The Emergence of President Obama's Muslim Roots

[alienlovechild 75]

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller report: The other day we heard a comment from a White House aide that never would have been uttered during the primaries or general election campaign.

During a conference call in preparation for President Obama's trip to Cairo, Egypt, where he will address the Muslim world, deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications Denis McDonough said "the President himself experienced Islam on three continents before he was able to -- or before he's been able to visit, really, the heart of the Islamic world -- you know, growing up in Indonesia, having a Muslim father -- obviously Muslim Americans (are) a key part of Illinois and Chicago."

Given widespread unease and prejudice against Muslims among Americans, especially in the wake of 9/11, the Obama campaign was perhaps understandably very sensitive during the primaries and general election to downplay the candidate's Muslim roots.

The candidate was even offended when referred to by his initials "BHO," because he considered the use of his middle name, "Hussein," an attempt to frighten voters.

With insane rumors suggesting he was some sort of Muslim Manchurian candidate, then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and his campaign did everything they could to emphasize his Christianity and de-emphasize the fact that his father, Barack Obama Sr., was born Muslim.

The candidate's comment at a Boca Raton, Florida, town hall meeting on May 22, 2008, was typical: "My father was basically agnostic, as far as I can tell, and I didn't know him," he said.

In September 2008, candidate Obama told a Pennsylvania crowd, "I know that I'm not your typical presidential candidate and I just want to be honest with you. I know that the temptation is to say, 'You know what? The guy hasn't been there that long in Washington. You know, he's got a funny name. You know, we're not sure about him.' And that's what the Republicans when they say this isn't about issues, it's about personalities, what they're really saying is, 'We're going to try to scare people about Barack. So we're going to say that, you know, maybe he's got Muslim connections.'...Just making stuff up."

Back then, the campaign's "Fight the Smears" website addressed the candidate's faith without mentioning his father's religion:

"Barack Obama is a committed Christian. He was sworn into the Senate on his family Bible. He has regularly attended church with his wife and daughters for years. But shameful, shadowy attackers have been lying about Barack’s religion, claiming he is a Muslim instead of a committed Christian. When people fabricate stories about someone’s faith to denigrate them politically, that’s an attack on people of all faiths. Make sure everyone you know is aware of this deception."

The website also provided quotes from the Boston Globe and Newsweek mentioning his father's roots.

Since the election, however, with the threat of the rumors at least somewhat abated, the White House has been increasingly forthcoming about the president's roots. Especially when reaching out to the

Muslim world.

In his April 6 address to the Turkish Parliament, President Obama referenced how many "Americans have Muslims in their families or have lived in a Muslim majority country. I know, because I am one of them."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/20...would-have.html

[scandal 951]

I'm not sure what your point is?

He's never hidden the factual elements described here.

His middle name.

His father's ancestral origin (his father himself professed to be an atheist, so you'd have to go back to his grandparents to find a practicing Muslim).

His childhood in Indonesia including attendance at a Muslim primary school.

These are all true facts.

It's also true that he is a practicing Christian.

And anyway, so what? I think Colin Powell said it best:

’m also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the party say. And it is permitted to be said such things as, “Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim.” Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he’s a Christian. He’s always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer’s no, that’s not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, “He’s a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists.” This is not the way we should be doing it in America.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

the comment Im about to make implies to anyone or any country that wants to destroy America...

whichever side our enemy is on, I want to be on the other side. -Tamara

[rooster 1]

No different than any other politician. They will emphasize or minimize anything based on it's usefulness to the situation at hand.

[alienlovechild 75]

I'm not sure what your point is?

I didn't write the article.

He's never hidden the factual elements described here.

His middle name.

His father's ancestral origin (his father himself professed to be an atheist, so you'd have to go back to his grandparents to find a practicing Muslim).

His childhood in Indonesia including attendance at a Muslim primary school.

No, but he downplayed it to at times only focusing on his Kansas side of the family. Worse, his followers were enraged when his middle name was mentioned.

It's also true that he is a practicing Christian.

He said the U.S. isn't a Christian nation but the U.S. is one the largest Muslim countries in the world. The first part ignores the Christian population in a secular state and is grossly exaggerated in the second part to curry favor.

I don't care whether he's a practicing Christian or not but it looks like it's mostly for show and votes. Skipping the National Prayer Day stuff, the covering of religious symbols as backdrops, picking a big church in Chicago then claiming to hear nothing negative from Rev. Wright . . . he's going through the motions.

[The_Dude 1,142]

He said the U.S. isn't a Christian nation but the U.S. is one the largest Muslim countries in the world. The first part ignores the Christian population in a secular state and is grossly exaggerated in the second part to curry favor.

I don't care whether he's a practicing Christian or not but it looks like it's mostly for show and votes. Skipping the National Prayer Day stuff, the covering of religious symbols as backdrops, picking a big church in Chicago then claiming to hear nothing negative from Rev. Wright . . . he's going through the motions.

Citation for the bolded part please. Not disputing it, just haven't heard this line.

So because he didn't put up enough pomp and cirucumstance and pagentry you don't think he's a good enough christian?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

insane rumors

About right.

[Nagishkaw 510]

He pretends to say the opposite of what he really means.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

He's never hidden the factual elements described here.

His middle name.

His father's ancestral origin (his father himself professed to be an atheist, so you'd have to go back to his grandparents to find a practicing Muslim).

His childhood in Indonesia including attendance at a Muslim primary school.

No, but he downplayed it to at times only focusing on his Kansas side of the family. Worse, his followers were enraged when his middle name was mentioned.

Mentioned? I thought there was some objection when some right wing nuts referred to the candidate by his middle name while affording no other candidate any such - ridiculous - treatment. Short on memory pal?

[Peikko 1,575]

You either laugh at how silly people are, I mean really, or you get to cry, a lot...

I think I'll go with the laughter.

There is so much wrong with the premise, the argument and the conclusion - and even more wrong with the idea that to be a Christian one must flaunt oneself in order to curry favour from those who value symbolism more than conviction. Hey ho.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

He's never hidden the factual elements described here.

His middle name.

His father's ancestral origin (his father himself professed to be an atheist, so you'd have to go back to his grandparents to find a practicing Muslim).

His childhood in Indonesia including attendance at a Muslim primary school.

No, but he downplayed it to at times only focusing on his Kansas side of the family. Worse, his followers were enraged when his middle name was mentioned.

Mentioned? I thought there was some objection when some right wing nuts referred to the candidate by his middle name while affording no other candidate any such - ridiculous - treatment. Short on memory pal?

Yeah it was pretty blatant - the talking heads made a point of only referring to Obama by his middle name, and then feigning surprise when this was pointed out.

They knew what they were doing when they labelled Obama that way, just as they knew what they were doing when they tried to make out that the reason people objected to it must because "Obama is ashamed of his middle name".

Those guys need a new bag of tricks - as what they have to work with is old and stale.

Edited June 3, 2009 by Private Pike

[AlHayatZween 2]

He said the U.S. isn't a Christian nation but the U.S. is one the largest Muslim countries in the world. The first part ignores the Christian population in a secular state and is grossly exaggerated in the second part to curry favor.

Sorry, where did he say that...?

Edited June 3, 2009 by AlHayatZween

[almaty 19]

[justashooter 430]

just testing my new sig pic.