DEARBORN — Arab American Democrats gathered to discuss the 2008 presidential election, on Saturday, April 12, at the University of Michigan, Dearborn.

Around 70 people showed up for the event to discuss strategies for organizing the Arab American caucus, and to learn about ways to become actively involved in the political process.  The gathering hosted a diverse group of attendees, including professionals, community leaders, and students, as well as members of different ethnic communities.  The meeting included remarks from Mark Brewer, Chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party.

Taleb Salhab, who helped organize the event, said that the purpose of the meeting was to provide individuals with an opportunity to participate in discussions about the election process.

 “The purpose of this gathering was to bring together Arab American Democrats from across the state to discuss ways to organize for the upcoming presidential election,” he stated.  “We wanted to give our community members the opportunity to engage with representatives of the two candidates, as well as the chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party.  This was their chance to ask the questions they needed to ask, and hear more about what each candidate is offering.”

The meeting began with an address by Ismael Ahmed, director of the Michigan Department of Human Services, who spoke to the participants about the importance of getting the vote out by taking a broad approach and reaching out to different communities.  He added that engaging the younger generation, specifically college students, will be imperative in the coming months.

The attendees then broke into smaller groups to discuss key areas of the election process, including voter registration, absentee ballots, and reaching out to the younger generation of Arab American voters.  Among the topics discussed were ways to make sure that every registered voter is able to cast their vote on the day of the election.  Many agreed that absentee ballots, which have determined many close races in the past, will be a major focal point in this year’s election process. 

Of equal importance was the issue of member outreach.  The meeting’s participants explored different ways of reaching out to voters, including the use of online social networks, and door-to-door campaigns.

During his remarks, Brewer emphasized the importance of the Arab American caucus in the upcoming election.  He said that Arab Americans will have an influential role in both the presidential and local elections.

“This caucus is an extremely important part of this state’s Democratic Party, and Michigan will be a very important part of the presidential election,” he stated. “It’s going to be a hard fight.”

Brewer also spoke about several local elections that will be of great importance in November, including several seats in the Michigan House of Representatives. He claimed that it would take considerable efforts to keep the majority in the State House.

Senior Representatives from the campaigns for Senators Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama met with the participants to advocate for their respective candidates.

Michigan Rep. Pam Byrnes spoke about Clinton, whom she believed to be the best choice for president.  She said that Clinton’s life experiences have helped build her strong character.

“I am supporting Sen. Clinton because she has proven to be a hardworking, compassionate person,” she claimed.  “She has been through a lot in her life, and I see her resiliency as a great strength. She is the right person for the job.”

Rep. Bert Johnson, who attended on behalf of the Obama campaign, claimed that Senator Obama is the country’s best chance at repairing the damage that was created by the current administration.

“We have a chance in this election to restore our image and show people around the world that we are good people,” Johnson stated.  “Sen. Obama truly represents the masses. He is the one person who can go abroad and fix the mistakes that have been made.”

Both Johnson and Byrnes agreed that party unity is the most important thing to consider during the actual election. While many of those in attendance supported a specific candidate, most agreed that whoever prevails as the Democratic nominee will get their vote.

Following their remarks, the representatives took part in a question and answer session where participants inquired about issues of concern that they felt will play an important role in the upcoming election.

“The meeting far exceeded our expectations,” continued Salhab.  “There was high level of enthusiasm, and people wanted to get involved in all levels of the process.  The fact that people took half a day on a Saturday to participate in this gathering is a sign that our community is ready and willing to play an active role in the upcoming election.”

To learn more about the Michigan Democratic Party, and to find out how to become more involved in the 2008 Election, visit www.michigandems.com.