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U.S. NEWSMonday 30 November 2015
Republicans see little political cost in targeting Muslims
RACHEL ZOLL Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson delivers a speech to supporters in Phoenix. Some cording to a Gallup poll
ADAM GELLER leading Republican presidential candidates seem to view Muslims as fair game for increasingly released just before Thanks-
Associated Press harsh words they might not dare use against any other group for fear of the political cost. So far, giving.
Some leading Republican that strategy is winning support from conservatives influential in picking the nominee. Carson said Singling out Muslims is
presidential candidates allowing Syrian refugees into the U.S. would be akin to exposing a neighborhood to a “rabid dog.” not new. Before the 2012
seem to view Muslims as fair presidential election, Re-
game for increasingly harsh (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) publican candidate Newt
words without fear of the Gingrich called for a fed-
political cost. So far, that to a “rabid dog.” Former rected at Christians in the by the Pew Research Cen- eral ban on Islamic law. But
strategy is winning support candidates at the top of
from conservatives influen- Arkansas Gov. Mike Hucka- Middle East and angered ter, Republicans view Mus- the field stayed away from
tial in picking the nominee. bee said, “I’d like for Barack about restrictions their mis- lims more negatively than such rhetoric.
Many Republicans are “The kind of things that Don-
heartened by strong rheto- Obama to resign if he’s not sionaries face in predomi- they do any other religious ald Trump and Ben Carson
ric addressing what they are saying today are things
view as a threat to national going to protect America nantly Muslim countries. group, and significantly that Mitt Romney would
security by Islam itself, ana- have never said,” said Farid
lysts say. Because Muslims and instead protect the im- The potency of comments worse than do Democrats. Senzai, a political scientist
are a small voting bloc, the at Santa Clara University.
candidates see limited fall- age of Islam.” criticizing Muslims was ap- A different Pew poll last Romney was the Republi-
out. can nominee in 2012.
“It’s highly unlikely to cause Such statements appeal parent even before re- year found that 82 percent Criticism of Muslims is hardly
a political penalty, and to Republicans who think cent attacks by extremists of Republicans were “very limited to presidential cam-
there is no evidence that paigns. In recent years,
it has,” said Steve Schmidt, Obama and Democratic in France, Lebanon and concerned” about the rise there have been ads by
a Republican political con- anti-Muslim groups and
sultant who ran Sen. John front-runner Hillary Rodham Egypt. of Islamic extremism, com- well-organized campaigns
McCain’s 2008 presidential against the building of
campaign. Clinton, the former secre- Carson’s campaign report- pared with 51 percent of mosques, along with pres-
Since the attacks that sure on state legislatures to
killed 130 people in Paris, tary of state, have not done ed strong fundraising and Democrats and 60 percent ban Shariah law.
Republican front-runner American Muslims make
Donald Trump has said he enough to fight jihadis, said more than 100,000 new of independents. up just under 1 percent of
wants to register all Mus- John Green, director of the Facebook friends in the 24 Today, 84 percent of Re- the U.S. population, Pew
lims in the U.S. and monitor estimates.
American mosques. He has Bliss Institute of Applied Poli- hours after he told NBC’s publicans disapprove of The Muslim Public Affairs
repeated unsubstantiated Council, a policy and ad-
claims that Muslim-Amer- tics at the University of Ak- “Meet the Press” in Sep- taking in Syrian refugees, vocacy group based in Los
icans in New Jersey cele- ron. tember, “I would not advo- most of whom are Muslims, Angeles, sent letters in Oc-
brated by the “thousands” tober to all the presidential
when the World Trade Cen- The sentiment also plays cate that we put a Muslim compared with 40 percent candidates asking them to
ter was destroyed on Sept. attend the organization’s
11, 2001. well for evangelicals con- in charge of this nation.” of Democrats and 58 per- public policy forum. The
Rival Ben Carson said al- candidates either did not
lowing Syrian refugees into cerned about violence di- According to a 2014 poll cent of independents, ac- respond or declined, coun-
the U.S. would be akin to cil spokeswoman Rabiah
exposing a neighborhood Ahmed said.q
