Obama's campaign has created a Muslim liaison, according to two sources familiar with the move.
The sources said the job was likely to be filled by Haim Nawas, a Jordanian-American who filled a similar role for the campaign of General Wesley Clark in 2004.
The job is complicated by the fact that Obama has been forced repeatedly to deny that he is Muslim, a situation that grates on some Muslim-Americans.
Nawas wrote in 2005 that the Bush Administration should take a more nuanced approach to public diplomacy directed at Muslim women.
"We need to recognise that the social structure in the Muslim world is very different from America's," she wrote. "American women need to understand that what is best for them is not necessarily what is best for Muslim women. Advocacy of women’s rights in the Muslim world must show sensitivity to local political realities."
The creation of the position comes as Obama builds out a more traditional, constituency-based campaign structure than he had in the primary.
Neither Nawas or the campaign immediately responded to questions about the hire.
UPDATE: An Obama aide confirmed that the job had been created, but said the campaign had not made a final decision on who would fill it.
The sources said the job was likely to be filled by Haim Nawas, a Jordanian-American who filled a similar role for the campaign of General Wesley Clark in 2004.
The job is complicated by the fact that Obama has been forced repeatedly to deny that he is Muslim, a situation that grates on some Muslim-Americans.
Nawas wrote in 2005 that the Bush Administration should take a more nuanced approach to public diplomacy directed at Muslim women.
"We need to recognise that the social structure in the Muslim world is very different from America's," she wrote. "American women need to understand that what is best for them is not necessarily what is best for Muslim women. Advocacy of women’s rights in the Muslim world must show sensitivity to local political realities."
The creation of the position comes as Obama builds out a more traditional, constituency-based campaign structure than he had in the primary.
Neither Nawas or the campaign immediately responded to questions about the hire.
UPDATE: An Obama aide confirmed that the job had been created, but said the campaign had not made a final decision on who would fill it.
Source: Politico
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