Allen West lost because Muslims voted

[Report1212]

Bigotry can be an electoral liability:

Yesterday, right-wing House Republican Allen West finally conceded in his race against Democrat Patrick Murphy. West had made himself notorious for his anti-Muslim attitude. He argued that Islam is “not a faith” but a “totalitarian theocratic political ideology,” and that terrorism is inherent to Islam. He even said that Muslim congressman Keith Ellison (D) of “represent(ing) the antithesis of the principles upon which this country was established.”

But in an America that grows increasingly progressive and tolerant, bigotry can be a major electoral liability. Murphy’s margin of victory is roughly 1,900 votes. I talked to Imran Siddiqui, who works for the organization Empowering Motivating Educating Resourceful Grassroots Entities, which registers Muslim voters in the area. He mentioned that his organization had 2,500 Muslim voters in their database in the district and that they witnessed 80 percent turnout. That means roughly 2,000 Muslim-American votes — a little bit higher than Murphy’s margin of victory.

Read more: http://boldprogressives.org/leading-islamophobe-allen-west-likely-defeated-due-to-high-muslim-american-turnout/

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. Nothing quite like standing up to a bully.

Poetic justic indeed.

[rivegauche]

2. Of course, it's all a conspiracy.

Naturally this idiot thinks it's some dark conspiracy that got him beaten - not that he's a freaking LUNATIC. This is the same fool who claimed there were what, 80 "active Communists" in Congress. Good riddance, he's a fruitcake.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. I think you missed the OP's point.

The point isn't that Muslims conspired to get West booted out, it's that they voted, period. And that the numbers may have made the difference in swinging the election.

Of course, it's possible that some of those Muslims voted for West. But why vote for someone who has openly professed his hatred of you just for who you are?

[LoisB]

18. Self-hatred maybe? Why do low-income earners vote for Republicans when they make it quite clear

they care not one whit for them? Why do some gay folks, some women, some Black folks vote Republican?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

22. Why would a black man run for public office for a political party....

....who, for at least the past 50 or so years, has openly campaigned against civil rights legislation?

[noiretextatique]

26. perhaps because he is a self-serving lackey and a shameless opportunist?

that's my guess.

[onehandle]

3. While canvasing in Pennsylvania, my wife and I encountered several Muslim families.

They were pretty damn motivated to vote Democratic.

[Report1212]

6. Yup

GOP used to have maybe half of the Muslim vote. Bush years and then even worse Islamophobes after him have pushed them into a more reliably Democratic block than even Jewish voters.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. Couldn't happen to a more insane ass clown. Bye bye, Captain Crunch.

[nolabear]

7. I'd like to personally thank my Muslim bretheren for this.

Last edited Wed Nov 21, 2012, 02:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Freeing us from Allen West was an act of heroism. Patriotism! Anti-assholism!

[DavidDvorkin]

8. How dare they vote!

It's not like they're real Americans!

[The Wielding Truth]

9. Allen West lost because American citizens voted. He must face the fact.

[libdem4life]

10. My isn't it dreadful when actions and verbal fomenting actually create voters ... that vote.

A question for retiring/voted out/used up tea bag wrapped around the spoon Rep West? How many black people Did Not Vote? Probably also your margin of loss.

[Surya Gayatri]

11. Allah Ho Akbar! May Allah be praised! Devine intervention indeed...

[AlbertCat]

23. Devine intervention indeed...

Nope.

Just Democracy.

[lyingsackofmitt]

12. What a scumbag

get lost asshole and don't come back!

[donco]

13. Good.

let the dickhead go on unemployment for a few years now.

[DonRedwood]

14. Lol... yes, in this case, that is entirely true. Some beauty to that, eh?

[santamargarita]

15. Once we defeat one of these teashitbaggers they...

are supposed to shut the fuck up and move back into their parents basement.

[sakabatou]

16. Just like another Republican, Charlie Webster, who lost because blacks voted

[eissa]

17. I know several Muslim families

Very conservative, obviously, who voted republican in every election. Mainly due to social issues, but also fiscal conservatism. Not anymore. The over-the-top hatred directed at President Obama and the ugly racism they so proudly display pushed them ALL to vote Dem (and the majority of them live in Florida, so thanks GOP!)

[ck4829]

41. I have also seen it the other way as well

They obviously aren't in the majority, but I know Muslims who support universal healthcare for all Americans, reproductive freedoms, and have an opinion on gay rights that goes like 'If they are consenting adults and they are in love, then that is love that was created by God, and we have no right to interfere with it'

[Auntie Bush]

19. Ha ha, hee hee, ho ho! Good for all those Muslim's voting.

Also, good for all the GOTVers for helping to motivate them to get out to vote!

When are the foolish ReThugs going to wise up? Personally, I hope never. Makes it easier for us to win if we can run against angry, hateful fools.

[SDjack]

20. I wanted West to lose absolutely no-doubt-about-it by one vote. But,

losing by the Muslim vote is even better. Sweet.

[Odin2005]

21. Proof that Obama is a muslin soshulist terrist!!!

[bluestate10]

24. Hatred always result in rejection of the hater. Time may be required, but it happens. nt

[truebluegreen]

25. Yea! The good guys won one!

And for all the right reasons!

[onenote]

27. Allen West lost because people of all races, religions, and ethnicities voted

I find the argument that he lost because Muslims voted a bit strange. While its true that if no Muslims had voted, it appears his vote total would have topped Murphy's, I suspect the same could be said about Hispanics (over 11 percent of the population of the District) and Jews (not certain of the percentage, but in all likelihood also higher than the percentage of Muslim-Americans in the District). Given the national totals for Obama among Hispanics and Jews, and given those groups sensitivities to West's particular xenophobic brand of crazy, its almost certain that the margin by which Murphy topped West among those two groups is more than the 1900 vote margin of victory.

If the 2012 elections have shown anything, it is that Democrats can win when they piece together a coalition of minorities, and that no one minority is the determining factor in victory.

Edited to reflect Hispanic vote percentage post redistricting.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

33. Where did you get that 60% figure....

[Sekhmets Daughter]

35. It's incorrect....

That was District 18 after the census of 2000. The census of 2010 lead to a total realignment and District 18 moved considerably north.

Florida's new 18th district voting age population is 74.7% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 11.6% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 10.6% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 0.4% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 2.7% other races (non-Hispanic)[8]

[onenote]

36. Thanks for the update. My point remains the same, however.

The 11.6 Hispanic share of the district's population undoubtedly is substantially higher than the Muslim population. If only 5 percent of the voters that turned out in the district were Hispanic (out of the more than 11 percent of the population that is Hispanic), and if those voters favored Murphy over West by a 60/40 margin (probably an understatement), the result would have been 9916 votes for Murphy and 6611 votes for West -- a margin of over 3300 in favor of Murphy. In short, while its true that Muslim voters probably contributed 2000 votes to Murphy's victory, other groups, including Hispanics, almost certainly contributed as much or more. No one portion of the coalition that elected Murphy defeated West. It took all the parts of the coalition working together.

[Report1212]

37. I would agree nt

[Sekhmets Daughter]

38. Well of course it was a coalition....

But what happens to the 1,900 vote victory if 2,000 Muslims don't vote? I think the point serves to illustrate just how fragile a coalition defeated West.

The new 18th contains northern Palm Beach County, always Red Martin County and Blue leaning St. Lucie County. West carried his part of Palm Beach County by just 190 votes.... while there are a lot of high income voters living there, many were totally turned off by his insanity. I don't think he expected that. Martin County, he carried by something over 10,000 votes. Martin is 90% White and almost 80% Non-Hispanic White and very middle of the middle class. Household Income was a bit over $53 K in 2010 (the last year for which I could find numbers) St Lucie is the least affluent of the 3 counties with a household income of $45+K . Average housing valued at $177K, in Martin County it's $255K and in Palm Beach County the average house is valued at $263K ( but that is the entire county, not just the northern end)

It was a close run race.

[Douglas Carpenter]

28. good - knr

[jtuck004]

29. Wrong as he usually is. It was the communists. n/t

[Scurrilous]

30. ROFL

[Deep13]

31. Note to self: register more Muslim voters. nt

[yellowcanine]

32. Huh. No fatwas, just votes? Go figure.

[Report1212]

40. Wonder what he'll do next? nt

[Cha]

39. Oh my Goodness! That makes me all

Verklempt! Thanks Report~

So glad the Muslims in Murphy's District got out and VOTED!

Talk about Every Vote Counting!

[catbyte]

42. Karma's a bitch. What beautiful, epic justice. Happy Thanksgiving!