Obama Going To Great Lengths To Say He’s Not Muslim As Election Hits Bible Belt
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Barack Obama is stepping up his effort to correct the misconception that he’s a Muslim now that the presidential campaign has hit the Bible Belt.
At a rally to kick off a weeklong campaign for the South Carolina primary, Obama tried to set the record straight from an attack circulating widely on the Internet that is designed to play into prejudices against Muslims and fears of terrorism.
“I’ve been to the same church—the same Christian church—for almost 20 years,” Obama said, stressing the word Christian and drawing cheers from the faithful in reply. “I was sworn in with my hand on the family Bible. Whenever I’m in the United States Senate, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. So if you get some silly e-mail … send it back to whoever sent it and tell them this is all crazy. Educate.”
Obama is referring to a debunked chain e-mail circulating widely on the Internet that suggests he is hiding his Islamic roots and may be a terrorist in disguise. It says he was sworn into the Senate on the Quran and turns his back on the flag during the pledge.
There are some truths in the e-mail’s details. Obama’s middle name is Hussein. His father and stepfather were Muslim. And he spent part of his childhood in Indonesia, a largely Muslim country. But he attended secular and Catholic schools, not a radical madrassa.
His campaign has been pushing back against the false rumors all year. His aides decried an incorrect news report that Obama was educated in a Muslim madrassa and a section of his Web site is devoted to correct that and other false rumors circulating on the Internet.
But they are stepping up the effort now that the campaign has hit South Carolina and soon turns to other southern states where religion is so important to voters. The campaign distributed an open letter from seven Jewish senators this weekend condemning the attacks; aides are planning an event this week to respond directly to the e-mails; and campaign representatives blanketed South Carolina churches Sunday with literature that touted Obama’s Christian faith.
One piece features photos of Obama praying with the words “COMMITTED CHRISTIAN” in large letters across the middle. It says Obama will be a president “guided by his Christian faith” and includes a quote from him saying, “I believe in the power of prayer.”
A second piece, which like the first doesn’t mention the Muslim rumor, includes photos of Obama with his family and a caption that says they are active members of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. It explains how as a young man Obama “felt a beckoning of the spirit and accepted Jesus Christ into his life.”
Obama says he’s going to fight harder against other mischaracterizations about his positions that he says are being perpetrated by rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband, the former president.
“When I see Senator Clinton, President Clinton distort my words … that is not a way to move the debate forward, that is not a way to help the American people,” Obama said during his rally at the Columbia Convention Center. “I am not running for president just to become president, I’m running to help the American people. I’m not willing to say or do anything just to win an election.”
The Clinton campaign suggested the former president would continue pointing out what it says are inconsistencies in Obama’s record.
“President Clinton is a huge asset to our campaign and will continue talking to the American people to press the case for Senator Clinton,” said Clinton spokesman Phil Singer.
Obama adviser Steve Hildebrand said the campaign has organized “truth squads” made up of South Carolina supporters ready to defend Obama’s record from any attacks made by the Clintons this week.
In an interview to be broadcast Monday on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Obama said the former president “has taken his advocacy on behalf of his wife to a level that I think is pretty troubling” by making statements that are not supported by the facts.
“This has become a habit, and one of the things that we’re going to have to do is to directly confront Bill Clinton when he’s making statements that are not factually accurate,” Obama said.
The Clinton campaign responded to Obama’s interview with ABC by posting a fact check on a campaign Web site in an effort to bolster Bill Clinton’s arguments against Obama.
“We understand Senator Obama is frustrated by his loss in Nevada, but facts are facts,” Singer said.
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WOW. Many of you Dems must be sweating bullets right now. I know, I know, I hear you all screaming inside… Separation of Church and State, Church and State, this is madness. But hey he’s gotta be true to himself and show who he really is.
Whats that you say? What? You say your not worried? Whys that?
You think hes just pandering? Hmm.
So, you are saying hes a liar?
Oh well looks like he is qualified to run for public office then.
Shhh. I’ll keep my lips sealed, its just between us.
January 21st, 2008 at 2:31 amtaken from yahoo News Jan 15, 2008:
In the bloody conflict there (Kenya), which already has claimed some 700 lives, Obama appears to have sided with opposition leader Raila Odinga, head of the same Luo tribe to which Obama’s late Muslim father belonged.
Obama’s older brother still lives there. Abongo “Roy” Obama is a Luo activist and a militant Muslim who argues that the black man must “liberate himself from the poisoning influences of European culture.” He urges his younger brother to embrace his African heritage.
Odinga is a Marxist who reportedly has made a pact with a hard-line Islamic group in Kenya to establish Shariah courts throughout the country. He has also vowed to ban booze and pork and impose Muslim dress codes on women — moves favored by Obama’s brother.
Yet Obama interrupted his New Hampshire campaigning to speak by phone with Odinga, who claims to be his cousin.
link to the whole aricle:
January 21st, 2008 at 2:34 amhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ibd/20080115/bs_ibd_ibd/20080115issues
Might just be another holiday in our future, you know, like muzzie day
January 21st, 2008 at 3:28 amHmm muslim name, muslim heritage, muslim family but not a muslim?!? He may be a “christian” but it is a way of life not a title.
I don’t trust him.
On a side note the dem’s are definitely entertaining, the national race should be very interesting. Bloody with lots of mud slinging, I would bet that this will be one of the nastiest presidental races in history.
January 21st, 2008 at 4:13 amPay no attention to that man behind the curtain
January 21st, 2008 at 5:57 amObama Going To Great Lengths To Say He’s Not Muslim As Election Hits Bible Belt
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Well, one of my Marine Sgts. was in town this weekend and he was screaming, “I can’t believe we’re fucking killing Muslims … and we might elect one of the bastards as leader of OUR country!?! Fuck that shit!”
So, I think it’s safe to say BHO shouldn’t count too heavily on the military vote …
January 21st, 2008 at 9:31 amI thought he was Irish!
O’Bama. Get it?
Awww fuck it…..
January 21st, 2008 at 9:40 amHeh! But you might not be too far off from his next “selling point” …
We’ll have confirmation if/when he starts showing up in Irish Pubs in Boston and other big Metro areas. Especially St. Patty’s Day, and downing green brew.
January 21st, 2008 at 9:46 amKBar, true story from my taxi driving days. Around 76 or 7 I was given a call to go to someone’s house. I turned around to say, “where to” and you should have seen the look on both our faces. I was looking at a black me and he was looking at a white him. Those Irish immigrants in the Grand Army of the Republic were doing more than just freeing the slaves. There’s an Irish looking black guy running around the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
January 21st, 2008 at 10:14 amjust for discussion
-what if I said I was not a communist but studied communism and socialism in a communist school years ago. And now said one of my strengths was that I understood “those people” (communists)
-What if If my biological dad was a rabid marxist and from Russia and he and all his friends and family advocated the destruction of the USA and he was a drunk and could not keep a job
-and my athiest mom divorced him and
-married a guy that raised me and he was in strict communist, active communist groups that advocated the destruction of the USA
-and both my dads had family that had fought for the destruction of the USA and I had first or second cousins that were running for office in europe and their platform included the immediate installation of communism over democracy and when they lost they and their friends killed hundreds of voters for democracy.
-and I was into drugs previously and was associated with groups most of my life that advocated the support of Russia/USS/China
-and I was partially raised as a Marxist/communist until I joined a church 20 years ago
-and my church was strongly connected to groups supporting communists and even had a ten point plan advocating separation
-and my church family was affilliated with farrahkan
-and my church was affiliated with the new black panthers
-and,,, more and more
could I even be a candidate for USA President?,, dont think so
January 21st, 2008 at 11:11 amDick, no you couldn’t, you commie bastard. LOL
January 21st, 2008 at 11:59 amchristian values?
obama believes in christian values….
THE WHY IS HE FOR THE UNRESRICTED MURDER OF UNBORN BABIES?!?!?!
thats behavior opposed to what he believes, therefore negating the belief as lie or social status.
democrats can’t be Christians as far as i’m concerned, the partys principles are in direct opposition to core christian values…
January 21st, 2008 at 12:56 pm@ John Cunningham,
As long as neither one of you look like Obama!
I find it funny how liberals like him go to great lengths to say what a peaceful religion Islam is, and how intolerant Republicans/conservatives, etc. of muslims…yatta yatta. But for God’s sake, don’t mistake ME for a muslim! Especially in an election year.
Allahu Akbar!
Sincerely,
A Fellow Irishman
January 21st, 2008 at 5:39 pm