Muslims, Obama, And The Perils of Victory Ahead

Thoughts on a well-reported piece about the Obama campaign's apparent Islamophobia. The piece resonates with a number of things I've been writing about, right up through yesterday.

I was writing about communities of color expecting a certain kind of "change" in Obama's message, that is, a greater push for racial justice.

Here's Minha Husaini, an Muslim American in her 30s now working in the Obama campaign:

"He gives me hope," Ms. Husaini said in an interview last month, shortly before she joined the campaign on a fellowship. But she sighed when the conversation turned to his denials of being Muslim, "as if it's something bad," she said.

In fact, the article reports, the campaign is even stricter about regulating Obama's appearances -- and even the appearance of subordinates -- at Muslim American events, culminating in last week's resitting of two young women wearing hijabs. Obama himself called the young women to apologize.

Truth be told, for many Muslim American activists and other grassroots progressives, the Obama campaign can be, at best, a big buzzkill machine and, at worst, a wheel-shattering brake on "change" and "hope."

Throughout the primaries, Muslim groups often failed to persuade Mr. Obama's campaign to at least send a surrogate to speak to voters at their events, said Ms. Ghori, of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

Before the Virginia primary in February, some of the nation's leading Muslim organizations nearly canceled an event at a mosque in Sterling because they could not arrange for representatives from any of the major presidential campaigns to attend. At the last minute, they succeeded in wooing surrogates from the Clinton and Obama campaigns by telling each that the other was planning to attend, Mr. Bray said.

The most frustrated surrogate of all is Minnesota Democrat Keith Ellison, the nation's first Muslim congressman, who has seen efforts to bring the Muslim communities in greater contact with Obama stopped dead by the campaign.

It's hard not to notice that this is where the "change" message gets run over by the still largely white mainstream Democratic party operatives who control Obama's campaign. Again, to all those who want to complain about allegedly coalition-fragmenting "identity politics", here are the real identity politics at work.

Muslims, like other communities of color, confront this problem: Do you trust the candidate to do right once elected or do you accede to the reality of the campaign and sit it out?

Which leads to the second thread I've been talking about: the fact of formerly marginalized communities becoming (re)energized in the electoral process over the last 8 years -- whether the young, women, communities of color, or non-Christians.

These minorities are facing the difficulty of moving their vote from emergent to insurgent, from one that can get ignored or vaguely patronized to one that can make things happen.

Here's the article again on the Muslim American vote:

American Muslims have experienced a political awakening in the years since Sept. 11, 2001. Before the attacks, Muslim political leadership in the United States was dominated by well-heeled South Asian and Arab immigrants, whose communities account for a majority of the nation's Muslims. (Another 20 percent are estimated to be African-American.) The number of American Muslims remains in dispute as the Census Bureau does not collect data on religious orientation; most estimates range from 2.35 million to 6 million.

A coalition of immigrant Muslim groups endorsed George W. Bush in his 2000 campaign, only to find themselves ignored by Bush administration officials as their communities were rocked by the carrying out of the USA Patriot Act, the detention and deportation of Muslim immigrants and other security measures after Sept. 11.

As a result, Muslim organizations began mobilizing supporters across the country to register to vote and run for local offices, and political action committees started tracking registered Muslim voters. The character of Muslim political organizations also began to change.

"We moved away from political leadership primarily by doctors, lawyers and elite professionals to real savvy grass-roots operatives," said Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, a political group in Washington. "We went back to the base."

In 2006, the Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee arranged for 53 Muslim cabdrivers to skip their shifts at Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia to transport voters to the polls for the midterm election. Of an estimated 60,000 registered Muslim voters in the state, 86 percent turned out and voted overwhelmingly for Jim Webb, a Democrat running for the Senate who subsequently won the election, according to data collected by the committee.

By itself, these kinds of elections are transformative. They will help build lines of access to change for the communities. No one who is serious about gaining power can ignore the electoral process.

But what happens when groups turn out, get their candidate elected, but still can't influence the process?

If Obama wins, this is a problem Muslim Americans, communities of color, and all those minorities who took the mantra of "hope" and "change" to heart may find themselves in by the middle of 2009.

That's about when the new majority that the Democrats didn't really want and certainly didn't know how to create starts making its claims.

Originally published at Vibe.com

Comments

[willygoo46]

"It's hard not to notice that this is where the "change" message gets run over by the still largely white mainstream Democratic party operatives who control Obama's campaign." Come on will you. Obama is the most shallow, self-promotic hypocrite to come along in decades. And the fans love him. He will do anything, say anything embrace anyone...as long as it get's him elected. Look at Rev Wright - dumped once he was used. Look at his church - dumped now thatb he's used them. He'll use anyone, icluding his family. He is a complete fraud and a charlatan. You tjhink he wants to embrace his muslim constituency? Not if they can't help him. Yet let's blame all of this selfish egotism on the white community. A true leader would not let a few biased people stop him. What evil have wer democrats wroght on ourselves. How could we be so fooled. Do we allow a third term for the Republicans and hope for 20012? Or do we igniore this charlatan's faults and embrace him.

[Hoplite3]

Personally; I don't take offense at Senator Obama's alleged disrespect of The Arab Community. He did not court the Latino Community as much as Senators Clinton and McCain. It doesn't upset me even though I am half Cuban and Half Puerto Rican. . Senator Obama is the best person for the job of The President of The U.S.A. I am going to vote for him in November and have donated money to his campaign. I proudly wear my three T-Shirts that I bought from Cafe cafepress.com: Latinos for Barack Obama 2008, Independent for Barack Obama 2008 and The White Shirt with his likeness that states in the front: "I will close Guantanamo, I will restore Habeas Corpus, and we will end torture and rendition because you will have elected a president who has taught the Constitution and believes in the Constitution and will obey the Constitution of the United States of America". - Barack Obama.The back of the T-Shirt has the Bill of Rights and The Statute of Liberty. I think the words on the constitution includes all Americans even Arab Americans.

[jesselee26]

muslim does not equal muslim.

[Sarahjan]

To anti-Muslim posters here:

Is it Islam and Muslims that told GWB to invade Iraq? Is it Islam and Muslims or Big oil and Big Pharma who are ripping off America? Is it Islam or Muslims who is the driving force behind FISA? Can you face your state of powerlessness and moral impotence and for once stop blaming Muslims and Islam and focus on fixing the real crisis facing this nation?

Those two women represented no danger to America, to senator Obama or to his chances of winning the White House. Do you know how pathetic the US sounds to the rest of the world? Really, I am being serous. Look atthe following links and make the necessary links. The US is a one sinking ship and nobody seem to be in charged. In one of the links shows McCain making fun Obama by saying he will fund green energy because if the US can "built a bridge" it can spent three hundred thousand dollars on green technology. Note this is a direct copy of Obama"s often repeated stump speech that if the US can spent 10B a month in Iraq some of that money can go to rebuilt America,. Keith Olbermann"s missed this association nor is this slippage had been noted by the rest of the US media.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25352442/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/24/20-billion-later-iraq-sec_n_108919.html

[boatbum]

Does anti-Muslim bias exist? Yes, and for good reason. Anti-Christian bias as well as anti-Jewish bias also exists for good reason. These religions are known as much for their intolerance as they are for guidance and peace.

Everything about Obama indicates that his arguments are well-reasoned and that he listens carefully to all sides. If politically right now, the candidates distance themselves from certain groups, so it goes. To say that Obama isn't going to hear the grievances of Muslim-Americans however is an unlikely hypothetical.

[tasukibeth1]

Obama is not anti-Muslim and never has been. Frankly, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't - this is a no-win situation for him.

The Muslim community needs to be a little more understanding and lighten up until after the election. Anyone who is a Muslim is aware of the stupidity of mainstream America, and it would be wise to lay low if they want Obama to win. Yes it sucks, but sometimes it is necessary. There is plenty of time for religious healing, but right now we have an election to think about.

[buster05]

Obama nor his campaign members meant any harm to those muslim women. They know someone would have fudged those pictures to make it seemed like he is a muslim. That move is called "preventive maintenance".

[MagisterLudi]

Obviously Obama is niot Anti-Muslim. He's crafty politician who decided that he doesn't want to be associated with Muslims during the campaign ... there's a difference there. He's gonna have enough problems with white hick states.

[Repub4Obama]

He has to "deny" being a Muslim because he is not one. He can also deny that he's ever been a Buddhist or Hindu, but nobody is saying that about him. Get over yourself. You think you'll be better off under McCain and the Republican fear machine that teaches us that all Muslims are crazy lunatics that strap explosives to retarded women and make them into suicide bombers? Get real, please.

If even ONCE, Obama was to say that not all Muslims are bad and that there are many things about the religion that are good, he would be slaughtered. Most people don't realize that Jesus is in the Qu'ran, and is a major character too. He can't say this because if he did, the Republicans would have him doing a "Muslims are good people" voiceover with images of the 9/11 attacks, and Americans would be scared, and McCain would win.

Pick your battles, please, and don't pick on the ONE CANDIDATE who has a decent chance to bring acceptance and integration to the White House.

[Prism]

You basically undermine the whole "change" message. What IS it exactly which seperates him now from ANY other candidate who will say ANYTHING to get elected? Some quixotic hope that once elected he'll do yet another 180 , only this time in YOUR favor? Dream on. The con has worked. Just another snake oil purveyor looking for angles.

[outsidein]

His claims, although oozing with sarcasm and draped in cliches, are still more on point than your delusional assumptions that Obama is a snake oil salesman...I believe that role would be more suited to someone from, say...Arizona?

[pbarba1969]

This is the same song and dance we've seen. Keith Ellison wants a bigger piece of the pie, by saying he represents all Moslem Americans, which is stupid. That's like saying the Kennedy's represent all Catholic Americans.

Congressman Ellison has been very vocal in telling Senator Obama what to do, and Senator Obama isn't having any of it. Ellison things he should apologize to all Moelms and that he wouldn't support as ticket with Hillary Clinton on it.

Who the hell is he?

He's one Congressman among many who things he is calling the shots.

Get in line.

Seantor Obama is our nominee and the decisions are his to make

Congressman Ellison embarassed himself at the last meeting Senator Obama had with the Congressional Black Caucus, where he was so disrespectful to Senator Obama that the Chairwoman had to gavel him.....

Seantor Obama would be doing an extreme disservice to himself and his supporters by letting Ellison call the shots...

[shaman]

Religion should have no place in politics. Doesn't matter what religion, Christian, Muslim, Buddist, Hindu, etc. Our founders were smart enough to separate religion from government with good cause. Look around the world and within this country to see what happens when religion is mixed with government. Islamic governments like Iran are totalitarian (thought & clothing police) that the Christian right can only envy for their success of imposing orthodoxy. Religious groups are no different than other special interest groups that are out to get their interests written into law. I don't want my politicians sucking up to any religious group.

It is also a mistake to equate "communities of color" with religion. Islam is multi-racial, just like Christianity (remember that Obama has been accused of being a member of a radical black church). Big difference between race and religion.

[kingofscotts]

You completely miss the point of this post.

It's not about religion. Those two women who attended the Obama event were not there to represent Islam. They were there to represent themselves. It was the Obama campaign that only saw religion and squashed it. Obama is so afraid of being seen with anyone who practices the Muslim faith his campaign is doing back flips to distance themselves.

This isn't change. This is the same old scared politics we have had for too long. Instead of standing up to the smears Obama runs from them.

That's not hope. That's the same old same old.

[diamondgirl9]

O has taken photos with Muslims-scarves and all. Unless you've lived in some other country since 9/11 you know that a lot of people equate Muslims with terrorists. This is not O fault-but the fault of neo-cons,and the fear of the unknown,and bigotry of the electorate.

Get real,fair or not ,for him to be closely associated with Muslims,would be manna from heaven for the neo-cons. He wants to get elected-I want him to get elected-and if you think about it-you should too.

[shaman]

Did you read the article. Most is focused on the Muslim vote, not two women in headscarves. See the section that starts with the below extract:

"These minorities are facing the difficulty of moving their vote from emergent to insurgent, from one that can get ignored or vaguely patronized to one that can make things happen.

Here's the article again on the Muslim American vote:"

I think the point is quite clear to anyone who reads the complete post.

[RoloTomassi]

As with Telecom immunity, this issue is part of a political mine field that Obama must navigate to reach the presidency.

We are down to the home stretch in this race, and the bottom line is that you will either trust Obama to be more progressive than he can publically present himself during this election, or you will lose your resolve and vote for one of the other candidates. IMO, of the choices remaining, Obama represents the best hope for Muslim Americans in gaining rightful equality in the next few years.

I don't agree with many stances he is taking, but I do believe he is reigning in his left-of-center propensities for the sake of winning the election; if not, I will--like many others--be disappointed.

But that's the gamble we are left with, and have no doubt, this election will be won by Obama or McCain; it is simply a matter of either voting for the viable candidate whose views are closest to your own, or voting your conscience [even if that means voting in protest for McCain or for a 3rd party candidate].

Unless Obama suddenly comes to represent more of a continuation of BushCo than McCain does, I will vote fore Obama.

[Repub4Obama]

Well thought, and thank you. Let's get him elected and we'll see what happens. Judging by the quickness with which he moved the DNC and had the DNC stop taking PAC money, I have a feeling we'll see lots of change once he takes on the mantle of President.

[southernsepia]

Could progressive be just a bit more grown up about this election?

No he will not wear his liberal credentials on his sleeve.
No he will not go out of his way to embrace each minority community.
No he will not embrace every liberal group.

He wants to win. We want him to win.
The ultimate goal is not for progressive groups to get face time, it is to have the best person for the job win.

Please stop whining every time someones toes get stepped on.

[Prism]

This enabling of very bad practices makes my head explode. Corrupt thinking that makes me wonder what the "change" argument was all about.

[mom2sons]

Everybody just calm down! Obama is not just a politician he truly cares for ALL people. Just keep working and donating. Our time is coming. Everybody is pulling from all sides and our opponents are slinging mud and smears on a daily basis. I believe in Obama's vision and will continue to work for his election as POTUS. Everybody will be heard. We have a lot of work to do. There will be disappointments, but no like we've had for the last 7 years. I'm making my reservation for Inauguration Day 2009. Keep the faith everybody!

[ApolloSpeaks]

OBAMA PISSING OFF JIHADISTS

It seems that Obama is doing a very good job in pissing off Molsems. Starting with his hawkish, pro-Israel speech at AIPAC (which caused Hamas to withdraw its endorsement and outraged Islamic extremists everywhere), his emphatic denials of being Moslem and the recent incident with the two Moslem women Obama could be putting his life at great risk.

Keep in mind that on the 40th anniversray of Bobby Kennedy's assassination by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian fanatic, Obama was meeting with Clinton at the home of Dianne Feinstein, who in 1978 replaced the mayor of San Francisco when he was gunned down by an irate politician. Also keep in mind that Obama shares the same birthday with Keith Ellison, our first Moslem congressman, who was born on August 4, 1963 Obama's second birthday-just 110 days before JFK's death.

If our jihadist enemies believe that a President Obama would be useless for advancing their cause in the Middle East and elsewhere they may see him as more useful to them dead than alive. For a dead Obama gunned down or killed by professional jihadist killers without a trace would cause chaos in this country.

[AfzaalKhan]

I fail to see what this has to do with American muslims taking part in the US election? R u implying we all jihadis? 1st we dont integrate when we do we still not to be trusted? Mr. Obama went to AIPAC which is Isreal lobby group, not just a jew group. If he can go to a foriegn govt lobbying arm and pledge his allegiance to them, then surely he can have enuff decency to atleast attend one American Muslim event no?, Muslim population is USA is in significant numbers, Muslim leaders have been trying hard to get Muslims to get off thier collective asses and participate in electoral process so their voices can be heard, the response they get is its useless as noone will listen to them. Mr. Obama whole mssg was hope and change by dissing Muslims he is not in any way threatened to loose the election, but it will just reinforce the idea that Muslims have no place in American society and have no voice in American politics.
As for reference to assasination of american leaders, I believe more can be traced to non- muslims then muslims.

[Repub4Obama]

Don't mind ApolloSpeaks, just understand this is what Obama is up against. This guy will still probably vote for Obama, and that's the idea, right? Because of the press, Obama has a "Jewish problem". Nobody EVER WILL EVER EVER EVER talk about any candidate's "Muslim problem". This kind of issue does not exist in the MSM, the minds of most Americans, and Obama needs to spend time where the return is the greatest. Spending time going to a Muslim event would cost him the election.

If it makes you feel better, he missed the Black Congress event, didn't make a guest appearance on "Gays for Jesus" on public access channel 129, didn't go to a Navajo reservation, hasn't learned creole, doesn't make time to talk to the Small Business Association, didn't meet with the Dali Lama when he was here: and the list goes on.

The fact is that if he did any of these things, it would be OK, and would probably actually get him a few votes. For him to meet with Muslim clerics or attend an Muslim PAC event would mean you'd have to say "President McCain". How does that sound? Do you think religious tolerance will be better under Obama or McCain?

[ApolloSpeaks]

Obama presidency would serve their interests especially in forcing Israel to make suicidal concessions their hopes were shattered by his AIPAC speech. Given his apostasy from Islam-having had a Moslem father makes Obama an apostate-his strong defense of Israel, his emphatic denials of not being Moslem and the treatment of the two Moslem women due to their faith, I believe that jihadists at this point see Obama as being more useful to them dead than alive.

Moreover, with Obama having met Hillary on the 40th anniversary of Robert Kennedy's murder by an Arab fanatic-triggered by RFK's support of Israel-a day after his AIPAC speech and in the home of a senator who became mayor of a large US city due to the assassination of her predecessor, I would be very careful if I were Obama.

[MaeScott]

Muslim Americans have the right to speak out against profiling. Profiling is wrong, no matter if it comes from Imus, the cops, or the great Faux noise and Lou Dobbs.
That said, Obama is still the best choice against McSame...issues of diversity are not his strong suit.

[Sarahjan]

Obama needs a major infusion of new, robust and diverse blood at the top level of the food chain of his campaign apparatuses. Second, he needs to diversify his surrogates and message of hope. Obama is running campaign predicated on color blind liberalism but reality of American society is much complex and that is why he needs people with diverse training in gender, race, ethnicity as PR, surrogates and advisors.

[MagisterLudi]

I'll say again what I've been saying ( and keep on saying until you Obamiacs get it. Obama is conservative middle of the road petty bourgeois candidate. Look t hias Senate record and support for Liberman, Condi Rice. He's born again fundamentalist Christian conservative, regardless of his appearance or focus group testing message or butch talk. He promises nothing and everything all at the same time.

[jcwtts1]

I'll say it again, you have to be out of your mind. Obama is not bourgeois at all. If Obama is bourgeois (a term you may not understand has powerful meaning in the African American community) what the heck are the republicans. McCain is worth hundreds of millions of dollars... get a grip and get real.

J

[spaceman3838]

i will repeat myself anyone that uses the term bourgeois is an idiot

[RoloTomassi]

No one is going to "get" the nonsense you are spewing, as you have ZERO credibility here; your NeoCon rantings from the past have clearly identified you and your subersive agenda.