Bill Dalati is just one of many candidates running for a seat on the Anaheim city council this November. The former Republican is an insurance agent and a Muslim Arab-American of Syrian birth. Followers of Anaheim’s local political scene will remember that Dalati re-registered and joined the Democratic Party in 2006 because apparently his chosen faith and place of birth were issues of contention for former State Republican Party Chair Shawn Steel who characterized the candidate as an “Islamic Extremist.” Had Dalati simply stated in a blog post that though he was born in Syria, both he and his father were greatly influenced by European culture, perhaps he could have become the darling of bigots in and outside of the GOP instead like Arab-Swedish-American Allan Mansoor. Dalati, however, made no such effort to deny his heritage and, as such, is the ‘anti-Mansoor.’
Being so in 2006, Dalati lost and faced undue scrutiny during his campaign. Prior to the press release announcing the move to switch parties, Dalati was given an unfair lashing in print by the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles which also took shots at the Los Angeles Times in the process – all in service of expanding the case against the candidate beyond Steel’s stupidity. In an article by Steven Emerson on October 16th, 2006, Dalati was criticized for his attendance at an Anaheim rally against the summer conflict that year between Israel and Lebanon. First the author noted the then- characterization of the gathering by Dalati in the Associated Press as ‘anti-war.’ Then, in statements to the Los Angeles Times regarding his attendance, he went on to say, “I’m not against Jews or Christians … I don’t support Hezbollah. I just don’t believe wars solve any issues; love does.”
Rather than take the man for his wise words, the JJ played guilt by association. The rally became ‘anti-Israel’ and by extension so did Dalati. If that is the case, then everyone who has every attended a gathering denouncing a war the United States has been involved in is “anti-American” though they are exercising their right to free speech. Israel received copious aid from the U.S. government at the time of the conflict so the citizens of this country could protest the conflict through demands aimed at that relationship if they had sought to do so – especially when American munitions were destroying Beirut. That’s not to say Dalati did or didn’t. In any regard, the guilt by association argument was weak. It’s not as if Dalati went to a pro-Hezbollah gathering or anything explicit to that extent.
Four years ago, I also attended that very same rally in Anaheim. In every rally I’ve ever attended, there have always been folks present with different agendas and policy critiques that I don’t share. That doesn’t make my or Dalati’s attendance to any such event synonymous with anything that can be found and thus exploited for political purposes. One would have to go to an extreme standard to insinuate such as it is politically immature. I, in writing this, probably do not agree with Dalati on a great many things pertaining to local and international affairs yet four years ago we were at the same protest without knowing each other (we still don’t) Even this blog post should not be seen in such a light. We must be more discriminating in our intellectual dialogue on political affairs.
To continue in that task, the city council candidate was also criticized by Steel and the JJ for contributing to then-Democrat Cynthia McKinney and for having a relationship with the Council on American-Islamic Relations – with the JJ going so far to make an unfair analogy between Congresswoman McKinney, an African-American woman, and a truly fringe fanatic white supremacist racist like David Duke! The relevancy in rehashing all of this is that, of course, it may all come up again as Dalati seeks office once more in 2010. Sadly, however, a skirmish on August 3rd has resurrected fears of a new conflict between Israel and Lebanon. Should that take place – and let’s hope that it does not – Dalati should have every right to attend a rally and express his humanistic dissatisfaction.
With that understanding, we can go about the task of exploring what ideas, policy proposals and stances Dalati would bring to Anaheim if elected to the city council. This is much more important and relevant.
Shoot, this almost makes me want to support the guy. But what does he want to do for Anaheim?
Well, first I sought to pre-empt the nonsense the obscured his last attempt at the council in the case that it should be brought up again.
With that now said, I would very much like to find out more regarding his platform for the city…
right, i should have read you thru to the last sentence. sorry.. 🙁
His political statement includes the the fact that he has brought over 70 businesses to Anaheim. Let us not stop there, disclose these 70 and where did they come from?
I was at that “rally” as you have called it but from the mouth of babes, my son ran in the house to tell me he had to take his boys to see a once-in-a-lifetime 60s protest. When I got there, I heard “Down with America!” I am sorry, but when you participate in negative protest and then ask me for my vote…Forget it!
Did you hear a bunch of people saying “Down with America” or one pinche idiot? Who may or may not have been a plant? (It happens. A lot. On all sides.)
If you got turned off by something one idiot yelled, you were just looking for an excuse to get turned off.
I was there also and to be honest I never Heard down with America, If i had I would have personally gone to whom ever said that and told them to leave because Free speech is an American’s right and if you say down with America then you don’t get that free speech right because your not with America. So i agree with you maybe one stupid idiot said it. doesn’t speak for all
Or even more likely, this “W/A Resident” is lying. Wasn’t there at all. Just throwing out some BS that he thinks sounds believable, to hurt Bill and OC Muslims in general.
Did Dalalti say it? If not, what is your point? Otherwise, as Vern explains, you’ve got nothing. All I know is what Dalati said to the press. I characterized them as ‘wise words’ and they are. Affirmation of all peoples, and the recognition of love as the only force that can abate hate. Sounds vote-worthy to me so far.
I just wanted to say I know Bill, I worked for him when I 1st came to Anaheim. No one would hire me because I wear the Muslim head cover scarf. Not Bill he gave me a chance. Even though I worked a short time with him he still remains a friend. I go sometimes to his office and say hello to my friends that still work there. My son loves to go with me just so he can see ” Uncle”. I will vote for Bill.
Can anybody enlighten me on his specific stance on issues? I have a lot of friends voting for him and I really want to support him, but all I seem to hear about from the articles and my friends is the anti-Muslim issue from 2006. I am looking for SPECIFIC issues – how does he plan to vote on each of the current CA propositions? How would he have voted on recent City Council proposals and developments? If anybody can point me in the right direction for this specific data, please let me know. No general info please.
If he is related to the Dalati insurance services on Brookhurst Ave, THIEFS!!!! No Vote from me..
Sandy i work for Mr Dalati and to call us “Thiefs” without any proof?? please stop by and let me know why will you say that, i will be very happy to help you.
Bill is a good guy. I am sorry he lost. I hope he runs again.