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Is John McCain a bigot?

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts on Oct 01, 2007

Republican presidential aspirant John McCain says that he prefers a Christian president to a Muslim one. Is he a bigot for making that choice — or, more to the point, for making it public? The short answer is no. At least no more of a bigot than any of us is.
           
When we vote for our political leaders, we’re wise to choose those who represent the values we hold dear. That’s rational. And that’s what McCain was trying to convey - albeit clumsily. Yes, I know he’s been sucking up to the religious right. But I don’t accuse him of pandering in this particular case because he also made clear that he’d vote for a Mormon — not exactly a favored denomination with America’s evangelicals.

Moreover, McCain said something fascinating and, well, hopeful when he added that he knows many Mormons who’ve been magnificent people.                       

This comment suggests that McCain doesn’t know too many Muslims who’ve been magnificent. With the likes of Ibrahim Hooper and CAIR reflexively jumping down his throat, can you blame him for not being impressed with us Muslims?

Memo to Brother Hooper: a more constructive approach would be to invite McCain to “get to know” other Muslims — including truly reform-minded ones such as Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy. It turns out that Dr. Jasser lives in Arizona, which is McCain’s own state.                  
             
I figure that if McCain knew more of the Jassers and fewer of the Hoopers, he’d see that Muslims are capable of being magnificent — pluralistic, self-critical, and proudly American. I’d certainly vote for Dr. Jasser. I’m willing to bet that McCain would too. Keep in mind, as a faithful Muslim, I don’t gamble.