It's a Damn Shame

The 1980s were a difficult time for Arab Americans. Politicians returned our contributions, rejected our endorsements, and many effectively hung "No Arab Americans allowed" signs on their campaign doors. Back then, we wrote about this situation, calling it "the politics of exclusion."

We fought back. We organized, worked hard, and we emerged victorious -- or, should I say, somewhat victorious? I now feel a bit tentative about our progress because what happened to Mazen Asbahi has set off alarm bells, causing me to wonder whether or not "the politics of exclusion" might not once again be rearing its ugly head.

For those who don't know, here's what happened:

On July 25th the Barack Obama campaign announced the appointment of Mazen Asbahi to further their outreach efforts to Arab Americans and American Muslims. As a young and accomplished corporate attorney, Mazen was largely unknown to many in both communities. He quickly acclimated himself to his post, contacting leaders and activists nationwide both to introduce himself and to develop ways to include them in the Obama campaign.

I was delighted to meet him. He is the father of three, and I found him to be passionate about both his family and his new assignment. He had been successful in his short career as an attorney, but he told me that he felt that this new position provided him with an important opportunity to give something back to his country and his community. In the brief time he held his position, we spoke almost daily. He learned so much and did so much to make Arab Americans and American Muslims feel included in the campaign.

Then it happened.

A shady website "Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report" that monitors Muslim activism and organizations revealed that 8 years ago Mazen had been on the board of the Allied Assets Advisors Fund. Also on the board was Jamal Said, described as "a controversial imam in a fundamentalist Illinois mosque." In fact, Mazen was on this board for only two weeks before his discomfort with some of the things being said about the group led him to resign.

This brief association appears to be the main "allegation" against Mazen. The other charge is that he, like thousands of other Muslim American students, was a student body leader of the Muslim Students Association - an established and respected religious/social group found on most U.S. campuses. But because an anti-Muslim blogger with a marked penchant for exaggeration and error has called the Muslim Students Association a "wahhabist front" - this charge against Mazen was thrown into the mix.

In the days that followed, the charges became fodder extremist right wing bloggers, who began to write about Mazen, describing him as a person that neither he nor those of us who had come to know him could recognize.

As has become standard practice these days, the major media (in this case, the Wall Street Journal) picked up the non-story and began to prepare an "expose." Concerned that this would escalate, Mazen and the campaign agreed to terminate his position. Mazen issued a statement, saying "I am stepping down from the volunteer role I recently agreed to take on with the Obama campaign as Arab-American and Muslim American coordinator in order to avoid distracting from Barack Obama's message of change."

The entire affair has left many in the Obama campaign, and in both the Arab American and American Muslim communities, feeling saddened and troubled.

Several observations can be made and questions must be raised about this situation in which we now find ourselves operating.

The combination of bigoted websites, their echo-chamber bloggers, irresponsible mainstream media outlets, and fear and ignorance about all things Arab and Muslim have produced an oppressive environment detrimental to the full political participation and empowerment of the Arab American and American Muslim communities.

Who is behind the shadowy website "Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report" that "revealed" the story? And what is their agenda? And why are the likes of Debbie Schlussel, Michelle Malkin, Steven Schwartz, Daniel Pipes, Frank Gaffney, and David Horowitz not been held to account for the misinformation they spread, and the intolerance they promote?

Malkin, it should be remembered, threw a fit over Rachael Ray's wearing a Kaffiyeh in a Dunkin Donuts ad. Schlussel attempted to Muslim-bait former Secretary of Energy, Spencer Abraham. Gaffney drove a decent young Muslim American out of the Bush White House because of an unfounded allegation about his father, and Pipes has made a career out of harassing outstanding scholars like Georgetown University's John Esposito. If we allow the likes of these to define Arab Americans and American Muslims, and to determine their fitness to serve - then we are heading back to "the politics of exclusion."

The failure of these obsessively anti-Arab, anti-Muslim characters to discern between genuine "bad guys" and just regular guys like Mazen does a grave disservice to all Americans. Instead of being viewed as legitimate sources, they should be held accountable for their intolerance. It is a shame that they do what they do, and a bigger shame that no one in the mainstream media has wisdom or the courage to see them for what they are - or question their credibility.

Back to Mazen and the Obama campaign.

To his credit, Mazen has been as graceful and thoughtful in adversity as he was upon assuming his post. He remains committed to Barack Obama's election, and to empowering his community. And because he didn't want to become the issue, he stepped aside and will find other ways to serve. Despite this regrettable setback, the Obama campaign will continue its outreach efforts. But, we must ask, what about the fate of the next Arab American or American Muslim to seek such a position of service?

If we are to advance as a nation in the important work of including all of our citizens in the political process, we must not allow a return to "the bad old days." And if we are to take advantage of the incredible resources provided by the Arab American and American Muslim communities, then we must include them - not only because it is the right thing to do, but because our inclusion of them and their involvement in all aspects of our society and politics is so critically important in our efforts to engage the world in which we live.

Comments

[slg]

Thank you for clearing this up. It would be appropriate for Obama to strike back, use this information to expose the rabid right for the hate mongrels they are. The vast majority of people are decent and welcome diversity. If they were not, society would fall apart in an instant. It's time to push back on all fronts against the lies and ignorance or face a repeat of the Clinton years; unrelenting neocon assaults.

no bystanders here.

[Kristin262]

Thank you Mr. Zogby for your post further clarifying why Mazen Asbahi resigned from what I believe is a very important post in Barack Obama's campaign. I really saddens me that information becomes distorted beyond all recognition and those responsible for spreading innuendo and fear are not called to task by the mainstream media.

One point on "assimilation" that someone mentioned. It's my belief that we should celebrate diversity. For example, I love good food: Thai, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Mexican, French, Basque, so on and so forth. America is diverse, and great because of this.

[Pherdnut]

The people spreading innuendo and suspicion ARE the mainstream media. Now that they're all owned by 2-3 chummy mega-conglomerates there's no need for them to compete for being the best service to the American people anymore so they can reap profit stoking the flames of scandal whether legit or not. It was a stupid oversight to deregulate the media to the degree that it has been and it happened on Bill Clinton's watch.

[sy35]

On this website, Irshad Manji proposes that Asra Nomani be given the post of Muslim outreach co-ordinator, a "reform minded Muslim". The irony of this is that as liberal as she is , even she would not be able to pass the criteria that have now been set up for any Muslim representative:

1) She has spoken at the Islamic Society of North America: http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2004/09/an-example-to-l.php

2) Oh, wait, who would that be in the picture right behind her - could it be that guy Mazen Asbahi?

3) The conservative blogosphere would of course have no problem taking personal pot shots at her

4) Did I mention she has spent significant time in Pakistan?

The point being is that Mr Asbahi himself is a moderate, forward thinking American Muslim, who is practicing and with progressive views who is exactly the kind of Muslim who needs to be encouraged to enter the public sphere, and not be unceremoniously pushed out of it based on right wing innuendo. Being part of ISNA, which is the largest umbrella organization of Muslims in the country and attracts Muslims from all viewpoints from conservative to liberal is not an exclusion criteria that should be used to exclude people from being active

[desertbreeze]

Mr. Zogby, as always you have written a thoughtful and insightful article. You are absolutely correct in that the right wing bloggers and msm have only added fuel to an already raging fire regarding Arab Americans in this country. These right wing nuts are the ultimate hypocrites­......they espouse christianity as the only "true" religion while ignoring the basic tenets of the philosophy such as tolerance and forgiveness. They are so filled with hate that they are incapable of rational thought....of seeing differences among peoples who share certain cultural characteristics but are as different as night and day. They are so infused with their own self rightousness that paranoia has resulted. As many of us already know, they are dangerous and the only way to mitigate their influence is to remove them from power by using our own power at the polls, with the tv remote and by using the delete button on our computers.

[rudiy]

I find this story poignant. It is a shame but the Arab and Muslim community, not just the few need to speak out. Mostly what you read and see are the Arabs and Muslims who write with so much anti US venom on the blogs on this publication, the BBC, Canadian publications and Al Jeezera to name a few. Their hate is almost never countered in any meaningful way by others.

[marymansour]

Mr. Zogby, I am a long time fan of yours. This country, especially after 9/11, became phobic about Arabs and Muslims in general. Thank you, once again, for speaking out.

[EspressoAtNoon]

Low and behold, there's a video about Frank Gaffney on the front page of HuffPost:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/08/israel-iran-and-the-new-n_n_117830.html

This guy is lobbying the US to bomb Iran.

[medi22]

"Despite this regrettable setback, the Obama campaign will continue its outreach efforts."

Does this mean that the Obama campaign will maintain the outreach position and replace Mazen? If so, because of the degree of scrutiny, I wonder if a list of individuals with already established reputations and public visibility--rather than newer faces--is being put forward by Muslim and Arab American orgs to be considered to replace him? It's very disappointing that this happened, but as you point out, not surprising. To me the important issues are using this incident to strengthen the Obama campaign's commitment to the position and improving the vetting process so this doesn't happen again.

Thanks for the excellent article!

[KiwisCanFly]

It is a sorry shame.

[MagisterLudi]

So because of some disreputable blog O-bama's team asked him to resign. Just as BO did with Wright. Political expediency trumps good sense anytime. Surprised?!

[sawdustinhershoes]

They didn't ask him to resign.

It's funny, you guys from the right paint everything Obama does as political and bad. But, what about when your buddies engage in "political expediency" like disregarding the truth about Obama and twisting words and actions into ABSOLUTE lies about him?

I've been listening to a LOT of AM radio lately. I read the news, usually, 2 or 3 sources before getting into my car - with ONLY AM radio, ugh - and then I listen to Rush and Sean and numerous others (cut from the same cloth) lie and distort and lie about the news. There are hundreds of these AM outlets across the US and of course Fox TV. These guys go on 24/7 spreading nonstop propaganda about Obama and LIBERALS.

Now, with all this free press, I mean thousands of hours a month, why hasn't McCain pulled ahead any? AND, why must you guys keep lying? If McCain or the republican crime syndicate, the RNC, had such a great platform, or were doing the right thing, don't you think all this free press for McCain would have garnered more for your man?

Don't worry about ANYTHING the democrats do, until the RNC stops lying and stops committing criminal acts in order to get their candidate "elected".

What is it about totalitarianism that you guys find so appealing? Do you really like a police state where only those who have pledged alliegence to a political party are free to go about their

[MagisterLudi]

So you're saying because of some disreputable blog O-bama threw the guy under the bus?
Just as he did with Wright... Well it's called think skinned political expediency. Surprised?!

[sawdustinhershoes]

There are no surprises when we see how dishonest and criminal the republicans have become. Only sadness. If you were sentient, you'd understand our feelings.

[SadButWiser]

Mr. Zoghby, I look forward to your column and I appreciate your good work and good will to bridge the gap between all communities. Give it few more years for things to get better if Obama is elected. If McCain is elected on the other hand, and Iran is attacked then expect things to get worse.

[Republicnotademocracy]

Instead of drawing attention to themselves, why don't they try to assimilate with their overwhelmingly christian countrymen? The Jews have assimilated.

[Clevelanded]

Maybe because most of the Jews you mention look like the rest of America. I think you missed the point.

[mscriblerus]

No offense intended her. But what exactly do you mean by assimilate?

[Garioch]

Really? I'll just pop over to Brooklyn and let them all know then shall I? Clueless, bigoted and manages to insult two of the major religions in one post, a quite remarkable achievement Sir and I congratulate you.

[JimboSlice]

What exactly do you mean by "assimilate"? The Jews that I see around here all clump together in 1 neighboorhood, have synagogues, youth centers, community centers, kosher stores, etc. and on a Friday you can see the men out in their black suits and hat with the long dreads. Is that "assimilation"? Could you imagine the reaction to a group of Muslims doing the same thing in this country?

It's like your proud of your ignorance.

[sawdustinhershoes]

No. They have their communities segregated from the rest of us, mostly. If you call assimilation calling for war with Iran every few days and blind alliegence to Isreal, then I agree.

[whatsthatsound]

Most Muslims aren't Arabs, and not all Arabs are Muslims. Too many Americans have trouble with even elementary facts such as these. When McCain refers to an Iraqi/Pakistan border, he does nothing to dispel the ignorance. It's bad enough for people to be prejudiced; downright pathetic when they don't know basic facts about who they are prejudging.

[marymansour]

Thank you, Whatsthatsound. I couldn't have said it better myself. There is so much ignorance on the part of Americans regarding Arabs, Muslims, Shias, Sunnis and Iranians. Ignorance eventually breeds contempt which begets wars.

[paixa3]

ditto, thank you both for excellent postes.

[Clevelanded]

Thanks for the article. I can imagine the hurt felt by Arab-Americans. I offer my sympathies. I am black, and carry a similar burden. I think though, that one day sooner than we can even anticipate, the color of a man's skin will be of no more significance than the color of his eyes.

[Atticus]

All your complaining about American negativism towards our (unassimilated) muslim citizens, yet you cast no aspersions on Osama (not Obama) for causing the present predicament between East and West?

[Clevelanded]

Osama is an insane idealogue with no regard for human life or dignity. Americans, even conservative hack jobs are supposed to be better. Maybe that is asking too much.

AND IN CASE YOU WERE UNAWARE, THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION BEGAN PLANNING TO INVADE IRAQ IN JANUARY OF 2001.

There is no excuse for racism or bigotry now, or ever.

[Republicnotademocracy]

Wrong on every count.