Clinton. Senior Democrats didn't show up
Photo: AP
Arabs cold shouldered by US candidates
While senior US government officials stream annually to AIPAC conference, they don't rush to the Arab-American leadership parley
None of the American leading presidential candidates whether Democrats or Republicans, showed up at the Arab American Institute national conference held this week in Detroit.
Some 600 Arab American leaders participated in the parley, considered to be the Arab equivalent of the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
While senior American government officials traditionally show up at the AIPAC meetings, as do half of the senators, the absence of the presidential front-runners from the Arab-American event was evident. Except for a marginal candidate named Ron Paul, all of the Republican candidates were absent, and didn't even bother sending a representative in their name.
Since the start of the Iraq war and the strong support from the Bush administration for Israel, most of the Arab American public has been disappointed by the Republicans and is expected this time to support the Democratic party. But only two relatively unknown Democrat candidates showed up at the conference – New Mexico's Governor Bill Richardson and Congressman Dennis Kucinich, considered to be a clearly liberal candidate.
The senior Democratic candidates made due with a recorded message. Senator Hillary Clinton did not mention the word "Palestine" or "Palestinian state," but made due with a general promise to renew the peace process with "an effort to grant peace and security to Israel and the Palestinians." Clinton said in a recording sent to the conference that the US under her leadership would be regularly involved in the US "in a way that will prevent violence and renew faith in America in the area."
Senator Barak Obama said in his taped message that "his values" were solidified in Indonesia and Kenya, and hinted at the Muslim atmosphere in which he was educated during his childhood.
Obama discussed the need for "branched" diplomacy to bring about stability to the Middle East, advance the neglected peace process, and bring an end to the confrontation between Palestinians leading to the creation of two states living in security and peace, adding that this was important to Arab Americans and Jewish Americans.
John Edwards, the Democratic candidate who holds the third place according to polls, promised to act in cooperation with Iran and Syria to stabilize the situation in Iraq. He promised that as president he would make a real effort to reach a two-state solution that will leave in peace and security.
