The indecisive Muslims argue that the Muslim vote is not cheap and Kerry should not take Muslim votes for granted. Those who speak on behalf of the so-called Muslim votes, however, are unable to explain where that Muslim vote is and what they have done to mobilize that Muslim vote. They argue that presidential candidates should meet them (the so-called leaders) and discuss Muslim issues. If they are satisfied with the response of the candidate, they will endorse him, otherwise, they will look for the next bidder.

This is a faulty logic and dangerous for Muslims. The indecisive groups believe that we are in a market where the highest bidder takes all. A vote is an expression of one's individual conscience. It is not a commodity to be bought and sold at the will and whim of those who claim to speak on behalf of Muslim voters. Every individual is entitled to have his decision based on his personal beliefs. People cannot be emotionally coerced to vote for a particular person because someone took a decision on their behalf. This is what happened in 2000, when the mainly immigrant Muslim leaders endorsed George Bush without any consideration to the opinion of the majority of Muslims.

The above logic of selling Muslim votes is also faulty because an election is not a mandate on Muslim issues; rather it is a process to elect those who can best serve the country. Ideally, Muslim interests should not be different from the interests of the country. But most of the Muslims who are in the position of leadership have remained isolated from national interests. These Muslim leaders are more concerned with shaking hands and taking pictures with the candidates then evaluating the candidates based on national issues and matters concerning Muslims.

In their zeal to sell Muslim votes, they ignored three important issues in the last election. Under George Bush, some 5 million more Americans were added to the list of uninsured people and some 4 million Americans were added to the list of people living below the poverty line. America has more than 45 million uninsured citizens and 44 million people living below the poverty line. A cursory look at the Republican agenda suggests that this number may increase by 13 percent by the year 2008.

The second important factor that is missed by the Muslim leadership is the appointment of Seventh and Ninth Circuit Court judges. A few Supreme Court judges are ending their terms and new appointments would be made. With an overwhelming majority of judges representing new-cons and Christian right, one can imagine the shape of things to come under George Bush second term.

The third important factor that the leadership ignored is gun violence that causes death to some 500 Americans every week. With George Bush in power for a second term, the gun lobby would become even stronger.

Instead they focused primarily on civil rights issues that are not specifically Muslim issues but are over-all national issues. The majority of this country will not surrender its civil rights. The Democrats have assured the country that they will let several provisions of the Patriot Act sunset. They did not make this assurance in a closed door meeting with the so-called Muslim leaders. They did it in public. At the MPAC convention last year, John Kerry spoke strongly in favor of Muslim civil rights. He could have further elaborated his points, but he was cut off at the podium for lack of time.

At the Democratic convention, he and many others spoke clearly on civil rights issues for everyone - including Muslims. The Republican leadership remained silent on that issue at its convention. 

Those who have endorsed John Kerry have at least identified with the sentiments of Muslim masses and the national interests. Among them are young generation Muslim Americans, African Americans and average Muslims representing various ethnic groups and regions. Their logic is simple and yet profound. Kerry is the candidate who appears to be clear on domestic and foreign issues. He is concerned about health insurance, poverty and court appointments. He is also concerned about the fading image of America at the international level.