Religion And The Election In The US

There are still nine months before American citizens will cast their votes to elect the 45th US president but the election is already in everyday conversations around the country all the time, with all its craziness.
The election will matter much more than previous ones both for American Muslims and the Muslim world because most contenders for the Republican Party have been using Islamophobic rhetoric to build their support base. Actually, religion has always been a factor in American politics. Frank Bruni, The New York Times liberal columnist, recently said in an article that religion was integral to America's foundation. “It's central to our understanding of the liberty that each of us deserves. But so are the principles that we don't enshrine any one creed or submit anyone -- including those running for office -- to religious litmus tests.” he says. Nevertheless, while anti-Islam motives have never been used this much before, I am not sure if Republican presidential candidates have cornered the market on religious rhetoric in previous elections, either. Baptist Sen. Ted Cruz, Roman Catholic Sen. Marco Rubio and Bible-waving Donald Trump will be remembered for a long time for their preaching skills!
On the other hand, it is ironic that even though Muslims are accused of being backward or uncivilized by the Republican candidates, apparently they are more liberal than most Americans in that they passionately support the Democrat candidates, one of whom is a socialist and the other a woman!
According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations' (CAIR), in a recent survey that took place in California, New York, Illinois, Florida, Texas and Virginia with 2,000 registered Muslim voters, 67 percent said they plan to support Democrat candidates. The survey shows that 73 percent of Muslim voters in the United States will go to the polls in state primaries and Islamophobia is the top issue for them.
Nevertheless, while Republicans focus on religion too much, Democrat Sen. Bernie Sanders has become the first Jewish candidate -- and the first non-Christian -- to win a presidential primary. This is great progress for the United States. Remember, Joe Lieberman was the first Jewish candidate who ran for the vice presidency in 2000 and presidency four years later, but he couldn't even get closed to what Sanders has accomplished so far. So, American Jews are thrilled with Sander's success. However, Bernie Sanders doesn't emphasize his Jewishness. “My spirituality is that we are all in this together and that when children go hungry, when veterans sleep out on the street, it impacts me,” he says; “That's my very strong spiritual feeling.” In his inclusive approach, he has gained the voters' trust; no Muslims question his Jewishness, even if they are called “Jew-haters” by anti-Muslims.
Most American Muslims see this election as very critical and think that the result of the election could dramatically change their life in the United States. Think about it -- six in 10 New Hampshire voters in the Republican primary last week supported Trump's anti-Muslim ideas. If Trump wins, Muslim Americans could be stopped at the borders and there could also be surveillance of mosques. Besides, unfortunately, even if he is not elected, the xenophobia he has unleashed will live for a while. If Democrats win, the United States will have a first Jewish or female president to put a great mark in the country's democratic history.
Well, we'll see if Americans are determined to advance their democracy to another level or choose to bring it backward. Anyway, this election season will not be boring at all...

ARZU KAYA URANLI [Cihan/Today's Zaman]