It seems you can always count on one thing with the Republicans: racism.
For the fifth time, Senate Republicans have essentially frozen the nomination of Dilawar Syed for the role of deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration from advancing out of committee on Wednesday.
Every single Republican on the Senate Small Business Committee was absent for the Wednesday vote on Syed, depriving the committee of the quorum needed to conduct business.
Why, you may ask? If confirmed, Syed would have been the highest-ranking Muslim in government.
Syed is the poster child for the American Dream. Born in Pakistan, he came to the U.S. 30 years ago for education and opportunity. A businessman, he’s run companies specializing in health care, software technology, and artificial intelligence. Under President Barack Obama, Syed led engagement with small businesses after the 2009 stimulus package was passed. He is the co-founder of AAPI Victory Fund, a super PAC dedicated to mobilizing Asian American voters.
Democrats have continued to call out GOP colleagues for their staunch position regarding Syed. In September, Sen. Alex Padilla called it “unacceptable obstruction” and accused Republicans of “playing political games with the confirmation process.”
The latest move essentially means that Syed’s chances of being confirmed have likely ended, at least for now
Wednesday’s meeting was expected to be the committee’s last for the year. For him to be considered again, the White House would have to resubmit Syed’s nomination in the new year.
“I hope we can find a path forward, but I’m at a loss,” said Sen. Ben Cardin, the chair of the committee, according to HuffPost.
Why Syed’s confirmation has stalled is anyone’s guess (hint: Islamophobia), but Republicans say it’s because they oppose filling the role until the Biden administration commits to taking back loans from some Planned Parenthood affiliates under the Paycheck Protection Program. (Disclosure: Kos Media received a Paycheck Protection Program loan.)
Sen. Rand Paul, the small business committee’s ranking member, told HuffPost recently that he has not been satisfied with the Biden administration’s response to their Planned Parenthood concerns, which is why the blockade continues.
“They haven’t been forthcoming on any of this,” he said. “So we’re not really happy with that.”
An article from The Washington Post editorial board contends that Republicans “questioned Mr. Syed’s association with an advocacy group that has been critical of Israel.”
However, several religious groups, including prominent Jewish organizations, cried foul.
Politico reports that some Syed supporters were horrified by a June email circulated among Republican committee staff by an aide to Sen. Jim Risch, noting “Syed’s Pakistani roots and his membership on the board of EmgageUSA,” a Muslim American nonprofit that "has taken very partisan positions against actions by the Israeli government.”
Syed has been defended by such outspoken groups as the American Jewish Congress, the Anti-Defamation League, and Bend the Arc, a progressive Jewish group, all of which signed a letter to Congress voicing support for Syed and highlighting the anti-Muslim bias.
“Dilawar has been subject to an unjust smear campaign on the basis of his Islamic faith and Pakistani heritage. We cannot let hate and bigotry win,” Wa’el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Action, told HuffPost.
“For far too long, civil servants from ethnic or religious minorities have been held to different standards than white civil servants,” said Arielle Gingold, deputy Washington director of Bend the Arc at a news conference Wednesday. Gingold added that the Republican Party “used the Jewish community as a pawn” to block Syed.
Shekar Narasimhan, co-founder of AAPI Victory Fund, is a friend of Syed’s who spoke at the press conference. He told HuffPost that Syed recognizes “he’s in the fight of his life.”
“The fight is now about things that are now larger than just simply the SBA deputy administrator,” Narasimhan said.
For the fifth time, Senate Republicans have essentially frozen the nomination of Dilawar Syed for the role of deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration from advancing out of committee on Wednesday.
Every single Republican on the Senate Small Business Committee was absent for the Wednesday vote on Syed, depriving the committee of the quorum needed to conduct business.
Why, you may ask? If confirmed, Syed would have been the highest-ranking Muslim in government.
Syed is the poster child for the American Dream. Born in Pakistan, he came to the U.S. 30 years ago for education and opportunity. A businessman, he’s run companies specializing in health care, software technology, and artificial intelligence. Under President Barack Obama, Syed led engagement with small businesses after the 2009 stimulus package was passed. He is the co-founder of AAPI Victory Fund, a super PAC dedicated to mobilizing Asian American voters.
Democrats have continued to call out GOP colleagues for their staunch position regarding Syed. In September, Sen. Alex Padilla called it “unacceptable obstruction” and accused Republicans of “playing political games with the confirmation process.”
The latest move essentially means that Syed’s chances of being confirmed have likely ended, at least for now
Wednesday’s meeting was expected to be the committee’s last for the year. For him to be considered again, the White House would have to resubmit Syed’s nomination in the new year.
“I hope we can find a path forward, but I’m at a loss,” said Sen. Ben Cardin, the chair of the committee, according to HuffPost.
Why Syed’s confirmation has stalled is anyone’s guess (hint: Islamophobia), but Republicans say it’s because they oppose filling the role until the Biden administration commits to taking back loans from some Planned Parenthood affiliates under the Paycheck Protection Program. (Disclosure: Kos Media received a Paycheck Protection Program loan.)
Sen. Rand Paul, the small business committee’s ranking member, told HuffPost recently that he has not been satisfied with the Biden administration’s response to their Planned Parenthood concerns, which is why the blockade continues.
“They haven’t been forthcoming on any of this,” he said. “So we’re not really happy with that.”
An article from The Washington Post editorial board contends that Republicans “questioned Mr. Syed’s association with an advocacy group that has been critical of Israel.”
However, several religious groups, including prominent Jewish organizations, cried foul.
Politico reports that some Syed supporters were horrified by a June email circulated among Republican committee staff by an aide to Sen. Jim Risch, noting “Syed’s Pakistani roots and his membership on the board of EmgageUSA,” a Muslim American nonprofit that "has taken very partisan positions against actions by the Israeli government.”
Syed has been defended by such outspoken groups as the American Jewish Congress, the Anti-Defamation League, and Bend the Arc, a progressive Jewish group, all of which signed a letter to Congress voicing support for Syed and highlighting the anti-Muslim bias.
“Dilawar has been subject to an unjust smear campaign on the basis of his Islamic faith and Pakistani heritage. We cannot let hate and bigotry win,” Wa’el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Action, told HuffPost.
“For far too long, civil servants from ethnic or religious minorities have been held to different standards than white civil servants,” said Arielle Gingold, deputy Washington director of Bend the Arc at a news conference Wednesday. Gingold added that the Republican Party “used the Jewish community as a pawn” to block Syed.
Shekar Narasimhan, co-founder of AAPI Victory Fund, is a friend of Syed’s who spoke at the press conference. He told HuffPost that Syed recognizes “he’s in the fight of his life.”
“The fight is now about things that are now larger than just simply the SBA deputy administrator,” Narasimhan said.