having worked for candidates that have been in Mr. Staih's position I know
that this kind of dialogue goes on with candidates that are running in
Congressional races. We have had similar situations in a neighboring
district to that where I live where the Democratic Congressional Campaign
Committee DCCC has not liked a local candidate running for office and they
have recruited someone to run in that district. The same thing is happening
in that district in the current election cycle. A local candidate who
formerly served in the military and now is a civilian employee at Naval Air
Station Lemoore decided to run for the office over a year ago. His name is
Daniel Parra and although he has had a difficult time fund raising in the
district that has a very poor voter turnout for Democrats and with the last
redistricting was given to Republicans he received the endorsement of local
Democratic party leaders and grass roots Democratic clubs. Because he was
not thought to be a viable candidate Emilio Huerta, the son of Dolores
Huerta an attorney from Bakersfield who does not live in the district
entered the race. While Mr. Huerta is very personable he relies on name
recognition and the backing of the UFW to try to get him elected. He tried
to get the local endorsement of Mr. Parra pulled at the state Democratic
convention and while he got the endorsement pulled he did not get enough
votes to be endorsed himself. In 2013 when there was a special election with
a primary in that district the DCCCC recruited a Fresno City councilman who
is Hmong to run in that district with few Hmong residents or voters. He
performed dismally in the primary and lost to Democrat businessman and
former head of the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, John
Hernandez. When John Hernandez won the primary the DCCC offered to help him
in his campaign but they basically required that they would take over the
management of his campaign with people from outside of the area. While John
Hernandez lost the special election in 2013 to the current Republican
representative David Valadao he ran again in the 2014 primary and general
election. Because John Hernandez did not accept the conditions from the DCCC
they brought in a former staffer to Senator Debbie Stabineau who grew up in
an adjacent district held by Republican Devon Nunez. They thought that
Amanda Renteria could appeal to voters being a Latina that wanted to return
to her roots in the central valley. I helped manage the primary campaign of
John Hernandez in 2014. There were issues with his campaign and his
candidacy and although he lost the primary to Amanda Renteria she did not do
any better in the general election than John did in the 2013 special
election. So much for Amanda's returning to her roots as she is now a key
player in outreach to Hispanic voters with the Clinton campaign and has left
the central valley for greener pastures in New York. I can only hope that
Mr. Staih does well in the primary as whether his Palestinian Muslim
identity will be a challenge that he will have to overcome the fact that he
asserts himself will be another challenge that might be greater for him to
overcome in this election. I will be following his campaign with interest.
Thought you would find some firsthand campaign experience from the trenches
interesting.
Chuck
-----Original Message-----
From: Miriam Vieni
Sent: Wednesday, April 6, 2016 12:38 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Palestinian running for Congress in Nevada says
Harry Reid told him a Muslim can’t win
Palestinian running for Congress in Nevada says Harry Reid told him a Muslim
can’t win
US Politics
Mary Ann Weston on April 5, 2016 22 Comments
Jesse Sbaih
Should a Muslim Palestinian-American be blocked from running for Congress
because of his religion and ethnicity? The question would be absurd if you
substituted the terms “Roman Catholic” and “Irish-American.” But Jesse
Sbaih, a Nevada attorney running for Congress in the state’s open Third
District race, contends Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, whose support is
crucial for Democrats in Nevada, told him: “You’re not going to be able to
win because you are a Muslim.”
If elected, Sbaih would be the first Arab Muslim in Congress. There are
currently two Muslims, both African American, and a half-dozen or so Arab
Americans in the House of Representatives, but no Arab Muslims.
Sbaih, who emigrated from Jordan with his Palestinian-refugee parents when
he was 11, says the comment came when he sought Reid’s endorsement last
August. Reid’s office has emphatically denied this. But John Ralston, a
well-known Nevada political commentator, wrote last week, “Sbaih’s religion
did come up in conversations (with Reid) as a potential avenue of attack
from opponents.”
According to Reid’s organization, the problem was Sbaih’s inexperience, not
his faith. He was encouraged to run for a lower office to “create a path” to
future success. And the prospect of a federal job was dangled for Sbaih
instead. But the 40-year-old lawyer stubbornly insisted on running for the
House.
“This campaign is not about me. It’s about every person who was denied an
opportunity because of race or religion or not being a member of the club,”
Sbaih said in an interview with Mondoweiss.
At the same time that he was discouraging Sbaih, Reid was seeking a
high-profile Democrat to run in the district, according to Nevada political
commentators. Ralston wrote that Reid “was desperately searching for a
big-name candidate to run for the seat, having already been rebuffed by the
likes of ex-Secretary of State Ross Miller, former water czar Pat Mulroy and
others. This coincided with the period when Team Reid was intently wooing
Heather Murren, the former Wall Street analyst and philanthropist, to get
into the contest. (She eventually declined on Oct. 2.)”
In late January Reid personally recruited Jacky Rosen, president of
Congregation Ner Tamid, a synagogue in Henderson. Rosen, like Sbaih, has not
run for office before. But she now has the advantage of Reid’s organization
and fund-raising clout. And though Rosen has no experience either, as
Ralston observed, she also has “no obvious baggage”:
Team Reid apparently believes Rosen, who is well connected in Southern
Nevada, fits the profile needed to be viable in the district: A political
newcomer with no obvious baggage.
The district, in the Las Vegas suburbs, is seen as a tossup. The Republican
incumbent, Joe Heck, is running for Reid’s Senate seat. Reid is retiring.
The district voted for President Obama in 2012. Seven Republicans and a
total of six Democrats are running for their party’s nominations.
Sbaih’s Palestinian Muslim identity and his brash refusal to knuckle under
to the political powers-that-be have cast him as the idealistic outsider
pitted against the power of the Reid organization. His story reflects that
of Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, whom Sbaih enthusiastically
supports.
Sbaih didn’t publicize Reid’s alleged Muslim remark until March. By then,
the candidate said, the Reid camp was calling potential staffers, donors and
supporters and telling them not to work for Sbaih. He insists his campaign
has been “sabotaged.” On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with
labor unions and other potential donors, Sbaih said, “We learned Reid called
the various unions we scheduled meetings with…and told them not to meet with
us and not to support us.” Sbaih would not specify whom, exactly, Reid
leaned on.
Despite such setbacks, Sbaih is defiantly remaining in the race. “They don’t
believe a Muslim can win in America and that is absolutely false,” he said.
Sbaih released a string of emails and text messages that, he contends,
buttress his case. In a string of text messages starting in early August,
Sbaih wrote to strategist and former Reid campaign manager Rebecca Lambe:
“I will continue to work extremely hard to win the seat for our party, which
would allow me to serve our country. I will make you and Senator Reid proud.
In the meantime, I very much look forward to the day our party embraces
someone like me the same way numerous people of this amazing country
embraced me over the years.”
Lambe replied, “Our party does embrace you. But I wouldn’t be doing my job
if I didn’t point out the challenges and ask you to objectively look at this
district.” She encouraged Sbaih to run for Nevada Assembly instead.
Sbaih responded:
“I appreciate what you are saying. I am fully aware there are challenges and
I fully recognize them. However, rather than run away, I will work very hard
to overcome these challenges. You see my challenges are insurmountable. I
see it differently in that I believe in the goodness of the American people,
in the American spirit, and that people will elect the person they believe
will do the best job to help them solve their problems regardless of their
ethnic background and religion. You said to me today, ‘you will do well in
Congress. The problem is getting you there.’ Just like you saw that in me
that I will do a good job, I am hopeful my constituents will see it that way
as well….”
A few days later Lambe set up a meeting between Sbaih and Reid.
After the meeting, in a September 1 email to Lambe, Sbaih wrote that he was
being passed over because of his “religion and ethnicity.”
“I hope all is well. As an American citizen who deeply loves his country, I
am profoundly disheartened and saddened that the Democratic Party is
refusing to accept a candidate like me because of my religion and ethnicity.
It’s distressing to hear that my religion and ethnicity somehow disqualify
me from running for a congressional seat despite everything that I have
accomplished and contributed to our country and its people…
“I will continue to work hard and I am hopeful that I will prove to you and
Senator Reid that an Arab/Muslim American (who deeply loves our country and
cares very much about its people) can and will be embraced by his community
if they feel he can get the job done. As Senator Reid promised me last week
during our meeting, which you attended, I respectfully request that your
office/the party refrain from engaging in any conduct that would harm my
campaign.”
The next day Megan Jones, another former Reid staffer who is now a political
consultant, sought to refute Sbaih’s contention that his religion and
ethnicity were hindering him:
“I want to clarify again as we have done so multiple times in person, that
this was never about the Democratic Party not embracing your ethnicity or
religion it was about how to create a path and a base of support so you
could withstand the attacks that we knew would inevitably come from the
opposing side. I am profoundly disappointed that you are choosing to ignore
the expert advice of so many who wanted to help create a path for you that
would ultimately help you in your long term political and professional
goals….”
Sbaih’s reply was cordial but unyielding:
“We have a disagreement about my electability because of the inevitable
attacks by my potential opponent based on my religion and ethnicity. I
believe that I can overcome those attacks and you all think I will not able
to do so. Reasonable minds can differ. “
The next emails between Sbaih and Shannon Raborn, another Reid staffer,
discuss his potential appointment to the Election Assistance Commission. On
Oct. 6 Raborn emailed Sbaih, “As follow up to our conversation, Senator Reid
makes a recommendation to the White House for the open position for a
Commissioner on the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The Washington,
DC-based position is Senate-confirmed for a term of 4 years and pays at a
Level IV schedule ($157k).”
On October 8, Sbaih asked Raborn to tell Harry Reid that he was “honored and
appreciative of his offer” to serve on the EAC, but he was committed to run
for Congress.
“I remain hopeful that Senator Reid will support my campaign and we can work
together to win this election and return NV-3 to the Democrats.”
The final string of texts released by Sbaih are a conversation with former
Reid staffer Megan Jones beginning September 29 and refer to a phone call
earlier that day. Sbaih wrote, “I am still surprised by your tone during our
telephone call earlier today. I don’t appreciate the various threats you
made if I didn’t withdraw from the race. As I told you, I am profoundly
committed to serving our country and our people….”
Jones denied threatening Sbaih:
“I don’t think you understand the level I’ve stood up for you to be given a
chance. If the shoe were on the other foot and you were my lawyer and told
me I was going to lose if I went to court I would listen. It’s a slap in the
face to be as condescending as you have been with me…You are on your own.
And that is a scary place to be and one that you didn’t have to do.”
Sbaih’s reply was equally contentious:
“I have been nothing but courteous to you. We simply disagree and you refuse
to take no for an answer. I will not be bullied by anyone when I have the
best intentions of serving my country and its people. I am not alone, my
base will continue to grow, and I will win the election. I have no fear of
Ms. Murren [a potential candidate then being courted by Reid] coming into
the race or anything else because I am doing the right thing for my country.
Thus, there is no reason for us to continue to have this discussion. I wish
you all the best.”
Jones replied in kind: “Yep I’m a bully. Way to stay classy Jesse. Call the
only one looking out for you a bully.” In another message Jones wrote, “Why
do you think all your consultants walked away? Today for me was the last
straw in trying to help you see that you could win by building bases of
support by starting with an office you could win…”
Sbaih replied, “What are you talking about? I have been nothing but
courteous and thoughtful with all of you. Your camp is the one who insulted
me by, among other things, telling me that I would do a great job in
Congress but people would not vote for a Muslim…I thought our party was
different that this and I am hopeful things will change for the better…”
In a later message in the string, dated Jan. 12, Sbaih wrote, “Wanted to
meet with you to advise you that we have nearly half a million COH [cash on
hand] and that it would be a pleasure for me to work with the Reid team on
winning this race. We need to start working together as I am fully committed
to winning the seat for our party and giving back to our country/community.
We need to forget about the past and focus on the future.”
That was the last message provided by Sbaih. On Jan. 26 Reid’s handpicked
candidate Jacky Rosen entered the race.
Central to Sbaih’s campaign, and the controversy surrounding it, is his
family’s immigrant story. Sbaih’s father, Ismail, fled the village of Beit
Iksa near Jerusalem for Jordan during the 1948 Nakba. Sbaih’s mother fled
the same village in 1967. They met and married in Jordan where the elder
Sbaih practiced law and his wife was a teacher. The family immigrated to the
U.S. when Jesse was 11 “to give the children a better life.” Sbaih helped
his struggling family by washing dishes at an Italian restaurant.
“I was grateful (for the job),” he said. “But it was so hard, working late
into the evening scrubbing dishes then studying all night for a test at
school the next day.” Sbaih graduated with honors from high school, college
and law school and now practices in Henderson, Nevada.
Looking back, Sbaih said it was “extremely humbling to… remember that little
boy washing dishes and scrubbing pans late into the evening. I’m immensely
proud of what we have accomplished because of the opportunities this country
has given us.”
In an election year infused with racial and religious animosity, Jesse Sbaih’s
uphill quest for Congress reveals the real pressures on candidates whose
backgrounds are not embraced by the establishment.
Palestinian running for Congress in Nevada says Harry Reid told him a Muslim
can’t win
US Politics
Mary Ann Weston on April 5, 2016 22 Comments
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valid.
• Adjust Font Size
Jesse Sbaih
Should a Muslim Palestinian-American be blocked from running for Congress
because of his religion and ethnicity? The question would be absurd if you
substituted the terms “Roman Catholic” and “Irish-American.” But Jesse
Sbaih, a Nevada attorney running for Congress in the state’s open Third
District race, contends Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, whose support is
crucial for Democrats in Nevada, told him: “You’re not going to be able to
win because you are a Muslim.”
If elected, Sbaih would be the first Arab Muslim in Congress. There are
currently two Muslims, both African American, and a half-dozen or so Arab
Americans in the House of Representatives, but no Arab Muslims.
Sbaih, who emigrated from Jordan with his Palestinian-refugee parents when
he was 11, says the comment came when he sought Reid’s endorsement last
August. Reid’s office has emphatically denied this. But John Ralston, a
well-known Nevada political commentator, wrote last week, “Sbaih’s religion
did come up in conversations (with Reid) as a potential avenue of attack
from opponents.”
According to Reid’s organization, the problem was Sbaih’s inexperience, not
his faith. He was encouraged to run for a lower office to “create a path” to
future success. And the prospect of a federal job was dangled for Sbaih
instead. But the 40-year-old lawyer stubbornly insisted on running for the
House.
“This campaign is not about me. It’s about every person who was denied an
opportunity because of race or religion or not being a member of the club,”
Sbaih said in an interview with Mondoweiss.
At the same time that he was discouraging Sbaih, Reid was seeking a
high-profile Democrat to run in the district, according to Nevada political
commentators. Ralston wrote that Reid “was desperately searching for a
big-name candidate to run for the seat, having already been rebuffed by the
likes of ex-Secretary of State Ross Miller, former water czar Pat Mulroy and
others. This coincided with the period when Team Reid was intently wooing
Heather Murren, the former Wall Street analyst and philanthropist, to get
into the contest. (She eventually declined on Oct. 2.)”
In late January Reid personally recruited Jacky Rosen, president of
Congregation Ner Tamid, a synagogue in Henderson. Rosen, like Sbaih, has not
run for office before. But she now has the advantage of Reid’s organization
and fund-raising clout. And though Rosen has no experience either, as
Ralston observed, she also has “no obvious baggage”:
Team Reid apparently believes Rosen, who is well connected in Southern
Nevada, fits the profile needed to be viable in the district: A political
newcomer with no obvious baggage.
The district, in the Las Vegas suburbs, is seen as a tossup. The Republican
incumbent, Joe Heck, is running for Reid’s Senate seat. Reid is retiring.
The district voted for President Obama in 2012. Seven Republicans and a
total of six Democrats are running for their party’s nominations.
Sbaih’s Palestinian Muslim identity and his brash refusal to knuckle under
to the political powers-that-be have cast him as the idealistic outsider
pitted against the power of the Reid organization. His story reflects that
of Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, whom Sbaih enthusiastically
supports.
Sbaih didn’t publicize Reid’s alleged Muslim remark until March. By then,
the candidate said, the Reid camp was calling potential staffers, donors and
supporters and telling them not to work for Sbaih. He insists his campaign
has been “sabotaged.” On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with
labor unions and other potential donors, Sbaih said, “We learned Reid called
the various unions we scheduled meetings with…and told them not to meet with
us and not to support us.” Sbaih would not specify whom, exactly, Reid
leaned on.
Despite such setbacks, Sbaih is defiantly remaining in the race. “They don’t
believe a Muslim can win in America and that is absolutely false,” he said.
Sbaih released a string of emails and text messages that, he contends,
buttress his case. In a string of text messages starting in early August,
Sbaih wrote to strategist and former Reid campaign manager Rebecca Lambe:
“I will continue to work extremely hard to win the seat for our party, which
would allow me to serve our country. I will make you and Senator Reid proud.
In the meantime, I very much look forward to the day our party embraces
someone like me the same way numerous people of this amazing country
embraced me over the years.”
Lambe replied, “Our party does embrace you. But I wouldn’t be doing my job
if I didn’t point out the challenges and ask you to objectively look at this
district.” She encouraged Sbaih to run for Nevada Assembly instead.
Sbaih responded:
“I appreciate what you are saying. I am fully aware there are challenges and
I fully recognize them. However, rather than run away, I will work very hard
to overcome these challenges. You see my challenges are insurmountable. I
see it differently in that I believe in the goodness of the American people,
in the American spirit, and that people will elect the person they believe
will do the best job to help them solve their problems regardless of their
ethnic background and religion. You said to me today, ‘you will do well in
Congress. The problem is getting you there.’ Just like you saw that in me
that I will do a good job, I am hopeful my constituents will see it that way
as well….”
A few days later Lambe set up a meeting between Sbaih and Reid.
After the meeting, in a September 1 email to Lambe, Sbaih wrote that he was
being passed over because of his “religion and ethnicity.”
“I hope all is well. As an American citizen who deeply loves his country, I
am profoundly disheartened and saddened that the Democratic Party is
refusing to accept a candidate like me because of my religion and ethnicity.
It’s distressing to hear that my religion and ethnicity somehow disqualify
me from running for a congressional seat despite everything that I have
accomplished and contributed to our country and its people…
“I will continue to work hard and I am hopeful that I will prove to you and
Senator Reid that an Arab/Muslim American (who deeply loves our country and
cares very much about its people) can and will be embraced by his community
if they feel he can get the job done. As Senator Reid promised me last week
during our meeting, which you attended, I respectfully request that your
office/the party refrain from engaging in any conduct that would harm my
campaign.”
The next day Megan Jones, another former Reid staffer who is now a political
consultant, sought to refute Sbaih’s contention that his religion and
ethnicity were hindering him:
“I want to clarify again as we have done so multiple times in person, that
this was never about the Democratic Party not embracing your ethnicity or
religion it was about how to create a path and a base of support so you
could withstand the attacks that we knew would inevitably come from the
opposing side. I am profoundly disappointed that you are choosing to ignore
the expert advice of so many who wanted to help create a path for you that
would ultimately help you in your long term political and professional
goals….”
Sbaih’s reply was cordial but unyielding:
“We have a disagreement about my electability because of the inevitable
attacks by my potential opponent based on my religion and ethnicity. I
believe that I can overcome those attacks and you all think I will not able
to do so. Reasonable minds can differ. “
The next emails between Sbaih and Shannon Raborn, another Reid staffer,
discuss his potential appointment to the Election Assistance Commission. On
Oct. 6 Raborn emailed Sbaih, “As follow up to our conversation, Senator Reid
makes a recommendation to the White House for the open position for a
Commissioner on the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The Washington,
DC-based position is Senate-confirmed for a term of 4 years and pays at a
Level IV schedule ($157k).”
On October 8, Sbaih asked Raborn to tell Harry Reid that he was “honored and
appreciative of his offer” to serve on the EAC, but he was committed to run
for Congress.
“I remain hopeful that Senator Reid will support my campaign and we can work
together to win this election and return NV-3 to the Democrats.”
The final string of texts released by Sbaih are a conversation with former
Reid staffer Megan Jones beginning September 29 and refer to a phone call
earlier that day. Sbaih wrote, “I am still surprised by your tone during our
telephone call earlier today. I don’t appreciate the various threats you
made if I didn’t withdraw from the race. As I told you, I am profoundly
committed to serving our country and our people….”
Jones denied threatening Sbaih:
“I don’t think you understand the level I’ve stood up for you to be given a
chance. If the shoe were on the other foot and you were my lawyer and told
me I was going to lose if I went to court I would listen. It’s a slap in the
face to be as condescending as you have been with me…You are on your own.
And that is a scary place to be and one that you didn’t have to do.”
Sbaih’s reply was equally contentious:
“I have been nothing but courteous to you. We simply disagree and you refuse
to take no for an answer. I will not be bullied by anyone when I have the
best intentions of serving my country and its people. I am not alone, my
base will continue to grow, and I will win the election. I have no fear of
Ms. Murren [a potential candidate then being courted by Reid] coming into
the race or anything else because I am doing the right thing for my country.
Thus, there is no reason for us to continue to have this discussion. I wish
you all the best.”
Jones replied in kind: “Yep I’m a bully. Way to stay classy Jesse. Call the
only one looking out for you a bully.” In another message Jones wrote, “Why
do you think all your consultants walked away? Today for me was the last
straw in trying to help you see that you could win by building bases of
support by starting with an office you could win…”
Sbaih replied, “What are you talking about? I have been nothing but
courteous and thoughtful with all of you. Your camp is the one who insulted
me by, among other things, telling me that I would do a great job in
Congress but people would not vote for a Muslim…I thought our party was
different that this and I am hopeful things will change for the better…”
In a later message in the string, dated Jan. 12, Sbaih wrote, “Wanted to
meet with you to advise you that we have nearly half a million COH [cash on
hand] and that it would be a pleasure for me to work with the Reid team on
winning this race. We need to start working together as I am fully committed
to winning the seat for our party and giving back to our country/community.
We need to forget about the past and focus on the future.”
That was the last message provided by Sbaih. On Jan. 26 Reid’s handpicked
candidate Jacky Rosen entered the race.
Central to Sbaih’s campaign, and the controversy surrounding it, is his
family’s immigrant story. Sbaih’s father, Ismail, fled the village of Beit
Iksa near Jerusalem for Jordan during the 1948 Nakba. Sbaih’s mother fled
the same village in 1967. They met and married in Jordan where the elder
Sbaih practiced law and his wife was a teacher. The family immigrated to the
U.S. when Jesse was 11 “to give the children a better life.” Sbaih helped
his struggling family by washing dishes at an Italian restaurant.
“I was grateful (for the job),” he said. “But it was so hard, working late
into the evening scrubbing dishes then studying all night for a test at
school the next day.” Sbaih graduated with honors from high school, college
and law school and now practices in Henderson, Nevada.
Looking back, Sbaih said it was “extremely humbling to… remember that little
boy washing dishes and scrubbing pans late into the evening. I’m immensely
proud of what we have accomplished because of the opportunities this country
has given us.”
In an election year infused with racial and religious animosity, Jesse Sbaih’s
uphill quest for Congress reveals the real pressures on candidates whose
backgrounds are not embraced by the establishment.
