Islamic Groups Present Public Hearing on the Muslim Vote in Election 2004

6/28/2004

From: Terry Walz of the Council for the National Interest, 202-863-2951

News Advisory:

The Council for the National Interest (CNI) and The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Present: The Muslim Vote in Election 2004

WHAT: Capitol Hill public hearing

WHEN: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 at 10 a.m., Gold Room (Room 2168) of Rayburn House Office Building

The American Muslim vote in the coming elections may prove once again to be very significant in determining who our next President will be. According to CAIR, 78 percent of Muslims voted Republican in 2000. Will the Muslims vote en bloc once again in such a high percentage? Have George W. Bush's policies put him out of the running for obtaining Muslim votes? Will they vote for John Kerry or Ralph Nader? How are Republicans disaffected by the Iraq War and subsequent debt likely to vote? Are Democrats on board with Kerry's "Stay the Course" policy mirroring that of George W. Bush? These questions and many more will be addressed in a public hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, June 29th. Join us for a panel discussion of the Muslim vote in Election 2004. Panelists include:

-- Ralph Nader, Independent Candidate for U.S. President

-- Middle East policy issues in the next presidency: Amb. Edward Peck, Former Iraq Chief of Mission and CEO of Foreign Service International

-- The Muslim Vote in 2000: Eugene Bird, President, CNI

-- Current polling of American Muslims: Nihad Awad, Executive Director, CAIR

-- 2004 Agenda for American Muslims: Hassan Ibrahim, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)

-- Muslim Outreach Plans of Campaign of Michael Badnarik, Libertarian Candidate for President: Imad Ad-Deen Ahmad, President, Minaret of Freedom Institute

-- The Kerry campaign and the Bush campaign have both been invited to send a representative.

This hearing, co-sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), is one of a series that CNI has held on the Middle East during Election 2004. CNI is a research, education, and outreach group which advocates that the 2004 Presidential campaign platforms include a plank calling for the immediate recognition of Palestine as an independent state, the establishment of a new Middle East Peace Alliance in order to end conflict and ensure regional stability, and a revisiting of the "Road Map." CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 28 regional offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.

Seating is limited, registered attendees given priority. For more information or to register online, visit http://www.cnionline.org/hearings/muslims/signup.html or call 202-863-2951.