At an Obama rally in Detroit, Michigan last week two Muslim women wearing traditional religious head coverings were asked to sit elsewhere so that they would not appear in the background of any photographs taken by the media. Shimaa Abdelfadeel and Hebba Aref, like many other Arab-Americans, may be getting the cold shoulder from a campaign that talks about unity and bringing together people from all walks of life. The Obama campaign has visited many temples and churches reaching out to all types of religious constituencies. He has even visited small Cuban Jewish communities in South Florida. So where’s the fist pound or the Obama horizon for Arab-Americans who are looking for the same types of political reforms as most Americans today?
It was a great public relations move by the Obama campaign to have Mr. Barack Obama personally call and apologize to these women, but wouldn’t we expect that type of apology from anyone with a publicist. How about a presidential candidate? It is the right move of course. In the end, the Obama campaign volunteers who refused to allow these women to sit behind the stage during Obama’s speech were likely just following the tone and orders set by Mr. Obama or his senior advisers. There is obviously some caution with the Obama campaign affiliating themselves too closely with the Muslim and Arab community.
As a Democrat and a former Hillary supporter, I continuously wonder if a two year senator from Illinois has the experience to lead this great country. Is this campaign of change for real or just a slogan created by the great David Axelrod? I for one will vote for substance over style everyday of the week, thus I remain undecided until November.