
by Gregg Krupa
Email: gkrupa (nospam) detnews.com (unverified!)
Phone: (313) 561-8768 |
17 Sep 2003
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James Zogby, Arab American Institute president, appeared Tuesday with a dozen activists in Metro Detroit's 220,000-strong Arab community to announce the presidential forum, Vote 2004: An Agenda for Peace and Justice. He said it "will be the major political event in our community for the election cycle" |
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Arab-Americans gain clout
Four Democratic presidential hopefuls plan to attend ethnic group's Dearborn meeting
Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News, September 10, 2003
DEARBORN -- Twenty years ago, candidates for the presidency sometimes made a point of returning contributions from Arab Americans and rejecting their endorsements. Some thought it unwise, politically, to associate with them.
But, in 2003, four of the nine major Democrats seeking the nomination have already pledged to attend the Arab American Institute's annual leadership conference in Dearborn next month and two other candidates are expected.
"We've come a long way," said James Zogby, president of the institute. "This will be the major political event in our community for the election cycle. We want to raise issues about the Middle East and the values of America that we believe have been lost over the past few years."
Zogby appeared Tuesday with a dozen activists in Metro Detroit's 220,000-strong Arab community to announce the presidential forum, "Vote 2004: An Agenda for Peace and Justice," Oct. 17-19 at the Holiday Inn-Fairlane in Dearborn.
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich and U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman have all confirmed their attendance. Zogby said that two other Democratic candidates, whom he did not name, are likely to attend, and that the Arab American Institute is pressing the White House to send a representative for President Bush.
While the conference is in Dearborn because of its significant Arab-American population, leaders said it is a national event, with 250 Arab-Americans from 20 states expected to attend.
"I think it's fair to say that the Arab-American vote is up for grabs and strategically important," said Ismael Ahmed, executive director of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services. About 70 percent of the population of Arab descent lives in eight states, Ahmed said, and seven of them are on any political consultant's list of so-called swing states: Michigan, California, Florida, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.
"If you want to win any of those states and concentrate on a specific group of people, I think that's why the greater emphasis is on the Arab-American vote," Ahmed said.
The Arab American Institute distributed a voter guide Tuesday. It summarizes the positions of the nine Democratic candidates on four issues -- Israel and Palestine, civil liberties, immigration and U.S. and Arab relations. While the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel is perennially an issue of concern, several of the activists said Tuesday that civil liberties have risen to the top of the agenda since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America.
"9-11 had a terrible impact on the community, but it has not had the same impact on our political empowerment," said William Swor, a lawyer in Detroit. "There is no doubt that we are on the radar like we never have been."
An additional characteristic of the estimated half a million Arab-American voters makes them an increasingly contested group, Zogby said. The turnout, in excess of 60 percent, is significantly higher than for many ethnic groups.
But the vote is far from monolithic. Arab Americans have a firmly established pattern of not voting in a block. In 2002, 44 percent voted for President Bush, 38 percent for former Vice-President Al Gore and 13.5 percent for Ralph Nader, according to Zogby and others.
"The Arab-American vote tends to be more independent. But Mr. Nader may have benefited from his Arab heritage, too," Zogby said, chuckling.
In 1996, the Arab-American vote went 53 percent for President Bill Clinton and 34 percent for former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas.
A survey in July by the Arab American Institute showed a nearly equal, three-way split among President Bush, "any Democrat" and undecided voters, Zogby said.
the Conference -
What: 2004 National Leadership Conference of the Arab American Institute
When: Oct. 17-19
Where: Dearborn
Who: Howard Dean, Richard Gephardt, Dennis Kucinich and Joseph Lieberman
For information: Call the Arab American Institute at (202) 244-2990 |
See also:
http://www.detnews.com/2003/politics/0309/10/c01-267569.htm
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