Arab-Americans turning away from Bush

[loathesomeshrub]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6056602/


He is not the president he promised to be in 2000," said Samer Hanini, a 29-year-old architect. "He failed us in areas of Mid East peace, foreign policy and the economy. I’m embarrassed I voted for him.”

Although it may seem like a small segment of the population, there are more than 1.5 million Arab-American voters in the battleground states of Michigan, Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania who could influence the outcome if the election shapes up into a nailbiter as many expect.

Looking for a change
“Among Arab-Americans,there is an extra dissatisfaction with George Bush’s policy toward Iraq, the Israel-Palestine issue, his treatment of Arab and Muslim immigrants through the Patriot Act and civil liberties problems since 9/11,” said James Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute which recently conducted a poll of 502 Arab-Americans living in sizable Arab-American communities within Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

“A trend in this election is that Arab-Americans feel alienated from this White House. They want someone new,” Zogby said.

He believes the dissatisfaction could turn out to be a factor.

“Nationally the Arab-American vote is only about 1 percent of the country, but overall, if you look at key states like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, it is important,” Zogby said. “I think a community that has 100,000 or so votes in a state can make a difference.”

Change in mood since 2000 election
The 2000 election proved to be a different ball game in terms of support for Bush.

A separate poll by Zogby International -- run by James Zogby's brother John -- indicated that Bush won 44.5 percent of the Arab community’s vote in the 2000 election, but the same poll suggested that if Arab-Americans were to vote today only 28 percent would vote to reelect Bush."

I don't understand why its not 100 % for Kerry.

[JohnKleeb]

1. Why it's not 100%

You'll never have unamious support, but it would be nice eh. I think its not in the upper 90's is because well why do you think log cabin republicans are republicans, green, and by green I mean money.

[Nicholas_J]

2. I posted the poll on this earlier, but take a look at this line...

"The glow of Iraq, even among Iraqis (in Michigan), is gone," said Ed Sarpolus of EPIC/MRA. "There is no idea now that going to war in Iraq was a good thing."

A majority of Arab-Americans polled — 55 percent — had a favorable opinion of Kerry, while 24 percent had an unfavorable opinion and 19 percent were undecided. In contrast, 25 percent had a favorable opinion of Bush, while 67 percent had an unfavorable opinion and 8 percent were undecided. Voters also had a more favorable opinion of Edwards than of Cheney.

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/business/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1095351246236460.xml&storylist=mibusiness

[legally blonde]

3. I wouldn't be surprised

if the actual percentage of Arab voters for Kerry is higher. My SO and his family are Arab-Americans, and they HATE Bush (even though SO's parents voted for Bush in 2000). They also talk frequently with family in ME--they know how much Bush has fucked up.