The Surprise Effect of Anti-Muslim Rhetoric in the Election

If there was any doubt as to the depth and extent of anti-Muslim feelings among portions of the US electorate, this year's presidential elections have most certainly put it to rest. The extent to which candidates and voters alike propagated anti-Muslim themes in order to support a political agenda has been unprecedented. Nearly every major candidate relied on fear of Muslims at some point to stir voter sentiment through fear: Mitt Romney often railed against "radical Islam", Rudy Giuliani routinely invoked the spectre of "Islamic terror," Fred Thompson warned that the US is in a "global war with radical Islam," and John McCain called the fight against "radical Islamic extremists" the "transcendent challenge of the 21st century." Even Barack Obama, who was himself the target of anti-Muslim sentiments - tapped into this theme when he called upon Americans to wean themselves off of Middle Eastern (i.e. Muslim) oil.

Voters - many of whom I would guess couldn't tell the difference between an Islamist and the Muslim next door - responded to these overtures with one of the most sustained and organic email campaigns in recent memory. Repeated tales of Barack Obama's alleged Islamic past and/or present were so effective that in one Texas survey taken only a week before the election, 23% of all voters still believed that Obama was a Muslim. The level to which people clung to this meme despite two years of repeated statements in the media to the contrary is a startling reminder of how deep-seated the fear of Muslims remains.

It didn't stop there. One of the more ambitious attempts to stoke anti-Muslim feelings in order to sway the election was the mailing of 28 million copies of a DVD entitled "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" to households in swing states. Like the emails and statements above, the "Obsession" film blurs the lines between violent radicalism and ordinary Muslims, playing into legitimate fears that many Americans still have in the wake of 9/11.

But despite the extent and volume of anti-Muslim rhetoric, candidates who embraced these methods this year universally failed to get elected.

From the earliest days of the primary, campaigns seemed to falter in direct proportion to the extend politicians tried to make anti-Muslim feelings the foundation of their campaigns. Giuliani and Romney, by far the more strident of the Republican candidates, found no traction with the anti-Muslim arguments and dropped out early. In contrast, John McCain - who rejected Pastor Rod Parsley's endorsement solely due to his anti-Muslim comments and publicly stated that Muslim-Americans were qualified to hold any office in the land - rose to the top of his party.

There's another beneficial side effect that this rhetoric had: it galvanized Muslim-Americans to take control of their own political destiny. After all, if you're already a part of the elections (in an imaginary sense), why not dive in yourself and provide some Muslim reality?

While Muslim-American organizations took a low profile for fear of unwittingly contributing to the stigma, everyday Muslims took it upon themselves to get involved at a grassroots level, where they could stay under the radar and confront anti-Muslim feelings at a personal level. Buoyed by an affinity for Barack Obama, in part due to the slings and arrows that he took on their behalf, thousands of Muslim-Americans gravitated to his campaign and fought back through the political process. And Muslim Republicans, though smaller in number, worked from within the party to excise anti-Muslim sentiment, with some degree of success.

Will the next crop of presidential candidates learn from the lessons of 2008 and stick to more meaningful issues than who can be harder on Muslims? Only time will tell, but even if they don't, there will be a new generation of Muslim grassroots political activists in both parties waiting to confront them.
Cross-posted from Beliefnet's Progressive Revival blog

Comments

[EspressoAtNoon]

I was disgusted with this Muslim frenzy in the press and amongst the politicians. You had Hillary, McCain, and Palin suggesting that Obama was a "Muslim" as if that was a bad thing and then you had Obama's team quickly lashing out "how dare they call him a Mulsim. He's a Christian." And this went on and on ..

Imagine if people were accusing or insinuating that Obama was "Jewish" and then imagine Obama defensively saying "no I'm not - I'm Christian". That kind of behavior resembles what was going on in 1930s Germany as the Nazis came to power.

And it was lost on everyone. The press covered it as though Hillary and McCain and Palin were taking the low road by trying to insinuate Obama was a despicable Muslim. Instead the press should have taken the angle: "Why would that matter? Do Clinton and McCain and Palin distrust all Muslims and believe that if Obama were Muslim that that would be dangerous for our country?"

Being called a Muslim was the equivalent of being called something evil, and this was just accepted by our society at large during the elections, and that is VERY scary.

[chaos4700]

To be fair it wasn't lost on everyone -- both Colin Powell and Keith Olberman each made a point of speaking out not only on the attempt to smear Obama but also the fact that the bigotry behind the accusation was never adequately addressed in almost all of the rebuttals.

Beyond that, I agree with you. I still have to confront this irrational level of Islamophobia from family and coworkers and it doesn't bode well for the future for /exactly/ the historical comparison you made. Bringing up comparisons to Nazi Germany may have become a staple internet cliche... but sometimes, the shoe really does fit, and that should make us open our eyes and examine what we're doing with our society.

[Pip1860]

When people refer to somebody by their religious or racial background that is always half the story. When you say somebody is White or Catholic for instance that is not ALL that person IS. Humans are way more complex than that and therefore it is truly childish to pigeon hole any individual except maybe in some rare cases. I believe there are mature, intelligent and thoughtful people in this world but they come in all colors and faiths. So I have a hard time identifying with people who prefer to associate with those of their faith or race only.

[carrieanna]

I think it's absolutely irresponsible of elected leaders to try to instill fear of any group in the minds of US citizens. I expect our elected leaders to be intelligent and unifying of the electorate. When they portray Muslims or anyone else as being a "threat" I lose all faith in their judgment.

It's also a shame that for such a powerful nation, we can allow ourselves to live in fear. We should enjoy our prosperity and be willing to share it with others who aren't as lucky.

[dogwatch]

Try not to worry too much, Shahed. Each new religion that enters the country in any great number is always treated poorly for a while. Gradually Islam will take its place amongst all the other of the world's religions that have come in to blend with the rest in this country. Catholics finally saw John Kennedy elected. One day somebody named Hussein will be elected as president and even though he might be only a Christian, the point is made that there might not be as much prejudice against Islam as you thought. It's just sort of an initiation process for newcomers. One day you'll look up and the trouble will have disappeared.

[leahi1656]

Could someone please tell me which moderate faction of Islam supports gay marriage, full civil rights for women, and absolute tolerance for alternative belief systems?

The problem here is that Fundamentalist Islam is absolutely anti- these issues, just as is Fundamentalist Christianity. While I respect their right to believe their theologies, that does not mean I have to respect the theologies themselves.

[Ms Fu]

Islam on paper supports civil rights for women and tolerance for alternative belief systems (e.g. Jews in Iran have some rights allowed in their faith that Muslims do not, such as the right to drink alcohol). History has also shown that at least some Muslim empires (e.g. the Moors) have allowed the exercise of religious freedom. And there are some examples of women's rights being exercised as allowed in Islam. Unfortunately, Islam was adopted by peoples who have a history of abusing women's rights, The mistreatment of Muslim women seen today in many Muslim cultures is actually a result of the return of cultural practices to these regions, and not because of Islamic principles.

There is no Islamic sect that supports gay marriage or the practice of homosexuality (it is condemned in the Qur'an), except for an ultra-progressive group of Muslims that includes the likes of Irshad Manji.

[RockySoldier]

whe president elect obama proposed we 'ween ourselves off of middle eastern oil', he was not speaking a bit about islam or muslims. he was speaking to the fact that as long as we have oil as our primary energy resource, we will be bound to be involved in a region of the world where there is very little in the way of stability, many people who use terrible violence on innocents to achieve political goals, and where the people themselves want us out. it had nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Islam or Muslims.

[Ms Fu]

Was I the only Muslim SURPRISED that all of a sudden, just because Obama has Muslim roots, that the media thinks that it's OKAY to be Muslim? After years of being belittled by even moderate folks, I find it difficult to believe there was much sincerity in the "He's not a Muslim, but so what?" statement. I'm not bitter, but a little confused.

[ProgressDon]

Suspecting all muslims for terrorism because of Al Qaeda is like suspecting all white southerners of hate crimes because of the KKK's legacy.....it just doesn't make sense. So Stop it!!!!

[RockySoldier]

you're right. if we are to collectively assume all muslims think like al qaeda, then we can believe all southerners, collectively, are racists.

hey, wait a minute...

[Rog49Thomas]

Breother Shahed, you will get your wish right after Brother Moqtada says Kaddish for Brother Saddam.

[vicenteduq]

Mr Shahed Amanullah :

Thanks for this excellent and opportune article. I basically agree with all you said.

I felt a lot of disgust during this 2008 elections by watching demagogues and racists in rallies. Also some TV shows are repellent and I feel a lot of distaste and aversion to certain TV "journalists" or "informers" that are nothing more than "stimulators" ( in the words of Nate Silver, the famous pollster and analyst ). It seems that Nate also thinks or doubts that Radio Talk Shows harm the Republican Party.

I go further than Nate Silver and I consider these media guys not only as stimulators, but excitators and manipulators of very low emotions and passions, undercover racists, hidden bigots. They always try to hide their hate and be politically correct, but a perspicacious and clear sighted person can understand the imbecility of their TV shows and Radio Talks.

I took two small paragraphs from this article and linked to this page of the HuffPost. Because I have a website RACIALITY.COM that specializes in race relations and ethnic matters.

http://raciality.blogspot.com/

http://milenials.blogspot.com/

Vicente Duque

[adevarul]

Ignorance is always cited as a form of an ad hominem attack on anyone who knows the truly horrific history of Islam and Mahomet. While Christianity is often criticized, it is now largely reformed. Islam is not and will never be. Commencing with the attack on the tribes of Arabia, then spreading across North Africa and lands previously belonging to the Eastern ROman Empire and Persia, the followers of Mohamet have unleashed unprecedented cultural destruction in their wake. Stagnation is the order of the day where Mahomet's minions have taken hold. Great civilizations from Egypt to Syria have all fallen into Arabization (cultural and linguistic) and feel the stagnation that Islam brought and maintains over them. Let us not forget the many victims of these tyrants of Islam in Hindu India, South Eastern Europe and Spain. Never has there been a more savage belief system as an organized religion. What is shocking is that it endures.

[kbella]

Do you even know your history? I mean seriously? Tyrants? Yes, the Muslims conquered Northern Africa and southern Spain, but they were tolerant of what they called "religions of the Book (aka the Torah and the Bible). They didn't kill them as "heretics" (as the Catholic Church did during the Inquisition). The worst thing they did was that they made them pay a tax. Sure, by today's standards this is intolerance, but back then it was beyond tolerant. There was also not any "cultural stagnation"...have you traveled to a place where Muslims ruled in the past (or are still in charge)? There are beautiful buildings and a lovely culture. You have clearly been reading some sort of biased history. Try picking up a real history book.

[2PartyDictatorship]

You ARE quite ignorant,or maybe you're intentionally misleading. Christians have massacred millions upon millions of indigenous peoples in the Americas; and then there are the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Jewish Holocaust, and the list goes on....

[MadMoll]

Really? Jews & Christians had what was known as Dhimmi (Protected) status. "Taxes" (protection) were paid, worship, as long as the prayers were quiet enough to not offend the hearing of muslims.

http://www.reference.com/search?q=Dhimmi

[goodmarina]

Typical of the 'sophomoric' understanding of the pseudo nuevo-American intellect. Your big worded rhetoric doesn't hold a candle to the TRUE true Intellectul American (i.e. Lincoln, Kennedy, MLK, RFK, etc.) that has been brave in the face of ignorance and been a shining example of the glorious human spirit.

All religions have killed in God's name -- yes, that includes my Christian God.

[adevarul]

As can be seen here, resorting to ad hominem (e.g. the speaker being "sophomoric" or ignorant) attacks is generally how those with knowledge of this history of this religion are treated by those who would silence us. BY tghe way, I am an atheist so feel free to criticize Christianity for all its crimes. But when doing so, please remember that Christianity is largely irrelevant to the subject at hand: Islam, except perhaps for understanding why Islam was created in the first place ( the historical context in which Mahomet created such a savage belief system - opposition to Constantinople and the Persians).

[sonoffestus]

I think you need to go to a library and read a little history. You might find it enlightening.

[Ms Fu]

"...victims of these tyrants of Islam in Hindu India, South Eastern Europe and Spain."

Hello? Are you familiar with the ultra-fundamentalist Hindu group the BGP of India? Or the fact that Moors ruled Spain peacefully for 600 years; they were kicked out along with Jews by the Spanish Catholics in 1492. Look, religious violence has gone both ways in history. By the way, it's Muhammad, not Mahomet. Don't use offensive pronunciations to get your point across.

[HeevenSteven]

If they figure that anti-Muslim platforms won't work next time; they'll just double down on the god-guns-n-gays theme; 'specially gays.

[xxnounxx]

I am a muslim,and felt insulted,but then what they say only reflects on their sorry state.
let them get out of our countries and leave s in peace.

[zenwhenicanbe2]

Peace? Come on......

[xxnounxx]

yes the middle east was in peace until the balfour declaration and every western country that has poked its nose in our countries.
yo dont live in peace in america not long time ago in racist america and not now in hidden racist america

[noseysniper]

Anytime any minority group(racial minority, gender minority, religious minority etc) has any "bad apples" that are prominent in the news, the entire minority group pays for it. There will be no "justified" action against Christians when the KKK does something wrong. No ones gonna think every white person is a criminal if they show a killers face on the news and it's a white guy. The only majority group I noticed that even CAN be demonized are men.

[StillIRise]

I agree with your point. Minorities are always judged as a group, whereas whites are judged as individuals. I'm always surprised at the number of African Americans, like myself, who feel like I do when a crime has been committed ... and we silently hope that the perpetrator isn't black, because we know that we will all be judged for his or her crime.

My Arab-American friend travels all over the world, but after 911, he had to curtail his travels because, as a Muslim, he feared that he would be targeted as a terrorist.

Black and brown people are not seen as individuals. In the eyes of some whites, when you see one of us, you see all of us; and the actions of some of us too often define how the rest of us are perceived. It's an unfortunate reality that we have to live with.

[sepiasiren]

Amen--I recall having an argument with an individual who tried to say black male were all inherently violent--when I pointed out that most serial killers were white males he cried "But that is just one group, not all white people..."

To this day I don't think he understood the stupidity of his statement...

[DeniseD]

Unfortunately, that applies to anyone with brown skin, including whites. My daughter is of Italian descent, and has very deep olive skin. Some people think she might be Mexican, others think she is 1/2 black. She even had kids taunting her at school after 9/11 telling her that it was HER people who destroyed the Twin Towers. I was pretty shocked that my Italian-American daughter had to put up with racial slurs.

I do think these experiences have made her the tolerant and compassionate person that she is today, though.

[xxnounxx]

Your right,but the only thing is that whites are judged seperately
thaqts the big diffference

[GonzoFactor]

Sadly, I still have friends who will swear that Obama is a Muslim because he was sworn in on the Koran. Of course, they have him confused with Keith Ellison, a Muslim who was sworn in on a Koran borrowed from the Jefferson Library. When shown evidence to the contrary, that Obama used a Bible that belonged to his grandfather, they flatly refuse to believe it. One guy swore that it was in the Congressional record. When I offered him $100 if he could find it, he said it'd be just like stealing from me and refused to look.

Belief in the enormous pack of lies that's been told about Obama is hardened, widespread, and almost impossible to fight. Showing people where they're wrong and offering detailed proof makes no difference. They're going to believe what they want to believe, and facts be damned.

[StillIRise]

Bottom line: People believe what they want to believe, especially if it helps to justify their bigotry.

[goodmarina]

Still I Rise ... You are ABSOLUTELY right!

[justobserve]

Luckily Obama won! He did despite persistent lies about him, that proved 53% of voters know the difference between lies and truth when they are told.