As the international debate over Palestinian statehood takes center stage this week, a separate row over Arabs in American politics is brewing in Virginia.
A newly registered state political action committee has been set up to oppose Arab American David Ramadan‘s bid to win a northern Virginia seat in the House of Delegates, according to paperwork submitted to state election officals.
Ramadan is the Republican nominee running against Democrat Mike Kondratick in the 87th House District that covers part of Loudoun and Prince William counties. (South Hampton Roads lost that seat, most recently held by Norfolk Del. Paula Miller (D), during reapportionment.)
Opposing Ramadan is the Virginia Anti-Shariah Task Force PAC, a group whose Web site explains its mission as an effort to block “implementation of the radical, barbaric and anti-Constitutional” Muslim religious law in this country.
What issues the group has with Ramadan aren’t clear -- the PAC founder didn’t return phone or e-mail messages seeking comment Tuesday afternoon. The committee was registered this month and hasn’t yet reported any money raised or spent.
A native of Lebanon, Ramadan said this summer’s Republican primary contest was rife with insinuations about him from political foes who “did everything in their power to try to label me as the terrorist hiding next door.”
During a telephone interview, Ramadan described himself as the husband of a Christian woman and someone who doesn’t actively practice the Muslim faith or support the preeminence of religious law over existing statutes.
“I am for one, and only one, set of laws: the U.S. Constitution,” he said.
Still, questions about his personal and professional background have been an issue in the race, though apparently not damaging enough to cost him the GOP nomination or a spot on the ballot -- Ramadan said he recently survived a residency challenge.