Democrats Dump Arab-American Candidate

Last Week New Jersey's Passaic County Democrats endorsed Sami Merhi, an Arab-American, as a candidate freeholder. Yesterday, under pressure from Democratic Senator Robert Menendez and Democratic Governor Jon Corzine Mehri was dumped from the ticket.

"I'm in shock, feeling betrayed," said Sami Merhi, a Lebanese-born businessman from Totowa. "They should be ashamed of themselves."

According to the Associated Press, the "little tent" Democrats are unhappy about comments Mehri said at a September 2002 fund-raiser for U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, (D-Paterson):

Merhi condemned the Sept. 11 terrorists as "cold-blooded murderers." When asked if he would apply the same label to Palestinian suicide bombers who target Israelis, Merhi said, "I can't see the comparison."

Alfred P. Doblin, the editorial page editor of the Herald News, writes that while there is no known recording of Mehri's remarks at the Pascrell fundraiser. Pascrell says at no point did Merhi qualify any form of terrorism as justifiable.

Doblin's take seems about right:

Democratic leadership knew of Merhi’s 2002 speech, yet they supported him.

[. . .]

While Democrats now are trying to toss Merhi from the ticket, Pascrell remains firm in his support of his friend. It’s one of Pascrell’s finest moments.

Too many state politicians have rushed to raise the American flag as they denounce an Arab-American because of what he may have said four years ago. No one took the time to talk to Merhi. That is inexcusable.

[. . .]

New Jersey has a sad history of racial profiling. It is not enough to acknowledge that blacks and Hispanics should be treated with dignity.

Arab-Americans are the easy targets after Sept. 11. And “terrorist” has replaced “communist” as the most feared moniker in the 21st Century neo-McCarthy age. The charge does not have to be proven. Just asserting it does equal damage.

Merhi said that when he was younger, his grandfather cherished three words: “We the people.” He wanted to instill in his family the power of those words, of the American dream. Merhi said, “I still believe in due process. I still believe this is the only country where you can have a voice.”

In America, people are judged by words and deeds. In the absence of a transcript, what was said at an April 2002 fundraiser remains murky. Four years later, memories blur. But there is nothing in four year’s worth of Sami Merhi’s history to suggest he supports or advocates any form of terrorism.

[. . .]

There is no place in government for men and women who support terrorism. There also is no place in government for men and women who play on the public’s paranoia to smear reputations.

Well said!

Sadly, all levels of the Democratic party seem to be practicing a new McCarthyism. They are unwilling to engage in a civil debate on any issue, instead they revert to name calling as did the infamous demagogue and U.S. Senator from Wisconsin.

Perhaps Passaic County Republicans could endorse Sami Merhi and demonstrate once again which political party is the party of the big tent. That's right, it's the same party whose presidents freed the slaves in this country and liberated 50 million people from the tyranny of the Taliban and Saddam.

Comments

[Nouri L]

I agree very much. Arab American members of the GOP in Passaic are already mobilizing.

Nouri

[Dave Schuler]

Merhi condemned the Sept. 11 terrorists as "cold-blooded murderers." When asked if he would apply the same label to Palestinian suicide bombers who target Israelis, Merhi said, "I can't see the comparison."

No doubt this is what the Democratic Party bigwigs have against him: they don't want to agonize the Terrorist-American vote.