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OP-ED: American Muslims and bloc-voting —Muqtedar Khan

If American Muslims are to find an authentic expression for their citizenship, then they must follow their conscience and vote for a better America based on self-interest and personal judgment

In the upcoming US presidential elections, the stakes are very high for American Muslims. The feeling is that if George W Bush can be defeated, there is hope that many of the unconstitutional practices instituted by the USA Patriot Act will be revoked by his successor; Muslim organisations will be spared undue hardships and America may be less likely to invade Muslim countries under dubious circumstances. The community will be able to relax and focus its energies on not only restoring Islamic and Muslim institutions in America, but also on winning back the hearts and minds of the rest of America.

This is why political mobilisation within the American Muslim community is more intense and widespread than ever before. Everyone who can vote is determined to vote and most are likely to vote against the incumbent. National and local initiatives have expedited voter registration and a strong desire for change promises a high voter turnout.

While the mood in the community is strongly anti-Bush, there are pockets of support for the current regime. Iraqis, particularly the Shiite community, is very happy with the Bush administration and will break ranks to support George W Bush. The Shiites of South Asia see the invasion of Iraq as a just war against oppression. They will not only vote for Bush but will also contribute heavily to his war chest.

Finally, politically conservative Muslims are likely to come out in support of Bush. There are individual Muslims like Mori Husseini, CEO of ICI Homes who have become rangers (those who raise more than $200,000). Dr Malik Hasan who told the New York Times that he ‘adores the President’s accomplishments’ is a pioneer (raised over $100,000); there are many more like them. There is a diversity of political opinion within the American Muslim community which will win the president some support either for his pro-democracy rhetoric overseas or for his social conservatism at home in spite of the strong anti-Bush sentiment.

The American Muslim Task Force on Civil Rights and Elections 2004, an official umbrella organisation of many American Muslim Organisations, has made civil rights its main plank. They term the strategy ‘Civil Rights Plus’. They have identified American Muslim concerns as (1) civil rights, (2) domestic issues and general welfare and (3) global peace with justice, war prevention and US relations with the Muslim World. This group is essentially the same group that, under the name American Muslim Political Coordination Committee, endorsed George W Bush and, according to them, delivered 78 per cent of American Muslim votes to him in 2000.

Dr Aslam Abdullah of the Muslim Electorate’s Council of America (not a member of the taskforce) reports that a national study conducted by his organisation reveals that there are 2.7 to 3 million potential Muslim voters today, but only 60 per cent are registered, reducing the possible number of votes to 1.6-1.8 million. Even if there is a high turnout of Muslims in November 2004, we are looking at about 1-1.25 million votes. This can be a significant number in a close election and American Muslims could play a pivotal role.

Can American Muslims really make a difference in 2004? If George Bush does lose by a million votes in 2004, can American Muslims claim that they made the difference? Will it then teach American politicians not to mess with Muslim civil rights and Iraq? American Muslims hope that they can make a difference — and make this point.

In the elections of 2000 the community felt that its most important goal was announcing that it was willing to participate in mainstream politics and that it was a force to reckon with. Voting as a bloc was, therefore, of great strategic importance to American Muslims then. But things have changed now. American politicians fully understand and recognise the strengths and limits of the community.

If American Muslims play the bloc-vote politics again by endorsing the democratic candidate, the potential gains through a democratic victory need to be balanced against the dangers of another Bush victory. Whether the Muslims vote for them or not, the Democrats are bent upon restoring civil rights in America and reining in the American military. But if American Muslims endorse Kerry and Bush wins, then we will find out if the Republicans bear grudges and how far they are willing to go to teach a lesson to those who tried to teach them a lesson.

In the event it makes sense that the American Muslims should stop having an instrumental relationship with the American system. It is time the community goes beyond one or two defining issues and starts integrating into the broad range of challenges that America faces at large. We must allow our community members to find causes that they care for and let them vote according to their conscience. Voting blocs are antithetical to the spirit of democracy; they involve an undemocratic imposition of an agenda defined by the elite on all members of the community. If American Muslims are to find an authentic expression for their citizenship, then they must follow their conscience and vote for a better America based on self-interest and personal judgment.

Dr Muqtedar Khan, a non-resident fellow at Brookings, is Director of International Studies and Chair, Political Science, Adrian College. He is also the author of ‘American Muslims: Bridging Faith and Freedom’

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