According to Newsweek, Al-Arian "campaigned vigorously" for the Republicans in 2000. He even boasted that he delivered the margin of victory in Florida for the Republican ticket, saying, "I think I personally played a big role in electing Bush."
Once in the White House, the Bush administration continued reaching out to Al-Arian. On June 20, 2001, Al-Arian was briefed on Bush's faith-based agenda and other issues by chief Bush adviser Karl Rove, as reported in the Washington Post. Al-Arian's son, Abdullah (whom Bush reportedly nicknamed "Big Dude"), was also invited to a meeting on the White House grounds. When the Secret Service ejected him, Bush himself wrote a note apologizing to the younger Al-Arian.
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http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/22/Opinion/It_s_Bush_who_has_an_.shtml>