Earlier this month Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) reminded us all of the “threat” of Muslims bringing Sharia law into the United States. She said it was troubling to see “some United States justices bringing in Sharia law,” and that Muslims want to “usurp” the Constitution. Earlier this summer, Herman Cain declared that he would not appoint a Muslim to his administration, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich echoed concerns about Muslims in government. Reasonable scrutiny is one thing, but this type of manufactured fear scares people and alienates Muslims from the Republican Party.
The truth is, though, that the Muslim community in America is actually a natural fit for the GOP. As a matter of political strategy, the GOP could pick up a substantial portion of the Muslim vote without having to make any substantial policy shifts.
Many American Muslims are new immigrants or first and second generation Americans, hailing from South Asia, the Middle East, and Northern Africa. They are people who came to the U.S. largely empty-handed, in search of a better life. Self-reliance and personal responsibility make up the core of these individuals and their families. The notion of a government safety net is as foreign to them as the Kardashians are.
Now consider that one in every four American Muslim households earns over $100,000 per year. Another plus for Republicans, as you’d expect that lower taxes, the cornerstone of conservative fiscal policy, would resonate well with them.
Remnants of their own cultures also play to Republican strengths. Many Muslims in America come from regions where there is a strong emphasis on the value of family. They want a certain degree of autonomy when it comes to how they raise their children, with 84% supporting school choice. They’re unlikely to be compelled to extend marriage rights and are overwhelmingly pro-life.
In fact, in 2000, President George W. Bush won 70% of the American Muslim vote.
Of course, the usual explanation for Muslims no longer voting Republican has to do with foreign policy, particularly with respect to the Middle East. But if you look closely, neither the GOP nor the Democratic Party is really a winner for most Muslims on these issues. If Muslims didn’t like Bush’s foreign policy, surely they are frustrated by the Obama administration’s foreign policy strategies, especially drone strikes and our involvement in Libya. Muslims that had issues with these foreign policy decisions may see both parties as equally hawkish. And as far as the Middle East goes, Israel is an American ally. Both parties generally support Israel, so it’s a wash for Muslims set on supporting Palestine.
Despite the instinctive alignment of a substantial number of Muslims with conservative ideals, in 2008 about 90% of American Muslim voters chose to vote for President Barack Obama.
So what is it that has alienated Muslims from the GOP?
Rhetoric that perpetuates a fear of Islam and average Muslims.
It’s the comments like those from Bachmann, Cain, and Gingrich. To regain the American Muslim vote, Republicans need not make any policy concessions whatsoever; all they have to do is stop spewing hateful rhetoric.
And other Republicans, like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, are already realizing that this rhetoric is political poison. See, there’s a growing perception among independents and left-leaning Americans that conservatives today are too extreme. This type of nonsense about Muslims in America wanting to take over the government plays right into that narrative. But confronting this rhetoric retorts that perception and may make Republicans more competitive in a general election.
Of course, there are people within the GOP who believe Islam and Muslims are the enemy and don’t belong here. And if Republican politicians start defecting from their cause, there is a chance these people may drop their support.
But it won’t hurt much. They’re a small group. And their cause is a dying one. They are going to be left behind. Like all other causes that stem from hate, their efforts will be washed away over time and into the history books.
Besides, what are they going to do… vote for Obama?
Photo Credit: david_shankbone
The Discussion
As problematic as it is to talk about "Muslims" as a monolithic community, are you sure that they oppose the redistribution of wealth? Giving alms to the needy is, after all, one of the five pillars of Islam.
I also think there is a substantial difference in the way Obama and Bush have dealt with the Middle East. Obama provided assistance to a popular revolution in Libya in order to prevent a massacre. Bush launched two full-scale invasions resulting in two of the longest wars in US history. The difference in rhetoric was also extreme, which is important to note given the argument of the piece.
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The biggest spewer of anti-Muslim rhetoric is Rep. Peter King from New York, who routinely holds useless radicalization hearings that only serve to give him his fifteen minutes of political infamy. He is a modern day Joseph McCarthy.
It's unfortunate that so many seem to wish to confuse rational responses with hatred. I have watched the rise of radical Islam for over forty years now and would suggest that Muslims drop the "blame others" that is such a prevalent theme in not only their rhetoric, but also in their inner most thoughts. I could go into why this is so, but it is not really the topic of the article.
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Every time I hear about stories like this it saddens me to think that we live in "the land of the free" when certain racial/religious groups continue to be outcast by certain politicians. The Republican candidates should be happy to have muslim support- that population in America continues to grow. They should not be kept from government just because of religion. Just a bit hypocritical.
@Kurram you've hit the nail on the head I think. A lot of the extreme anti-muslim arguments coming from the Republicans are falling flat. Frankly, blacks and hispanics should be voting repub. also, as they tend to be more religious, but we alienate them too.
@max well I don't think Romney pretends, I think he is a conservative, he just doesn't paint himself as a tea partier or a far right candidate. I don't think the impact will be the Muslim vote itself, as much as it will be an increase in independents who see GOP candidates as conservative, but not extreme when rhetoric like this changes
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This is a really interesting take. In a post 9/11 world I would never in a million years have associated the muslim vote with the GOP, but the 70% for GWB in '00 statistic makes a lot of sense. As does the 90% for Obama in '08. Do you think, after so many years of hate-filled rhetoric from many Republican figureheads, it is possible for the GOP to right its image in time for the 2012 election? If/when Romney starts realising he has to stop pretending to be conservative because he is the likely nominee, do you think its possible for him to reenergise a larger Muslim base in time for the election? And if so, how crucial do you think a majority Muslim vote has the potential to be in a general election? Really fascinating take.
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Christie's courage in supporting Sohail Mohammed, who was an integral part of strengthening ties between law enforcement and the Muslim community post-9/11 was an honorable act and will distinguish him in history. Most other politicians lack the courage to face down the angry face of ignorance.
@warner take a look at the work I do. Ive got a piece coming in the commentator about how Muslims need to handle the problem. This was a strategy piece, relax. I agree that reasonable scrutiny is only natural.
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So true, the hateful rhetoric of the far right is driving many away. Unfortunately, that's how they built their current house - through hate and fear. Hate and fear are all they have right now because the left has the populous ideals and the true morality.
As long as the Republican Party relies on rabble like Limbaugh and Hannity to drive the rank and file, hate and fear will always be their only option. Unfortunately Joe Lunchbucket, the lightly educated rank and file of the far right, is unable to see the deceptions involved and so is easily swayed by fear mongering. He's also been attuned to it by attending church every Sunday. Fear God, fear Satan, fear Muslims, fear tomorrow, fear science, fear thought.
Once again we see a Muslim pretending that everyone else is at fault for Radical Islam. How about you combat the bad actors in your own community before pointing fingers at everyone else? But besides that, what, exactly, do you expect from Americans when so many Mosques are funded by radical Wahabbis from Saudi Arabia teaching hate for America? Should that all just be ignored? Like I said, cleanup your own back yard first, then let's talk.
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You are correct in your thesis, Khurram. I also believe that American Muslims are by-and-large a "natural" demographic fit with most of the traditional Republican party values. As the GOP was the first to glom onto the use of demographic analysis and uses it in very sophisticated ways; it mystifies me why they have essentially written off this largely friendly demographic when they need all the help they can get.
It does behoove everyone involved - and especially Muslim-American voters - to remember that the Democratic tent is large, welcoming, inclusive and tolerant. We don't always agree with each other - sometimes loudly - but we do hang together and move forward. No litmus test allowed.
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