A Report on the Arab AmericanInstitute’s NationalLeadership Conference

October 17-19 2003Dearborn, Michigan

The 2004 presidential candidates would likea word with you...

...and we bet you have something tosay to them, too.

A message to Arab Americans from Arab American Institute President James Zogby:

We’re making history. This year an unprecedentednumber of presidential candidates, as well asDemocratic and Republican party leaders, will beaddressing our community at the Arab AmericanInstitute’s National Leadership Conference.

This sends a loud and clear message: Our community counts. Our voices and votes matter.

Be there! Discuss the issues topping the nationalagenda. Strategize on getting out the ArabAmerican vote. Energize our community for 2004!

VOTE 2004: An Agenda for Peace & Justice

October 17-19, 2003Dearborn, Michigan

Register online atwww.aaiusa.org or call (313) 584-8868

Dean

Lieberman

Gephardt Kerry Kucinich

MoseleyBraun

1988

2003

For the first time,Arab Americangroups are activelycourted by presi-dential campaigns(George W. Bushand Al Gore).

Arab Americangroups endorsepresidential campaigns.

Green Party candi-date Ralph Naderbecomes the firstArab American torun for President.

Seven Democraticcandidates and theChair of the Bush-Cheney reelectioncampaign addressArab Americans atthe AAI’s NationalLeadershipConference.

All of the majorDemocratic cam-paigns have hiredArab Americans,many in key staffpositions.

Arab Americans areserving throughoutthe Bush Admini-stration.

Approximately 400Arab American lead-ers from more than20 states - includingArab American con-gressmen, mayors,state representa-tives, partly leadersand communityactivists - attendAAI's conference.

Despite pressures,we have broughttogether the compo-nent parts of thecommunity into astrong, organizedconstituency. Todayunder the banner of"Arab American,"second-generationelected officialsgather with recentimmigrant activists.Americans whotrace their ancestryto all regions of theArab world nowcome together asArab Americans.

As part of AAI’sCampaign 2000conference, VicePresident Al Goreand Sen. JohnMcCain addressArab Americansvia satellite.

Pres. Bill Clintonaddresses AAI’s1998 NationalLeadershipConference,becoming the firstsitting president toaddress a nationalArab Americanaudience.

Building on the work that has been done overthe past two decades,Arab Americans have the

opportunity to lay the groundwork for the future—a future in which they will no longer sufferexclusion, but will be able to provide needed

input into the political process that can shape thenational debate on issues of critical importance.

AI’s National Leadership Conference “Vote 2004” marks a milestone for Arab American political

empowerment, providing a clear measure of therespect and recognition shown to the community.

Most significant is the fact that all of the major candidates vying for the Democratic presidential

nomination addressed the conference.This represents a first for Arab Americans.A

Republicannominee BobDole declinesto meet withArab AmericanRepublicanleaders.

1996

1992Republican challenger PatBuchananspeaks atAAI’s NationalLeadershipConference.

Sen. Bob Dole, acandidate for theRepublican nomi-nation, speaks atAAI’s NationalLeadershipConference alongwith Democratic presidential candidate Rev.Jesse Jackson.

1987In the 1986 elec-tions, several cam-paigns use an anti-Arab bias to raisemoney and toexclude ArabAmericans frompolitical participa-tion. This “Arab-baiting” is the sub-ject of an AAI spe-cial report “ThePolitics ofExclusion.”

1983

Rev. JesseJacksonbecomes thefirst presidentialcandidate toaddress anArab Americanevent.

1984Democraticnominee WalterMondale returnscontributions toa group ofprominent Arab Americanbusinessmen.

1984Arab Americansare part of theReagan andBush campaigns'ethnic coalitions.

A promotionalposter for AAI’s

National LeadershipConference “Vote2004: An Agenda

for Peace andJustice.”

1998-99

1988Democraticnominee MichaelDukakis rejectsan endorsementfrom the ArabAmericanDemocraticFederation.

2000

ust twenty years ago candi-dates for national office wererefusing Arab Americanendorsements and returningtheir contributions. Therewere virtually no ArabAmericans working in national

campaigns and Arab Americans wereshut out of the public debate on civilliberties and the Middle East.

The progress the community hasmade was evident on October 17when four hundred Arab Americanleaders from over twenty states gath-ered in Dearborn, Michigan, for theArab American Institute’s NationalLeadership Conference (NLC).

The Arab Community Center forEconomic and Social Services(ACCESS) and the American ArabChamber of Commerce, two leadingArab American organizations head-quartered in Dearborn, served ascommunity co-sponsors of the his-toric event.

For the first time in the communi-ty’s history presidential candidatesfrom the major parties turned out infull force to curry favor with thenation’s increasingly active and vocalArab American community. HowardDean, John Edwards, RichardGephardt, John Kerry, DennisKucinich, Joe Lieberman, and CarolMoseley Braun as well as MarcRacicot, Chair of Bush-Cheney 2004,addressed the energized audience onissues ranging from civil liberties and

Left: David Boniorintroduces presiden-tial candidate Rep.Dick Gephardt at thegala banquet. Above:Former U.S. Ambas-sador to MoroccoEdward Gabriel deliv-ers a message fromGen. Wesley Clark.

Presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman; AAI President Dr. James Zogby

the Arab-Israeli conflict to health careand the economy.

Secretary of Energy SpencerAbraham made a special appearanceon behalf of the Bush Administrationat the gala banquet.

“Never again will the ArabAmerican community be traumatizedby the politics of exclusion. ArabAmericans have proven that they arean American political constituencywho are organized and whose votescan make a difference,” said AAIPresident Dr. James Zogby.

The Patriot Act and its effects on civilliberties was a principal focus through-out the weekend. Of chief concernwas striking a balance betweenConstitutionally guaranteed civil liber-ties and national security and commu-nicating to fellow Americans that thePatriot Act affects all, regardless ofethnicity. Georgetown professor and

“Enemy Aliens” author David Coleargued, “Americans need to under-stand that what their government doesto foreign nationals in the name ofsecurity serves as a precursor to whatthey will do to citizens.” Cole sitedlaws against subversive speech thatwere originally targeted at foreignnationals and later extended to citizenswho criticized World War I.

A fundamental criticism of thePatriot Act’s targeting of Arab andMuslim Americans, as well as foreignnationals, is that it is ineffective.

According to Cole, of the over 5,000foreign nationals who have beendetained since 9/11, only two havebeen convicted of anything related toterrorism.

Kary Moss, head of the Michiganoffice of the American Civil LibertiesUnion (ACLU), voiced concern thatAmericans are not aware of the pow-ers the Patriot Act gives the govern-ment to invade citizens’ personal pri-vacy. “Government agents can obtainwarrants to search your home andremove things without ever letting youknow,” said Moss.

The NAACP’s Reverend WendellAnthony stressed the importance ofcoalitions between Arab Americans andpeople of color including AfricanAmericans and Latinos. “We may havecome over in different boats, but we’reall in the same boat now. No presiden-tial candidate should run a campaignwithout having to address these issues.”

The candidates attending the con-ference certainly obliged. In a state-

ment delivered on behalf of GeneralWesley Clark, who was forced to can-cel due to illness, AmbassadorEdward Gabriel stated, “Today wefind ourselves in a country whererepressive tactics are packaged andthey’re sold as the Patriot Act, andwhere anyone with the courage to dis-sent is labeled as ‘unpatriotic.’”

Former Senator Carol MoseleyBraun spoke of her personal commit-ment to upholding civil rights. “I am amember of a controversial minori-ty…We are patriotic Americans in thefirst sense because we had to fight forfreedom…So I, in my time, will notstand idly by and watch this Bushadministration tear up the Constitutionand really demean and dismiss every-thing that has made this country thegreatest country in the world.”

Congressman Richard Gephardtwarned of the danger of losing thebalance between civil liberties andnational security. “If we lose the rightsthat this country was based on inorder to somehow save the country,then what have we saved?”

While maintaining that “there aresome provisions in the Patriot Actwhich are not provisions anyone everfocuses on that are actually good,”

Senator John Edwards suggested anindependent watchdog office of civilliberties that would report regularly tothe White House and Congress.

Speaking on behalf of PresidentGeorge Bush, former MontanaGovernor and chair of the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign MarcRacicot pointed out that while thePatriot Act was passed with only onedissenting vote in the Senate and 66 inthe House, there are aspects of the billthat must be amended. “I’m not awareof any act, or any piece of legislationever that has been undertaken byhuman beings, who are certainly sub-

Arab Americans Gain CloutBy Gregg KrupaThe Detroit News, July 24, 2003DEARBORN - Twenty years ago, candi-dates for the presidency sometimesmade a point of returning contributionsfrom Arab Americans and rejecting theirendorsements. Some thought it unwise,politically, to associate with them.

But, in 2003, four of the nine majorDemocrats seeking the nominationhave already pledged to attend the ArabAmerican Institute's annual leadershipconference in Dearborn next month andtwo other candidates are expected.

"We've come a long way," saidJames Zogby, president of the insti-tute. "This will be the major politicalevent in our community for the elec-tion cycle. We want to raise issuesabout the Middle East and the valuesof America that we believe have beenlost over the past few years."

Candidates Invited to TalkAbout Issues Relevant toArab American CommunityBy Tarek El-TablawyThe Associated Press, Sept. 9, 2003 DEARBORN - Arab Americans aregaining political muscle, with issuesof relevance to them ones thatshould be equally important toAmericans as a whole, [JamesZogby] said Tuesday.

The Sept. 11 attacks “had a terri-ble impact on the (Arab American)community. But it has not had animpact on our empowerment," saidZogby... "There's no doubt we're onthe radar screen more than before.”

J“He [President Bush] iscommitted to an independ-ent Palestinian state…He is setting about to providethe leadership needed and

necessary for people in that region toseize the moment.”

“There is only oneacceptable solutionto the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.That is two statesliving side by side inpeace and security,Israel and Palestine.”

GOP, Dems Lay Plans toWoo Arab-AmericansParties see group as key in 2004By Natalie Y. MooreThe Detroit News, July 24, 2003DEARBORN - Democrat andRepublican party leaders aren't tak-ing any Michigan voters for grantedin the 2004 presidential race and aresetting up strategies to court Arab-Americans....

"I think the Arab vote is going tobe huge in connection with the 2004election. We are focusing on broad-ening our relationship with the Arabcommunity, particularly in regard tovoter education," said MichiganDemocratic Party Chairman Melvin"Butch" Hollowell.

-Gov. Marc Racicot, Chair, Bush-Cheney 2004

-Sen. Joseph Lieberman

Civil Liberties

Gov. MarcRacicot

22 33

to me there is great promise on thehorizon. With the engagement of theinternational community the kind ofequilibrium that will be necessary topreserve a balance, and to see securegrowth in the development of thatdemocracy [will be available].”

Governor Dean urged Americansto considerthe changesthat could bemadethroughoutthe worldusing diplo-macy ratherthan force.“Over adecade ago,the SovietUnion col-

lapsed and the Berlin Wall came down,and America didn’t fire a shot…it’s notjust enough to have a strong militaryto defend the United States ofAmerica, it’s also important to havehigh moral principles and a set ofideals to which other countries aspireas well.”

Opposite page, bottom left: Gov. Howard Dean withmoderator James Zogby; Sen. John Edwards. Above,left to right: The 400-plus attendees listen to Rep.Dennis Kucinich speaking via satellite; Sen. CarolMoseley Braun; Sen. John Kerry. This page, inset:Democratic National Committee Chair Terry McAuliffe;below, the conference and its many high-profile speak-ers drew the attention of the national news media.

ject to imperfections, that has ulti-mately ended up in a situation where itdid not have to be refined.”

The sharpest criticism of thePatriot Act came from formerVermont Governor Howard Dean.“Because John Ashcroft touts thePatriot Act around this country doesnot make John Ashcroft a patriot…Awar on terror cannot become a war oncivil rights and freedoms. We shouldnot have to choose between securingour homeland and securing the bless-ings of liberty. We can have both.Otherwise, the terrorists have won andwe will not permit that.” Dean specifi-cally denounced the treatment of thosein federal custody as well as the label-ing of American citizens as enemycombatants. “Abuses of detainees in

custody, as reported by the JusticeDepartment’s inspector general, ismorally wrong and unconstitution-al…Labeling American citizens asenemy combatants and holding themindefinitely without access to counseland the court counters everything theDeclaration of Independence and theConstitution of the United Statesstood for 200 years ago.”

Americans for Tax Reform’sGrover Norquist pointed out thatopposition to the Patriot Act hasbeen taken up by a broad coalitionincluding both the ACLU and theAmerican Conservative Union (ACU)and ethnic groups including ArabAmericans, African Americans, andLatinos. Civil liberties, ACLU’s Mossagreed, “is not a partisan issue. It’s a

principled defense of theBill of Rights.”

Not since the Vietnam Warhas foreign policy playedsuch a critical role in anational election. A key issuein presidential debates, it isalso a defining characteristicfor candidates like

Congressman Dennis Kucinich.Kucinich, who campaigns heavily onhis opposition to the Iraq war and thelack of United Nations involvement,promised that as President he would“go to the United Nations with a res-olution that will have the followingprinciples: first, that the United Statewill renounce any interest in Iraqi oil,that the UN will control the oil onbehalf of the Iraqi people…Second,that the UN will handle all contractsin Iraq. There shall be no moreHalliburton sweetheart deals…andthird, that the UN will construct anew cause of governance inIraq…for the self-determination ofthe Iraqi people.”

Kucinich was joined in his call tointernationalize the occupation forceand allow the United Nations to play

a central role in the Iraqi interim gov-ernment by Senator John Kerry. “Ibelieve that President Bush’s approachis without accountability and trans-parency, but most importantly, it con-tinues the mistaken policy of keepingthe United States of America as theprinciple occupying force in anothercountry in the Middle East. And Ithink that what we should do is transi-tion much more rapidly to a UnitedNations presence for the civilian gov-ernance, and humanitarian compo-nents of the transition.”

Governor Racicot reiteratedPresident Bush’s commitment toestablishing a peaceful government inIraq and to the international commu-nity’s embrace of this initiative, whilemaintaining that the timeline for with-drawal could not be set. “I believeIraqi people in overwhelming numberswant to have us there until such timeas the institutions of government, andthe opportunities and infrastructureare in place, allowing for them toassume complete control of their owndestiny. So I don’t know that youcould draw a timetable…but it seems

“If I were presidenttomorrow, the firstthing I would do ispick up the tele-phone and ask BillClinton to go to theMiddle East and rep-resent me at a high-level delegation.”

“We must reach out to the world commu-nity to reestablish the United States as acooperative partner with the world inmatters of world peace.”

“I believe in anAmerica where thefamily you’re borninto, the countryyou were born in,the color of yourskin should nevercontrol your destiny.”

-Gov. Howard Dean

-Sen. John Edwards

-Rep. Dennis Kucinich

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8. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and JumanaJudeh, first vice-chair of the American ArabChamber of Commerce

9. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham andMichael Farah, executive director of theAmerican Lebanese Chamber of Commerce

10. Nasser Beydoun, executive director ofthe American Arab Chamber of Commerce,and Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)

11. Jafar Karim, National CoalitionsDirector for Bush-Cheney 2004

12. Hon. William Shaheen, chairman ofSenator John Kerry's New Hampshire campaign

13. Ismael Ahmed, executive director ofACCESS

14. AAI President Dr. James Zogby

15. Washington Post reporter DavidBroder; Dr. Raymond Jallow, who spon-sored youth scholarships for the NationalLeadership Conference; and Nazir Hussain

1

2 8

3

6 7

9

10 11 12 13

1514

4 5

1. Ahmad Chebbani, chairmanand president of the AmericanArab Chamber of Commerce, aco-sponsor of the conference

2. AAI Managing Director JeanAbiNader and AAI ChairmanGeorge Salem

3. Hassan Jaber, associate exec-utive director of the Arab Com-munity Center for Economicand Social Services (ACCESS),a co-sponsor of the conference

4. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

5. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) andAAI Foundation ExecutiveDirector Helen Samhan

6. “Washington File” reporterDavid Shelby and Imam HassanQazwini of the Islamic Center ofAmerica in Detroit, MI

7. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI)

While the issue of Palestine and Israelwas the most controversial, and attimes the most emotional, of theweekend many were pleased that ArabAmericans are finally being included aspart of the debate.

“A candidate told me that speakingto our group after speaking to a groupof Jewish American leaders is like try-ing to thread a needle. I think that’sgreat because a decade ago there wasno needle to thread. There was nohonest debate on American involve-

ment in the conflict,” said AAIPresident James Zogby.

Many candidates were not specificin their plans for Middle East peace,but promised an administration that

would be more engaged. “If we don'tlead in the Middle East, nobody’sgoing to lead…We need a presidentwho will work with all the people ofthis world and all the leaders of thisworld to solve the problems we face,because they are all our problems,”said Congressman Richard Gephardt.Several candidates suggested a perma-nent envoy be sent to the region tonegotiate a peace deal. Governor Deanpledged, “If I were president tomor-row, the first thing I would do is pickup the telephone and ask Bill Clintonto go to the Middle East and representme at a high-level delegation.”

General Clark agreed with bothDean and Gephardt and went on tolink the solution of the Palestine-Israelconflict with fighting terrorism. “Weabdicated our leadership role in thepeace process while we waged war onterror. The problem with thatapproach is that it failed to acknowl-edge that fighting terrorism and bring-ing peace to the Middle East go handin hand.”

Senator Kerry had strong wordsconcerning the wall Israel is building inPalestinian territory. “We do not needanother barrier to peace. Provocativeand counterproductive measures only

harm Israel’s security over the long-term. They increase hardships to thePalestinian people and make theprocess of negotiating an eventual set-tlement that much harder.”

Governor Racicot promised thatPresident Bush, if elected to a secondterm, would continue to work on theRoadmap for Middle East peace. “Heis committed to an independentPalestinian state…He is setting aboutto provide the leadership needed andnecessary for people in that region toseize the moment…to once and for allbring peace and stability to that part ofthe world.”

The candidate who made thedeepest impression was ConnecticutSenator Joe Lieberman. While he

ADC President Mary Rose Oaker and AAI President James Zogby

maintained that “America surely can beboth pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian”and “the wall is temporary, it can comedown as soon as there is an agree-

ment,” many were troubled by hisrefusal to label the demolition ofPalestinian homes as terrorism. But theoverall response to Lieberman’s speechwas a mix of appreciation that hespoke honestly with the audience andadmiration that he made a sincereeffort to reach out to the ArabAmerican community.

Zogby noted, “it was SenatorLieberman’s outrage at Arab Americanexclusion from the 1992 Clinton cam-paign that opened the door to ArabAmerican participation. We have dif-ferences, but I don’t forget the factthat he was willing to help when weneeded a friend.”

As Arab Americans have raised theirpolitical profile, issues that have tradi-tionally been considered “ArabAmerican” issues, such as MiddleEast peace, have come to the centerof the national debate. RobertBorosage, of the Campaign forAmerica’s Future, speaking about thewar on terrorism, observed, “Thecandidates don’t talk about howAmerican policies may have helped to

create the current state. Americansare innocent of this debate becauseboth parties ignore the question.”

Former Congressman and HouseMinority Whip David Bonior saidthat the reason foreign policy is finallyan election issue is that “you can nolonger separate foreign policy anddomestic concerns. The current debateon the $87 billion [aid package to Iraq]is all about domestic issues."

Lexington, Kentucky MayorTeresa Isaac, an Arab American, con-curred. “Mayors across the country areaware that if we have unwise andunfair foreign policy, that could taketax dollars away from their cities.”

AAI Chairman George Salemspoke of the vital role available forArab Americans in the nation’s future.“Currently Americans are asking toughquestions about our country’s relation-ship with the rest of the world. ArabAmericans have a unique understand-ing of both the United States and theArab world and can work to bridgethe widening gap between the two.”

In addition, Arab Americans wereencouraged to cast aside a fear ofspeaking out and to write to their localnewspapers, visit their representativesin Congress, and become delegates tothe national conventions. Similarly,Arab Americans should not shy awayfrom giving opinions on issues likehealth care, the environment, and theeconomy. Said Rick Davis, who

“Today we find our-selves in a countrywhere repressivetactics are packagedand they’re sold asthe Patriot Act.”

“I, in my time, willnot stand idly byand watch this Bushadministration tearup the Constitution.”

“I think that whatwe should do [inIraq] is transitionmuch more rapidlyto a United Nationspresence for thecivilian governance.”

“We need a presi-dent who will workwith all the peopleof this world andall the leaders ofthis world to solvethe problems weface.”

John Zogby, president of Zogby International, atthe podium. Seated, from left: John Akouri, formerpress secretary for Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI);Khaled Saffuri, Islamic Institute chairman; MayaBerry, MidAmr Group; Rick Davis, national cam-paign manger of John McCain for President; GroverNorquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform;Teresa Isaac, mayor of Lexington, Kentucky; NidalIbrahim, editor of Arab American Business maga-zine; Nasser Beydoun, executive director of theAmerican Arab Chamber of Commerce

From left: Taleb Salhab, Arab AmericanCommunity Center; Emira HabibyBrowne, Arab American Family SupportCenter; Kary Moss, ACLU; AttorneyWilliam Swor; Joseph Zogby, SenateJudiciary Committee counsel

-Rep. Dick Gephardt

-Sen. John Kerry

-Gen.Wesley Clark

-Sen. Carol Moseley Braun

Palestine - Israel

Arab Americans & the 2004 Elections

9988

The Arab American Institute isgrateful for the generosity of thesupporters of its Vote 2004National Leadership Conference.

Nafa Khalaf, Detroit Contracting Inc.

Underwriter

Corporate Sponsor

Corporate Hosts

Community & Table Hosts

DTE Energy

American Arab Chamber of CommerceBasha Diagnostics, Y.M. Basha, MDComerica Dish Network Garden Foods Inc. Dr. Raymond Jallow Ali Jawad

Stoneridge Homes Inc.

Omnex Accounting & Tax Services

Dr. Belal F. AbdallahDr. & Mrs. Samir Abu-GhazalehAllen Brothers, PLLCArab Community Center forEconomic & Social ServicesMohamed BandarBint Jebeil Cultural CenterCDS Communications

Global Leadership Team

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Jumaneh JudehN.J. Diamonds

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William Swor, Esq.

Sam Sheikh, ProjectControl Systems, Inc.

National Arab AmericanMedical Association

Ali H. Dagher, Esq.

AAI works throughout the campaign and election cycle to inform and empower ArabAmerican voters. Our Congressional Scorecard, Voter Guide, Yalla Vote campaign, informa-tion on becoming a party delegate, and email news updates help community members getinvolved in the political process.

worked on Senator John McCain’s2000 presidential bid, “in Michigan,people are affected by the economyand jobs. Arab Americans can, andshould, get involved in this debate.”

Grover Norquist, president ofAmericans for Tax Reform, stressed tothe audience that shaping public policydoesn't always depend on your favoritecandidates winning. “Whether yourcandidate wins or loses, every electionis an opportunity to change policy.”

An important facet of the weekendwas its bipartisan nature. ArabAmericans representing both ends ofthe political spectrum came togetherwith a common cause: the empower-ment of the Arab American communi-ty in both parties. Rick Davis urgedthe group to “nurture bipartisanship.It will give you clout and relevancyyear after year.” AAI’s George Salemagreed, saying, “The fact that ArabAmericans are able to come togetheras both Republicans and Democrats tofight for what is best for our countryis a testament to the dedication andconviction of this community.”

Senator John Kerry, who drew greatapplause for focusing his speech onthe service of Arab Americans, espe-

cially the head of his New Hampshirecampaign and long-time friendWilliam Shaheen, said, “The story ofArab Americans is the story ofAmerica, an immigrant people whosehard work and beliefs have made thisnation great…On September 11th,2001, terrorists attacked a nation con-ceived in liberty, built on justice, and

founded on equality, a nation of immi-grants, all of us, and we will fight, Iwill defend that nation, not give up thebeliefs that make us who we are.”

Renowned pollster John Zogby,president of Zogby International,reminded the roused audience, “anygroup that can move hundreds orthousands of votes can help deter-mine the next president or congress-man, so Arab Americans should feelempowered.”

Arab Americans’Empowerment

“Any group that canmove hundreds or thou-sands of votes can helpdetermine the next presi-dent or congressman, soArab Americans shouldfeel empowered.”

-John Zogby

[excerpt]By Lynette ClemetsonDEARBORN, Mich. — Four yearsago, when the Arab AmericanInstitute invited presidential hope-fuls to address the organization’sannual leadership conference. VicePresident Al Gore and Senator JohnMcCain were the only takers. Theirappearances, via satellite, wereseen as progress for the advocacyorganization, which had faced con-siderable difficulty since its incep-tion in 1985 in brokering directlinks to national political figures.

This year, eight of the nineDemocratic presidential candidatesaccepted invitations to address thegathering of Arab-American politi-cal and grass-roots leaders. Tocounter the Democratic presence,Spencer Abraham, the secretary ofenergy and an Arab-American,spoke on behalf of the Bushadministration, as did MarcRacicot, former chairman of theRepublican National Committeeand chairman of the Bush-Cheney2004 campaign.

In many respects Arab-Americans are still reeling from theeffects of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror-ist attacks and practices like ethnicprofiling and tougher immigrationpolicies that they say dispropor-tionately affect their communities.But many participants in the con-ference said Arab-Americans hademerged from the turbulent periodmore politically energized.

“We’re going to be part of thegreat policy debate that determinesthe future that our country willtake both at home and abroad,”James Zogby, president of the ArabAmerican Institute, told the rough-ly 400 attendees at the opening ofthe conference on Friday.

In the past, “candidates didn’ttalk about what we wanted to talkabout, but you cannot do thattoday,” he said.

Mr. Zogby added that for thecandidates and all Americans, “ourissues are your issues.”

The strong showing byDemocratic candidates was a directstrike at a potential vulnerabilityfor the Bush administration.President Bush, though he did notaddress the leadership conferencein 1999, actively courted Arab-Americans during his campaign.He drew attention and the endorse-ment of several Arab-Americangroups when, in his second debate

with Mr. Gore in October 2000,he advocated the repeal of secretevidence as a tool in prosecutingsuspected terrorists.

Now, with secret evidencelaws bolstered by the USA PatriotAct and other new initiatives ofthe war on terrorism, PresidentBush's edge with Arab-Americanshas weakened.

And while Arab-Americansmake up only a tiny slice of thepopulation — roughly 1.5 millionby Census Bureau calculationsand upwards of 3 million by thecount of most Arab-Americanorganizations — they are clusteredin major battlegroundstates like Michigan,Illinois, Pennsylvania,Ohio and Florida.

In Michigan, whichis one of the earlierprimary states - itholds its Democraticcaucus on Feb. 7 andthe Republican caucuson Feb. 24 - Arab-Americans account foran estimated 4 percentof registered voters.

Starting withSenator Joseph I.Lieberman ofConnecticut, the firstspeaker on Friday, theDemocratic presiden-tial contenders began adrumbeat of criticismof Bush administration policies,especially what they said was thecurtailment of civil liberties for the9/11 terrorist attacks.

Representative Richard A.Gephardt of Missouri was also hereon Friday and three otherDemocrats — Senators JohnEdwards of North Carolina andJohn Kerry of Massachusetts andRepresentative Dennis J. Kucinichof Ohio — addressed the confer-ence via satellite from Washington,where they were voting on the Iraqiaid and reconstruction package.

Gen. Wesley K. Clark wasscheduled to attend but canceled atthe last minute because he was ill.

Former Gov. Howard Dean ofVermont, who was the first of theDemocratic candidates to sign onto attend the conference, receivedstanding ovations before and afterhis 45-minute speech on Saturdayafternoon.

Former Senator Carol MoseleyBraun of Illinois also addressed

the group on Saturday.The Rev. Al Sharpton did not

respond to the invitation.Republicans in attendance

accused the Democratic speakersof being somewhat disingenuous.

“I don’t know that a Democraticpresident would have reacted muchdifferently post-Sept. 11 with thenational security and safety ofAmericans at stake,” said GeorgeSalem, chairman of the ArabAmerican Institute and director ofArab-American outreach for theBush-Cheney campaign in 2000.

Mr. Salem was one of a smallgroup of Arab-American leaders

who met with President Bush in2000 to encourage him to take aposition against the use of secretevidence. Mr. Salem said he wasdisheartened by some of the stepsthe administration had taken inthe last two years to strengthennational security.

“Have they overreached, havethey gone over the line on someissues? Some might argue thatthey have,” he said. “But I thinkthey are trying to correct things.”

Though most of theDemocratic candidates drewapplause for comments about pro-tecting civil liberties, several fellshort of praise from the audiencewhen pressed to define their posi-tions on the Arab-Israeli conflict.Mr. Lieberman drew jeers for sug-gesting that he supported Israel'splanned construction of a securitywall in the West Bank. All of thecandidates were criticized for fail-ing to directly address the issue.

Still, the Democrats gained

some support just for showing.“Whether we agree with them

or not, the fact that they addressedthe issues before us without dodg-ing them is of real importance,”said Ahmad Chebbani, chairmanof the Arab-American Chamber ofCommerce in Michigan.

Mr. Zogby said the fact thatthe Palestinian issue wasaddressed at all is a markedchange. He referred to what hecalled a period of “deafeningsilence” during the 1980’s and1990’s when many politicianschose to avoid possible conflictsof interest by simply not engagingwith Arab-American groups.

Before this year, the last presi-dential contenders to address theannual gathering in person wereBob Dole and Jesse Jackson in1988. In 1984, the Democraticpresidential candidate WalterMondale returned checks fromArab-American donors. In 1988,Michael Dukakis, the Democraticnominee, rejected the endorsementof an Arab-American group.

Mr. Dole, despite his earlierspeech before the convention,refused to meet with Arab-American leaders when he was theRepublican Party's presidentialnominee in 1996. Arab-Americangroups also had a difficult timemaking inroads with PresidentClinton early on in his first term.

“Twenty years ago Arab-Americans could not even havediscussions on the Middle Eastwith candidates,” Mr. Zogby said.“Today we have candidates stand-ing before us supporting a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

Though politics played heavyat the weekend event, the gather-ing was also aimed at forginglinks with other groups. Inbetween candidate speeches,attendees met for workshops ontopics ranging from groomingyoung leaders to improving rela-tions with law enforcement.

At a session on ethnic coalitionbuilding, representatives fromnational Latino and South Asianorganizations discussed hatecrimes, census undercounts andhow to address new immigration-related policies. A spokesman fromthe N.A.A.C.P. joined a panel oflawyers and activists to discussincreasing the prominence of civilliberties as an election issue.

Arab-Americans Gain a Higher Political Profile

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The New York Times October 19, 2003

By Mike MartindaleDEARBORN - Arab-Americansattending a three-day conferencewant to exert their influence inpicking the next U.S. presidentand educate Arab-Americans andothers about their post-911 con-cerns, such as being unfairly tar-geted as terrorists.

More than 400 participants,half from outside Michigan, reg-istered for the second day of the“Vote 2004: An Agenda forPeace and Justice” conference atthe Holiday Inn Fairlane. Formany attendees, like MayaBerry of Dearborn, the confer-ence was a success for the Arab-American community before iteven began.

“There was a time when thesecandidates wouldn’t even returna questionnaire,” said Berry, aconsultant and lobbyist whoworks on Capitol Hill. “Now wehave nine of 10 presidential can-didates taking time to talk to us.We don’t have to elbow our wayto the table anymore. We’rethere.”

Berry and others said issuesbeing raised by Arab-Americanslike the Israel-Palestine conflict,the reduction of civil liberties ofArab-Americans in the UnitedStates, immigration and U.S.-Arab relations are of importanceto all Americans.

The conference concludestoday.

Those at Saturday’s eventsattended workshops and panelson civil liberties and otherissues and heard two presiden-tial candidates, former VermontGov. Howard Dean and CarolMoseley Braun, a former U.S.senator from Illinois. Six otherDemocratic presidential hope-fuls visited in person or bysatellite transmission onFriday.

Dean spoke for about 40 min-utes Saturday, saying he support-ed a two-state solution in theMiddle East, with Israelis andPalestinians living side-by-side.He also touched on jobs, healthcare, the economy and Arab-

American issues and receivedthree standing ovations.

“He (Dean) did his home-work,” said Nasser Beydoun,40, of Dearborn, who voted forPresident Bush in 2000. “Iexpect he won some votes heretoday.”

Former Democratic U.S. Sen.Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois,who spoke Saturday evening,called for a rollback of all taxcuts enacted during the Bushadministration.

Earlier in the day, other con-ference speakers, such asGeorgetown professor andauthor David Cole, criticized the

Patriot Act for undercuttingrights of all citizens, especiallyArab-Americans. Cole toldattendees the U.S. war on terror-ism has a double standard -- onefor American citizens and anoth-er for Arab-Americans, whounfairly have been targeted bygovernment agencies.

“Over 5,000 foreign nationalshave been detained, with onlyfour being criminally chargedwith anything and two of themeventually acquitted,” said Cole,noting the detention was thelargest of a foreign-born U.S.

population since Japanese-Americans were detained incamps during World War II.

“Targeting foreign nationalsis always a precursor to what agovernment will do to its othercitizens,” he said.

The Rev. Wendell Anthony,president of the Detroit branchof the National Association forthe Advancement of ColoredPeople, noted that otherAmericans have similar con-cerns.

“We may have come overhere in different boats, but we’reall in the same boat now,” saidAnthony, on a civil liberties

panel. “African-Americans havefelt like foreign nationals since1619.”

Candidates who appeared didnot focus solely on civil liberties,but some seemed more sensitiveand informed than others, saidManal Broeckelmann of SugarLand, Texas, a Houston suburb.

“I’m here because I want tolearn how to educate other Arab-Americans and our own govern-ment about what we and Islamare all about,” Broeckelmannsaid. “There’s a lot of ignorance,such as in law enforcement, that

because you are Muslim, thenyou must be a terrorist, or thatall Arab-Americans are alsoMuslim.

“The stereotyping gets worseeach day,” she said. “It’s as crazyas saying that some people whowere once in the KKK used toread the Bible so they must haveread something in the Biblewhich made them act the waythey did. Well, I’ve never readanything in the Koran aboutkilling yourself or other people,but some people think that’swhat it teaches.”

Beydoun said that Democrat-ic candidates would try to woothe Arab-American vote is onlynatural.

“It’s hard to be a Republicanthese days in the Arab-Americancommunity,” he said. “Thesecandidates are paying attentionand listening to the communityand coming here becauseMichigan is also a critical stopfor them.”

Beydoun noted how theMichigan primary falls in Marchright after primaries in NewHampshire and Iowa, and theDemocratic candidate likely willhave been identified by then.

“This is a very importantjuncture in American history,”Beydoun said. “We have a lot ofwork to do in making America abeacon of hope for the world andnot a symbol of arrogance.”

Neal Abed, a 45-year-oldlandscape company owner fromOrlando, Fla., said he has con-cerns about the future of theUnited States. His father immi-grated in 1920 and served duringWorld War II. Abed was movedback to the Palestinian territoriesin 1966 when he was 8 years oldand then returned to the UnitedStates 13 years later.

“What makes a country sogreat is its values,” Abed said.“People come here because ofour values. If you lose them,then what do you have?”

The Associated Press contributedto this report.

Presidential Candidates Court Arab AmericansBy David BroderDEARBORN, Mich. -- Whathappened here last weekendwhen about 300 Arab Americansfrom all parts of the countrygathered in this Detroit suburbwas another chapter in one of theunnoticed glories of Americanlife -- the entry of yet anotherimmigrant group into the main-stream of the nation's politics.

As James Zogby, the presi-dent of the Arab AmericanInstitute, the Washington-basedadvocacy group that organizedthe two-day meeting, recalled, itwas not that long ago when pres-idential candidates of both par-ties rejected invitations to speakat such events and returned cam-paign contributions from donorswith Middle Eastern names.

With the chairman ofPresident Bush's reelection cam-paign and virtually all theDemocratic presidential hopefulsjourneying here (or, in the caseof three members of Congressdetained by votes, appearing bysatellite), Zogby said, "We havecome a long, long way" -- andalmost all of the journeyoccurred in two decades.

For all its faults, one of thegreat virtues of the Americanpolitical system is its openness.Anybody who shows up to vol-unteer is likely to find herself aprecinct chairman for the partyof her choice. Anyone who canbring a couple of dozen people toa rally or turn them out to votewill soon be on the county exec-utive committee -- and, in shortorder, be invited to consider acandidacy for local office.

"Outsiders" may struggle torise in business, the professionsor academia, but in politics, theruthless mathematics of elections-- the simple fact that every votecounts as much as every other --guarantees access to the politicalprocess as soon as a constituencygains recognition.

That is how the Irish, the

Italians, the Poles and other19th-century immigrants becamemayors and congressmen -- oftenreplacing the Yankees in thoseposts, and long before theirfriends became bank presidentsor full professors. It is whysouthern politicians such asStrom Thurmond were trans-formed by the Voting Rights Actfrom staunch segregationists intosupporters of the Martin LutherKing Jr. holiday.

The advice given at a work-shop here on "mobilizing theArab American vote" drew onthe experience of all those once-excluded groups. Richard Fawal,

a political consultant based inAustin, stressed what he called"the five basics" of gaininginfluence: Join a political party;contribute time and money; votein every election; talk directlywith elected officials about yourissues; and be prepared to enduredefeats and stay involved over

the years.The barriers to overcome

may seem high -- but they tooare familiar. Several in the roomsaid recent migrants from coun-tries run by undemocraticregimes are understandably fear-ful of becoming politically activehere. Their experience is thatbacking the wrong side can bedangerous. But it took couragefor other excluded groups to getinto the game; think about thefirst blacks to try to register tovote in Mississippi, or the firstCatholic to seek the presidency.

But the rewards are tangible.One of the most telling moments

for the workshop audience camewhen Abed Awad, the head ofthe Arab American DemocraticCaucus in New Jersey, told howhe and his friends did a carefulcount of Middle Eastern immi-grants in Paterson, N.J., mounteda registration campaign amongthem and presented the numbers

to a candidate for mayor. Theynegotiated for their support and,as a result of his victory, Awadsaid, "Paterson will have its firstArab American deputy mayor."

Such small victories -- andmany were reported -- serve theinterests of the once-excludedcommunity. But they also helpthe country by broadening thestream of available leadership,by assuring attention for needsand for views that might other-wise be ignored and by dissipat-ing the tensions and antagonismsthat fuel bloodshed in less opensocieties.

Integrating new groups intopolitics is one of the great serv-ices the political parties haveprovided. With the notableexception of Christian conser-vatives, who had shunned poli-tics until they and their causeswere welcomed by the GOPbeginning a quarter-centuryago, most of the new con-stituencies have found theirhome in the Democratic Party.Arab Americans have flirtedwith both parties and currentlylean to the Democrats -- thanksto the widespread criticism ofBush administration support forthe Sharon government ofIsrael and the even more wide-spread concern about the tar-geting of Muslim immigrantsby John Ashcroft's JusticeDepartment.

Republicans sacrificed theearly support of AfricanAmericans when the party ofLincoln adopted its "southernstrategy." They are struggling toavoid making the same mistakewith Latinos, many of whomdisagree with Republican poli-cies on immigration and theeconomy.

Over time, it is the party thatfirst recognizes -- and rewards --the new claimants to politicalpower that will survive and thrive.And that is why this Dearborngathering was important.

Mobilizing Arab Americans

The Detroit News October 17, 2003The Washington Post October 22, 2003

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munity could be of political sig-nificance. Polling by JohnZogby, brother of the AAI presi-dent, indicated that in 2000,Bush enjoyed an 8-percentage -point lead over Al Gore amongthese voters. Numbering500,000 to 1 million, they areconcentrated in such battle-ground states as Michigan, Ohioand New Jersey. Bush has beenin Dearborn, the largest commu-nity of Arab Americans, twice inthe past 20 months, but opposi-

tion to his policies has contin-ued to grow.

Dean followed a half-dozenof his rivals who spoke in per-son or by satellite Friday andlost no time in reminding theaudience that unlike most ofthem, he had opposed the war inIraq from the outset. He saidthat subsequent events haveundercut the claims Bush madeto support the war, adding thatas president, “I would neversend your sons and daughters. . . to a foreign land to fightwithout first telling the truth tothe American people.”

He described himself as opti-

mistic about the chances of apeace agreement in the MiddleEast, based on U.S. support forseparate Israeli and Palestinianstates, despite the current fight-ing and diplomatic stalemate. Hesaid that of all Arab peoples, thePalestinians “have the bestopportunity to create democra-cy,” and said he had metPalestinian leaders who are com-mitted to that goal.

“But only an American pres-ident can bring peace,” Dean

said, joining oth-ers’ complaintthat Bush had letmany opportuni-ties for personalleadership slip.He was cheeredwhen he repeat-ed his earlierpromise that ifelected, hewould send for-mer PresidentBill Clinton ashis personalenvoy to theMiddle East.

The cheersand ovationsgrew more fre-quent when heturned to con-demning theBush administra-tion’s anti-terror-ism tactics with-in the United

States, saying that its treatmentof immigrants and roundups ofMuslims amounted to “ethnicprofiling” and violated constitu-tional guarantees -- reinforcingclaims made by a battery oflawyers, scholars and communi-ty service agency workers duringthe morning panel.

“Because John Ashcroft toutsthe Patriot Act around the coun-try does not mean John Ashcroftis a patriot,” Dean said to risingcheers. “That American flagover there belongs to everyAmerican -- not only to JohnAshcroft, Rush Limbaugh, JerryFalwell and Pat Robertson.”

In response to an audiencequestion about the security fenceunder construction to separateIsrael and Israeli settlementsfrom Palestinian territory, Deanstruggled. “The Israelis have aright to defend themselves,” hesaid, “but this is a very sadstory,” blocking even casual con-tact between the two peoples.“The course of the wall,” extend-ing into disputed territory, “is aconcern,” he said, “as I have toldthe Israeli leadership. But this isa short-term tactic for defenseagainst terror. The wall cannot bepermanent.”

That response was met by amoment of silence and then scat-tered applause. On Friday, whenSen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) offered a somewhat simi-lar defense of Israeli policy,there were boos and shouts ofopposition.

Throughout the meeting,Democratic speakers fared muchbetter than the few Republicanswho accepted invitations toappear. Former RepublicanNational Committee chairmanMarc Racicot, now chairman ofBush's reelection campaign, raninto stony silence Friday, whileDemocratic National CommitteeChairman Terence A. McAuliffewas lustily cheered at theevening banquet, where Rep.Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.) deliv-ered his standard stump speechto applause.

John Khamis of San Jose,Calif., a Republican activist, saidthe combination of Bush’sMiddle East policy andAshcroft’s use of the Patriot Actmeans that “the attractive partsof the Republican agenda, oureconomic policies, are falling ondeaf ears.”

Asked if he thought Bushcould regain support amongArab Americans before nextyear's election, Khamis said, “Idon’t know. It’s going to take areal effort, and the odds areagainst him. I’ve had 30-yearRepublicans tell me they are re-registering as independents.”

By David BroderDEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 18 -An assemblage of politicallyactive Arab Americans gave for-mer Vermont governor HowardDean repeated ovations Saturdayat the windup of a two-day meet-ing that marked a clear shift ofallegiance from President Bushto his Democratic rivals.

Dean got by far the warmestresponse of any of the sevenpresidential hopefuls whoaddressed the 300 people attend-ing the national leadership con-ference of the Arab AmericanInstitute (AAI), a Washington-based advocacy group. But everyDemocratic speaker wasapplauded for criticizing theadministration's policies in theMiddle East and especially forthe anti-terrorism tactics ofAttorney General John D.Ashcroft, condemned by partici-pants in a morning panel as tar-geting immigrants from Muslimcountries and routinely violatingtheir civil liberties.

The political tilt of the nomi-nally nonpartisan gatheringbecame so evident that James J.Zogby, the president of the AAIand himself a member of theDemocratic National Commit-tee’s executive committee, toldthe activists attending fromaround the country that he hadheard “some complain that thereis an imbalance in the program.”He said that is inevitable whennine people are running on theDemocratic side and only one onthe Republican.

But George Salem, chairmanof the AAI board and an activeRepublican, acknowledged inhis remarks that “there is a wargoing on” within the GOP andthe administration, and thatArab Americans “and othermoderates” have an uphillstruggle with conservatives whosupport the anti-terrorism USAPatriot Act and align the U.S.government with the policies ofthe Israeli government.

The apparent shift of senti-ment in the Arab American com-

Dean Greeted Warmly by Arab AmericansDemocrats, 31 percent areRepublicans and 30 are inde-pendent or undecided.

Among Michigan’s estimated400,000 Arab-Americans, olderimmigrant groups such as Chal-deans, Christian Iraqis, tend to beRepublican. Newer immigrantssuch as Lebanese and Syrians leanDemocratic, said Nabeel Abraham,co-editor of “Arab Detroit: FromMargin to Mainstream.”

The one issue that binds allArab-Americans has traditionallybeen a nonstarter in U.S. poli-tics: Nationhood for Palestine,said James Zogby, president of

the Arab American Institute.Zogby is the brother of NewYork pollster John Zogby, presi-dent of Zogby International.

“A lot of people feel shut outof the system,” said Abraham, ananthropology instructor at HenryFord Community College. “Theyfeel the system disowns thembecause even mentioning Israelor Palestine shuts down the con-versation.”Bush support wanesThe conference comes as supportfor President Bush among Arab-Americans is waning.

The community favored Bushover Democrat Al Gore, 44-38percent, in the 2000 election. Butmany Arab-Americans are upsetover the war in Iraq and USAPatriot Act that gives the govern-ment greater powers to deportimmigrants and spy on suspectedterrorists.

A Zogby International pollreleased in July showed just 34percent of Arab-Americans sup-port Bush. Muslims, who com-

prise about 20 percent of the com-munity, favored Democrats 52percent to 10 percent over Bush.

It’s those numbers that areexpected to bring DemocratsWesley Clark, Howard Dean,John Edwards, RichardGephardt, John Kerry, JoeLieberman and Carol MoseleyBraun to Dearborn. CandidateDennis Kucinich will address thegathering by video conferencefrom Washington, D.C.

Also confirmed for the con-ference that lasts through Sundayare former Montana Gov. MarkRacicot, chairman of the Bush-

Cheney 2004 campaign; TerryMcAulliffe, chairman of theDemocratic National Committee;and Michigan Gov. JenniferGranholm and U.S. Sen. DebbieStabenow.

Michigan is considered a bat-tleground state, as are communitystrongholds California, which has650,000 Arab-Americans; NewYork, 410,000; Florida, 270,000;New Jersey, 250,000; Illinois;180,000; and Ohio, 160,000.

“Those tens of thousands ofvotes can make a difference,”Zogby said. Voices not all unifiedBut Bush’s declining popularitydoesn’t necessarily mean Arab-Americans are a lock forDemocrats.

If anything, the war in Iraqhas split the community. ManyIraqis such as Daoud stronglysupport Bush’s terrorism policy,while opposition to it has galva-nized those of Palestinian orLebanese descent.

The split also can be roughly

traced along the border betweenWayne and Oakland counties:Newer immigrants congregatednear Dearborn oppose Bush’s poli-cies; while established suburbanitesnear Southfield and the BloomfieldHills area tend to favor the war.

Arab-Americans come togeth-er on other issues such as civilliberties and the government’suse of secret evidence that nei-ther defendants nor their attor-neys can view, said ZaydAllebban, 25, of Dearborn, aWayne State University law stu-dent and Iraqi Muslim.

“We’re suffering from the

same setbacks that befell manyother minority populations whenthey became active,” Allebbansaid. “There’s a lack of unity. Wehave (too) many self-declaredmouthpieces for the Arab-American community.”

Any growing pains are betterthan the alternative, Zogby argued.

A 20-year activist who serveson the Democratic National Com-mittee, Zogby remembered when“Arab” was a dirty word not toolong ago. Politicians wouldn’tmeet with community leaders.Political contributions werereturned.

Now, presidential candidatesare wooing a group that, whilenot still yet a coherent votingbloc, is considered politicallyvital, Zogby said.

“We’ve had a breakthroughthat’s the culmination of twodecades of developing relation-ships, hard work and dealingwith exclusion. We didn’t justdemand our rights. We earnedour rights,” he said.

By Joel KurthDEARBORN - The numberstantalize political operatives. Some 2.3 million Arab-Ameri-cans are clustered in Michiganand six other states consideredup for grabs in the 2004 presi-dential election. As a group, theymark ballots with greater regu-larity than the general popula-tion. Voting together, they coulddecide a close election.

If only it were that easy. Eight Democratic presidentialcandidates scheduled to addressthe Arab American Institute’snational leadership conferencestarting today in Dearborn maylearn there’s no such thing as asingle Arab voice, unified con-cern or sure vote.

“Everyone's all over the mappolitically,” said Youssef Fawaz,20, of Canton Township, whosegrandparents immigrated fromLebanon. “Don’t think that allwe care about is Lebanon this orPalestine that. Don’t baby us. Wemay be a swing vote, but wecare about other issues.”

The expected appearancesfrom Democrats may mark theacme of a decades-long strugglefor political recognition by theArab-American establishment.But they come as long-brewingdisagreements within the hardlyhomogenous communityincrease over tensions about theIraq war.

“You can take the people outof the country, but you can’t takethe country out of the people,”said Tarik Daoud of BloomfieldHills, who is of Chaldeandescent and owns two car dealer-ships. “They bring their old ani-mosities, old conflicts and oldgrudges here to America.”

Charting the Arab-Americanpolitical map is a frustratingexercise. And no wonder: Theestimated 4 million U.S. citizensof Arab descent come from aregion larger than Europe thatextends over five time zones.

A 2002 Zogby Internationalpoll showed that Arab-Americanpolitical affiliations mirror thoseof the nation: 39 percent are

U.S. Arab Voting Clout GrowsThe Washington Post October 19, 2003 The Detroit News October 17, 2003

1144 1155

By Ron KampeasDEARBORN, Mich. - JosephLieberman, unlikely to win muchArab support in his bid for the pres-idency, may have made the bestimpression of all the Demo-craticcandidates appearing at an ArabAmerican forum this weekend.

The Connecticut senator,whose Jewish faith and pro-Israel record was an issue forArab Americans when he ran forVice President in 2000, earnedpoints just by showing up lastFriday at the Arab AmericanInstitute conference.

“It was classy that he came,”said Rami Naser, a Palestinian-born student at Florida StateUniversity. “I give him full props.”

Lieberman made headlineswhen he was booed for sayingthat Israel is a democratic stateand for refusing to describeIsraeli demolitions of Palestinianhomes as terror.

But the hecklers were aminority and were quicklyshushed by others - and the ensu-ing controversy helped fuel hispopularity.

“I’m so grateful he came, forhis honesty and integrity,whether or not I agree with his

agenda,” said Samia El-Badry, ademographer from Austin,Texas. “I’m more than embar-rassed for our community to aska guest and then to speak out ofturn and to boo him.”

The main heckler was not anArab American, and some con-ference participants suggestedthat the hostile reception wasupsetting because it was incon-sistent with Arab culture.

The next day, when candidateHoward Dean made one of thesame points - that Israel was ademocracy - there was silence,but no booing.

James Zogby, president of theinstitute, admonished the heck-lers, saying it reflected poorly onthe organization´s coming of age.

“That’s not what we are,” hetold conference-goers. “Five peoplehave no right to define 25 years.”

Lieberman directly addressedissues that several other candi-dates tried to avoid, includingthe security fence Israel is build-ing in the West Bank. The will-ingness to be direct impressedsome, even though they didn´tlike his message.

“He didn’t come and tickleyour ears,” Michael Farah, a

Republican who heads the Nation-al Lebanese-American Chamber ofCommerce, said the next daywhen the incident was being dis-cussed. “The next time I’m inWashington, I’m going to visit JoeLieberman and thank him for com-ing out here among the lions.”

Zogby had, in introducingLieberman, noted the senator’sopenness to Arab Americansdespite political differences.

Lieberman’s first stop in2000 after being chosen as AlGore’s vice presidential candi-date was with an Arab Americangroup, and in 1992 he used hisconnections to force the Clintoncampaign to open its doors toArab Americans.

Lieberman also consults withZogby on civil liberties issues.

“I like the person, I like whathe’s done in reaching out to mycommunity,” Zogby told JTA.“When other candidates rejected us,Joe Lieberman came to talk to us.”

Zogby also noted thatLieberman’s appearance camejust before the Sabbath and theholiday of Shemini Atzeret. “It’sonly a short window betweennow and the High Holidays,” hesaid. “That’s important.”

One of the hecklers saidLieberman should have stuck towhat unites the Arab and Jewishcommunities and kept awayfrom the Middle East.

“There is a very weak bridgebetween the Muslim and Jewishcommunity in the United Statesand we need to strengthen thatbridge,” said Imam Ahmed ElKhaldy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“There are so many thingswe could discuss. Instead, to talkabout opinion in the Middle Eastwon´t build that bridge.”

Lieberman, who earned politeapplause for his criticism of howthe Bush administration has han-dled minorities since the Sept. 11attacks, said he thought his audi-ence deserved an unvarnishedtelling of his opinions.

“I thought it was important tostress what we have in commonas Americans,” he told reporters.“I was not going to pander orwaffle to please a crowd.”

He wasn’t perturbed by theheckling.

“I would have been disap-pointed if there hadn’t been thatreaction,” Lieberman said. “Itreminded me of dinner with myfamily.”

Lieberman Lauded by Arabs for Coming Out ‘Among the Lions’

By William HersheyDEARBORN, Mich. -- ThisDetroit suburb, home to thenation’s largest concentration ofArab-Americans, will be centerstage this weekend for the 2004presidential campaign.

Eight of the nine Democraticcandidates are scheduled tospeak at “Vote 2004: An Agendafor Peace and Justice.” FormerMontana Gov. Marc Racicot,national chairman of Bush-Cheney '04, also is expected tospeak, as is Terry McAuliffe,chairman of the DemocraticNational Committee.

It’s a dramatic turnabout from1985, when the Arab AmericanInstitute, host to the gathering,was organized. Back then, politi-cians sometimes rejectedendorsements, for fear of alienat-ing Jewish voters, and returnedcampaign contributions fromArab-Americans, said James

Zogby, institute president.“I’ve been excluded, and I’vebeen pandered to,” Zogby said.“I like pandered better.”

More than 400 Arab-Americans from 20 states areexpected at the conference,which starts today and endsSunday. Arab-Americans makeup an estimated 20 percent ofDearborn’s 97,775 residents,according to the institute, whichwas formed to represent Arab-American interests in govern-ment and politics.

The event’s location inMichigan makes it especiallyimportant to the Democratic candi-dates, said political scientist LarrySabato of the University of Virginia.

The state’s Feb. 7 Democraticpresidential caucuses are the first2004 showdown in a major state,Sabato said. The Democraticcaucuses in Michigan followclosely the Jan. 19 Iowa caucus-

es and the Jan. 27 NewHampshire primary.

Later this month, on Oct. 26,the Congressional Black Caucus issponsoring a debate in Detroit forthe Democratic candidates, furtherhighlighting Michigan’s impor-tance in the nominating process.

Democratic candidates havebeen courting Arab-Americanvoters in Michigan with almostthe same zeal they’re displayingin going after the labor vote,Zogby said.

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark,former Vermont Gov. HowardDean, Sens. Joe Lieberman, JohnKerry and John Edwards, Reps.Richard Gephardt and DennisKucinich and former Sen. CarolMoseley-Braun all are scheduledto speak here, either in person orby satellite. The Rev. Al Sharp-ton is the only Democratic candi-date who is not on the program.

Arab-Americans make up

nearly 5 percent of Michigan’selectorate, their largest percent-age in any state, Zogby said.Arab-Americans account for asmuch as 2 percent of voters inother so-called battlegroundstates -- those considered up forgrabs in the general election --including Ohio, Pennsylvaniaand New Jersey, Zogby said.

“In a 50-50 America, everygroup matters,” Sabato said.While Zogby has been associatedwith Democratic candidates, theinstitute’s chairman is GeorgeSalem, a lawyer who served assolicitor in the Labor Departmentunder President Ronald Reaganand also played key roles in Rep-ublican presidential campaigns.

Nationally, about 30 percentof Arab-American voters are“rock-solid” Republicans, whileabout 35 percent lean toward theDemocrats, with the rest up forgrabs, said Zogby.

Candidates Woo Arab Americans

AI’s National Leadership Conference was a strong launch to the 2004 election year. It demonstrated that Arab American voices are being heard like

never before. But our work is just beginning.

Help make our community even stronger: Get involved! Visitour website at www.aaiusa.org - you can email the candidatesabout some of our most pressing issues, find out where thecandidates stand in our online voter guide, get the latest cam-paign news and more.

If you’re interested in becoming a delegate or volunteering fora campaign, please fill out our online form so we can send youthe information you need to get started.

We also invite you to tell your friends and family about thegreat work our community is doing, and encourage them toget involved too.

Together, we can make a difference.

AJTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency) October 21, 2003

Atlanta Journal-Constitution October 17, 2003

Dear Friends,

Dr. James J. ZogbyPresident,Arab American Institute

1166

“Never again will the Arab

American community be traumatized by thepolitics of exclusion. Arab Americans

have proven that they are a political constituency

that is organized & whose votes can make a difference.”

Arab American Institute1600 K St. NW Suite 601, Washington, DC 20006

Phone: (202) 429-9210 Fax: (202) 429-9214www.aaiusa.org

- AAI President Dr. James Zogby