Is it true, as I've seen reported, that Arab Americans cast a majority of their votes for Bush in 2000 -- a number that might have been the difference in his winning Florida? Why do Republicans want to brand all Arab-Americans as terrorists or Satanists, or the like? Bush apparently doesn't share this desire - - and it's hard to blame him if they did indeed help put him in the White House.Norquist sees that Muslim-Americans are indeed natural allies of the GOP and conservatives. For the most part they are small entrepreneurs, more willing to work long hours than depend on handouts. They are also socially conservative. As for their religion, even the most devout chose to live in America for a reason, and more often than not that reason is a distaste for Islamic governance. There's a reason the 911 hijackers avoided Muslim-American communities: they would not have blended in.
Unfortunately there are those who, for whatever reason, hate Islam in general, and their views have gained some ground in the conservative community, to our potential electoral detriment. Norquist has been fighting this, and now the Islamophobes are targetting him.
It amazes me sometimes that those who were so willing to trust President Bush regarding Iraq (as I was) are not only unwilling to trust him but are quite willing to assign him nefarious motives regarding Islam in general, the West Bank/Gaza, and now Grover Norquist.
-Eric
Well said! One gets the impression from some folks around here that Bush is to be considered a traitor if he doesn't automatically treat Arabs like traitors. This kind of reflexive group-hate mentality led to the internment camps, in which a lot of loyal Americans spent four years merely because they were of Japanese extraction.
Hogwash. You'll have to have to produce some powerful evidence to get me to believe that.
Unfortunately there are those who, for whatever reason, hate Islam in general, and their views have gained some ground in the conservative community, to our potential electoral detriment.
Quiz time...
Q: Of the 9/11 hijackers, how many were Muslim?
A: All.
Q: Of the 9/11 hijackers, how many were Saudis?
A: 15.
Hence, we should be cracking down on white Buddists, like Richard Gere. Right?
Norquist has been fighting this, and now the Islamophobes are targetting him.
You're blowing "diversity" and "tolerance" hot air. Norquist is only fighting to keep his Saudi and Libyan funds from drying up.
Remember, the last three wars we've fought have been against Islamic forces. The overall war on terror is against Islamic forces. This is not about any phobia -- the facts are what they are.
What ridiculously broad statements. Another "monolith" group that all think alike according to you and Norquist's definition.
What about all of the Muslim-Americans that are pulling the wool over peoples eyes and are in bed with the Islamic fanatics? What about those that get support from the so-called "mainstream" mosques and groups?
Open your eyes. Go read Gaffney's article.