John McCain: I am an Arab and a Decent Man

Today my office issued the following statement, which includes my comments:

Dr. James Zogby says, "Enough is enough!"

Washington D.C. - October 11, 2008 -We are disturbed by the degree to which 'Arab' has become the metaphorical mud to sling against your opponent. Last week, for example, the Republican Jewish Coalition released a document in which they use the term Pro-Arab as a pejorative accusation. For his part, Rush Limbaugh has joined in by declaring that Obama is in fact an Arab American. Then, last Friday, after a supporter called Senator Barak Obama "an Arab", Senator John McCain came to the defense of of his political opponent by saying, "No, ma'am. He's a decent family man and citizen..." From this we are left to infer that an Arab man is less then a "decent family man."

Dr. James Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute, says, "Enough is enough! From the beginning of this campaign there have been those who have used 'Muslim' and 'Arab' in an effort to smear Barack Obama. This exploitation of bigotry and the stoking of racist fires to forward an agenda is reprehensible. This is not only offensive to Arab Americans, but to all Americans. As any ethnic group who has ever been used to scare the electorate knows, this is a dangerous game that, tragically, can get innocent people hurt.

"And while we are pleased to see that the senator is trying to dispel rumors about Senator Obama, we feel the need to point out that Arab Americans are also decent men and women with full rights of citizenship as enumerated under the Constitution. Arab Americans are part of the great melting pot that is this country's strength. We work towards peace in the Middle East along side our Jewish partners. We raise our sons and daughters to be model citizens of this nation. We serve this country with honor. The suggestion that any ethnic group is treacherous and Anti-American is unacceptable, dangerous, and unbecoming of such a great nation."

Comments

[patianneb]

I agree that McC's comments and the rabblerousing diatribes of his soul-mate (the other candidate found to be in violation of ethical standards--the only TWO candidates ever, by the way) are not only agitating and wrong, but should be infuriating to ALL Americans, irrespective of race, creed, color, religion or gender, or any other demograhic qualifier.

[merylgr]

This was exactly my reaction when I heard this comment from McCain. I am a Jew and I am very frightened and disgusted by the casual way that groups and individuals are slurred by the McCain/Palin ticket. The really scary part is that quite a bit of the time they don't even realize that they are doing it. That John McCain felt that the polar opposite of an Arab is a decent family man is beyond despicable. I was even more horrified that there was not one commentator on any major news station who reflected my observation.

[dct1999]

This is an important post. McCain's reponse was just as bigoted, as the old woman's original comment. It is sad, but not surprising, that we are still stereotyping people.

[jymfrancais]

Frankly, Mc Cain had no choice, but discredit this woman
no act of bravery there

[voting4BO]

This is an excellent article. In so many words, Obama has stated that he's not of the Muslim faith, but that there's nothing wrong with being Muslim. I only wish that he was more forceful in this message.

This was a gaffe for McCain as he did not condemn this prejudice. We all are Americans. That is supposed to the be beauty and uniqueness of this country, that we are diverse and united.

[walkthewalk]

This is an important statement about respect and dignity of people that needed to be said and needs to be heard.

[megananne]

McCain's reaction to the woman in the crowd definitely implied that to be of Arab descent means to be un-American. It was such an obvious gaff but the mass media didn't seem to comment on it at all. They only talked about how McCain's resonse showed that he was trying to defend Obama by telling the crowd Obama was not an Arab. So glad Zogby is speaking out.

[JXJASON]

I agree with you, James. Thanks for the article.

As the campaign continues, Senator McCain will make more and more blunders and show the American people just how bad a person McCain really is and how McCain will be an ineffective President.

John McCain and Sarah Palin are going down to defeat. They are both poor choices. The Republican party should have known better than to pick these two to lead us in the next eight years.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

[LAfromFL]

Thank you for writing how you felt. I was shocked and mad at this all week.
I am one of these “other”. I am mixed with Lebanese (Arab), French (White European) and Haitian (Black) but I am a proud American and I am not a terrorist! I will vote for Obama. McCain and Palin, stop this divisiveness and hated campaign.

[runutz]

Maybe they need to find different speech writers -

"He is the child of an imperfect mother who twice married Muslim men and whose child was literally rescued by two extraordinary grandparents. He is not like you or I.

He is half black and half white. He is not like you or I." - Alan Caruba

[Roschelle]

I absolutely agree. We are all decent Americans. No one can claim rightful ownership of the great nation unless they're Native American. Everyone else landed here on somebody's ship. For some it was the Mayflower for others perhaps the slave ships that sailed the seas for many many years.

At any rate, condemning any group of people is wrong and yes, extremely dangerous.

[voting4BO]

You took the words right out of my mouth!!!!!

[MagisterLudi]

"We are all decent Americans."
All people are be decent. Some are decent most of the time. Some some of the time.
While your post is laudable in intent, it's a stump speech-like fell- good online comment far removed from reality. We have police, security services, National guard, FDA etc because not all Americans are decent. Ditto for the entire body of laws which aims to protect the society from people who are anything but decent. And it a VERY difficult job to separate those who are decent from those who are not. Especially in a constitutional democracy.

[Voltage]

When I saw the clip, the first thing I thought was, "O's not Arab." The next thing I thought was, "Even if he was, why would that be scary?".

[I-Am-John-McCain]

The problem with McCain on this issue is that he has addressed it only when forced to, in response to the woman's statement. It's similar to his innappropriate grasp of the economy, which simply became more obvious after September 15th, when he was forced to address those issues.

If McCain was more intelligent and wasn't so out of touch, and if he had the nuts to do it, he would have appropriately addressed this matter before now.

What's striking about Friday's town hall meeting is not that what happened is actually anything surprising and revealing about McCain, but that he's left himself trapped by his own views.

McCain's demonstrated lack of foresight is what worries me.

[GiggidyGeshmoygen]

it is total BS that McCain gets any "credit" for responding to the old lady that called Obama an "arab" ---

HE HAD NO CHOICE ! ! !

he would have been (even more finely ground) political dogmeat if he had not corrected, on camera, the lie his party and his campaign have been spreading for more than a year .............

[filo]

You are absolutely RIGHT !

HE HAD NO CHOICE !!

[demfriend]

I am amazed every day to see Obama at the top of the numbers and grateful beyond words he is. I think with him as President we might actually be able to begin to heal from the division Bush and the GOP has pushed farther upon us. We might have been further down the road to healing from 9/11 had we had anyone but Bush these past 8 years but we have had him and his strong desire to make us even more seperate than before. In his desire to control us for the corporate friends of his and to sway business their way we have suffered much more at his hands. Now we have McCain who is more of the same and "feels familiar" to many so they look to him as if the country can continue with what we have been but I don't believe we can. I think we are at the point where the decision has to be made to either heal or go down in anger. Our Constitution has held us up far more years than many others have but I think we have more left of not only pride as a country but a belief we can do things together. McCain is right we don't want what he wants which is more of the same hate and division. Thank you for your work doctor.