Posted on 10/02/2006 7:48:45 PM PDT by xzins
US Muslims Gear up for Nov. Elections
DALLAS — American Muslims have set up voter registration booths in mosques across the United States to encourage fellow Muslim voters to sign up for the November mid-term elections.
"We have set up booths in 150 mosques across the country in the past two weeks," Mukit Hossain, a political consultant to the Muslim American Society which is championing the drive, told Reuters Saturday, September 30.
American Muslims have also established a website to enable Muslim voters to register online.
Hossain said about 10,000 were estimated to have been registered to date, expecting "tens of thousands" more to be signed up before the November mid-term elections.
There are over two million registered Muslim voters in the United States.
The November elections are crucial in deciding which of the Republicans or the Democrats would control Congress during President George W. Bush's final two years in office.
"We have looked and said do we have enough Muslims to impact this race," Hossain said.
"And secondly what are the issues, how important are they for the Muslim community and where do the candidates stand?"
Analysts expect Democrats to wrestle control of the House of Representatives and make significant gains in the Senate during the November 7 elections over public dissatisfaction with Bush's domestic policies and the Iraq war.
All 435 House seats, 34 of 100 Senate seats and 36 governorships are up for grasp in the November elections.
Crucial Votes
The US Muslim drive is also targeting areas where a few voters can determine the outcome of the November race.
"The Virginia Senate race is another one because you have 52,000 Muslim voters there and in a tight race they can make a difference," added Hossain, who is also president of the Muslim American Political Action Committee.
The Muslim move is believed to be echoing a tactic employed by evangelical Christians to support conservative Republican candidates.
But Hossain said American Muslims were not simply copying this strategy but felt compelled to take their political activism to the mosque in the wake of 9/11 attacks.
Politically motivated Christians have for the past three decades been using the pulpit as a platform to get voters to the polls to support conservative candidates.
A survey of Muslim voters last year showed the political issues that concerned them most were the perceived erosion of civil liberties since the 9/11 attacks, the hardening of immigration laws and US foreign policy in the Middle East, Hossain said.
The next priorities on their list are education and health care, which are the mainstream middle-class concerns.
Though there is no scientific count of Muslims in the US, the six to seven million is the most commonly cited figure.
Fears
Hossain also said Muslims in some areas fear that neo-conservative and right-wing candidates would beat moderate ones, counting on the anti-Muslim drive that gained momentum in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
In District 8 in Arizona, for instance, Muslims had concerns about the anti-immigration tone of Republican candidate Randy Graf, who is running to replace an outgoing moderate Republican in a closely watched House contest.
Muslims are also concerned about the record of Republican Sen. George Allen of Virginia on civil liberties, Hossain maintained.
In August, a USA Today/Gallup poll showed that 39 percent of Americans said they feel prejudiced toward Muslims.
In its annual report on the status of US Muslims, CAIR said earlier this month that discrimination and hate crimes against Muslims in the United States have surged by almost 30 percent in 2005.
Note from the imams: vote for your local useful idiot infidel.
Those are the lesbian Muzzies.
Can't wait until they start putting polling places in mosques. I would make sure I brought a bag of pork rinds to munch on while I waited.
So is there any advocacy for/against any party, candidate, or legislation going on within the mosques?
Have the IRS strip their tax free status.
"Hossain also said Muslims in some areas fear that neo-conservative and right-wing candidates would beat moderate ones, counting on the anti-Muslim drive that gained momentum in the wake of the 9/11 attacks."
Aren't Democrats and RINOs the "moderate ones"?
And, I supposed conservative Republican candidates are the "right-wing candidates."
I wonder if Gabriel Giffords, the Rat had anything to do with this entry?
"In District 8 in Arizona, for instance, Muslims had concerns about the anti-immigration tone of Republican candidate Randy Graf, who is running to replace an outgoing moderate Republican in a closely watched House contest."
What the hell is up with the "seperation of church and state" that the 'Rats are always shoving down our throats?
I have had enough of the hypocrisy and don't want to fight against putting the booths in the mosques.
Rather, I want the booths in every church and for volunteers to help with "get out the vote" drives! Time to say enough and play their game on this one.
Wait a minute! I thot at our church we could not even put out voter information for fear of the ACLU. What about THAT??
"Why aren't Moslems Conservative?"
Because Islam is a radical cult and Islamites are radicals.
Another componet of Howard Dean's Dimorats....
Do you think this news will light a fire under the GOP base?
This map is a bit outdated. Many more Mosque's have moved in across the United States since.
According to census figures about 1.5 million blacks are Muslims. CAIR is already learning about American politics when they cite anti-Islamic acts --- FIRST LESSON: Assume the role of VICTIM. Nothing plays better in politics than the victimization game.
As their numbers increase they'll be able to demand affirmaive action!
If they ever even hear of it. Probably the average person won't be aware.
I worry about our own Governor because of the Trans Texas Highway. People are starting to learn more and protest. Texas may end up with a dem Governor.
BS, you can't register on-line in Texas. The most you can do is download the registration application form. (It's in PDF) you still have to mail it in. You can get the same form sent to you by calling a n 800 number, or sending in a postcard which you can get from the driver's license/testing locations. You have to provide your TX driver's license number, or TX ID number if you don't drive. There are other ways to register, but IIRC, they require showing up at the county courthouse or sub-courthouse. (The sub-courthouse just date stamps it, and sends it on to the County registrar's office at the county courthouse/seat). I just went through the process, since I moved, and got the certificate back just a couple of weeks ago. I just got a cancellation notice from the county where I live before (Bexar) before I moved to this county. (Bell).
They probably are on many social issues. But they are also hard core socialists, and on foreign policy they like the neo-isolationism of the 'Rats, especially the "Cut and Run" part.
You are perfectly free to do that. In most states anyway. In Texas, anyone can conduct a "voter registration" drive. All it takes is a supply of the registration forms, or the postcards you send to get a form. In the former case you can fill it out for the wanna be voter, and have him/her sign it. Then you send them off to the county registrar of voters. The same as if you'd gotten the form off the 'net or from the DMV, or by calling the registrar's office and asking for one to be sent out.
What you can't do, and the muzzies probably do, is advocate for party or a candidate. Issues can be discussed.
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