* courting the American Muslim vote

[TexasSissy]

Remember when * made that statement at one of his last "press conferences" (the one where he couldn't think of a political mistake he'd made) that some people think that people with brown skin don't want to be free.

I thought, "Huh?" I never heard anyone say they thought that, or even imply that they thought that. What idiot would say such a thing? Where did that come from?

I was watching a documentary on American Muslims a day or so ago, and part of it was discussing that because of their moral conservatism, most of them consider themselves Republican. "Aha!" I thought. That explains the weird statements I've heard from Bush, even though I know that his "deeply religious beliefs" would of course mean that Muslims are following the wrong religion.

Bush has also made strange statements (strange, according to his religious base) like "The Muslim God is the same as the Christian God."

So Bush is going after the American Muslim vote. I don't know if there are many of them in the battleground states (I didn't watch the whole documentary), but I'm guessing....there are.

[JI7]

1. the Democrats have an advantage with Jewish voters for same reason

they tend to be liberal, on economic and social issues. but they tend to be very pro gay rights, abortion rights, environment and many other things.

muslims tend to mosly be conservative so they would of course be republican.

and bush won the muslim vote in 2000 by a large amount. as for battleground states with muslims, i think michigan is the most significant one. but there is an issue with civil rights that muslims have with the bush administration. we can't be sure how much the would vote on that and foreign policy rather than social issues. if they vote on social issues the will vote for bush.

[TexasSissy]

2. Yes, a couple of Muslims in the documentary were not Repubs...

the civil rights issue, as well as the issue of bombing Muslims, was discussed.

The not so conservative Muslims discussed the dangers of "block voting." He said that many Muslims block voted because they didn't realize what Bush would mean. Who did? He said they are not going to make that mistake this time.

But I don't know if there are many of them that are not so conservative.

Also...I've noticed that some Jewish folks are supporting *. They like his strong backing of Sharon.

[vi5]

3. I think the small amount of Muslim and Jewish crossover...

..from their typical voting groups (Jewish Dems, Muslim Repubs) will likely be small and will likely cancel each other out.

[JI7]

4. i agree

although i'm hoping even if muslims don't vote for kerry , maybe they might at least not vote for bush either.

[2Design]

5. any group who vote for bush over a single issue is putting a nail

in their own coffin.....they may get one thing they like but they will get the garbage can load they will not like.......that will actually hurt them

[AndyTiedye]

6. Like a Chicken Voting for Colonel Sanders...

[IronLionZion]

7. Michigan has more Muslims than anywhere outside the M.E.

but they would be masochistic to vote for a neo-con. They are quite conservative but why vote for someone who wants to throw your family in a detention center?

Just about anyone who makes less than a million bucks a year will be better off with Kerry as president. He better win Michigan, the Muslim vote, and the election.

[DemocraticEnigma]

8. A Muslim's viewpoint...

As a Muslim, I was a Gore supporter in 2000 and definitely not voting for Bush come Nov of this year. I was supporting Wes Clark, while I think Kucinich was the most genuine and favorable to Muslim concerns. In any case, I can guarantee that Muslims and Arabs will vote overwhelmingly for Kerry, and there may be a substantial number voting for Nader as well. Yes, many Muslims identify with republicans on social and moral issues. Personally, I identify with the Democratic stance because while the Republicans like to impose what they see as the proper moral values on others, Democrats let everyone decide what is right for themselves.

There will be some Muslims and arabs who vote for Bush, particularly because they are a) either extremely rich or b) they really think bush did a great job "liberating" Iraq...

As for Kerry, he was my candidate before Clark entered the race, but the more I hear him, the more skeptical I become. His views on the Israel-Palestine issue are 100% in tandem with what Bush believes. I doubt he will mark a significant difference in terms of middle east policy if he is elected. I fear that he won't be what Muslims think he's going to be, but he will definitely be better than Bush.