AAI Bulletin

Power in Numbers

Posted on Friday October 27, 2006

Power in Numbers

AAI recently released its latest poll on the Arab American vote in what are widely considered four battleground states: Michigan, Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania. The poll, conducted by Zogby International (ZI) during the second week in October 2006, found that only 22% of Arab Americans approve of President Bush’s job performance, with a high of 76% disapproving. “Corruption” rated as the highest determinant of which way Arab Americans would vote, followed closely by Iraq, civil liberties and the wars in Lebanon and Palestine.

Continuing a trend, more and more Arab Americans are identifying Democrats as being able to do a better job of protecting civil liberties and dealing with Iraq.

“Election Central”

Ever wonder how your Representative or Senators voted on a particular bill of importance to the community? Care to find out why Congressmen Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Jim Moran (D-VA) have been given a special kudos by AAI? You can find all this and more on AAI’s Yalla Vote Election 2006 section of the website.

As the official “Election Central” of Arab American political activity in this election, the section features the latest information of relevance to help inform Arab Americans as we get closer to Election Day.

AAI Loves NY

Special kudos to the New York chapter of the Network of Arab American Professionals (NAAP) for their voter registration drives over the past couple of weekends in key Arab American sites in Brooklyn.

The professional organization has been instrumental in organizing the Arab American community in New York, and has been actively distributing AAI “Yalla Vote” stickers, “Our Vote is Our Power” posters and other materials.

On Nov. 4th, NAAP-NY will conduct their annual “Election Caravan,” using a convoy of vans and cars to distribute thousands of leaflets, posters and fact sheets throughout the area to raise awareness and drive community engagement for the election.

Re-Engaging in N.J.

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), facing a stiff challenge from Republican Tom Kean, recently answered a series of questions from AAI. The engagement with Sen. Menendez is a result of significant effort by AAI members Samer Khalaf, Abed Awad and Salah Mustafa to re-establish a relationship between Sen. Menendez and Arab American Democrats.

In his answers, Menendez for the first time addressed the issues that caused deep rifts between him and the Arab American community in New Jersey, including his role in the Sami Merhi case, whereby he led an effort to disqualify an Arab American candidate for a local position, and his controversial stand on the Dubai Ports World debate.

Voter Rally Alert

Ohio and Michigan Arab Americans are planning Yalla Vote rallies Nov. 4th and 5th.

In Ohio, the community is organizing a Yalla Vote Rally at the AACCESS building in Cleveland. The event will feature AAI President James Zogby, who will speak on the community’s ongoing political empowerment efforts and Ohio Arab Americans’ key role in upcoming elections and in 2008.

Among those invited to the 6 p.m. event are U.S. Senator Mike DeWine (R) and candidate Sherrod Brown (D), 10th Congressional District Representative Dennis Kucinich (D) and candidate Mike Dovilla (R), gubernatorial candidates Ken Blackwell (R) and Ted Strickland (D), as well as candidates for Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and more.

The event will be held at 11555 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland. For more information, please visit http://www.aaiusa.org/get-involved.

In Michigan, Arab Americans are expected to come out in force Nov. 5th to take part in a Yalla Vote Rally at the University of Michigan’s Dearborn University Center. Invited guests include Senator Debbie Stabenow (D), Senate candidate Michael Bouchard (R), Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) and her challenger Dick Devos (R) and other local and statewide candidates.

Organized by AAI, the Yalla Vote Rally represents a collaborative effort with a host of organizations, including the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), the Michigan chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, the Yemeni American Political Action Committee (YPAC), the Bint Jebail Cultural Center, the Ramallah Club of Metro Detroit and the Arab Student Union (ASU).

For more information, e-mail Michigan Field Director Kenwah Dabaja at aaimichigan@gmail.com or call 313-333-2792.