As founder of the Republican Muslim Coalition, Ahmed is the aim of liaising Between the Philippine government and Muslim Americans. In November, she was reserved onFox News, as He Had Been Several times in the past, to discuss the election of 2016, just after Donald Trump Said He Had shutter American mosques if I Became president. But it was not His message was massive viral: It was His flag-hijab tape to strong and definitive statement in prime time religion meant His belief That shouldnt be defined by violent extremists.
"[The flag] was just an indication of my patriotism and hopefully the message came through That can be very patriotic Muslims," she says. "I was trying to show That we can all be productive and hopefully defend our Citizens faith in the media."
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In many ways, clothing Ahmed Fox News shouldnt Have Been a surprise. Muslims can be patriotic as aggressive as everyone else, and as recently in the 2000 election, 70 percent of the Republicans Were attracting American Muslim vote.
"Islamic values are very much traditional family values: pro-life, pro-marriage, family values in Behalf of traditional, pro-business, pro-trade," says Ahmed, a Pakistani-American lawyer of patents Whose botched execution of Congress in 2011 Helped to Realize Their interpretation of Their Islamic faith was incompatible With modern democratic party platform. "Things that are Important to our community are very much republican values."
Within months, however, the inflammatory rhetoric of Trump and other GOP candidates Have undone years of work by Muslims as Ahmed to repair the damage / 11 actions post-9 of the Republican Party Have Their mark made Among American Muslims. A survey by the Council of American-Islamic Relations shows only 11 percent of American Muslims Identify Themselves as Republicans. Among Themselves Even conservative Muslims, just over two Thirds They say belong to, or read Toward the Democratic Party.
Anti-Muslim sentiment is nothing new in the Republican Party. With its nativist rhetoric But, proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the country, and a willingness to Consider the notion of identification cards compulsory for Muslims, Trump is building the future of the Republican Party categorically excludes Muslims.
For many American Muslims Have Become Whose political identities deeply intertwined With the GOP, the threat posed by borders on the existential Trump.
Muslims in the Reagan era
Sherine El-Abd has-been a Republican activist for three decades. His conversion to be a Democrat shows how, in the mid-1980s, the GOP was in many ways more welcoming part to People Who Their shared faith.
"Islamic values are very much the traditional values of:. Pro-life, pro-marriage family, family values in Behalf of traditional, pro-business, pro-trade" El-Abd HAD just moved to the US. UU. in 1984, at age 18, from His native Egypt and was excited to volunteer in the presidential campaign of Walter Mondale. She was cleaning after hosting a party fundraiser When I Heard the news. Former Democratic vice president Announced That donations returned from a prominent Arab-American organization.
"I did not want to be tainted by accepting money from Arab-Americans, Arab-Americans as if Americans are not," recalls El-Abd, 32 years later, with a twinge of anger in His voice. "So I Said, 'Okay, I will work for the other side and going to make sure That [Ronald Reagan] wins, because i do not want people in my community ignored and overlooked.'"
Sherine El-Abd an event 2011 New Jersey Federation of Republican Women Follow NJFRW / Flickr
Reagan's campaign Could not have found a more dedicated volunteer. El-Abd raised money, made phone calls, and stuffed envelopes. I did everything I Could to get the community out by the Reagan revolution. Decades later, El-Abd remains a loyal Republican; I was named by the governor of New Jersey Chris Christie to be the superintendent of elections in Passaic County.
The Reagan era led to generation of activists like El-Abd al GOP fold. George Salem worked at a law firm in a labor lawyer in 1984 When I was Recruited to run the division "ethnic voters" campaign. Working under the famous campaign manager Lee Atwater, managed more than 100,000 volunteers in 36 states Salem, Including the first Arab-American committee in the presidential campaign in history.
Pres. Ronald Reagan (left) and George Salem (right), circa 1984 George Salem
"Before the 1984 campaign, occasionally you would see a Lebanese committee in a presidential campaign. Occasionally you would Syrian. But I Never Had Arab-Americans, and Certainly not HAD anything like Palestinian-American or Egyptian-Americans," says Salem, WHO is Palestinian-American. "But we got Arab-Americans, and covering everyone. That way It's been more or less ever since."
After the election, Salem Became the Department of Labor chief lawyer and the first Palestinian-American never confirmed by the Senate. ,,,,, Although I have never worked full time again in a presidential campaign, I have continued to volunteer your services for the party for the presidency of the Committees of Arab-Americans for the two presidential Efforts of George HW Bush, Bush on visits Accompanying to Meetings with mosques and prominent members of the community around the country.
During the campaign of George W. Bush in 2000, the scope of GOP turning a corner. Bush, Karl Rove, strategist at Muslims Efforts Aimed Specifically, the first time the scope is based on religion and not just ethnicity.
Both Salem El-Abd and Were active in the Bush campaign 2000. The former Often ACTED as a substitute for campaign events in New Jersey, and the Latter Informed the then governor of Texas-long campaign. "[Bush] respects the religious dimension of the community," says Salem. "He respects our values, Which are very consistent With the values of the Republic of hard work, economic opportunity, religious freedom, and so it is on Their Own without much government interference."
Bush May Have won the election only by the width of the robes of a judge of the Supreme Court, but I Took the Muslim vote by a landslide. However, after eight years of Bush in office, I HAD lost the community as a whole, DESPITE making a personal request not to confuse all Americans with terrorism, speechsix Especially in a few days after 9/11 attacks at the Islamic Center of Washington, DC
"If Trump Becomes the candidate, we All have to think twice. Will we still be Republicans?" In 2008, only 2.2 percent of Muslims voted for Republican His successor, Senator John McCain of Arizona, and only 4.4 percent pulled the lever for the former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, four years later.
After 9/11, the Bush administration issued a series of controversial programs-such as NSEERS, a program Largely forgotten forcing immigrants from Muslim Predominantly country clubs to register with the government and Provide Regular updates on Their sites-and Have invaded Iraq to Eliminate nonexistent weapons of mass destruction. As the party Gathered around Bush, initially for electoral success, Muslims fled big tent of Republicans in crowds.
'Fear sells'
David Ramadan first fell in love with American democracy as a teenager reading of the Constitution in Beirut in the midst of the destruction Caused by the Lebanese civil war. Two weeks after moving to the Unites States in 1989, she was a volunteer in the Bush-Quayle campaign. Over the years, participation progressed: licking envelopes, answering phones, making $ 25 donations and Gradually adding zeros to That Number. Decades later, Ramadan was personally advises Republican candidates in His ADOPTED home of Virginia.
In 2012, Ramadan ran for the House of Delegates of Virginia as a Republican. DESPITE His more than two Decades of activism in the game, the Opponent of Ramadan made His ethnicity is a problem. Anti-Islam activist Frank Gaffney, WHO is advising the campaign of triumph in foreign policy, came to His district to protest a Muslim personally running as a Republican.
"Because of my name, I was Accused of being a terrorist and That was kind Sharia Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas and Hezbollah," Said Ramadan. "Anyone With the same understanding happens in the Middle East no one knows That Could Be in all three of These groups at the same time."
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"Because of my name, I was Accused of being a terrorist and That was kind Sharia Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas and Hezbollah. " There has Also Been a major shift in the focus of the GOP. In 2012, after Mitt Romney lost the presidential race, the GOP published an autopsy report details That what the party must do to win the next election cycle. "You look at that report, and the need to Refers to reach Asians, Latinos and African Americans," Said Robert McCaw, WHO heads government affairs at the nonprofit Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Nowhere in the report does not mention the Arab Communities, Communities of South Asia, or the Muslim Communities. We are not even part of Its new strategy."
McCaw esta attitude contrasts to That of Democratic Party leaders, many of Whom Have made outreach to Muslims a priority. "We Have made gestures as a community for the Republican Party to address Islamophobia. We Have made the same Efforts With the Democratic Party. As a community, letters to [the chairman of the Republican Reince National Committee] Priebus and [Chairman of the National Committee sent democrat] Debbie Wasserman Schultz, "Said McCaw. "Just Schultz Said. There is a provision in the Democratic Party to Participate Muslims."
Whos Islamophobic tone of the 2016 presidential election Republican Began With former neurosurgeon Ben Carson candidate. Shortly after first Trump was negative in Muslim Carson He Said in an Interview with NBC News That being Muslim shoulddisqualify someone to serve as president. Carson's statement Seemed to help His poll numbers, and a few weeks later, Trump upped the front with a proposal to block all Muslims entering the country.
Some of the Opponents of Trump for the nomination of the GOP-particularly Those, like notes Salem, With executive experience, former Florida Gov. Governor Jeb Bush and John Kasich Including treats of Ohio-have, to some extent, pushed back the Islamophobic rhetoric Against. Trump however, has pushed the boundaries of what is acceptable political discourse.
"If you go back to the elections of 2008 or 2012, Trump has made any statements about prep Muslims That, or Ben Carson has done, would disqualify a candidate running," Said McCaw. "When we look at the negative comments made by Newt Gingrich, Michelle Banach, or Herman Cain acerca Muslims, I put them in hot water. They Were Dragged through the mud, and it was a message to other candidates."
It is a cycle That feeds on itself, becoming more extreme and seeps into the overall public. McCaw esta Argues That kind of political language is responsible for aspike in Hate Crimes Against Muslims after the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris last year andSan Bernardino, California. "I do not like this drawing in parallel, but after the bombing of Boston, Which was a tragic and horrible event, saw the unity and solidarity Among Muslims and Their fellow American Citizens," Said McCaw. "We Have not seen esta kind of post-Paris, after San Bernardino counterattacks saw in 2015. What is the Difference between the bombing in 2013 and the attacks of 2015? That's the choice. It candidates taking advantage of marginal views and make them mainstream . "
A party divided
Trump views About Resonate With many Republicans Muslims. Exit polls in five Super Tuesday states Showed more than 60 percent of Republican voters agree With His proposal to ban Muslim. But the presence of Trump at the top of the ticket Could be an electoral disaster. When appointed, not only political analyst Larry Sabato Predicts the veteran Trump losing in a landslide election you vote 179, Trump would, by a wide margin, the candidate for the unpopular General elections by a major party in generations, Especially With groups like -whites not, college graduates, and independent.
"If you go back to the elections of 2008 or 2012, Trump has made any statements About That would disqualify a candidate to run Muslims." "[Trump] actions and words are quite dangerous for the United States," says Ramadan. "They're going to ruin the whole work participation and inclusion in the party over the years we conservatives Have made. It's not something That is ruining During an election period. It is ruining in the coming decades."
For Nearly Three Decades, Ramadan you Fought From Within the GOP for greater inclusion of minorities. With the rise of Trump, Ramadan is beginning to doubt himself. Perhaps the strategy is conservative as I was away from the GOP and insist on the party to come to them if They Want Their votes. "If Trump Becomes the candidate, we All have to think twice. Will we still be Republicans?" I ASKs, rhetorically. "And again, [we] fight for another 10 years to change the party leadership, or will be away from the conservatives Who are under a different umbrella?"
Others see the success of Trump hate selling a fearful public as nothing more than a phase . Salem likens it to a pendulum. In 1984, a Democratic candidate was returning donations from Arab-American groups; in 2016, a Republican candidate was Advocating not let the Muslims in the country. "The goal is That, at some point, the pendulum will stop swinging Greatly in one way or another enormously. It is just being in the middle," says Salem. "Then we can be like the Italian American and Greek-Americans and all other political ethics Recognized and respected groups and be respected for who we are."
Illustration J. Longo
El-Abd terrorists Trump compare the real-estate heir TV star is so With stopping concerned I is willing to paint in the world 1.6 million Muslims in the same broad sack turned.
"I liken it to When Talking about the Muslims are called That radical carrying out terrorist acts" I Explains. "It has not distanced me from my faith Because I Know That Is not what my faith is."
Trump even a victory in an Explicitly Islamophobic platform, as unpleasant as it is, would not be enough to drive to El-Abd outside the GOP more than the brutality of ISIS Could do not want to be a Muslim. "What is happening now With some people I never away from the Republican platform call Themselves Republicans," she says. "I will Decided to hang in there, good and strong, so That the party back to where it Should be."
Ahmed, meanwhile, Trump really see much to admire. She likes His economic policy and appreciates His business background. "At the same time, it is sad to see His rhetoric Against Muslims," I says with a sigh. "Every week we Have the opportunity to hear something new That comes up, and I feel like that really Helps His candidacy.'ve Moved up to 11 points When He made the remark Muslim ban. It is sad to see That the climate in America Such reward behavior ".
The aim of the Republican Muslim Coalition is to help Republican presidential candidates Understand Islam. To this end, she met With all the major candidates in the race, except for Trump. After months of trying, Ahmed finally got on the phone with former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski Trump. She used the conversation to invite Trump to visit a mosque and meet With some American Muslims in person.
"They do not say no, but They Said They will continue on the table and Perhaps Meet With the American Muslim community at some point," Ahmed says, "but just maybe not right now."She is still waiting.