Arab Americans Condemn McCain Remarks, Disappointed with Obama's Campaign

posted on: Oct 15, 2008

The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) condemns the racist nature of Senator John McCain’s campaign for president and demands that an immediate end be put to defaming Arab Americans and American Muslims.

“Not surprisingly, campaign rallies for Senator McCain have taken on the hateful tone of his campaign advertisements,” said AAPAC President Osama Siblani, who is also publisher of The Arab American News. “Audience members are picking up on McCain’s desperate attempts to discredit his opponent in any way possible, even to the point of questioning his motives for running, his patriotism, his friendships and his ethnic background. People at McCain rallies are openly calling for the murder of Senator Obama.”

The organization also expressed its disappointment with Senator Obama’s response to an incident that occurred at a McCain rally last week. When a McCain supporter told the candidate she didn’t trust Obama because he is an Arab, Senator McCain quickly told her that was not true.

“No ma’am. He’s a decent, family-man citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with… No, he’s not,” McCain said.

Senator McCain apparently thinks Arabs could not be decent family men. Senator Obama’s response was just as offensive. Instead of clarifying that being Arab is not mutually exclusive with being decent, Obama actually praised McCain for defending him!

“While such behavior is not new from Senator McCain’s campaign and some of his supporters, we are disappointed with Senator Obama,” said Siblani. “This is most recent in a long string of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim incidents that have sprung from both campaigns. Arab Americans are a significant voting bloc in Michigan and in other critical swing states in the upcoming election. Senator Obama would be foolhardy to take that vote for granted.”

While the country is facing its most serious financial crisis in recent times, losing wars and suffering a deteriorating public image abroad, the campaign tactics of the two major presidential candidates have sunk to a new low.

“We will only give our vote to candidates who respect our community, who serve and unify our nation. Those who divide us and disrespect our community don’t deserve our vote. That is the way we will vote on Tuesday, November 4,” Siblani said.

It is time that the voices of moderation and tolerance ring out and rise above the drum beat of hate.

AAPAC will announce its endorsements for this election season at its eleventh annual dinner. The dinner, dubbed the largest political gala for the Arab American community in the state, will be held in Dearborn on Friday, October 24, 2008.