Dubai: The jury is still out as to who will win the United States election when voters take to the ballot box on November 8, say expat leaders of the Democrats and Republican parties political branches in the United Arab Emirates.
But as more and more polls suggest that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will pocket far more than the needed 270 electoral votes to win the White House, many others are unwilling to completely rule out a surprise eleventh-hour upset win by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
As of October 23, some polls suggested Clinton enjoying a leading margin of 12 per cent while other polls pegged that lead to as little as low single digits.
With Trump refusing to allay fears that he would concede if his camp loses, tensions are high as the US election machine moves into its final weeks leading up to the first Tuesday in November when history will decide the future of the troubled, divided nation.
The UAE’s two top representatives for both Republican and Democrat parties share their thoughts exclusively with Gulf News in the final stretch of the US election campaign.
Dr Steven Anderson
Chairman, Republicans Overseas, United Arab Emirates
An adviser to President Richard Nixon in 1972 and an American expat who has lived across Europe for 31 years, Anderson later worked directly with President Ronald Reagan. Anderson is a certified doctor of chiropractic
1) Is it too early to count Mr Trump as not winning the race despite projections now calling the election in favour of Mrs Clinton?
“I am sorry. I am at a loss. I was just sent yesterday a set of four polls, which I posted on my Facebook, showing Trump ahead in three polls, two by one per cent and one by two per cent.”
2) What are your thoughts on Mr Trump’s hesitancy to declare outright he will concede if he loses the election?
“Because there are a dozen examples during the Democratic campaign where even Bernie Sanders and supporters felt that massive irregularities took place. Now with Wikileaks revelations and the fact that Russia was not even allowed to come in to monitor the elections as per the 1961 Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. Worse, is the State Department calling it a ‘publicity stunt’ as a way to divert attention from the fact that not just Americans but others see this election is worth double checking, just gives more credence to the general attitude that something is not right with the election process. Secondly, Al Gore did the same as well in 2000. It is not unique.”
3) What are your thoughts on the avalanche of media coverage in this campaign — has it been fair or do your believe Mr Trump’s assertion that the media is biased in an election process that is rigged?
“He is certainly correct. Again, it was clear that Bernie’s campaign was sabotaged on several levels. DNC Chairperson Debbie Wasserman committing clearly illegal acts against the Bernie camp, resigns and, instead of admonishing her, Hillary hires her to help her campaign! Simply disgraceful. Seriously, you cannot make this stuff up. The fact that the Democrats hired and trained thugs to attack Trump conventions, such as the one in Chicago that he ended up having to cancel the event. These are all criminal acts and no one is doing anything. The media ... CNN has been called the ‘Clinton New Network’ by many all over social media for good reason. On all levels, from the news itself to the overwhelming number of editorials in favour of Clinton. The best recent example was when they were doing polling after the debate when one of the reporters said under his breath that the poll was conducted in a Hillary stronghold. Well, what do you expect for the poll results then! I am sure the results would have been different if the referenced poll was conducted in a known Trump stronghold. These kind of biases have been consistent first for Hillary, against Bernie, and then against Trump.”
4) Have the media given far too little coverage of Mrs Clinton’s email controversies, Benghazi troubles and questions arising from the Clinton Foundation?
“They have not spent enough time on them. It is very interesting that a private conversation between two men 11 years ago received redundant coverage while, in comparison, far more important issues regarding Clinton received minor review.
5) And, finally, what issues in this election do you believe will affect American expats living in the UAE the most? Why?
“[The] FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act). Having the State snoop into your private financial affairs, as if they think they have the right to, is beyond reproach. Every foreigner I bring this up to is appalled that a government would act like something out of a bad Second World War Nazi film, where the State has the gall to require financial institutions to report on the affairs of private individuals. I hope they have the self-respect to rebrand themselves as the American Financial Gestapo for sake of clarity for what they are doing. It is a dark point in American history and the State should be thoroughly embarrassed with itself. Donald Trump, even Bernie Sanders, state that you are taxed where you reside and want chicanery repealed. Hillary has yet to state it should be rescinded and those responsible for its adoption punished to the fullest extent of the law. America, other than Eritrea, are the only countries that have the audacity to ask its citizens to pay taxes for the simple fact that they happen to be saddled with an American passport.”
Orlando E. Vidal
Chairman, Democrats Abroad - United Arab Emirates
Vidal is an international lawyer and a partner at the law firm of Norton Rose Fulbright in Dubai where he specialises in compliance, investigations, and disputes. He is serving as an elected DNC member for a four-year term (2016-2020) and is also serving a second term as International Counsel of Democrats Abroad.
1) Is it too early to count Mr Trump as not winning the race despite projections now calling the election in favour of Mrs Clinton?
“It’s not over till it’s over, and it’s not over until November 8. That’s the only poll that counts — the one on Election Day. People should not get a false sense of comfort here and decide not to go to the polls, or not cast their absentee ballots, or vote instead for any third-party candidate. A no-show, or a no-vote, or a vote for anyone else other than Hillary is a vote for Trump. We can’t have that happen. Weird things can happen on Election Day: think of Bush v. Gore in Florida; think of Brexit; think of the recent vote in Colombia against the peace agreement. If you don’t vote, you will be responsible for what happens. So vote!”
2) What are your thoughts on Mr Trump’s hesitancy to declare outright he will concede if he loses the election?
“To borrow one of Trump’s favorite phrases, ‘he’s a loser.’ Only a loser would say what he says.”
3) What are your thoughts on the avalanche of media coverage in this campaign — has it been fair or do your believe Mr Trump’s assertion that the media is biased in an election process that is rigged?
“If there has been any bias, and frankly I would even go as far as saying sexism, it has been against Hillary. Here you have the most qualified candidate for US president ever, and the media focuses on the false equivalent that these are similar candidates against whom they need to address an equal number of criticisms. But they are not similar. Hillary may be from Venus, but Trump is not even from this galaxy. And, of course, Trump is very much a media phenomenon. In the US, as in many other places, the media elevates certain people — which was very much the case with Trump — only later to destroy them. I guess if you live by the sword, you die by the sword. He gets what he deserves.”
4) Have the media given far too little coverage of Mrs Clinton’s email controversies, Benghazi troubles and questions arising from the Clinton Foundation?
“Hillary is not only the most qualified candidate we have ever had for US President, but she has also been the most scrutinised. She has been in the public eye for almost 40 years. Too little coverage? You gotta be kidding me.”
5) And, finally, what issues in this election do you believe will affect American expats living in the UAE the most? Why?
“It is beyond me — it really is — how you can be a Republican and a Trump supporter and live and take advantage of the wonderful blessings this great country — the UAE—is offering us. How can you support someone who has made it a central part of his campaign that he will exclude people from visiting the United States because they are Muslim? How would these Trump supporters feel if the UAE were to exclude Christians, or Jews, or Hindus, or Buddhists from living and working here. It is truly beyond my understanding. If we have Trump as President, Americans will be less safe and less effective. Trump is the biggest threat for American expats living in the UAE.”
