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| How Casey won ; The silent Muslim vote |
| 2006-11-10 |
| The word was out in mosques, community parties and Islamic schools, Ramadan iftaars to Democrat Bob Casey in. Why would a normally sleepy Muslim community thrust itself into the forefront of national elections of historical significance? Would it matter? Apparently, it did. The Muslim community of Pittsburgh estimated to be around 7,000-10,000 with its core of affluent groups of physicians, employed by the mammoth University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the smaller Allegheny General Health system. The community is remarkably wealthy; Lexus and BMWs are parked in rows outside the Monroeville mosque called MCCGP, which is the Muslim community center of Greater Pittsburgh. Many children attend private schools and dinner table conversations resonate with investment options and real estate deals. However, mainstream politics are still a distant reality. Elections by-pass the community; most members are still struggling with INS petitions and work visas. This year was different. Rick Santorum Republican Senator from Penn Hills had touted a belligerent line that prompted fear of the Iraq war. Santorum alienated himself to the Muslim vote; he lambasted an Iranian environmentalist Massoum Ebtekar, honored by the U.N. as a terrorist supporter. His stance on Iran was unequivocal; he termed it a leading sponsor of terrorism and his Iran Freedom Act strengthened the existing sanctions on Iran. Quiet simply, Santorum left no room of diplomacy; no chance for peace talks. He viewed the entire Muslim world as a harbinger of death and destruction. This July he spoke to the National Press Club in Washington D.C; Santorum compared Islamic fascists to Nazis and implied they enhanced the proliferation of terrorism all over the world. Santorum's belligerent stance on the Iraq war and his liberal use of “Islamic fascism” galvanized the Muslim community into organized action. They reckoned it was only a matter of time when Santorum would focus on the seven million Muslims Americans and reduce them to second-class status. Racial profiling would rise; there were murmurs in the Senate of bringing every Muslim male for questioning in airports. Currency movements in and out of the country were already being monitored; an inevitable part of being a rich immigrant society. Each Sunday after Islamic school, announcements reminded members that November 7 was Election Day. They would have to vote for the future of their children. The Muslim community of Pittsburgh held fundraisers and endorsed Casey. One fundraiser held at a prominent physician Mehboob Chawdry‘s home in Monroeville, raised $11,000. Casey remarked, of the 200 fundraisers he attended, it was the first where people prayed. It was an informal, traditional setting. Children played about, women sat behind the men and listened quietly. Casey was quiet, understated and honest. On questions about Iraq he said he didn’t have all the answers but was willing to learn. He shook hands with men and women on his way out, leaving giving an impression of humility and reticence. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 and his liberal use of “Islamic fascism” Umm, I think it is the concept of "Islamic fascizm" as practised by Islamic fascists that prodded Santorums "liberalism". |
| Posted by: Capsu 78 2006-11-10 18:54 |
| #1 Oh, God; I had no idea it was that bad. I heard from a fairly reliable source that we have one of the biggest pools of potential terrorists in the nation; now I know where they are. |
| Posted by: The Doctor 2006-11-10 09:52 |