"Elvis Alam, Zaki Hazoury, Edmundo Risi, Pedro Musa, George Bahsa, Carlos Merij and Ramy Malouf"

Probably all members in good standing of the Palestinian Lebanese Syrian Association.

It'd be nice to know what other associations they belong to.

PRD excepted.

Allahu Akbar!!

So they are voting for somebody just because of their race?

So sad that so many "educated" people are still so racist!

I imagine that will have no effect on the vote ,,,maybe Arabs voting for one party will convince others to vote the other way

Forget the 70 virgins...I want them up front. matter of fact, I'd settle for 5 rameras versus the 70 virgins. At least they know what they're doin....

Anthony-"So they are voting for somebody just because of their race?
So sad that so many "educated" people are still so racist!"

You seem to be confused with race and ethnicity, just dont know the difference.

In the DR as anywhere around the world, people who are of Lebanese/Syrian/Palestinian descent are considered to be of Middle Eastern ancestry. It is not a race, but rather an ethnic identity. Most of them belong to the caucasian persuation and so is Hipólito Mejía whose background has nothing to do with this group. The association is strictly political.

They are simply supporting one of their own as it would be natural. Why not help support a member of your affliliated group, immediate circle of friends, family and/or relatives. It is a natural human tendency to vote for those who we feel most comfortable and familiar.

This is what this is all about. It has nothing to do with an Arab take over.

Does any wonder what goes on in the big polygamist (Palestinian) compound on the Malecon? The US had to rid Osama from his compound, and should be able to determine what other clubs this bunch of characters belongs to.

This should be the final nail that seals the coffin of Hipólito Mejía’s political fate.

Guillermone,
I agree with what you're saying but unfortunately anthonyC has a point; the support of this segment Arab descendant community in DRfor the PRD is due to Luis Abinader and not so much Hipolito Mejia. While I'm not dismissing the political motives behind this, many are supporting Hipolito because of Abinader being his running mate who is of Arab ethnicity.

JEM-
I dont think it has to do with ethnicity. It is more about voting for some one you know and like, rather then anything else. Yes they will unfortunately and most likely vote for Hypo-Loco because of his close ties to Abinader who is happens to be well respected, with a strong enough following, plus an influential image that will help pull votes in favor of the PRD, but it is not necessarily solely because Abinader happens to be of Arabic descent. I mean the title of this article is misleading. Although the number of Dominicans who are of middle eatern ancestry is significant, the amount is not large enough to actually cause a shift in scales to benefit the PRD. So the fact that they specifically mention this ethinic group as instrumental for the PLD party and political future of the DR is irrelevant

Guillermone,
I think you may have misunderstood what I said. What I meant is that for a segment, or shall I say portion of this community, the fact that Hipolito has chosen Abinader as his running mate will be a major factor in the their support for Hipolito & company --- and it is not far-fetched to think that Abinader's ethnicity contributes to this support --- in addition to the other reasons you've mentioned. Again, let me reiterate that I believe this only applies to a portion of the Middle Eastern descent community in DR. I agree that DT is probably inflating this more than what it really is and add to that the very obvious pro-PRD tilt that Dominican Today has.

"the very obvious pro-PRD tilt that Dominican Today has."

Please give us an example to support this accusation?

Written by: anthonyC, 16 Dec 2011 2:08 PM
From: United States
So they are voting for somebody just because of their race?

So sad that so many "educated" people are still so racist!


arab is not a race, anthonyc, it is an ethnicity. at least they are educated, as opposed to you.

guillermone ssures

Written by: guillermone, 16 Dec 2011 5:06 PM
From: United States
JEM-
I dont think it has to do with ethnicity. It is more about voting for some one you know and like, rather then anything else.

there is nothing abstruse about that. people have always voted for people with whom they have some sort of common bond, be it racially, ethnically, nationally, economic status, family ties, school or college ties, sports teams...whatever. it is just human nature.

I have no problem with a social-club or support-group based on ethnicity, race, hair-style, religion, sexual orientation, train-spotting or whatever. However I am suspicious when they endorse a particular political party. What is their agenda?

In many countries, political parties are required to make public the source and amount of any financial donations. Is that the case here?

"In many countries, political parties are required to make public the source and amount of any financial donations. Is that the case here?'

Roy you got to be kidding right?

This is country were an international drug dealer writes a personal check to the President of the republic for half a million pesos and the press doesn’t demand a press conference from the Lie-onel to deny the association.

Roy states
Written by: RoyStone, 16 Dec 2011 8:43 PM
From: Australia
I have no problem with a social-club or support-group based on ethnicity, race, hair-style, religion, sexual orientation, train-spotting or whatever. However I am suspicious when they endorse a particular political party. What is their agenda?

self interest, plain and simple. there are no platforms in the DR. there are no policies. no ideologies. no strategies. no visions. no long term planning. there is no notion of governance, just electioneering. so, when some group endorses a political party, it is because they expect a quid pro quo and a few quid.

{" when some group endorses a political party, it is because they expect a quid pro quo and a few quid"}.

Nothing out of the ordinary here. The Hippo has an Arab-descent VP and if they win, the Arabs gain status and immunity from profiteering further. Watch for a substantial increase in Lebanese immigration if Dominicans are dumb enough to vote for him.

Dready, why must you be so cynical?
Their motivation could be something more altruistic, like Sharia Law for all Dominicans.

"The Hippo has an Arab-descent VP and if they win, the Arabs gain status and immunity.......... Watch for a substantial increase in Lebanese immigration if Dominicans are dumb enough to vote for him

Dread.........that is exactly correct. It is well known that traditionally the Arab community belong to a wealthy merchant class. Abinader in office will be their one time opportunity for additional sales to be rung up at the register .......cha-ching !!!!
Actually come to think about it, it will probably be the opposite. They wont ring up the sales, the money will just go straight into the pocket.

Now about a substantial increase of Lebanese immigration, well that might not be a bad thing. Overall they have assimilated well and been a positive contribution for the DR. So I would actually encourage that.

JEM-Ok, I see your point..........it makes sense.

I misunderstood,... And yes, I agree

{Their motivation could be something more altruistic, like Sharia Law for all Dominicans.}

Not a bad idea! It can take care of all our drug trafficking problem. Also, it can save all alcoholics from themselves; anyone caught drinking is liable for beheading. Also, no more adultery, one can be stoned to death for winking. Not bad!
Oh, and another good thing! Prayers every three hours and church all day Sundays! ....Allah Akbar!!

You've got it, Ron, God is Great!

To all my xenophobic friends remember all our Arab brothers are not Muslims and all Muslims are not terrorist so please stop the little veiled, no pun intended, innuendos.

As-Salamu `Alaykum

God is Great, God is Good, let us thank him for our Food, Amen............

I believe most of the Arabs who settled here are Christians not Muslims. If they were Muslims I would NOT SUPPORT anyone who does. Sharia law here? BE SERIOUS! Even our Muslims eat pork here.

What's the problem? Look at the Jews in Sosúa - all one perfectly organized group, supporting each other. They even built a park with a big Star of David on the floor and the only two flags in the park are the one of Israel and the Dominican Republic (at least!). Everywhere else in tourist places there are the flags of many nations.

The headline and the contents are very misleading, and designed to be a spin factoid.
A few months ago, a similar headline was produced, supporting another Arab descendant Julian Serrulle, from a tiny party, who was also claiming the same support of the immigrant group.
Just because a few members of the Syrian-Lebanese-Palestinian community favor the PRD or Hipoloco,
in their private social club, that does not translate to support from the whole community to that ticket.
This affluent community is way too smart and shrewd to be endorsing Hipoloco, just because he has running mate for VP, with the same genetic bloodline, who will hold no real power even if elected.
The majority of the arab community, does not favor the nightmare duo of Hipoloco Mejia and his businessman turned politico running mate.

matador-

You have been reading too many papers and looking too much at CNN.

The Arabs in the DR have nothing to do with the Arabs you see on TV. It is an old well established, integrated, highly assimilated community totally unrelated to those portrayed in the media.

About egg head Mejia. He is a good man and his heart is in the right place, but he has a dangerous combination of personal characteristics, he is a charismatic and shrewd idiot. Never underestimate an idiot in power, they can cause chaos and major disaster.

Written by: guillermone, 17 Dec 2011 2:44 PM
From: United States
matador-

You have been reading too many papers and looking too much at CNN.

i tend to think that he has not done enough reading. time to sign him up for remedial education, and a library card

I agree with Matador after 12 years of a Cunt Head in the presidency I would be leery of electing any more genitalia for President!

{"This affluent community is way too smart and shrewd to be endorsing Hipoloco,"}

It should read: " This affluent community is way too smart NOT to endorse Hippoloco!"

If they win, Hippo's VP, Abinader, will be at the helm of our nation. Hippo, being the Jackass that he is, will give heed to any and all suggestions from this guy and his community. In effect, Avinader will control our nation, by proxy.
That may or may not be a good thing. I'd hate to let the Hippo loose to act out his locomania, but also, I'd be leery of someone with an exclusivity agenda. This scenario does not bode well for my people!

In other political news:

"They clarify the billboards that promote Danilo Medina"

"The movement of professional graduates from Russia and the Eastern Europe with Danilo (PEREDA) argues that the group “Citizen Participation” has misinterpreted the presence of political propaganda on the roads of the country.

SANTO DOMINGO-70% of propaganda that promotes the presidential candidate of the PLD, Danilo Medina, corresponds to external movements of this party."

Not even Atabey or the Spin Master himself Little Ricky could BS this good!

http://www.almomento.net/news/131/ARTICLE/102338/2011-12-17.html

If PLD is bringing in Margarita as a political heavy weight!! just because she has been in bed with Leonel why shouldn't Abinader use his influence in the arab community to support his party? The measures in a political fight are far from logical, it is just about getting the most votes. I think this is an OK move from Abinader

Matador

There are thousands of Dominicans with Arab descent. Your racist parole against arabs and muslims could only come out of a brainwashed uneducated idiot. We live in a world which what it needs the most are pacifism and helping each other. What is your suggestion? Do you want to smoke out the Dominican Arabs out of their holes like what George Bush did so well in Afghanistan. Why can't uneducated people like you understand that there are other races, religions, colors and ethnicities to respect besides their own.

It is so sad to see people of your kind in this chatroom.

Cabareteguru, the only disagreement i have with you is that you wasted six lines of broadband on matador.

No wonder Hipo-FART-Retarded-Loco is so STUPID.

We have one hell of a selection for this comining election,
a wild and crazy guy, bald nut head with a mouth watering Arab partner ready to make the kill and the dynamic duo, former first lady, female Alfred E. Neuman, together with a bespectacled, no personality, dead man, wanna be puppet president, who intends to perpetuate a Leonel political agenda while the former president hides in the bushes.

And then we have Dr. Guillermo Moreno a former National District Prosecutor who immediately smelled the stench of corruption and narco trafficking emanating from Lie-onel Fernandez in 1996 and left the government and the PLD. Just like Dr. Bosch left the PRD when it began to decompose!

“The first thing for change to happen is to believe change can happen!”

Guillermo Moreno President 2012!

Vote for the Best and forget the rest
Go for the G.............spot

Vote Guillermo Moreno................2012

guillermone

do you support moreno because your name and his name start with "guille"? or because you agree with his Ideas?

Ernst Gräfenberg is not a candidate as he died in 1957

"do you support moreno because your name and his name start with "guille"? or because you agree with his Ideas?"

Ideas? Who said anything about ideas............

I vote for G because all G's ends in ONE, for number #1 as in Guillerm "one"

So why vote for #2 when you can vote for #1................
G is number #1 and always tries harder.

And Mor eno has a one at the end, but spelled backward "eno", either way and no matter how you slice it, we are always number ONE in the end.

lol!!

you do know that the anti-establishment candidate never wins right?
Moreno is the dominican ron paul

How wrong you are O.S.T:

Here some a few fellows I hope you have heard of that took on the establishment and won:

Abraham Lincoln: First Republican President and Civil War Leader

“The 1860 Republican convention was held in Chicago in mid-May. The Democrats had been forced to suspend their nominating process, begun in Charleston, without a candidate and had not yet reconvened in Baltimore. Seward led on the first ballot, but was overtaken by Lincoln, who wonon the convention's third ballot, due largely to skillful campaign management and widely held fears about Seward's radical views. The splintering of the Democratic Party assured Lincoln’s victory.”
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h837.html

O.S.T. sometimes you have to lose to win: Theodore Roosevelt case in point

continued:

"But the real winner in 1912 was democracy in the form of the presidential primaries. By running and losing, by refusing to be counted out ... when the voters had spoken ... Theodore Roosevelt had firmly established the new primary system. "

http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/bullmoose.htm

And now O.S.T. let’s bring it to happenings more recently at home: Juan Bosch

After 23 years in exile, Juan Bosch returned to his homeland when Trujillo was assassinated on May 30, 1961. His presence in the national political life, as the Dominican Revolutionary Party presidential candidate, was a fresh change for the Dominicans. His manner of speaking, direct and simple, especially when addressing the lowest classes, appealed the farmers as much as the people from the cities.

Continued:

Immediately he was accused by the Church and by conservatives of being a communist, but in the electoral match of December 20, 1962, Bosch obtained a sweeping triumph over his main oppositor Viriato Fiallo of the National Civic Union, in what is acknowledged to be the first free election in the country's history.

On February 27, 1963, Juan Bosch and Armando González Tamayo took possession as the new President and Vice President of the Dominican Republic, in a ceremony that was attended by important democratic leaders and personalities, like Luis Muñoz and José Figueres.

Bosch immediately launched a deep restructuring of the country. On April 29, he promulgated a new liberal constitution. The new document granted the people freedoms they had never known. Among other things, it declared specific labour rights, and mentioned unions, pregnant women, homeless people, the family, rights for the child and the young, for the farmers, and for illegitimate children.

Continued:

However, Bosch faced powerful enemies. He moved to break up latifundia, drawing the ire of landowners. The Roman Catholic Church thought Bosch was trying to oversecularize the country. Industrialists did not like the new Constitution's guarantees for the working class. The military, who previously enjoyed free rein, felt Bosch put them on too short a leash. In addition, the United States was skeptical of even a hint of left-leaning politics in the Caribbean after Fidel Castro openly declared himself a Communist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Bosch

So you see history has proven you wrong, but I don’t blame you given the educational system the "establishment” (Lie-onel, Danilo and Margarita has) have provided you with based on ignorance and the believe that a MERTO is a sign of social progress and serves a substitute for education, while having Mexicans making our Texts Books ignoring our cultural heritage and history!

So O. S. T. you can stick with Danilo for "More of the Same Only Worse!"

@old_school_trinitario

"you do know that the anti-establishment candidate never wins right?"

You are totally correct and that is sad and unfortunate. Although, I am aware Moreno's victory is unlikely, I support him not only because he is a much better candidate but also as a vote of protest. I am a contrarian, I see what everyone else is doing and go the opposite direction, different from the masses who out of total madness repeatedly vote for the same traditional political parties just to end up with the same BS. Then you wonder why people complain.

If a large segment of the people vote for some other, none traditional candidate, it will send a clear message, either clean up your act or we no longer want you, to do otherwise, makes us "alcahuetes politico."

I know my vote will go to waste, the vast majority will not choose Moreno, but I would rather waste it on him then throw it away on the other knucked heads who aspire to office and perpetuate corruption and cronyism.

Does this country have a preferential voting system or first-past-the-post system?

the concept of proportional representation does not apply here, Roy. it is first past the post, but, with a proviso that you have to amass a certain percentage of the vote ,in order to win. for that reason, many elections are never decided on the first ballot. generally, there is a runoff election, between the two major vote getters, in the first round. that allows the other losers to cut deals, promising their support to the party from whom they are promised the greatest favors. by the way, Roy....a book for you...The Greatest Story Ever Sold . why do i think you already read it?

Dready, I give in. I plead "not guilty" your honor.

then, go at least check it out. the basic thesis is that the myth of Jesus was fabricated be the Romans for political hegemony purposes.

Oh, oh here we go again, the "Jesus myth"..........
to be or not to be? that is the question.

Guille to bring about the changes our country needs is going to require a very strong leader, a man with the right combination of wisdom and testicular fortitude to breake the choke hold put in place by the industrial/military complex that took over after Trujillo got wax. Unfortunately Mr.Moreno although having having the best of intentions and intellectual qualifications he does not possess the cojones to change the course of our nation

"he does not possess the cojones to change the course"

And how do you not that "Carnac the Magnificent?"

Dready,
The Jesus myth and Christianity existed long before the Romans adopted it. However once they did, they knocked it in to shape, and standardized it for the entire Roman Empire, at the Council of Nicaea, I think in 325 CE. Had they not done so, it would have remained a disjointed collection of minor sects. The very earliest of these were not based on a historical Jesus, but more a symbolic ideal person, kinda like Superman, Hercules or Santa. The idea that Jesus actually existed didn't come till later.

Desafortunadamente en nuestro pais no hay lideres, son todos unos chupamedias vende patria, ninguno silve

@ josean

Dude please you killin me with your copy and paste sessions, are you trying to compare guillermo moreno to Lincoln, Roosevelt and Bosch, que cojones, bajale algo
And for the record, I don't have ANY political affiliation
whatsoever, Politics in DR is a business, everyone is in for the money and I mean everyone even el cardenal

Unlike you, I am don’t practice the art of pulling “facts” out of my rectum, so I rely on reasearching historical facts to counter anally produce comments like:


"you do know that the anti-establishment candidate never wins right"

So when confronted with historical fact to counter act the excrement you have produced, you then state;

"Dude please you killin me with your copy and paste sessions"

No I am not hat one that’s "killing you" nor is it the "copy and paste sessions" it’s the facts that you can't refute.

I also am not comparing any of the historical figures to Dr. Moreno, I’m just illustrating that the establishment doesn’t always win, just remember Boris Yeltsin, Lech Walsa , you nincompoop.

And what is it on the sight with word DUDE I haven't heard that used since the 60's in southern California!

Now funny you should mention the most reverent Cardinal, which by the way you’re right, so you might enjoy this:

The Cardinal

http://www.7dias.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=113251

"How come we choose from just two people for President, and fifty for Miss DR ?"

"How come we choose from just two people for President, and fifty for Miss DR ?"

Because they ain't as pretty and don't have pussies!