Subscribe to DiversityInc today!

Corporate Options
Newsletter Sign Up
Log In
DiversityInc Magazine | Advertise | Special Sections | Resource Guide | Foundation | Webinars | Benchmarking | DiversityInc Careers
Site Sponsors
Marriott
Home Depot
Bank of America
Cox Communications
Well Point
KPMG
Verizon
Aetna
Wachovia
PWC
Deloitte
ibm




You are here: DiversityInc | Homepage Free Stories | Commentator: Romney, . . .
Commentator: Romney, Victim of Bigotry, Turns on U.S. Muslims
By Arsalan Iftikhar

Digg digg this | Mixx! mixx! | reddit | del.icio.us | Seed_NewsvineNewsvine | Google_Bookmark | Yahoo_Bookmark
 e-mail article | print print | post comments | NEWSLETTER
©DiversityInc. Reproduction in any format is absolutely prohibited.

December 04, 2007

This opinion column was written by Arsalan Iftikhar, contributing editor for Islamica Magazine.

 

The presidential candidacy of Mitt Romney has been wrought with ridiculous commentary as to whether a Mormon is fit to become president of the United States. Indeed, Mormons in America have long endured discrimination, ridicule and hostility in our country.

 

 

So it is beyond absurdity that Romney, who is a target of religious bigots himself, has now channeled that same religious bigotry by making American Muslims collectively feel like the GEICO cavemen.

 

According to a piece in the Christian Science Monitor, an American Muslim financier asked the former Republican Massachusetts governor about putting a Muslim in a Romney presidential Cabinet. Romney's brilliantly enlightened response was that he "cannot see that a Cabinet position would be justified," based on the percentage of Muslims in the United States.

 

Contextualizing his religious quota statement, he did graciously add: "But of course, I would imagine that Muslims could serve at lower levels of my administration." He has got to be kidding.

 

For sheer giggles, let us assume that we were in Romney's "Quota America." Since African Americans make up more than 12 percent of the population, we should have about 12 African American senators. How many do we have? One. Barack Obama of Illinois.

 

Furthermore, since women make up 51 percent of the American public, we should then logically have 51 female senators serving in the hallowed halls of Congress. As of Nov. 1, 2006, there were 16 women senators serving in the 100-person body. Although an all-time high, historical context shows that there have been 35 women in the U.S. Senate since the establishment of that body in 1789. This means that out of the approximately 1,895 Americans who have served in the Senate since that time, only 1.85 percent of all senators have been female.

 

On Romney's brilliant idea to have elected positions based on religious quotas, USA Today reported that "the 15 Mormons in Congress is a slightly greater representation than the religious group's percentage of the general population. A religious minority, Mormons represent less than 2 percent of the American population."

 

And lest we forget America's favorite bout of religious hysteria: Even though Catholics represent more than 26 percent of the American population, we had to put our sole Catholic president, John F. Kennedy, through the religious wringer in a paranoid fear that his puppet strings were going to be pulled at the sinister behest of the Vatican.

 

Unfortunately, Romney's religious roundabout is a one-way street and he should be pandering his politics of religious hysteria to the "perfected" Ann Coulter voters out there who base their vote solely on religious affiliation.

 

But then again, they wouldn't vote for him because of his religion.

More Election '08 >> 

 

 




Digg digg this | Mixx! mixx! | reddit | del.icio.us | Seed_NewsvineNewsvine | Google_Bookmark | Yahoo_Bookmark
 e-mail article | print print | post comments | NEWSLETTER

Send Your Comments About This Article Now

First Name:

Last Name:
Your E-Mail Address
Message Subject
Message:

Clicking "Send Message" registers your e-mail address to
receive DiversityInc's Free Daily Newsletter.


©DiversityInc. Reproduction in any format is absolutely prohibited.





Also Read
What You Need to Know About Type 2 Diabetes
Where Are Latinos Getting Medical Info
Has Your Doctor Lectured You About Weight? You're Not Alone

click here to ask a question | click here to read recent Q & A
Most Popular Articles on DiversityInc
Obama Wouldn't Be First Black President

Obama's Victory: Headlines From Around the Nation

On President's Day, Remember Your 5 Black Presidents

Is Obama Victory for Blacks or for Everyone?

DiversityInc Top 50 Dinner Announcement

Daily News Picks
Retired Generals: End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Immigrant Minors Mistreated While in Custody
California College Cuts to Hit Low-Income Groups Hardest
Black and Latino Students Arrested More Often
More Popular Articles on DiversityInc
Young, Black, Latino & White Voters Choose Obama

Who Is Michelle Obama?

Do Blacks Need to Relax Their Natural Hair to Get Promoted?

The World Reacts to Obama's Victory

Oprah Is Boycotted After Refusing Palin Interview

Recruiting Top American Indian Talent: The Unique Blend

Hoaxes, Jokes & Other Election Blunders

In Some Ways, American Indians Are Losing Their Identity

Gay-Marriage Supporters Take Hits in 3 Key States

Why Whites Can't 'Get Over' Color

Election Day '08: Remember the Shoulders You Stand On

How to Get Talented Women to Stay

Come Election Day, Hurricane Victims, Foreclosure Victims May Be Left Out

Where Do Most Black Women Spend Their Money?

Veterans Day: Remember the Forgotten Soldiers

Is It OK to Speak Spanish in the Workplace?

Join Now! | Log In | Contact Us | Post Jobs | Magazine | Advertise | About Us | Privacy Policy | Site Map
Legal | Research & Reference | Financial Literacy | Video Network | Foundation | Webinars
Thanks for visiting
DiversityInc.com!
To continue viewing free articles on our site and in our newsletter, please enter your e-mail address in the box.
E-mail

Welcome to DiversityInc Careers
Join Now to Avoid Pop-Ups. Save 50%!
Choose a Premium Subscription Here.

FREE Memberships
We never reveal, share or sell member information. For complete details, see our Privacy Statement.