Some Muslims Question Lieberman

August 16, 2000

Source: The Times-Picayune

On August 16, 2000, The Times-Picayune reported that "Uneasy American Muslim leaders say Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., must move quickly after his nomination today as the Democratic vice presidential candidate to reassure them that he will be fair on the Mideast, or risk losing millions of votes in crucial states to Republican George W. Bush...The ambivalence toward Lieberman is evident even among strong Democrats of the Muslim faith, and among Arab-American delegates of other faiths, who are attending the Democratic National Convention in record numbers.

"Muslim leaders are urging Lieberman, the first Jewish candidate named to a major party's national ticket, to meet with them to discuss a wide range of issues, but said they have received no response yet." Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said, "He needs to engage with the Muslim community in a public setting...If the signal is he has no interest in such engagement, then, yes, I expect Muslims to shift their attention to the Bush-Cheney ticket." He added, "If there is no definitive response within a week of the convention, then I'm afraid time will be running out and people will be making up their mind."