Trump

DEARBORN — The Iowa caucus are not until February of next year, but the presidential elections are on. Republicans had their first debate on Aug. 6, with TV personality and real estate mogul Donald Trump emerging as the unlikely leading candidate, according to public opinion polls.

Trump, a businessman who never held an elected office before— and who visited Michigan this week— is attracting the spotlight on the Republican race. His disregard for political correctness, unapologetic outspokenness and offensive comments have earned him attention, but also cast doubt about his ability to handle what is arguably the most powerful office in the world.

Arab Americans interviewed by The Arab American News had mixed reviews of Trump. But even activists who disagree with his views said he has likable qualities.

While announcing his candidacy last month, Trump claimed that Mexico sends its worst people across the border to the United States.

“They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists,” he said. 

Khaled Beydoun, a law professor at Barry University in Orlando, Fla., said Trump’s rhetoric on undocumented immigrants aims to recruit a robust segment of our society that is xenophobic.

Beydoun added that there is a growing anti-Latino sentiment and that some Americans conflate the Mexican community with immigrants who cross the border illegally. 

During the debate, Jeb Bush appeared to be the most welcoming to immigrants. Bush advocated enhancing border security, but said “there should be a path to earned legal status” for illegal immigrants who are already here.

“Jeb Bush was the governor of Florida, a state with considerable Latino demographics,” Beydoun said. “He is trained to speak more civilly and strategically about immigration.”

Beydoun criticized politicians for not addressing U.S. policies in Central and South America in the context of the illegal immigration debate.

“Immigrants should abide by the prevailing laws,” the law professor said. “But you can’t distinguish American laws from American policy. American policies, including NAFTA (The North American Free Trade Agreement), have disenfranchised the poorest of the poor in places like Mexico, Panama and Honduras. People can’t find work and have no choice but to immigrate northward.”

The leading Republican candidates have not addressed Arabs and Muslims in the United States in negative terms, despite growing wariness of Muslims among right wingers.

Beydoun said the Muslim community would come up in the context of national security. He added that because GOP candidates stand closely on that subject, remarks about Muslim Americans might not surface until the general election.

However, he predicted that the candidates will gravitate toward “Trump-like” extremism as the race gets heated. 

Despite slamming Trump, Beydoun said he understands his appeal.

“I disagree with his political positions, but he has a lot of refreshing qualities,” Beydoun said of the leading GOP candidate. “He says what’s on his mind. He appears candid.”

“A media personality”

Maya Berry, the head of the Arab American Institute, a Washington-based think tank, said Trump’s chances of securing the nomination are minimal, despite his apparent popularity.

She said there is a disconnect between Trump and traditional Republican voters who will actually turn out on Election Day.

“Trump is a media personality; he has been,” she said. “He walks in with name recognition. He walks in with a certain persona that is playing out effectively during this period.”

Berry added that Trump tapped into a sense of dissatisfaction that people have with the direction the country is going, but he will not be able to sustain that momentum.

“I don’t think it can translate into a field operation that can win the caucuses or primaries; nor do I think it can translate into a candidate that can win the general elections,” she said.

She described Trump’s input as a “strange anomaly” in the discussion about immigration. She said his comment that Mexico is sending rapists to the United States and other outrageous statements are intended to grab headlines.

“He will identify what is the most sensational statement that can draw attention and that’s what he runs with,” she said, adding that she doubts if there is any policy value to his statements. 

The Arab American Institute specializes in gathering data on Arab Americans across the country. 

Berry said there are Arab Americans who are excited about supporting a range of candidates in the race.

“Jeb Bush continues to have support because, traditionally, the Bush family has support among Arab American Republicans,” she said. “I know what there are folks in Ohio very pleased with [Ohio Governor] John Kasich jumping into that race.”

Berry added that about a third of Arab Americans identify as independent and generally back a candidate, not a political party. She said libertarian candidates usually do well among non-partisan Arab voters, which positions Rand Paul to be popular among Arab Americans. 

Arab Republicans on Trump

The Republican primaries are crowded with 17 candidates, who had to be divided into two debates Aug 6., with the top ten candidates featured at prime time and the other seven facing off at 5 p.m..

Arab American Republican activist Paul Sophiea, who is running for Dearborn’s State House seat next year, said it is positive to see so many candidates, who show different shades of Republicanism.

“As we enter into this, the debates could be feisty; they could be friendly,” he said. “But all ideas need to be heard at the end of the day.”

Sophiea said three candidates have emerged as the most serious choices after the debate—Paul, Kasich and Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard. Fiorina did not participate in the primetime debate last week, but captured headlines for her performance at 5 p.m.

Sophiea said Paul presents himself as a different kind of Republican, while Kasich and Fiorina have the resolve and experience needed for leadership. 

Asked about Trump, Sophiea smiled. He said Trump’s appeal is due to his different approach, fame, style and personal accomplishments as a businessman.

“Part of it is curiosity,” Sophiea added. “He has touched a nerve within the party. That’s going to be vetted out. As he gets more exposure and as the other candidates get more exposure, you’re going to find out that the nuances— in my opinion— are going to have a short life cycle.”

However, he did not rule out Trump’s chances of securing the nomination, pointing out that Presidents Carter, Reagan and Clinton were all seen as unlikely to win early in their respective campaigns.

Nick Hawatmeh, the Romney 2012 National Arab American co-chair, who ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the State House last year, has been discussing the Republican race on social media.

“Kasich is so relatable and calm and has a record to run on,” he wrote on Aug. 6, in a post that praised the Ohio governor.

But the Arab American Republican activist is not fan of Trump.

“Delusions, delusions and more delusions. #DonaldTrump #debate,” he tweeted during the debate. 

But not everybody dislikes Trump. Community leader Ali Jawad, a lifelong Republican, said he admires Trump’s outspokenness and unorthodox approach to politics.

With 24 million viewers, Thursday night’s debate was the highest rated primary debate in history. Jawad credited Trump for the unprecedented interest.

“It was because of Donald Trump,” he said of the record-breaking viewership. “In the past years, a debate with more than four people was a turnoff. Everybody has been saying the same thing for decades. Donald Trump has something new to offer.”

Without pledging his support for Trump, Jawad described the real estate mogul as a stranger to the establishment.

“Washington is broken and maybe we need an outsider to fix it,” Jawad said.

Since the 2000 elections, local Arab Americans have overwhelmingly supported Democratic candidates. Jawad said it is still too early for Arab Americans to pick a candidate, but if Trump stays in the race, “maybe we should give him a shot.” 

He added that Trump’s speech is not polished because he is not a traditional politician, which is why he sometimes makes statements that sound insensitive and offensive.