MCCAIN CAMPAIGNER SAYS ‘THE MUSLIMS’ ARE ‘GOING TO KILL US’

(Washington, DC - 7/18/08)—The Muslim Public Affairs Council today called on Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to disavow a top surrogate and fellow POW who told Florida reporters that “the Muslims” are “going to kill us.”

In response to a reporter’s question this morning about Sen. McCain’s position on the war in Iraq, Day said: “The Muslims have said either we kneel or they’re going to kill us… I don’t intend to kneel and I don’t advocate to anybody that we kneel, and John doesn’t advocate to anybody that we kneel.”

SEE ALSO: “McCain POW Bud: Muslims ‘Going to Kill Us’” (Miami Herald, 7/18/08) http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2008/07/mccain-pow-bud.html

Day frequently speaks for Sen. McCain on campaign conference calls. Questioned by a reporter about the comment, McCain spokesperson Michael Goldfarb said only, “The threat we face is from radical Islamic extremism.”

The McCain campaign’s failure to explicitly say it disagrees with Day or disavow his remarks signals an alarming failure to confront such absurd fear mongering, and to distinguish between actual terrorists and the vast majority of law-abiding Muslims in Iraq, America and elsewhere.

“It’s nothing less than deplorable to invoke religious stereotypes as a way of garnering support for our failed policy in Iraq,” said MPAC Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati. “Haven’t we learned by now that fear is a cheap and inadequate tool by which to lead our country? We call on Sen. McCain to speak out clearly against Mr. Day’s offensive remarks on his behalf.”

Day’s comments are reminiscent of General William Boykin, who described the war on terror as a “spiritual war.” During his campaign, Sen. McCain has called the United States a “Christian nation” ( http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/01/mccain.christian.nation/index.html ), and has consistently utilized the misnomer of “Islamofascism” ( http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/01/21/islamofascisms_ill_political_wind/ ) in describing the threat of terrorism America faces.

MPAC urges candidates to put an end to anti-Muslim rhetoric in the U.S. presidential election. Candidates must instead reach out constructively to the Muslim American community, soliciting their participation at all levels in the election and joining them to fend off hateful sentiments that serve only to perpetuate differences between Americans.

REQUESTED ACTION:
 
Please send a message to Sen. McCain calling calling on him to disavow Bud Day’s remarks by calling (703) 418-2008 or posting a comment for the campaign at http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact/.

Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council is an American insitution which informs and shapes public opinion and policy by serving as a trusted resource to decision makers in government, media and policy institutions. MPAC is also committed to developing leaders with the purpose of enhancing the political and civic participation of Muslim of Muslim American. MPAC offices are located in Washington, DC, New York City and Los Angeles.