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Arab American Republicans Meet with RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman and State Department Officials

Posted on Friday October 14, 2005

WASHINGTON – National Arab American Republican leaders met with Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Ken Mehlman and former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie on October 14 to encourage increased Arab American participation in the Republican Party. Mehlman and RNC Coalitions Director David Watts expressed an eagerness to work closely with Arab Americans, who have been active in Republican politics for decades.

AAI’s leadership represented states with large populations of Arab Americans including Michigan, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and California. The delegation recounted their activities in important 2005 elections including hosting candidate’s nights attended by hundreds of Arab Americans for the gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey. Mehlman agreed to meet regularly with the community leadership, assist in efforts to improve communications with state parties, and designate a member of Watt’s team to serve as a liaison to the Arab American community. In a later meeting with Ed Gillespie, who now serves as a White House adviser on judicial nominations, leaders discussed the current court vacancies as well as opportunities for Arab American Republicans to work with the White House.

“Arab Americans have always been prominent leaders of their local communities and active in the Republican Party,” said AAI Chairman George Salem. “These meetings served to further solidify the positive relationship this community has with the party and move it to the next level of activism.”

The delegation also met with top State Department officials including Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch, Deputy Assistant for Near Eastern Affairs Elizabeth Dibble, and Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs Dina Habib Powell. Welch recently returned from a tour of Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel. The Assistant Secretary spoke about his visit as well as the efforts of Quartet envoy James Wolfensohn in Palestine, the situation in Iraq, and the ongoing UN investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Powell recently accompanied Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes on a listening tour in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. She reflected on the need for Arab Americans to serve as “ambassadors” to the Arab world and asked for continued input from the community on the Administration’s efforts. Powell’s recent nomination received unanimous consent by the Senate with Senator John E. Sununu, a fellow Arab American, deeming her “an outstanding nominee.” During her confirmation hearing, Powell expressed pride in her Arab American heritage telling the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, “As a proud citizen of the United State with roots in the Middle East, I know well that America’s message of freedom and hope is powerful.”

Arab Americans are well represented in the national leaderships of the Republican Party including Senator John E. Sununu (NH), Congressman Ray LaHood (IL), Darrell Issa (CA), and Charles Boustany (LA) as well as former Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and former New Hampshire Governor John H. Sununu, who served as Chief of Staff for President George H.W. Bush.