Giuliani Campaign Hits New Lows in Polls With Rise In Anti-Muslim Rhetoric

MPAC

Posted Jan 3, 2008      •Permalink      • Printer-Friendly Version
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GIULIANI CAMPAIGN HITS NEW LOWS IN POLLS WITH RISE IN ANTI-MUSLM RHETORIC

by MPAC

(Washington, DC - 1/2/07)—A former front runner in the Republican Presidential primary race, Giuliani’s standing in the polls has dropped dramatically in recent months as his anti-Muslim stances and statements have multiplied.

In March 2007, Giuiliani was the favored front-runner in the crowded GOP presidential field—with 34 percent of likely Republican voters—and held a substantial lead on the closest competition, according to CNN. The Associated Press reported today that Giuliani trails behind John McCain, with just 20 percent of likely Republican voters backing him. The former New York mayor has lost support across the GOP spectrum of conservatives, moderates and liberals.

The latest incident of anti-Muslim rhetoric from Giuliani’s campaign took place earlier this week, when it was revealed that the co-chairman for New Hampshire’s “Veterans for Rudy Giuliani”, John Deady said, “We need to keep the feet to the fire and keep pressing these people ‘til we defeat them (Muslims) or chase them back to their caves, or in other words, get rid of them.”

 

Giuliani’s campaign has been among the worst offenders in terms of its anti-Muslim message. Giuliani endorsed his political advisor, Congressman Peter King’s (R-NY) statement in September that there are too many mosques in this country which should be put under surveillance, and accused Muslims of not cooperating with law enforcement. Giuliani refused to ask King, who is a ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, to retract his statement.

Giuliani’s reaction to King’s statement was not surprising since he is surrounded by such Islamophobes as Daniel Pipes, who has advocated for the racial profiling of Muslim Americans. Pipes has also argued that the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II was necessary and justified.

In October, 41 Republican members of Congress refused to vote on a historic House resolution (HR 635) that recognized “the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world,” rejected “hatred, bigotry and violence directed against Muslims, both in the United States and worldwide” and “[commended] Muslims in the United States and across the globe who have privately and publicly rejected interpretations and movements of Islam that justify and encourage hatred, violence and terror.”

MPAC urges candidates to put an end to Islamophobia in the U.S. presidential election. Candidates must instead reach out constructively to the Muslim American community, soliciting their participation at all levels in the election and joining them to fend off hateful sentiments that serve only to demonize Muslims and perpetuate differences between Americans.

Editor’s Note: In an MPACnews released earlier this week, a typographical error mistated MPAC’s position on the resignation of a Giuliani campaign leader following his Islamophobic statements. The statement should have read: “MPAC condemns this and all incidents of Islamophobia and insists that presidential candidates, including individuals acting on their behalf, to be mindful of inappropriate language that serves to alienate segments of the American population.”

Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council is an American institution which informs and shapes public opinion and policy by serving as a trusted resource to decision makers in government, media and policy institutions. MPAC is also committed to developing leaders with the purpose of enhancing the political and civic participation of Muslim Americans.

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