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AMP comment
AMT’s foot-dragging on presidential endorsement
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), a coalition of ten organizations, in its Oct. 17 Washington meeting to decide on the endorsement, failed to reach a consensus on supporting any presidential candidate. Reports about the 7-hour marathon meeting said that representatives from the AMT member organizations failed to come to a consensus in support of one candidate. It is now likely that the AMT will have no recommendation for any presidential candidate.
Some members, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the United Muslims of America (UMA), were actively lobbying for a Kerry endorsement, while representatives of other organizations held firm against endorsing any candidate, according to Shahed Amanullah, who attended the Washington meeting on behalf of UMA. "There were several people in that room who have a little bit of access to the Bush administration regarding policy and are loathe to jeopardize that," Amanullah was quoted as saying.
The AMT, initiated in September 2003 at the ISNA convention includes: American Muslim Alliance (AMA), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Muslim Alliance of North America (MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), Muslim Student Association - National (MSA-N), Project Islamic Hope (PIH) and United Muslims of America (UMA).
In November 2003, the AMT issued a five point criteria to extend its endorsement. This criteria envisaged: (1) Position on issue of Civil Rights and other key issues. (2) Performance Record (3) Accessibility and willingness to give Muslim American a visible role in his/her campaign. (4) Electibility and (5) Feedback from the community.
Muslim and Arab civil rights the main issue in 2000 presidential election. Similarly this is the main issue again for them. Record of Bush administration on this issue is well known to everybody. On the civil liberties issue, Democratic campaign has repeatedly assured the Muslims and Arabs at various levels. The latest assurance came on Oct. 14, during a conference between the representatives of the American Muslim Task force (Dr. Agha Saeed and Dr. Maher Hathout) and Senator Ted Kennedy, Steve Elmendorf, Kerry - Edwards Deputy Campaign Manager and Mona Pasquil, Directo r of Communities. Senator Kennedy told the AMT leaders that “civil liberties and inclusion of American Muslims exist in the heart and soul of John Kerry and are issues that they both have fought for in the Senate.”
I believe that the AMT is reluctant to support Senator John Kerry because of his personal accessibility. It may be recalled that in 2000 elections, George Bush met with the Muslim leaders gathered under the umbrella of American Muslim Political Coordination Council (AMPCC) that included American Muslim Alliance (AMA), American Muslim Council (AMC), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). "The main factor was the governor's accessibility to Muslim leaders. He has promised to address American Muslim concerns when and if he goes into office," the AMPCC spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said on Oct. 23, 2000 when the AMPCC announced its endorsement for George Bush.
If this is not the case then it is the failure of the AMT components to reach a consensus on a presidential candidate, may be, because of their personal agenda. This scenario exposes the weakness of such a grand coalition, or may be, many of the AMT components want to play it safe with no endorsement.
The AMT has apparently ignored the feedback from the Muslim community. At least half a dozen polls and surveys conducted by prominent groups and organizations have shown that majority of Muslims and Arabs favor Senator Kerry despite reservations about his stance on the Middle East issue.
Another important question is how much relevant is an AMT endorsement for any presidential candidate in the wake of polls and surveys. It is obvious that Muslims and Arabs are going to vote for Kerry whether AMT endorses him or not.
The political climate for the Muslim community this year is very different than the 2000 election when the community was not active. Post 9/11, the community has become very motivated and pro active because it has realized that the only way to protect its rights is to participate in the national political process. Mainstream media reports about the Muslim and Arab vote and dozens of voter registration campaigns can be seen as reflection of their motivation and activism.
It will not be a harsh judgment to say that in the current political climate many Muslim organizations are becoming irrelevant as far as guidance on a presidential candidate is concerned.
Oct. 20, 2004
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