On Nov. 8, Americans will head to the polls faced with two of the most unpopular presidential candidates in modern history.
Republican nominee Donald Trump is unfit for the job. He lacks the judgment, experience and compassion needed to lead this great country. Meanwhile, his opponent, Hillary Clinton, represents a political class that has for long favored the rich and powerful over the interests of the American people.
For the first time since this newspaper’s inception, we will not endorse any candidate for president.
Although a Trump presidency is a terrifying prospect for all Americans, especially Arabs, Muslims and immigrants, we cannot in good conscience back Clinton.
The former secretary of state has long been a supporter of reckless interventionist foreign policy. Her proposal to establish a no-fly zone in Syria could lead to a confrontation with Russia and exacerbate the conflict in the war-torn country. Clinton supported the Iraq war and led NATO’s bombing campaign in Libya, which obliterated the state and gave ISIS a foothold in the North African country.
The Democratic candidate’s repeated statements in support of Israel also leads us to question her commitment to the two-state solution, which she says she supports. The former secretary has yet to condemn Israeli settlements’ expansion except for cryptic implied references.
In an article published on forward.com last year, she said fighting for Israel and shielding it from criticism is a matter of “personal commitment.”
When pressed by her former opponent, Bernie Sanders, at a debate before the New York primaries, Clinton refused to acknowledge that Israel used disproportionate force against the heavily populated Gaza Strip in the 2014 war.
Domestically, there are admirable positions, including immigration reforms. Clinton’s plans to raise minimum wage, make college affordable and allow Americans to refinance their student debt would revive the economy.
However, her reluctance to criticize the Affordable Care Act, which hiked premiums, decreased coverage and forced Americans to become consumers of the private health care industry is alarming.
Clinton says she wants to build on the successes of the ACA, also known as Obamacare. But she needs to take a more firm stance on capping costs and reducing premiums.
Democrats must acknowledge that the ACA has failed in addressing the ills of the U.S. healthcare system.
Clinton has been vocal in denouncing Islamophobia, which we appreciate. However, her rhetoric about Muslims inadvertently reinforces notions that equate Muslims with terrorism.
In the final debate, Clinton said Muslim communities “are on the front lines to identify and prevent attacks.”
This is hardly a compliment, as we noted in last week’s editorial. Constantly discussing Muslims within the framework of combating terrorism gives ammo for the likes of Trump to paint the entire community with a broad brush.
It must be noted that the Clinton campaign has made great efforts in reaching out to the Arab and Muslim American communities in Michigan. Clinton for America hired several Arab and Muslim American activists. However, the campaign fell short of addressing core issues for the community, including harassment at the borders and airport and the No-Fly list.
As for Trump, he would be a disastrous choice for our community, country and the world.
The GOP nominee’s Muslim ban proposal back in November 2015 demonstrated utter bigotry and lack of leadership. His plan to deport all undocumented immigrants is inhumane, bad for the economy and unpractical. His tax plan would grow the deficit exponentially.
Although his grievances on trade may be legitimate, his rhetoric is oversimplified and cannot be applied as easily as he makes it seem. Repealing existing trade deals hastily would cause an economic meltdown.
Unsatisfied with both major parties, some publications have turned to third party candidates, namely Libertarian Gary Johnson, who was endorsed by a few major daily newspapers across the country. Johnson’s campaign is summed up by his “Aleppo moment”, when he did not know what the war-ravaged Syrian city is. His ideas for shrinking the federal government would cripple American society and disrupt the life of millions who depend on governmental programs across the country.
Green Party candidate Jill Stein has some radically progressive ideas, but she is polling at 3 percent. While we support some of her environmentally friendly proposals and foreign policy that reinforces cooperation with the rest of the world, we acknowledge that her chances are slim.
But that should not discourage Arab and Muslim voters in coming out in large numbers to the polls and vote for their preferred candidates, as there are many deserving choices on the ballot.
Here’s a list of candidates who deserve your vote:
U.S. House ofRepresentatives
(12th Congressional
District)
Debbie Dingell – (D)
In a previous editorial,
we have described Dingell as one of the community’s closes allies in
Washington. During her two years on Capitol Hill, Dingell has worked to extend
the Temporary Protected Status for Yemenis in the United States, urged the
president to evacuate American citizens stranded in war-torn Yemen and was
among the first U.S. lawmakers to voice concerns about the no-fly list. She has
also called for investigating the death of Muslim Marine recruit Raheel
Siddiqui and has constantly been a rational voice against Islamophobia on the
national stage.
State Board of
Education
Ish Ahmed (D)
Ismael Ahmed is a
life-long advocate for the disenfranchised and the Arab American community. He
helped establish ACCESS and served as director of the Michigan Department of
Human Services under Governor Granholm.
John Austin (D)
John Austin is the
current president of the Michigan State Board of Education, where he has led
Michigan’s efforts to raise learning standards and improve educational
outcomes. Austin also directs the Michigan Economic Center and is a
non-resident senior fellow with the Brookings Institution.
University Of Michigan
Board Of Regents
Carl J. Meyers (R)
Carl Meyers is a senior
vice president of investments at Raymond James & Associates in Dearborn.
Meyers has served as chair of the city of Dearborn’s retirement system board of
trustees and as a member of the city’s local officers compensation commission.
Wayne State University
Board of Governors
Mark Gaffney (D)
Mark Gaffney is currently
employed as a business agent for Teamsters Local Union 214 in Detroit. Gaffney
is also an adjunct professor at Wayne State University and is the chair of the
Democratic Congressional Committee for Michigan’s 12th District.
State House of
Representatives
Abdullah Hammoud (D) District 15
Abdullah Hammoud pulled
off an inspiring victory in the Democratic primary. He is a young, dynamic and
determined Arab American Dearborn native. Electing him to the State Legislature
will give the community a voice in Lansing and encourage future generation to
pursue civic engagement. Hammoud is respected in Democratic circles and has a
bright political future. Given the massive impact Lansing policies have on
Michiganders, this race is of utmost importance.
Rose Mary Robinson (D) District 4
Rose Mary C. Robinson is
running for a third term for the Michigan House of Representatives,
representing the fourth district. A 40-year trial lawyer, she is member of the
Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.
Oakland County Treasurer
Andy Meisner (D)
Andy Meisner’s record is
one of helping people stay in their homes while saving Oakland County money. In
recent times, when Islamophobia and anti-refugee sentiments were dominating the
political conversation in the county, Meisner was an outspoken voice for
vulnerable newcomers and defended American values.
Wayne County Treasurer
Eric Sabree (D)
Given the financial state
of the county and its effect on our property taxes, this position is of the
utmost importance. Eric Sabree, who was appointed Wayne County treasurer
earlier this year, is seeking a full four-year term in office. Sabree is the
first African American and first Muslim treasurer in the county. He served as
deputy chief treasurer for five years.
Wayne County Prosecutor
Kym Worthy (D)
Kym Worthy was appointed
Wayne County Prosecutor in 2004 to replace Mike Duggan. The Wayne County
Prosecutor’s office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Michigan. She has
worked on resolving a massive backlog of unprocessed rape test kits in Detroit,
which resulted in convictions and new active investigations.
Wayne County Register of
Deeds
Bernard J. Youngblood (D)
Bernard J. Youngblood was
elected to the office of Wayne County Register of Deeds in 2001. The office is
responsible for securing and protecting chain of title for about 900,000
parcels of land in Wayne County.
Wayne County Commissioner
Gary Woronchak (D) (District 13 – Dearborn
and Allen Park)
Gary Woronchak has served
the community in elected office for 20 years, including six years in the State
House of Representatives. He is now in his 14th year as Wayne County
Commissioner. Woronchak has been an advocate for the Arab American community
and helped bring funds to the city’s schools and organizations.
NON-PARTISAN RACES
Michigan Court of Appeals
Judge Kurtis T. Wilder
The Hon. Kurtis T. Wilder
was appointed in 1998 by Gov. John Engler and reelected several times. He
serves as one of 28 judges on the Michigan Court of Appeals. He has been a fair
judge. Wilder has kept close ties with the Arab American community.
Judge Cynthia Diane
Stephens
The Hon. Cynthia Diane
Stephens has served as a judge in the State of Michigan since 1982. She was
appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2008. She is active in the civic
life of the community.
36th District Court judge
Kenyetta Stanford Jones
Throughout her 12-year
tenure as an assistant Wayne County prosecutor, Kenyetta Stanford Jones has
been assigned to virtually every unit within the prosecutor’s office.
Coral M. Watt (Partial Term)
Coral Watt has practiced
law for more than 20 years at the federal, state and local levels.
Wayne County Third
Circuit Court Judge
Brian L. Morrow
Brian Morrow has
practiced law for almost 30 years. Morrow is also an adjunct faculty member at
Eastern Michigan University. Additionally, he volunteers for Habitat for
Humanity in Detroit.
Robert Ficano
Robert Ficano is the
former Wayne County executive, a former Wayne County sheriff and an experienced
attorney. He has been a friend of the Arab American community for 30 years. He
values diversity and has a commitment to civil rights. He will make a fine judge.
Matthew Evans
For more than 20 years,
Matthew Evans has been a tireless advocate for civil rights and the
underprivileged. His practice since has concentrated on indigent criminal
defense.
Regina Thomas
Regina Thomas is deputy
chief counsel of the Civil Law Group of Legal Aid and Defender Association,
Inc. She currently serves on the boards of Matrix Human Services and the Youth
Connection, Inc.
19th District Court
judge
Gene Hunt
Gene Hunt is an
experienced attorney who has served in the courtroom in Dearborn for three
decades, including 20 years as a public defender. According to the Detroit Free
Press, Hunt has tried more cases in the courtroom than any other lawyer in
Michigan. He has represented thousands of clients from the community and knows
Arab Americans’ needs and sensitivities. He is the grandson of Lebanese
immigrants. Hunt is respected by his peers, as evidenced by the big number of
endorsements he has received from attorneys and judges.
Dearborn School Board
Trustee
Fadwa Hammoud (Six-Year Term)
For more than a year,
Fadwa Hammoud has served as a Dearborn Board of Education Trustee. She is now
running to retain her position. During her time on the board, she has built a
track record of being a caring and compassionate trustee. Hammoud is a product
of the Dearborn Public Schools. She earned a law degree from the Wayne State
University School of Law and currently serves as a Wayne County assistant
prosecuting attorney. Hammoud has a passion for public education. She deserves
to remain on the board.
Hussein Berry (Six-year term)
Berry is a Dearborn
School Board trustee, where he had served for six years. His tenure as a
trustee proves that he has the experience and knowledge to ensure that children
have an adequate education. He deserves your vote to return and continue his
mission on the board.
Jim Thorpe is a lifelong
Dearborn resident. He has served on the Dearborn Education Foundation and the
district strategic planning committee to help the district. Thorpe has worked
with the administration on a special programs for Salina and Nowlin Elementary
Schools in the past.
CRESTWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT
Nadia Berry
Nadia Jaafar Berry is
married to Nabeh Berry and their two children are the product of Crestwood
Schools. She has served our community’s children for more than 22 years as an
early childhood liaison for the Dearborn Public Schools. Arab American Dearborn
Heights residents have long attempted to elect a candidate to amplify their
concerns on the Crestwood School Board. Past attempts have failed although
previous candidates were deserving. Berry, who is a capable choice, presents
another opportunity for the community.
Canton Township
supervisor
Syed Taj (D)
Dr. Syed Taj is an
accomplished physician. He won an unexpected victory when he became the first
Democrat since the 1970s to win a seat on the Canton Board of Trustees. He
aggressively attracted new businesses to Canton.
Canton Township Trustee
Ann Marie Graham-Hudak
Ann Marie Graham-Hudak is
a fourth-generation autoworker with an engineering degree and works in
electrification infrastructure for a major auto manufacturer. Graham-Hudak is
also the Plymouth-Canton Interfaith Community Outreach (ICO) coordinator.
PROPOSALS:
Regional Transit
Authority – Vote yes
Physical mobility is a
prerequisite to social mobility. Rising insurance prices and dwindling jobs are
making it more costly for Michiganders to own cars. In the absence of a public
transportation system, jobs become scarce for residents who do not own cars.
The Arab American News urges voters in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne and Washtenaw counties
to vote yes on paying 1.2 mills toward a plan that would create a network of
bus rapid transit routes and support commuter rail.
Simply because you may
have a car, it does not mean the system will not benefit you. Public transport
will uplift the entire region economically.
Wayne County Educational
Enhancement Millage – Vote yes
Wayne County is proposing
a millage that would generate funds for all 33 school districts, which have
been underfunded by the state. All of the county’s schools would benefit from
this proposal.
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