Why President Elect Barack Hussein Obama Matters
Published by Haseeb November 10th, 2008 in 2008 Election, ObamaUnfortunately, since Barack Hussein Obama’s historic victory last week, several Muslims [Egyptian Gumbo, Jinn Zaman, and other commenters on facebook], have belittlled this accomplishment, and in some cases have even reprimanded Muslims for supporting Obama or jumping on the Obama bandwagon like blind sheep or lemmings.
I wholeheartedly disagree with such attacks, and think that not only are they uncalled for - but disrespectful and insulting to all those Muslims who have worked hard in helping Barack Hussein Obama win this grueling campaign.
The number one argument made against Obama by the ‘Obama haters’, is that he has done everything he can to disassociate himself with Muslims, and went out of his way in denouncing anything to do with Islam. Or that he had a couple of hijabi sisters removed from one of his rallies.
Well if anyone actually attempted to look behind the political talking points, and 20 second soundbytes that make up the American Media as well as blogosphere nowadays you will see that those arguments are not only invalid but its quite despicable to spread those accusations.
Barack Obama has in fact, many times said that the ‘Muslim smear’ was offensive to Muslims [see here:Â http://www.hahmed.com/blog/2008/03/04/obama-says-islam-smear-offensive-to-muslims/] Â Its such a shame Muslims have such short term memories as they dont remember this. Â Â Also read this: http://www.hahmed.com/blog/2008/03/09/nytimes-obama-and-the-bigots/.
The fact of the matter is that there is NO WAY a Muslim can get elected in America nowadays. We have all seen the video footage of rampant islamophobia at several McCain rallies, and the islamophobic rhetoric held by many Republicans over the past few months. A large segment of the american population is scared of Muslims and hates us! [And we as Muslims need to do a better job of outreaching to these communities and giving better dawah by example!] So it is only understandable that the media, who has been trying to protect Obama, spends much more time defending his Christian status than taking the higher ground and continually explaining how there is nothing wrong with being Muslim as Keith Olbermann, Campell Brown, and most notably Colin Powell, among others, Â have done so! Â Barack in fact has great admiration for Islam - as he has several extended family members who are Muslim - and has grown up part of his life in Indonesia [ a Muslim country]. Moreover, on his website he has written messages of greetings and celebration during the start of Ramadan and on Eid.
And regarding the hijabi removal from one of his rallies - that was an independent stupid decision made by one of his campaign staffers - it was NOT a decision made by Barack Obama. In fact as soon as this brought to Barack’s attention - he called both sisters personally and apologized to them - reprimanded his staffers for this incident - and in fact one of these sisters went on to work for Obama’s campaign!
So all of the anti-Muslim rhetoric against Obama is completely uncalled for and spreading such lies is only deceiving other Muslims.
On the other hand - there is nothing wrong with questioning Obama’s policies on issues, and the decisions he makes. Whether or not Rahm Emanuel was the best choice for chief of staff - that can be argued. But  connecting him to his fathers terrorist ties is also not fair - as Rahm Emanuel is NOT his father, but rather Rahm Emanuel has a history of working hard to trying to promote a two-state solution in Israel/Palestine as he attempted to do under Clinton in the 1990s [Check out this article found on MR].  However, I am not saying Emanuel is perfect (neither is Obama) - but stop unfairly attacking them!!!
However, what we Muslims can and should do - is continue to press for issues that are most important to us - that we all agree on. Barack Obama has promised to immediately shut down Guantanamo Bay. Lets all get invovled with organizations that are working hard in doing just that. For example, all Muslims should sign this letter asking President Elect obama to close the Guantánamo Bay prison, shut down military commissions, and ban torture! [Update: And Barack Obama is doing just that (see: Obama Plans Guantanamo Close, US Trials)]
And if Obama does not live up to his own ideals, and the Iraq war does not come to an end soon, and all the other injustices in our name as Americans, continue to pursue under the new administration - then all of us Obama supporters should be - and iA will be - the first in line to attack him and make sure he does not become re-elected in 2012! Â But until he at least takes on the presidential oath and enters office, lets cut him some slack!!!
So lets continue to press our leaders towards doing what is right - and supporting those politicians who agree with our points of view. Its so sad that the same group of Obama Haters have done little or nothing to spread word about and endorse Muslim politicians like Keith Ellison and Andre Carson (who for the record have been successful in winning their respective elections last week as well!). How many of you know that Keith Ellison has personally vowed that anytime anyone in an elected position in the house or senate says anything offensive against Islam/Muslims - that he will personally call & confront them to curb their ignorance and ask for an apology! [ And for the record Keith Ellison was a strong supporter of Barack Obama]
We want change, we want justice, but we do nothing about practically working towards making those changes. Come on!!!!!
The biggest shame and outrage is what went on over the past eight years in our country!!! Â For Muslims to support a candidate whose mantra is all about CHANGE, a man who has been anti-War since day one, a man who has fought for civil liberties, a man who has embodied the American Dream by working his way up from a single parent welfare supported family, a man who is the first non white person to be elected the president of the US. I am honored to support and be behind such a man! Â Barack Obama Matters - and there is nothing wrong in supporting him
And Allah 
knows best.
UPDATE: Please read Sulayman’s post on this topic. He goes into further depth on why Muslims should not panic about Obama and Rahm Emanuel:
Rahm Emmanuel, or why everyone needs to calm down
20 Responses to “Why President Elect Barack Hussein Obama Matters”
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Pingback on Jan 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Masha Allah
Haseeb, great post!
you’re an obama apologist, you need to get in touch with reality
And you’re a coward, who’s afraid to post their name.
I think the Rahm thing was quite unfortunate because it gave an opportunity to all the haters and naysayers to feel empowered about their own decisions to not vote, or if they don’t live here, an opportunity to “rub it in”. The problem is that there is nothing much yet to rub in. If Muslims joined the Obama bandwagon, only to fall off due to one pick, then I think those Muslims are the problem. If decisions are so wavering that one pick can shake them, then those decisions were not solid in the first place.
I have always maintained a cautious optimism on Obama, but when you put it in relative terms to McCain, that makes the “cautious optimism” a million times better than “fearful pessimism” that would have come with the other choice.
So, let’s keep the pressure on Obama to let him know that Muslims are watching, that we will hold him up to his promises and his vision of change, and that when he seemingly falters, possibly with the Rahm pick and possibly with the Sonal Shah pick, we will not disappear quietly.
We will engage and get our voices heard.
With Obama, we at least have that chance.
great post ahmed!
I love you
Two words:
Hyper-pessimism.
Muslims have become completely negativist- they don’t know how to hope or to do something proactive, only to condemn, condemn, condemn and to belittle those who hope in something higher…and doesn’t that reflect on our trust in Allah
?
Obama is just one part of it…there are hundreds of other instances where this has flared up. It’s a sign that our deen is in disarray.
Good points, Haseeb.
Personally, I think Obama will be like Clinton, although a little more in touch with Muslims and with a bit more experience. (Obama lived in Pakistan for a while, more than any US President or candidate ever). If he outdoes Clinton by a lot, I will be pleasantly surprised.
It’s somewhat of a surprise to see all the negativity not 7 days after his election. Muslims in NY were generally very happy that he won, and he hasn’t done anything since to really sour opinion or go back on his campaign promises yet.
Like I said in my blog post, Rahm Emmanuel is going to have to follow Obama’s stated positions on talking to Iran and North Korea, closing down Gitmo, etc. Obama won the election, not Emmanuel, so he knows what the people want. I dislike some of his views, and I’m sure Obama does too (Obama was rumored to be pro-Palestine in college), but that’s not why Obama picked him. Obama picked him because he was great at consensus-building in Congress and can Get Things Done. He knows who to call and in which department, and has a good track record of getting bills passed in Congress, because he knows which compromises to make and which quid-pro-quos to build.
The Israel thing aside, Rahm Emmanuel is probably the best person to fill the Chief of Staff job. I would not recommend him for Secretary of State nor Middle East peace negotiator, but he seems great for getting a Democratic agenda passed in Congress and knows all the right people and methods for it.
Assalamu alaikum
May this reach you in the best state of health and iman. Ameen.
I’m surprised at this complete misrepresentation of my argument. My argument was not centered on Obama’s treatment of Muslims, but rather, the true structure of power and class relations in the US will not change through his election. Since that hasn’t changed, then presumably, American hegemony will continue to operate. What will change is not the subjugation of challengers to America, but the manner in which they will be responded to. Obama may use sanctions instead of bombings, but the end result will still be the death of people. Also, I specifically stated that Obama’s victory was significant for African Americans and it also benefited Muslims because it helped quash the Islamophobia that was being generated. Read my note on historic change, my argument is more nuanced then you’re making it out to be.
A victory for Obama is not a victory for Muslims unless it contains American hegemony and protects the interests of the global Muslim community, of which, the primary goal is the preservation of life and liberty.
masalama
well said Haseeb
wow!!!
I love anonymous comments, because its proof that when you know your wrong, or you can’t back up what you say, you post under a random name anonymously and say whatever you want. It’s the best way to say anything without anyone knowing what you say, except when you do it on the internet, the owners of the website can track you down via IP unless you do some IP hijacking or anonymous surfing which makes it harder.
Anonymous hater comments = more hits = more $$$.
Thank you to all the anonymous haters.
@MR 1
Salaam. Thanks for this post. All the Muslims whining about the kuffar voting system, Zionism, etc are totally missing the point. Perhaps they should become acquainted with the phrase “The perfect is the enemy of the good”. They seem to be more Nihilist than anything else, and would rather have things be in terrible shape so that they can complain.
lol!!!tottaly dude
Excellent post!
Assalamu alikum. Truly it is a great time. I may be too high up in the clouds right now but atleast I know that the man with the highest position in the most powerful country considers Muslims as humans and does not slap a stereotype on the entire community. Perhaps now things may become a little bit more normal for Muslims in the U.S. and we can come out of isolation. People tend to follow the man in lead and become influenced by his ideas, thoughts, beliefs, etc. and to have a man in power who has experienced discrimination, poverty, a broken family first hand is probably sincere in his claims to put an end to the problems that effect so many. Also, I’m sure that slowly Americans will become much more accommodating to different kinds of people from a variety of communities. I’m sure that slowly Americans will begin to work together and realize the importance of a united nation as opposed to a broken up country that will only consume itself in hate and eventually be ostracized from the rest of the world. Honestly, I’m incredibly happy. Barack Obama definately has A LOT on his plate, but just knowing that a black man will be in power in January makes a world of difference in itself.
inshallah the war in iraq will stop with the new president and everything i also
hope that somalia,palastine and all the other contries in need gain help
and most of all let george bush rot in hell!!!!!!
For those of you still following this thread: please read this article by Imam Zaid Shakir:
http://www.hahmed.com/blog/2008/11/14/imam-zaid-shakirs-response-to-all-the-muslim-obama-hatersskeptics/