Michigan Arab American outreach coordinator for the Obama campaign Rashida Tlaib, R, with Obama supporters during a convention watch party at La Cigale restaurant in Dearborn on Thursday.

Two weeks after accepting the resignation of its national Arab American outreach coordinator, the campaign of now-official Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama hired Detroit attorney Rashida Tlaib last week to help gather support among American Muslims and Arab Americans in Michigan.

Tlaib is just coming off a successful primary campaign for the 12th District state House seat representing southwest Detroit, in which she overwhelmingly beat eight other Democrats.

“It’s really about change,” she said about her support for Obama and the message she’s trying to spread about the campaign to Arabs and Muslims statewide.

She said the Illinois senator represents the only hope for a shift away from what she calls the “direct targeting and discrimination of our community” seen over the past eight years from the current presidential administration.

When faced with questions about statements Obama has made over the past year on Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which often indicate he leans toward the Israeli side, Tlaib said Democrats in general have a more sincere approach to the peace process.

Tlaib, who is of Palestinian descent, said she believes deeply that Obama will pursue peace in a way that Republicans have shown little interest in, and that his foreign policy in general would take on a completely new direction.

On civil rights, another intensely critical issue for Muslims and Americans of Arab descent, she said Obama’s history speaks for itself.

“This is a man who’s taught constitutional law,” Tlaib said.

She said she believes deeply, based on his background, that Obama understands the need for social justice in all communities.

She also believes that her presence and the activity of other Arab Americans and American Muslim supporters within the campaign can provide some influence from the community on Obama and his administration, should he win.

“I’m trying to advocate for us to have a voice as well,” she said. “I’m here and I’m constantly voicing my opinion. And they’ve been so open and they’re glad I’m here.”

She said her goal is to open doors of communication between communities and the campaign, and that her direct access to top directors as a liaison can, for the first time, she said, get a major campaign to “not slam the door in our face.”

“You already see that in the fact that… there is an ‘Arab Americans for Obama’ website. You’ve never had that before,” she said. “They admit that they’re not a perfect campaign. And I love that about the campaign. There is no perfect campaign.”

Tlaib said she’s fighting for a direct meeting between Obama and the Arab American and/or American Muslim community, but that several groups including veterans, Latinos and the Jewish community are all fighting for time, which was cut short by a longer than normal primary election process.

“It’s very difficult,” she said.

Obama may appear in Detroit on Monday for a rally downtown as part of a two-day trip through Michigan.

In addition to Republican candidate John McCain, Obama faces competition from three fringe candidates who have all reached out directly to Arab Americans for support: the Green Party’s Cynthia McKinney (who is also scheduled to be in Detroit over Labor Day weekend), consumer advocate Ralph Nader and Libertarian Bob Barr.

“I wouldn’t say that’s something we’re concerned about,” said Brent Colburn, an Obama campaign spokesman who confirmed Tlaib’s hiring last week. “We’re going to go out and spread our message in every community, including the Arab and Muslim communities. And we’re confident they’ll see that as the best message.”

Tlaib echoed his confidence.

“I have faith in my community that they know that we need change,” she said.

Tlaib said she’s already faced some offbeat criticisms and attempts to connect her to some form of extremism, as happened to former national Arab and Muslim outreach coordinator Mazen Asbahi, who resigned after accusations of distant, brief connections to an imam labeled a fundamentalist.

But the campaign, Tlaib said, has promised her there would be no repeat of the Asbahi situation.

Open, honest discussion between the campaign and concerned voters is one of Tlaib’s priorities in her new position, she said, and she is putting together an opportunity for communities to directly engage high-ranking campaign figures on September 9.

Two townhall meetings are set for that date in Southfield, one scheduled for American Muslims at 3 p.m. and another for Arab Americans at 4:30 p.m.

The specific location of the townhalls has not been set yet, but Tlaib can be reached for further information at 734.752.5959 or rtlaib@michiganforchange.com.