h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

49 percent of Arab-Americans votes (in 4 states mentioned, florida was one)would vote for Kerry.
30 percent would pick Bush
21 percent said someone else or unsure

Kerry got higher marks than Bush in all but one category, the handling of terrorism and national security.
39 percent Bush/ 30 percent for Kerry

On Israel and Palestine-
22 percent had more confidence in Kerry
16 percent picked Bush,
48 percent said neither

*margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percent*
http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/elections/article.adp?id=20040428154609990005&_ccc=2

I was kind of surprised
Any thoughts?

"any thoughts?"

I hadn't heard about this poll before I saw your post and I hadn't given the issue any thought before hand.
Which part or parts surprised you? How would you have expected Arab-Americans to poll differently?

I wonder what Kerry is liked for if they are more often approving of Bush in the issues of terrorism and security.
It seems that would be closely tied to the Is-Pal issue but there is more of a difference on that one.

I suppose I see it all as one huge roadmap pan as we (US)has been shown. I thought the poll would reflect that similar view on both issues.

Maybe they are not looking at the long road plan in the same way.
I wish there had been more imformation.

I think that the US population in general rates Bush much higher than Kerry in security. The margin is wider there than it is among Arab-Americans. It would seem that their views on security are closer to those of the general population than their views on the roadmap etc. I would guess that is because their security concerns are the same because they live here but their loyalties (and experiences) in the middle east are different.

This is very interesting! I am surprised that there was so much support for Bush! (I tend to be a bit cynical about polls - a past Prime Minister of NZ (Jim Bolger) famously said "b*gger the polls" when ones which had predicted he'd win by a landslide proved comprehensively wrong..)

I hate how polls have come to run the politicians opinions about the public too!

The four states are Republican states I think (not sure about one )and that may affect the numbers.

Yes, some politicians here, *seem* to care more about polls than policies, and the media (especially television) encourage them in this...

I am surprised at the support Bush gets. But anyways ... I think polls can be very misleading. And I don't know if Kerry will really prove to be that much better than Bush as far as his handling of Arab states would be concerned, if he ever gets the chance...

If I were in the USA I'd vote for Kerry, but mostly because I don't know of anyone better who'd have much of a chance in a "first past the post" system such as they/you have.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0729/dailyUpdate.html

More current surveys on voting and treatment.
Nice to see most saying they have been treated wellby their neighbors and communities. The majority are leaning towards Kerry now.

Thanks for this additional info abbi.

I think most Muslims are OK. The religion of Islam, just as Christianity, says much about peace and love. Certain people can 'tune out' the messages of peace and love however and seek support for aggression and violence. I don't think these people should be seen as representative of any religion. But anyways it could be a very long discussion when we go into the 'faults' or 'weaknesses' of any religion, since the adherents to any religion will refuse to admit that there might be the slightest thing 'wrong' with it.

I am sad to think that many Muslims and/or Arabs are going to perceive themselves as being under attack because of their religion and/or ethnicity.

Like I said earlier, I'm not quite sure of under Kerry things will be that much better for them. Perhaps marginally better, though. I think Kerry will certainly be better than Bush in many ways. But he will probably still be in support of Ariel Sharon and will probably still involve the USA in aggressive acts in the Mid-East, neither of which will be very good for Muslims/Arabs.