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Muslim Affairs Team
Answer
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Name
shaffiq
-
Profession
Question
From recent polls says that "Most of Muslims will go for Obama"?
Is it "Vote for Obama" or "Anti-Govt Policies"
Answer
Thank-you for your question Shaffiq. Current anti-government policies/anti-Bush administration vote. However, one cannot dismiss the empathy and desire for minority communities to see a permanent minority rise within the highest level of the political landscape of America.
There is always an emotional component of politics merged within the practical and strategic interests of the voters.
Name
Abdallah
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Profession
Question
Salam Br. Mahdi,
Do you think Muslims are now more mature to tilt the elections? How did that happen in 2006?
Answer
Wa'Alaikum Assalamu Br. Abdallah,
MAS Freedom, along with other Muslim activists adopted a battleground strategy. We targeted states where elections would be extremely close between candidates and where there was also a large voting Muslim population. Thus, relying on good voter education, and massive Muslim voter mobilization, Muslim voters turned out in 2006 in record numbers.
In Virginia according to the American media, this strategy was the margin of difference in the 2006 Senate elections. Therefore, the Muslim vote was a major determining factor in deciding the balance of power in the U.S. Senate in 2006.
Name
Mustapha
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Dear Dr. Bray,
In swing states, such as Ohio and Florida, or maybe in other very close states, do you think Muslims might have a chance to affect the direction of the election results?
Thanks,
Answer
Absolutely - As previously demonstrated in 2006. The strategic factor is moving their resources nationally to states that are swing states.
For example, since there is little impact that Muslims can have on states like New York, California, Massachusetts, etc., our MAS Freedom chapters in those states are exerting their mobilization efforts in the swing states of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, and Michigan (more information is available on swing states at www.masfreedomvip.com)
It's all about Muslims nationally targeting and providing resources in swing states rather than in the respective states in which they live. We have a great video at MAS Freedom VIP's website, "What is a Swing State" that can offer additional information: Watch it here
Name
shaffiq
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Profession
Question
How many registered Muslim voters are there in US?
Answer
The numbers vary between one million to a half-million. I think it would be safe to say somewhere in the middle between those two numbers.
Name
Ali
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Dear Imam Mahdi,
Nice to be able to talk to you.
Now with having a much bigger number of Muslims, how much were the candidates' campaigns relevant and considerate of Muslim Americans since their number is getting bigger and of course, will be effective in voting?
Answer
Assalamu alaikum Ali,
Unfortunately neither of the Presidential candidates were very responsive to the American Muslim community. However, given our 'newness' in the process we are not discouraged by these 'slights', be they intentional or unintentional.
What is interesting to note is that candidates at the congressional, state and local level attended mosque town-hall meetings and solicited the Muslim vote this year in record numbers. This is encouraging, especially in light of the old political proverb, "all politics are local". Political empowerment is a gradual building process. Truly we are guiding the the American Muslim community in a process that yields political results as opposed to empty platitudes and hollow political symbolism.
Wa'Salaam Alaikum
Name
Rania
- Egypt
Profession
Question
A'salam alikom
I will rather ask the question oppositely. What kind of support does the Muslim Americans have now to make them be bright politically?
Answer
Thank you for your question Rania.
Within the last five years MAS Freedom has trained over 6,000 Muslim political activists nationwide. They have been trained at Masjids and mosques, college campuses, special seminars, and large national and regional conventions. Additionally town-hall meetings, Friday prayer sermons, community picnics and other large events such as Eid celebrations have been used to both register and educate the American Muslim community on political matters.
Name
Aishah
- Egypt
Profession
Question
What has changed politically for Muslims in America after the 2000 Muslim endorsement of George Bush?
Answer
We at MAS Freedom realize that despite the importance of endorsement, that this process should never be controlled by elite political novice within our community.
Thus, we aggressively pursued a process and discourse in the Muslim community that would embrace seasoned political thinkers, empirical research and data, broad-based political participation and serious political vetting of candidates. Additionally, we developed a serious Muslim American political agenda and juxtaposed this agenda against the political realities of what was both achievable and do-able, given the candidates and the circumstances.
In short, we have moved our community from photo-op politics of fluff to pursuing political results that deliver real stuff.
Name
Editor
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Profession
Question
We appreciate your presence with us today Imam Mahdi, May Allah reward you the best.
My question is about Florida and California's early voting; numbers of voters who turned up to vote are high, roughly how many were Muslims among them? Do you expect any surprises considering the mainly Democratic-inclined Muslim vote?
Thanks,
Answer
I really appreciated receiving the invitation.
The first part of your question cannot be determined until such time as we are able to do exit and phone surveys, which will be complete in our post-election review. However, given the historical dirty-tricks antics that have always existed in American politics, you can expect low-level political antics from both parties, however, vote suppression of minorities has always been more prevalent among Republicans than Democrats. We at MAS Freedom have instituted a program entitled, "Every Vote Counts, Count Every Vote". It is a project designed to protect the voter rights of all individuals, be they Muslim or non-Muslim, particularly those from the minority community.
Name
Muslim Arabian
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Profession
Question
Well, foreign policy of both candidates is expected to be really bad like that of Bush .. From your activities Mr.Mahdi how much do you think Muslims in America are considering the third party choice?
Answer
That's an excellent question. Historically, third parties have always represented progressive ideas that are co-opted by the two main parties.
An example would be balanced budget by Ross Perot which was later co-opted by Bill Clinton and the democrats. Third-party candidates play no significant role in this year's Presidential election, however, there is a growing disenchantment among Americans with both the Democratic and Republican party - thus there are more registered independents, and their numbers are growing.
It is foreseeable in the future that the growth of the independent voter could very well break the stranglehold of the two-party system in America. Third-parties are increasingly winning elections on the local and state levels.
Name
Salam R.
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Profession
Question
What do you think Muslims living in the states should do for more united stances on political position? Can Muslims become a crucial part of the political process to the extent that makes presidential candidates eagerly seek their voice? JAK.
Answer
Thank you for your question Salam.
To the latter part of your question the answer is, "Yes."
As Presidential elections continue to be close, Muslims, as a block vote, can make a significant difference in Presidential and other national elections. However, I think another important factor is for American Muslims to see civic and political participation as an intricate part of their deen in fulfilling the mandate of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to enjoin that which is good and forbidding that which is evil. Already Muslim votes have successfully defeated efforts to expand gambling and alcohol distribution in some local localities and states.
I think it is important for our Imams and religious leaders to teach from the mimbar that a Muslim issue is an issue that promotes that which is decent and good; such as ending wars providing for the poor, protecting the environment, insuring quality education, fighting immorality, and spending the nation's treasury on things that advance the society as opposed to death and destruction at home and abroad.
Politics and the capacity to do good should never be perceived as being outside of our deen.
Name
Editor — Abdelrahman Rashdan
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Profession
Question
The session has ended. We would like to thank Imam Mahdi Bray — Executive Director of MAS Freedom — for taking the time to answer your questions, and all those who participated in the dialogue.
