Muslim Community Responds to Bill Clinton’s DNC Comments on 'American Muslims'

Former President Bill Clinton's speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Tuesday night supporting his wife Hillary, is drawing criticism for its characterization of American Muslims.

"If you're a Muslim and you love America and freedom and you hate terror, stay here and help us win and make a future together, we want you," Clinton said toward the end of his address. 

"Mr. Clinton should know that American Muslims do love America," stated Robert McCaw, Government Affairs Director for the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR). "We love freedom. And We hate terrorism. There is no questioning these facts. American Muslims are tired of being stereotyped as a separate class of Americans whose loyalty is always subject to question."

Peter Beinart, contributing editor for The Atlantic, wrote late Tuesday night: "The problem is in the assumption. American Muslims should be viewed exactly the same way other Americans are. If they commit crimes, then they should be prosecuted, just like other Americans. But they should not have to prove that they 'love America and freedom' and 'hate terror' to 'stay here.' Their value as Americans is inherent, not instrumental. Their role as Americans is not to 'help us win' the 'war on terror.'"

Beinart continued, "Whether Clinton meant to or not, he lapsed into Trumpism: the implication that Muslims are a class apart, deserving of special scrutiny and surveillance, guilty of terrorist sympathies until proven innocent."

Dr. Muqtedar Khan, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Delaware, responded to Clinton's remarks in a piece for The Islamic Monthly:

No doubt he intended to convey to Muslims, and the rest of America, the contrast between Donald Trump’s exclusivist, neofascist attitude towards Muslims, and Hillary Clinton's progressive, supportive and inclusive stance towards all minorities including American Muslims, but the one line that mentioned Muslims may have fallen far too short, and even dangerous in repeating the same patterns as other Islamophobes during this election cycle. The former wishes to ban us, and the latter…well this may be the issue I'm struggling with. The message stated by Clinton is we, American Muslims, can stay here if we love America and freedom and hate terrorism. How generous!

The implication of his statement is that American Muslims are trying to leave, and he is urging us to stay. And yet, American Muslims have been here for centuries now. Many of the slaves who built this country were Muslims forced to hide or leave their faith. Secondly, why the conditions? And why only while speaking about Muslims would he mention the word terror? 

[...] The problem with the semantics of what Clinton said in his speech is that it borrows the Islamophobic assumptions that have plagued American political arena in the past several months. This was a good opportunity for Bill to push back against it and shift the conversation. Unfortunately, he framed his arguments within the same parameters of the Islamophobic discourse employed by Trump which treats Muslims as unwelcome foreigners.

With Hillary Clinton scheduled to speak tomorrow, two questions still remain. How will she address the concerns of Muslims in America and if she can earn their trust along with every other American voter.

"Mr. Clinton, if you want to appeal to Muslim voters, especially those in key battleground states, speak to our concerns about Islamophobia, education, healthcare, policing policies, or even just repairing the pothole down the street, added McCaw.

"American Muslims are Americans, and we have been here since before the founding of our nation. We are not going anywhere."