Last week saw Barack Obama’s enemies begin to exploit the previously latent “Muslim factor” against him, with Hillary Clinton aides reportedly feeding the Drudge Report a photo of Obama in Somali garb and a conservative radio host repeatedly invoking Obama’s middle name—Hussein—in an apparent attempt to paint him as a Muslim at a John McCain rally. A press release issued by the Tennessee Republican party incorporated both the photo and Obama’s middle name, though both components were removed from the release by week’s end.
The efforts to portray Obama, a longtime active member of the United Church of Christ, as a Muslim, have been decried by pols and pundits of all stripes, as well they should. At the same time, there’s a question about whether Obama deserves some of the blame for aiding the smear campaign against him, and God-o-Meter is surprised it hasn’t been asked yet elsewhere. In keeping mum about his very real experiences with Islam as a child, has Obama made himself vulnerable to charges that he’s been hiding his connections to the religion?
If voters suspect that’s the case, they’ll be much more susceptible to the false rumors about Obama being Muslim today.
A “factcheck” memo about the false Muslim rumors on Obama’s official campaign web site rejects any suggestion that there’s ever been a tie between Obama and Islam. Citing a March 2007 Los Angeles Times story, the memo quotes Obama chief spokesman Robert Gibbs: “To be clear, Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim, and is a committed Christian who attends the United Church of Christ in Chicago.”
But the Obama campaign factcheck leaves out the ensuing paragraphs from the L.A. Times piece, which sketch out Obama’s early experiences with Islam:
His former Roman Catholic and Muslim teachers, along with two people who were identified by Obama’s grade-school teacher as childhood friends, say Obama was registered by his family as a Muslim at both of the schools he attended.
That registration meant that during the third and fourth grades, Obama learned about Islam for two hours each week in religion class.
The childhood friends say Obama sometimes went to Friday prayers at the local mosque. “We prayed but not really seriously, just following actions done by older people in the mosque. But as kids, we loved to meet our friends and went to the mosque together and played,” said Zulfin Adi, who describes himself as among Obama’s closest childhood friends.
The campaign has also kept a lid on Obama’s father’s polygamy, a fact reported by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof just last month.
Can the campaign continue to stay quiet about these experiences in Obama’s life when its enemies are beginning to latch onto them? Should Obama have been more forthright about his childhood experiences with Islam–by way of his Kenyan father and Indonesian stepfather–earlier on in his campaign, or would that have stopped him out of the gates? There’s never a good time to talk about the so-called “Muslim factor,” God-o-Meter knows, but the question is whether Obama is actually fanning the false rumor campaign by appearing to conceal his very real exposure to Islam as a youth.
Editor’s Note: God-o-Meter changed the original title for this post–Is Obama Blameless in False Rumors?–because it implied Obama deserved blame for the rumors themselves, rather than for making himself more vulnerable to them.
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posted March 3, 2008 at 7:12 am
How is this liberal politician going to unite people? He’s going to try to implement Liberalism on people. From gay marriage being taught to children in schools, to continuing unfettered abortion, to keeping the status quo horrors of the inner-city going as strong as they are now, Barack Obama is not a leader of anything decent. Some of the most heinous political leaders in history gave great speeches promising to unite. His voice sounds a lot like “Islam.” The very word “Islam” means “submission.” But worse than that, is the fact of what he learned from his father, and father figures. The hypnotized hordes following this man is shockingly similar to the lemmings following Hugo Chavez. Another hero of the Marxist Left. Authoritariansim seems to be the true nature of the Leftist politician. Obama’s beloved Cook County Illinois, taxes its citizens like Lenin did his. Exposing the true nature of this man will be for the benefit of all Americans. “Hope” fully, it’s not to late to wake to the truth about Mr. (and Mrs.) Obama.
posted March 3, 2008 at 11:53 am
“Obama learned about Islam for two hours each week in religion class.”
Many American right-wing Christians would profit from learning about other religions in school too. Instead, their idea about religion in schools is THEIR religion and only their religiion.
“From gay marriage being taught to children in schools”
Wake up indeed. Gay marriage is a fact of life. It happens. It is legal in Massachusettsm USA, and 7 other countries, not to mention the many States and countries that have adopted “civil” (HAH!) unions. Why should children NOT learn the truth in their schools, Wake up!???
posted March 3, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Gay marriage does not exist in the Christian community founded by Jesus and the Apostles. Marriage is immutably a man and a woman. Christians shouldn’t support abomination. Let those that engage in it, do it under their own initiative. Whatever is added to the word “Christian,” needs to be tested. It is clear that Jesus Himself as well as the Apostles, were well aware of false teachers doing just that. Opposing Jesus on what a marriage is, is not a healthy thing to do. Evangelicals have an extensive knowledge of “other” religions. “Evangelicals” are made up of people coming out of other religions and lifestyles not Christian in nature. They also, can’t help but know what is forced on them without the shred of decency. Liiiiiiiikkkkkkkeee, homosexuality. Don’t ask don’t tell is not bigotry, it is called decency. There is no rationale for teaching children to engage in same-gender sex acts, except as a means of recruitment into the lifestyle. Jesus threatened those that would lead children into sin. All children are confused about sexuality, until someone “orients” them. What is being done in the name of gay rights, is recruitment. Obama and his side of the aisle, is showing a lack of study about facts and reality. History should be the guide, but alas, we are being forced by Liberals to repeat the darkest side of it.
posted March 4, 2008 at 9:27 am
recovering ex-P–
When you say:
“Obama learned about Islam for two hours each week in religion class.” Many American right-wing Christians would profit from learning about other religions in school too.
Are you suprised Obama hasn’t made more of a case for him being able to understand the Muslim mindset–one way of characterizing the US’s current chief international challeng–as an attribute to having him in office?
posted March 4, 2008 at 11:17 am
G-o-M,
“Are you suprised Obama hasn’t made more of a case for …”
Politicians (of evey stripe) are too busy ‘correcting’ all the false rumours, innuendos, outright lies and Swift-boating’ that I’m surprised they still have the desire to run for public office. Obama’s still trying to fight the outright lie that he, himself, is Muslimm when in fact he’s a United Church of Christ member. Heck, he still has to contend with stoopid, non-existent ‘associations’ with a certain late Iraqi dictator because of his middle name, and similarly non-existent ‘associations’ with one radical Muslim (who, btw, has STILL not been caught – heck, he’s no longer even being chased by yer “President”) again, just because their names SOUND similar.
America has such a fear of the ‘other’.
posted March 4, 2008 at 11:52 am
Speaking of fear of the other …
Wake up,
“Gay marriage does not exist in the Christian community founded by Jesus and the Apostles.”
Quite wrong. It doesn’t exist in your particular branch of it. Sure as heck exists in mine, not to mention the UCC, the UU’s, the Quakers, etc. (And we haven’t even bothered to list the myriad other non-Christian faiths that believe in the human worth and dignity of ALL of creation.) Why do your particular religious tenets trump mine? Or doesn’t america HAVE freedom of religion any more?
“Marriage is immutably a man and a woman.”
Nonsense. I’ve been legally married to a man for over 4 years. Our best friends have been married legally for over 7 years. The Unitarians began marrying same-sex couples in the 1970′s for pete’s sake. And the Quakers have been doing it for well more than a decade. Your coments are not only wrong, they ignore reality.
“Christians shouldn’t support abomination.”
Like the eating of shrimp? That is likewise an “abomination” in the very Scriptures you like to select quotes from. (Many Biblical scholars translate “abomination” as ‘against tradtition’ or ‘against common practice’.)
Or did you mean actual abomination like the bearing of false witness?
“Let those that engage in [same-sex marriage], do it under their own initiative.”
Precisely what many same-sex couples have been fighting for the right to do for so long now, many within the confines of their own faith’s tenets.
“Whatever is added to the word “Christian,” needs to be tested.”
Agreed. John Hagee’s “Christian” “church” sorely needs such a ‘test’.
“Opposing Jesus on what a marriage is, is not a healthy thing to do.”
Jesus didn’t have a single word to say about same-sex marriage (or homosexuals, for that matter). He DID say a lot about D-I-V-O-R-C-E, which seems pretty okay in America.
“Evangelicals have an extensive knowledge of “other” religions.”
I disagree.
“Evangelicals” are made up of people coming out of other religions and lifestyles not Christian in nature.”
That’d be news to most “evangelicals”.
“They also, can’t help but know what is forced on them without the shred of decency. Liiiiiiiikkkkkkkeee, homosexuality.”
Liiiiiiiikkkkkkkeee, homosexuality is “being forced” on anyone. Such nonsense. Not a single faith is being (or CAN be, for that matter) “forced” to perform ANY religious rite, let alone marriage, against their tenets. If you believe otehrwise, you just go ask a Catholic priest if they have ever been “forced” to ordain women, or to marry a divorced person. This is just more bearing of false witness.
“Don’t ask don’t tell is not bigotry, it is called decency.”
It is more properly called an idiotic policy. Firstly, it is only the people that are “telling” that are (still) getting fired. The people that “ask” sure as heck don’t lose their jobs. Secondly, no country that allows openly gay people to serve in the military would agree with your statement.
“There is no rationale for teaching children to engage in same-gender sex acts”
That simply does not happen. Your statement is delusional. Again, speaking of the lack of decency …
“except as a means of recruitment into the lifestyle.”
First of all, gay people have lives, not lifestyles. Secondly, it is physically impossible to ‘sway’ someone to become attracted to people they are not attracted to. Could YOU ‘become’ gay? Thirdly, where are the ‘recruiting stations’? Do you think we get a free toaster oven for every 3 ‘signed up’ or something? More delusion.
“Jesus threatened those that would lead children into sin.”
My Church does not teach that being in loving, committed, adult, consenting same-sex relationships IS a “sin” to begin with. That your Church does seems odd, but you’re welcome to the belief. And, because of the concept of freedom of religion, people who disagree with your Church’s teachings ought to be free to disagree. Secondly, I know of NO one trying to “lead children into sin”, even if YOUR definition of this “sin” differs from mine. Same-sex marriage is about adults. Not sure how you can logically bring children into this discussion.
“All children are confused about sexuality, until someone “orients” them.”
Nonsense. I knew I was gay at the age of 5. No one ‘oriented’ me. Sexual orientation is innate. Did someone “orient” YOU to become str8 when you were a child??? I doubt it.
“What is being done in the name of gay rights, is recruitment.”
You seem to ‘think’ so. I disagree. Firstly because there’s no such thing as “gay rights”, only EQUAL rights. Gays just don’t have them in America, despite the ‘promise’ of the Constitution. Secondly, see above for a repudiation of your belief that we “recruit”. Believing that we do (or CAN, for that matter) is pure and utter poppycock.
“Obama and his side of the aisle, is showing a lack of study about facts and reality.”
Considering that this thread is SUPPOSED to be about Obama having to counter false rumours about his ‘connections’ to Islam and NOT about homosexuality (despite you bringing it into the discussion in the first place) I don’t think it is Obama’s “lack of study about FACTS and REALITY” that we need to worry about.
“History should be the guide, but alas, we are being forced by Liberals to repeat the darkest side of it.”
How should “history” guide us? Should we revert back to the times when women were chattel? When white folk could own black people? Or just to the times when the races were kept separate, and when women couldn’t vote?
And as for Liberals “forcing” anyone to DO anything, this is a foolish belief. (See comments about churches being “forced” to perform rites that go against their tenets.)
And that you think equal treatment for ALL citizens is part of the “darkest side” reeks of prejudice. “repeat” it? Heck, America has yet to TRY it.
posted March 5, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Speaking as someone who has Muslim family members (in addition to Lutherans, Catholics, Jews, Evangelical Christians and atheists–we’re just one giant “Colors of Benetton” family), I find the implication that being Muslim or participating in Muslim activities (which he didn’t, he participated in cultural activities) as being a bad thing more than a little bigoted and offensive. There is nothing wrong with being Muslim. This whole meme is being furthered as a safe way to hate people.
• Muslims don’t all believe in polygamy. That’s a cultural belief and not limited to Islam. This was a common practice in China as late as 75 years ago. There are still LDS sects practicing polygamy in this country right now. Why does Obama need address his father’s cultural practices?
• Friday prayers are not following Muslim practices. That’s a daily commitment, and one that requires far more discipline than most Christian faiths, as it applies to dress, food, drink and multiple daily prayers. What Obama did is nothing different from that then my attending weekly devotional at Pepperdine University during my master’s work even though I am not a practicing person of faith. I used to go to Midnight Mass every year at Christmas time with my Irish Catholic grandparents, should I disavow my association with the Catholic Church? How about the IRA, am I tainted by them by association too? My sister converted to Judaism in order to marry her Orthodox Jew fiance. I attended their wedding in a temple where women and men were separated, and women had to cover their heads as well. Should I be castigated for respecting what I perceive as archaic and misogynistic practices? Why does respecting cultural practices become a threshold for permitting ignorance and bigotry?
• Do I need to disavow Ahmadinejad because my Iranian family celebrates Nowrooz (just a few days away)? Is it negated by the fact that my children are baptized in my Danish husband’s Lutheran Church and we put up a Christmas tree every year?
• Somali garb is NOT Muslim garb. Turbans do not a Muslim make. That kind of conflation is what gets Sikhs in this country beaten up because some redneck thinks they’re an “Ay-rab”.
The Constitution clearly states that there shall be no religious test for the Presidency. I would urge you to reconsider this line of discussion in favor of one that does not imply that it’s okay to hate Muslims.
posted July 6, 2008 at 1:32 pm
All of these rumors about Barack Obama’s being a Muslim are designed to appeal to fear and ignorance. His father WAS originally a Muslim, but became an atheist. Furthermore, he abandoned the family when Obama was only 2 and did not play much of a role in his son’s upbringing. As for lessons he might have had as a child in Indonesia on Islam, he clearly became a Christian.
There is nothing wrong with being a Muslim–it has gotten a bad reputation because of atrocities committed in that religion’s name. But that is part of the hate-mongering–to present Obama as someone who is strange and exotic. One of the most foolish aspects of this fear-mongering is the fact that not so long ago, there was a Jordanian king named Hussein. This Hussein was friendly to America and had an American wife.
It was the Caucasian American side of Obama’s family–his mother and her parents–who have had the greatest influence on him in terms of family. They were the most constant adults in his childhood, a fact that seems to conveniently get lost in the fact that he has an Arabic name which he inherited from his Kenyan father. In fact, Arabs are of all types of religous persuasions besides Muslim–Christian, Jewish, Buddhists, and even atheists.
Voting against his policies is one thing, but voting based on grossly inaccurate “information” is another.