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In what may be among the all time low points in American political strategy, now there is a move afoot to link Obama with Muslim ties (with the assumption that he is somehow therefore attached to terrorist interests). After all, the demonizing of all Muslims is becoming a shameful national tradition among those who find fear-mongering to be a helpful political posture.
For one example, radio talk show host Bill Cunningham insists on calling him “Barack Hussein Obama” – and at one point “Barack Mohammed Hussein Obama”. Obama’s middle name is “Hussein”, but the ongoing Cunningham emphasis was an obvious attempt to link Obama with a group that is feared, and an attempt that does nothing more than fan the flames of religious intolerance. To John McCain’s credit, while on Cunningham’s show, he criticized Cunningham’s slurs.
Hannity and Colmes on Fox interviewed Cunningham about his comments – Cunningham, whose sarcasm was only exceeded by his arrogant ill-will.
BILL CUNNINGHAM: At some point in the near future the media, the stooges from the New York Times; CBS, the Clinton Broadcasting System; NBC, the Nobody But Clinton network; the All Bill Clinton channel, ABC; and the Clinton News Network at some point is going to peel the bark off Barack Hussein Obama.
Why don't you talk to his mother and father, recently departed. God bless and God rest their souls. His parents called him Barack Hussein Obama, not me.
Second, a photo of Obama in Somali tribal dress, including a turban, was circulated by having been passed to the Drudge Report (the Clinton campaign has been given credit for doing so, and has denied it, despite the DR’s claims). This is a powerful image in light of the anti-Muslim cloud that is circling Obama.
Third, here is a fine and ongoing discussion on begun by Morra Aarons on BlogHer already about the storm brewing over Obama and whether or not he has sufficiently repudiated Louis Farrakhan. Please check that discussion for details.
Fourth, an anonymous email whirled around the net saying he was sworn into the Senate on the Quran and turns his back on the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance.
Obama has had to make it clear that he took his Senate oath with his hand on a family Bible, and he says, "Whenever I'm in the United States Senate, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.”
Fifth, a report circulated that Obama had attended a Muslim madrassa school as a child in Jakarta. According to The Associated Press,
Interviews last year by The Associated Press at the Catholic elementary school in Jakarta found that it is a public and secular institution and has been open to students of all faiths since before Obama attended in the late 1960s. Said vice principal Akmad Solichin: "Yes, most of our students are Muslim, but there are Christians as well. Everyone's welcome here."
The list goes on and on – the circulation of a fraudulent letter attributed to Obama that detailed his Muslim childhood – a Muslim childhood that did not exist. He has been branded a Muslim because his father was once a Muslim.
The Obama campaign has even set up a special section on the Obama website that addresses the facts about his religious background. It can be found here.
There have been a staggering number of “low blows” to Obama. Take a quick look at a list of them at Media Matters. From religion to race, those who are frightened of Obama, who he is, what he represents, the change he carries with him – have displayed the seamy underbelly of American religious and racial intolerance.
Obama is not Muslim. But Muslim or not, to be effective, this assault depends on one thing -- a belief that Muslims are "bad" -- that they are somehow all suspicious characters out to undo what we love about America.
I thought that among what we all loved about America was the freedom of religion. I thought we were wiser than to fall for such smarmy claptrap -- that we could rise up and say --"First, he is not Muslim. Burt it does not mean he would love America lass if he were."
Related Blogs:
Let me begin by saying that I am delighted to be an editor. I can consequently NOT link you to blogs that are full of fear and hatred for Obama. I literally gagged at some blogs that portray him as a sneaky Muslim in hiding, waiting
