Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

jaymiller — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:59:27 GMT

Andrew - "Monomanical" is a very diplomatic way to say "flat out effing NUTS".

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

Southern Bell — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:08:56 GMT

Thank you for bringing this up.

I'm a Hillary supporter but of course if Obama gets the Democratic nomination I'll back him to the hilt.

Many Obama supporters don't understand the concept of swiftboating. They insist Obama has been "vetted" by the Clinton "tactics".

That belief is nonsense. The press has been very easy on Obama; with every "criticism" there is glowing praise for his strengths while HRS is giving grudging aknowledgment for her accomplishments.

In the end, though, this light touch to Obama means he will be wide open for a whispering campaign if he goes up against McCain. It's one thing if you opponent openly lies about you but another if his supporters make up stuff and try to sell it through a third party, makingt the origin of the rumors hard to trace.

Obama needs to go on morning talk shows and constantly refer to his Christian faith and his Muslim father, as well as his white mother from Kansas. He has to speak fondly of his Kenyan grandmother. The only way to make his background a non-issue for the Republican attack machine is to address it head on before most voters take a real look at Obama.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

Coalitionfilms — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:12:11 GMT

Clearly Anthony you are working off of the Clinton campaigns list of attack points on Obama. They are so desperate to slow his momentum that they are now turning from their race attacks to their religious attacks. I love how Hillary Clinton's campaign inures itself from any wrong doing by merely stating what the republicans would say in the general election. Its kind of like a parent abusing a child before they head out to the schoolyard, "Listen son, I am only telling you what they are going to do before they do it." I am not sure that it makes it any less of an attack. And Anthony you are part of the pesky problem that Obama has going into the general election; journalists writing about hypothetical republican attacks at the behest of the Clinton machine. Its not McCain, Limbaugh, or Coulter - it is you.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

lamm01 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:14:46 GMT

I have serious reservations regarding Senator Obama's religious background. However, my real concern is his own written words, " I feel deep hatred for my mother's people". As you well know, if was his campaign which started the racial comments and for which Bill Clinton was falsely accused. It's stunning to see the media in this country completely giving this man a free rein. The GOP will not be so lenient. McCain will blow him away if he is the nominee. I'm hoping the American people will wake up to fact that they need to take a real close look at this man. For many you will uncover a man whose background is suspect, his accomplishments inconsequential and his experience lacking.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

Southern Bell — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:21:11 GMT

Coalition, you're missing the point.

Pretending that the Republicans will not try and swiftboat Obama only will hurt Obama's candidacy.

Until Obama has been accused of murder and the story actually makes it to the "legitimate" press there is no way Obama will know how low the Rovians will go. We longtime Democrats remember the stories about Vince Foster and Ron Brown.

Obama must deal with the issue of his background now and make sure most Americans see it as a positive, not a threat.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

obama_not_vetted — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:22:28 GMT

Al-righty then--Muslim accusations--who is to say it is not true--Obama has been in a Christian church for 20 years is the defense. He is 46 years old minus 20 years (church) equals 26 years of what and who was he learning from and forming a belief system, In other words, the ages of birth to 26 years old are very formative---show me that record. This guy is dangerous.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

Renata29 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:33:29 GMT

In the lead, you forgot to mention the largest delegate prize of the weekend, Washington state, which was 68-31 Obama.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

seanoneill — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:39:36 GMT

Mr. Romano, I think you underestimate the intelligence, I'd like to think grossly, of the average American voter. Anyone poised to vote against a presidential candidate based, it seems, entirely on his name, isn't likely to vote at all. This is the Third Millenium, and Barak Obama as a post-racial candidate of a multi-cultural background, if any are prepared, is best suited for global diplomacy. Hard to believe any one who's been paying any attention to the microanalysis of the elections actually thinks "Muslim" when he hears the name Obama, much less a radical Islamic sympathizer. And, by this time, lets hope mostfolks realize that presidents who brand a whole part of the world as an "axis of evil" are more threatening to American security than those who can claim a broader (and clearer) vision.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

Coalitionfilms — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:41:13 GMT

I am not missing the point at all. You continue to make the point with every biased keystroke.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

Dr. Bob101 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:50:56 GMT

Andrew, the fact that you repeat the "problem",only serves to spread the rumor. This is subtle yet very powerful bias at its worse. There are plenty of "problems" the Clintons have that could be repeated, even if to be denied. Your writing is very biased consistently pro-Clinton anti-Obama, and you know it. Now I do. I no longer respect you or your journalism.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

Coalitionfilms — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:51:02 GMT

By the way - Mr. Romano is not underestimating anyone's intelligence. Like the Clinton machine does and the republicans before him did - he need only plant a seed of racial or religious bias.

Note the title of this article - "Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem."

The title of the article is designed to appear as statement of fact in a major news publication like Newsweek. Leading a reader to a string of reactions that might go something like this, "Wow, Obama has a muslim problem? Oh God, Obama is part muslim? Thank God there are some primaries left in Ohio, PA, and Texas so I can change my vote. Someone needs to stop this pesky muslim!"

Conspicuous timing when the only important states in play are shining their bible belt buckles. Trust me - you will see more and more of these kinds of articles from pro-Clinton journalists. They are just revving up the attack engines. And if they lose one of those big states Karl Rove is the last thing Obama has to worry about. Hillary and Bill are going make Rove seem downright cuddly.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

KennyF — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:00:16 GMT

" To decide solely on such irrelevant innuendo would be stupid."

It's not innuendo, it's bigotry. Americans are queasy now about openly saying that they won't vote for a black candidate, so this becames a handy stand-in ("It's in his blood??" Yuck). Also, you forget that there is nothing wrong with a Muslim candidate, just like there is nothing wrong with an Evangelical one. Finally, you have to be some kind of paranoid to think of anyone as a sleeper candidate.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

jemahm2000 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:05:13 GMT

Well , Now Obama has cracked the race and You have started the DIRTY game again. He wont be dragged with swift-boating. This time the people's voice will win the White house.

OBAMA 08

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

themonk19 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:19:49 GMT

Andrew - Its obvious that you are fueling the fear. Why dont you come out openly and talk about "your" bias ?

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

MAZees — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:20:01 GMT

This is why Obama leads among the more highly educated demographic - these are generally the people who do not get their news and information from emails.

It is the mainstream media who continue to give this nonsense life, by utilizing article titles like "Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem". How many people will see only this title in a google search and say "See? I was right, he's a Muslim" without reading the article?

MSM - do better.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

Young Atheart — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:22:05 GMT

Obama's life story, is an object lesson in resilience. He overcame the discrimination of an immigrant background, and a racially mixed family, as well as the loss of a father, sporadic poverty and the distractions of his teenage youth, to become a Harvard Magna *** Laude, a civil rights lawyer, a state senator and a US senator. This history is both a validation of his spirit AND of the national pursuit of the American dream for all. “Yes we can” is much more than a slogan in the context of his life. The far Right will undoubtedly try to discredit him by highlighting the forks in his path where he temporarily stalled. But his ultimate choices will discredit their cynicism and inspire an uncertain younger generation to make the right choices, themselves. Further, the cingular act of electing him would reassert America's resilience in the world without a single policy debate. It would be tangible proof that American's still value opportunity and equality for all even after 911.

His bio can be found at http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=9490

His legislative experience is much greater than Hillarys. See http://thomas.loc.gov

During the first (8) eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced

233 regarding healthcare reform,

125 on poverty and public assistance,

112 crime fighting bills,

97 economic bills,

60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,

21 ethics reform bills,

15 gun control,

6 veterans affairs and many others.

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included:

**the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),

**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),

**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,

**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),

**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more.

McCain's strongest asset is trust. He has come to represent America's public conscience by refusing to participate in his own party's scorched earth politics aimed at the Clinton presidency nor in the bait-and-switch politics of the neo-cons. Unlike Hillary and Obama, he has had to fight his own party to take the moral high ground on torture, fiscal discipline and immigration amnesty. And he offers a 100 year resolve in our war-on-terror that defies the majority of Americans but provides the reassurance of a consistent leader none-the-less. More than policy or prescription, America hungers most for a president it can trust and en-trust to carry on its legacy.

Like McCain, Obama has conciously taken positions that are unpopular but very principled in hind-sight. On the Iraq vote in 2002, while Obama acknowledged that Saddam Hussen was a “bad guy,” he also pointed out, “Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States or to his neighbors. ...I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. Occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences..” These statements were made when the Senate had just overwhelmingly passed a resolution authorizing President Bush to wage war. Ironically, both McCain and Obama establish trust with completely opposite positions.

Unlike, McCain, Obama also offers a personal vulnerability that begs to be attacked. He offers long, qualified answers that can be easily taken out of context by our sound-bite media, he searches for the right words during debates and he corrects himself when he has made a mistake. Sometimes, he is attacked for this but mostly it raises mutual trust and improves the dialog. Peggy Noonan, the Reagan-Bush speechwriter, calls him "thoughtful" and praises his "classy campaign." George Will, the columnist and television pundit, describes him as "an adult aiming to reform the real world rather than an adolescent fantasizing mock-heroic 'fights' against fictitious villains in a left-wing cartoon version of this country." Peter Wehner, the former Bush White House aide, calls Obama "a well-grounded, thoughtful, decent man" whom Republicans "would find it hard to generate much enthusiasm in opposing." While I am no fan of George Will or Peter Wehner, Obama has the capacity to build trust and dialog well beyond the democratic base.

We look to our Presidents for much more than great policy. The essence of the Presidency is to set the bar by which our democracy operates, by both vision and personal example. Obama raises that bar to new highs.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

jonkelvey — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:22:10 GMT

Obama_Not_Vetted: If you were to apply your standard of concern towards Obama towards all elected and appointed officials, we wouldn't have a government! Granted, Obama may have had different beliefs at twenty than now (in fact, you would HOPE so, otherwise he has learned from life), but so may anyone out there. Is there any reason OTHER than the lack of Obama's record prior to those twenty years, his being black, his middle name being Hussein, that would lead you to suspect that he might somehow be Muslim? Without some sort of positive evidence for concern, to call Obama dangerous is really reaching...who's to say the rumors aren't true? People willing to make reasonable judgments based on the facts.

If Obama wins the nomination, this "pesky problem" of his will be a strong indicator of just or racist, or far along the U.S. has become.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

trajafort — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:26:20 GMT

Wow. This is a horrible article. I'm sure it's too cynical of me to say that you have some agenda in perpetuating these 'rumors' by writing an article with this headline?

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

Salty1 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:29:09 GMT

And Andrew Romano leads the world of on-line commenting to new lows. First of all, anyone who is attending a Rudy G. rally is probably not one of those people that is going to put Obama in the White House and should not be used as an illustrative example of the sorts of questions swing voters will be asking themselves about Obama in November; second, there is an unspoken assumption that swiftboating causes people to lose elections (which I don't believe - and most Americans will see right through another attempt at swiftboating - let's not forget the rumors created in 2000 against McCain... that he had fathered a black child... as Stephen Colbert has shown us, that is one accusation WE CAN pin on Obama); third, this "pesky" problem will not go away only because people like Andrew Romano work so hard to keep it alive. This is terror politics at its worst.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

Julie M — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:34:29 GMT

The unearthing of this baseless untruth that was spun by the Clinton camp is suspect. Articles such as this, which are are Anti-Obama but diguised as something worthy to be pondered wreaks of absurdity. This issue was discussed and dealt with long ago. He is a Christian, has proclaimed it publicly many times, and lives it as a man of integrity. End of story.

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

Racje — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:37:39 GMT

"He has it in his blood" ?! -- Hercsky will not vote for any black candidate, as she seems to believe that religion is an indelible personal mark with a permanent trace, regardless of the person's actual beliefs and practices. But wait! All of us European types have Euro-paganism in our blood! And she herself was probably descended from Polish horse-worshippers! So who can the poor woman vote for???

I agree with Coalitionfilms that the title of this article is part of the problem. The media and the fools have a 'Muslim' problem. Obama himself does not have any 'Muslim' problem. He is a Christian, and was never raised Muslim. His father abandoned his childhood Islam before Obama was born.

The Republicans will work very hard to produce a cowed and fearful populace around the time of the November election, as they did in 2004. We can expect code orange transportation, rumors of WMD all over the world, false reports of attacks, possibly even a few incidents allowed to come too close for comfort.

If people look around without fear and pay attention to reality, the Democratic candidate will almost surely win, on the basis of economics and the damage that our permanent warfare is doing to our soldiers, our country, and the world as a whole.

Will the media expose the fear-mongering, or go along with it?

re: Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem

Andrew Romano — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:45:39 GMT

Two things in response to the commenters: 1) I'm not working off of Clinton talking points; I'm working off of my own experience and reporting on the campaign trail, where I've spoken to dozens of voters over the past few months--and where a surprising number, as I note in the article, brought up what they called Obama's "Muslim background" as a source of concern. There's a big difference between speculating about "hypothetical Republican attacks"--which you'll notice I never do--and reporting on conversations you've had with actual Americans whose views of the race seem to have been colored by these false, bigoted whispers. The problem exists, and ignoring it won't make it go away. 2) Kenny F writes, "It's not innuendo, it's bigotry. Americans are queasy now about openly saying that they won't vote for a black candidate, so this becames a handy stand-in ("It's in his blood??" Yuck). Also, you forget that there is nothing wrong with a Muslim candidate, just like there is nothing wrong with an Evangelical one." He's absolutely right--and trust me, I didn't forget. But if it wasn't clear from the article, let me make it clear now--there's nothing wrong with a Muslim candidate. The problem is, a lot of Americans (sadly) disagree--and as long as they think Obama's father's Muslim childhood somehow makes the Illinois senator suspect--or even just less "anti-Jihadi" than McCain--he may have a problem.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

PulSamsara — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:05:50 GMT

This issue can be approached tactfully but a much more honest way to speak truth to it is to tell it like it is:

Anyone who has the world of information at their fingertips and still believes that Obama is a Muslim is an inbred backward societal reject. If they do have the capacity to stumble into a voting booth they have always voted the same way anyway and it's a complete waste of time trying to educate them on any matter. You give these backward twits too much credit.

My firm belief is that these @$$holes and their racist brethren will only serve to discredit the cause that they serve. LOL - I have little doubt that they will serve well in the upcoming campaign. They will help to clearly define the choices we will be making.

'Bring it on' inbreds ! 'Bring it on !'

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

PulSamsara — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:15:12 GMT

Oh and another thing inbreds... I'd feel bad if I didn't state the obvious:

A Muslim person does not equal a bad person.... they have many inbreds among them ... just like you inbreds ... Not theirs any convincing inbreds like you....... ; )

Backward, telephone pole for a family tree redneck inbreds.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

chishimba — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:29:10 GMT

hopw much have the Clintons paid you?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

stryan — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:30:30 GMT

RE: Take Vicki Hercsky, 47, a teacher from Boca Raton, Florida. "Obama, I don't even know how he got where he is," she told me after a Rudy Giuliani event late last month. "Why do you say that?" I asked. "He's Muslim," she replied, matter-of-factly. I stammered. "Well, um, his father was raised Muslim but was an agnostic by the time Barack was born," I said. "Obama is a Christian." Hercsky wasn't swayed. "Yeah, but he has it in his blood," she said. "You can't take away what's given to you. It's given to you for a reason, and that's who you are. That's who he is."

This woman teaches our children? This is ignorant, racist and dangerous. It illustrates WHY we need a Barack Obama candidacy. His story is of courage and hope, typified by one who raised himself above his socio-econmic class to become the first African American President of the Harvard Review and state/US Senator . How is this not extraordinarily ... American?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

chishimba — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:31:27 GMT

MAZees - you're sooo right!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

madison4 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:36:53 GMT

I wouldn't say the "obama" fear stems from ignorance nor from bigotry. I think that the people saying these things come from strongly knit families. People like this understand the power and influence of family ties. They may believe family connections with this religion may cause a certain feelings of compassion and sympathy in Obama. Traditon is a powerful.

Personally I don't think Obama has any ties to anything other than public opinion. He's just like every politician,

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Mandy30 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:41:44 GMT

Come on Andrew Romano, you are purposely attacking Obama. He isn't a muslim, and has NEVER been one. You purposely wrote this to try to destroy his leading momentum. I also do not understand your position on the issue. Your article, along with your responses, don't make a lot of sense. If you write anything in the future, make sure you do not write another misleading article.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

godgravity — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:42:52 GMT

This is bleedin' insane!

Just look at the number of people who have posted on here ATTACKING Romano for his article! For cryin' out loud people, did you bother to actually *read* it? Apparently not, since you all believe he is conspiring with Clinton, or worse, attacking Obama directly on his own accord.

Okay, so he made a contextual error in the original titling of the article (which, I might add, is still as of 6:48 PM EST the title showing on MSNBC.com's links), but apparently altered it and made a note of his mistake and sincere apology.

He is clearly dismayed at the general public's bigotry and racism.. how much more [indirect] support could he possible offer for a candidate? He is playing for Obama's defense, but you linebackers (commenters) are letting them run the play every single 10 yards!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

rogerally — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:48:40 GMT

There is an e-mail making the rounds that purports Barack's swaering in ceremony used a Koran instead of a Bible. I find that hard to believe. It all comes down to which book he used. Does anyone know for sure?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Sloane — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:50:09 GMT

I absolutely hate this article. This is no different than saying Obama is secretly a Republican because he was found to be very remotely linked to Dick Cheney through his mother. Only this is worse because of the perceptions tied to it. If the article had been titled, Obama is Not a Muslim and Never Has Been that would be one thing. But you titled it his Muslim Problem as if it is true. Does it matter from the standpoint that a Muslim can be president? No. But this man has proved himself to be a generational phenomenon at a time when this country sorely needs inspiration. To rip this away or even cause damage during a highly contested primary is something I never thought Newsweek would do.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

chromatin1 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:53:47 GMT

If your father is a Moslem, you are a Moslem and Islam does not recognize conversion for Moslems. Therefore, Obama is a Moslem at least in the eyes of Islam. It is no different than Jews; if your mother is a Jew you are an automatic Jew. Politics aside, Obama is a Moslem of Kenyan origin. I think it will be good for us to have a President of Islamic origin. It will show the world ho advanced we are. How about a Vice President of Jewish origin, Won't that be fab!!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

metsainmpls. — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:59:12 GMT

Here in Minnesota we have elected a progressive Muslim congressman named Keith Ellison. He is doing great work on behalf of Minnesota. I believe Senator Obama's Muslim roots would go a long ways to help address and engage the moderate Muslims around the world, something that surely needs to be done.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

mjno — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:02 GMT

Why is everything an "attack" of Obama. He is a newcomer, and his past and present need to be examined. I am not just talking about the Muslim thing but other areas. Clinton supporters have said they will support him if he is the nominee YET Obama's have said some horrible things.

Maybe Hillary could play a musical instrument to win voters!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Sloane — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:37 GMT

So a respected David Schuster is suspended on MSNBC for highlighting Chelsea's pursuit in pursuading the superdelegates with a poor choice of words. But this "journalist" that writes for a national publication, writes this type of poison and it's okay? EVERYONE sees the bias toward the Clintons demonstrated by this article. Newsweek and MSNBC you should be ashamed. I cannot believe you are writing this malicious poisonous content which only serves to reinforce lies. THIS ARTICLE IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THOSE ROBOCALLS AGAINST THE OPPOSING CANDIDATE THE NIGHT BEFORE A PRIMARY. Your Clinton bias could not be more obvious!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Jambkle — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:06:51 GMT

Race, religion, gender--apparently all matter in the political process. Let's see, I'd say gender alone makes him more likely to get the nomination. Religion, well, he professes to be a Christian. That doesn't sway me or other non-Christians. Race? Well, well. How soon he forgets. Hey, Barack, you are only half black, remember. Mommy was white. Should we Caucasians feel slighted? In the long run, it won't matter. This country is just backward enough not to elect anyone who isn't a white Christian male. Sad but true. Good grief. That means at least four more years of Republican nonsense. I shudder to think of it.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

msshechild — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:09:42 GMT

Well he was born to a Muslim father (and raised by a Muslim step-father), attending the infamous madrassas, which are now synonymous with Islamic indoctrination. Obama insists that he is Christian, and there certainly seems to be no reason to doubt him; however, it is clear that his Muslim background makes him appealing to those many liberals who worship at the altar of diversity and multiculturalism, and who believe his Muslim heritage will only help bring about some sort of miraculous, overnight rapprochement between the West and Islam. It also bears mentioning that though Barack is now Christian, according to Islamic law, anyone born to a Muslim father is automatically considered Muslim (there are no rites or baptisms involved). According to sharia law, then, Obama is an apostate, a crime punishable by death. (Thus Obama might want to think twice about holding an “Islamic summit” as he recently announced—which will undoubtedly be composed of many a sharia adhering Muslim.)

Second, I am so tired hearing about "Change". Everyone is making it sound like this is the first campaign in history where change is the new idea. Come on...every campaign advocates change in one way or another. When I hear the ideas and promises of presidental candidates, I am reminded of the high school kid running for school president saying he will extend recess, etc. You know it's not going to happen but you enjoy hearing it. Look Obama and the other candidates are great speaker s but presidents—whose ultimate worth manifests itself behind the scenes, where many uninspiring yet momentous and consequential decisions are made—need a bit more than charisma and platitudes of “change.” The only "Change" will be a new president will be in the White House.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Sloane — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:10:29 GMT

So is Andrew Romano aka Karl Rove aka Switftboat? Is Andrew Romano the new adjective? Take a rumor and reinforce it to support his preferred Clinton candidate? So will it now be that a candidate that tries to refute spam with class get "Romanoed"? Definitely something you should be proud of as a journalist.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

fhammond — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:14:34 GMT

Come on people. Do you actually think that if any of this were actually true that it wouldn't be on every news program in the country? Do you really think that news anchors, journalists, bloggers, etc. would not LOVE to be the one to break a story like this if it was factual? The simple fact is that every news/media company has checked in to this and found conclusive proof that it is false. In fact it is so ridiculous that I am surprised to see a post like this at Newsweek. What next, are you going to post about the fact that Iran's President thinks the Holocaust didn't happen so that might be true as well?

Going beyond the absurd email and discussions that have been posted, the real question is: What is wrong with being a Muslim or a person of any religion for that matter? There are terrible and dark times in the history of every religion and in most cases it is brought on by extremist fringes of the religion that believe a perverse, distorted version of their particular faith's core tenants. The Spanish Inquisition, the Puritan witch trials, Islamic extremists, etc. are just a couple examples of this. There are over 1.3 billion Muslims in the world and 99.99% of them are good, honest people just like the billions of Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists, etc.

- He never attended a radical Muslim school:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2007/01/22/vause.obama.school.cnn

- He has been a member of Trinity United Church Of Christ in Chicago, IL for twenty years.

- He held his personal Bible when he was sworn-in as a U.S. Senator.

- He has never been a Muslim, was not raised as a Muslim, and is a committed Christian.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

gah-whaa? — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:17:03 GMT

Obama_not_vetted...this guy is dangerous??!!?? Do you know how absurd you sound? Should I call Hillary a dangerous racist because she was a GOLDWATER GIRL at the height of his bigotry?? A man who supported and strove for a divided nation?? And not just a divided nation - BUT ONE WITH WHITE PEOPLE ON ONE SIDE AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE OTHER?

ROMANO - WHY HASN'T THAT EVER COME UP IN ANY OF YOUR ARTICLES??

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

bethyb — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:17:18 GMT

It really says something about the idiocy of Americans when selling arms to Saudi Arabia is not a problem and selling American ports to Dubai is not a big deal, but Obama's made-up pseudo-religious "background" is. My stance on this is that if somebody chooses willful ignorance over information that is readily available, and votes based on their own prejudices over substance, then they deserve 100% of whatever their idiotic choices get them. Unfortunately, they bring the rest of us down with them.

I know educated, intelligent Republicans who actually believe that (quote) "Obama is going to invite the terrorists into the White House". I don't think there is actually anything we can do about people who choose to believe a fear fantasy over every fact that exists. It's like talking to a wall.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Alma — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:17:22 GMT

I find the writer's comment right now when Barack is winning to be very dangerous. The writer "coincidently" brings trash to the table when people are voting. Why doesn't he wonder about distorted theories after the election? Doesn't he know that he is bringing stupid things into people's minds? What is he really trying to do? I am more suspicious of the writer's intentions than the emails he is supposingly disqualifying.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

chromatin1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:17:38 GMT

Thinking about it hard and long, I like the idea of a Moslem Obama as Prez and Jewish Joe Liberman as Vice Prez. But, how they will greet each other. Obama will say Salem ali Kum or Alla ho Akbar and Lieberman will respond Shalom. Nonetheless, it will be fascinating. Perhaps, they will be able to convince Sheikh bin Laden to come for a state visit to White House. That will be fab!! INSALLAH.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

NoMooseLimbs — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:20:03 GMT

How about someone taking a look at Obama"s church's website. His church is dedicated to Africa, African values, and African goals. How about his acknowledged comment that he "hates his mother's people" That us folks. As for intelligent voters, what with a 6th grade reading average? Obama is a cult. We need a president dedicated to the USA.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Sonmi — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:20:05 GMT

It appears that lamm01 has posted similar statements that he or she has attributed to Obama on multiple comment boards (specifically, regarding the senator hating his mother's people). There is of course no truth to this allegation, and accordingly lamm01 has not quoted his sources or linked to any references backing up the claim.

If an accusation made against Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, et al, sounds too sensational to be true, it almost certainly is. Always consider the source and do your homework. Truths are out there and they are not partisan.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Lauren Day — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:23:36 GMT

You can dismiss those who have concerns about Obama's background and religion, but this is a very serious time and a crucial election. Obama has recently burst onto the national scene, but aside from the hype, most of us don't feel we know him very well at all. I believe any voter of conscience would be interested in knowing where the loyalties of leanings of any future present lie. When our terrorist enemies have declared jihad on all non-Muslims, yes, I would like to know if a presidential candidate is sympathetic to the other side. If that makes me crazy, paranoid, inbred or worse, that's too bad. I have to live with my conscience when I pull that lever in November.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

bradyd67 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:24:19 GMT

You cited Republicans believing it, but have independants and Democrats believed it?

It's up to the media to squash this sort of BS, instead of enflame it. Asking the question, even though you KNOW it's a lie, is akin to helping spread the rumor.

Do you work, or have you ever worked, for the Clintons? Why not write an article about Obama being Black and how many White voters won't vote for a Black man? Do you honestly believe this line of reasoning is ok? It's ok for you to write about it because you know it's not true and say so?

Pathetic.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

siobhanmm — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:27:34 GMT

Let's be straight up on this one. We can expect swift boating in the general election -- if the Democratic candidate is Clinton, it'll be smears about the Rose lawfirm, Bill Clinton, or something else; if the candidate is Obama, it'll be smears about being Muslim (as if being Muslim were a smear -- in Obama's case, it is a lie, however), reverse racism, or something else.

Democrats thought they'd selected a smear proof candidate with war hero John Kerry. They were wrong then, and whoever is the candidate this time, there will be both expected and unexpected swift-boat attacks.

I'd say we ought to set aside debates about electibility / who is more liable to be swift boated and cast our votes based on the old fashioned question: Who'll be a better president?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Can_we_survive_another_republican_president? — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:27:38 GMT

First let me preface this by saying that I am well educated, continually updated, well traveled and very open minded.

I think that by NOT addressing Obama's link to the Muslim faith at this time, Democrats are fooling themselves.right into another Republican administration. I could care less about a persons color or gender, but I do care that there might be any possible chance of putting into office a person that is linked to the possiblity of being of the "faith" that we are actively fighting a war against.

No, I am not against all Muslims just as I am not against all Catholics. Religion, in general, has no bearing on a persons ability to be president. At this time, ANY Muslim candidate SHOULD be of concern.

Yes, it would be considered a conspiracy therory that Obama has been brought up by fanatical Muslim extremists to be slowly intergrated into the US society as a perfect member of society to become the first black president. Stranger things have happened. Yes, it would have been a life-long exercise, but it has been done before.There have been instances where spys or terrorists have been trained for one simple task, never knowing where or when they would be needed. Years and years later being called into action, only to completelybefuddle the minds of family and friends by their acts. The family and friends asking themselves afterwards why didnt they see it....he/she wasn't that type of person.

You might say that it wouldn't be possible for a man to go into the presidency and suddenly be directing staff members et al into questionable acts. We don't know how far one man could go. We have seen the Bush administration make its own rules and act however it saw fit for the most part. We will probably never know the extent of his negative actions on our country.What we do know and see has all but driven our country into the ground financially and reputably.

Basically what I am saying is what I have seen from Obama to date is that he is very chameleonic.

He integrates himself into situations too easily. He says what people want to hear.

Putting Obama up against McCain is simply putting McCain into office and thats what the Republicans are hoping for.

Won't we be the fools?

Vote Hillary for change.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Can_we_survive_another_republican_president? — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:27:38 GMT

First let me preface this by saying that I am well educated, continually updated, well traveled and very open minded.

Basically what I am saying is what I have seen from Obama to date is that he is very chameleonic.

He integrates himself into situations too easily. He says what people want to hear.

Putting Obama up against McCain is simply putting McCain into office and thats what the Republicans are hoping for.

Won't we be the fools?

Vote Hillary for change.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

stangzoo — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:28:35 GMT

I'm glad you changed the headline - sadly MSNBC is still running the article with its original headline.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Sloane — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:34:22 GMT

For those that find this article unbelievably poisonous and are as outraged as I am, email Newsweek. Their contact information is below. I copied the writer on all my emails too.

WebEditors@newsweek.com

The write of this trash is: andrew.romano@newsweek.com

All Newsweek has done is give every Clinton supporter a forum to trash Obama and cut and paste every spam email they've every seen. What an unbelievable breach of journalism.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

faramade — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:35:17 GMT

This will probably be deleted or not get published:

Romano want us to believe he isn't writing from the Clintons playbook, well this might be true but the fact is his report on Obama has been biased from day one, even when he was down in the polls, as a reporter or columnist I would expect him to write factual articles regardless of what his bias is. Simply, don't color a journalistic work with your bias and make it look like you are writing exactly what people are thinking.

He truly have followed the candidate around for a while so knows what he is writing about but the problem is, it seems he was planted specifically to report the negative side, I have no problem with this as long as his by lines says exactly that for example something like " the most negative report on Obama" I wouldn't have any problem with it, because I really want to know more about these candidates.

My argument:

1. He reported about one of Obama's speech in Iowa, in which Obama was talking about the effect on farmers on the low prices they are being paid by the corporations to highlight that farmers are been treated unfairly and should receive a larger portion of their proceed, he did not discuss the point Obama was making in his report, rather he picked on the mistake Obama made by using a different crop as example of what he was talking about, In Romana’s own words read below:

….. "Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula?" he (Obama) asked. Unfortunately, Adel isn't exactly arugula country. "Someone near me whispered, 'What's arugula?' " says Van Fossen, 74. " 'You can't find that in Iowa'." Same goes for Whole Foods. The closest locations, reported The New York Times that evening, are in Omaha, Neb.; Kansas City, Kans., and Minneapolis. Whoops. Right-wing bloggers pounced. The dishy Wonkette called Obama a "super rich Ivy League elitist."

As you can see he is not interested in Obama’s point or policy but rather perceived negatives, just to point something out Iowans are no fools they voted for Obama anyway.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

macalexander — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:37:31 GMT

I think this issue is not unfamiliar to the Obama Campaign or to Obama himself. To assume that Hillary or the Clintons are more calculating than Obama is to not understand politcs. What I see is an astute politician who could decifer where the wind is blowing and climbing on board. The fact that he's a good speaker is, in my opinion, accounting for the mere 5% of his success. The proof is always in the eating.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

bradyd67 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:37:54 GMT

The user |"Can_we_survive_another_republican_president?"| says s/he is well educated, and then makes a post that only someone with a tinfoil hat upon their head would make.

Keep making the Clinton supporters look like racist, ignorant fools.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Tired of Media Spin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:38:20 GMT

I am just tired of the whinning of Obama, Republicans will rip him apart

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Tired of Media Spin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:42:04 GMT

I am not voting for Obama. He is not honest and forthright.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

macalexander — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:45:47 GMT

On another level, McCain also has some disturbing skeletons in the closet.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

writer1975 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:46:37 GMT

I can't believe how many people are actually buying into the propaganda campaign that says that Barack Obama is now or was in the past a Muslim. Not that being a Muslim should disqualify anyone from holding office. Our founding fathers made it clear that there should never be a religious test for choosing the President of the United States, a secular position.

So............it shouldn't matter, but the fact is that Barack Obama has NEVER been a Muslim. As a matter of fact, he has been attending the Trinity United Church of Christ for over 20 years.

Obama's supposed Muslim background is no more true than the propaganda in 2004 that said that John McCain was the father of an illegitimate black child. In fact, McCain and his wife have an adopted Bangladeshi daughter. She was brought to this country as a 3 month old baby in serious need of surgery, and the McCain's adopted her as their own. This was the basis of a truly un-American smear campaign.

Now, all over the country, people are reading about Obama's Muslim background, which is another un-American smear campaign. These tactics perpetuate the worst aspects of our American story:racism, xenophobia, and self-serving partisanship played out to the great detriment of this nation. It is our duty as citizens, the largest and most important component of a democracy, to combat these lies with the truth.

The truth is not Democrat or Republican. It is not liberal or conservative. It is a moral imperitave. The truth is not always the easiest information to find. If it matters enough to you to vote, then it should matter enough to dig a little for the truth. Don't leave it to one side to inform you of the other. The truth is there, but you have to go to it because it will not just come to you. All of our current candidates have voting records that are available to the public. They are matters of public record and are only shrouded in mystery if you don't look at them.

To allow these types of attacks to continue unchallenged is unacceptable. It doesn't matter if these smears are directed against your chosen candidate or against your candidate's opponent. To win with a lie is no win at all. Our country deserves an honest campaign, with an honest win and an honest loss. Anything less is un-American.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Tired of Media Spin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:46:41 GMT

Have you noticed the Republican talking heads pushing Obama up. They want to target him if he is elected, they are affraid of Hillary. Even Rove gave Obama tips. I am going to have to change my party, seems like Dems are just to naive!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

jimreedy — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:50:43 GMT

I believe you have issues that go beyond this article; and I believe you picked up on a area of non-interest so that it would exploit it so that it would become an area of "interest" to the readers of Newsweek. I also feel that you are slanted in your views about John McCain and that you are troubled in not knowing how to report and state a opinion that has value and is credible.

I suggest that you go back to reporting local events, and sharpen your writing skills before you try again to tackle this type of article, This is quite clear to me, and of course, obvious to the readership of Newsweek that you lack the necessary writing skills to be a service to us all.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

perci m — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:53:17 GMT

Blacks have a history of claiming to be; mohamed, muslims, doctors and such to avoid being drafted during the vietnam war. Now, that thousands and thousands of American died from those wars, and we are now on volunteeer service only, blacks find it difficult to get back to reality.

That was Obama.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

lmv — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:55:11 GMT

Obama talked about his superior ability to reach out to the Muslim world. Obviously, he's embracing his heritage. If he's going to tout his Muslim background as an advantage, it's fair for others to question his biases.

The Republicans will more than Swift Boat him on this. That's how they work. Maybe some Americans believe themselves to be "post-race" and "post-gender" but most Americans aren't. This is a huge issue for the Obama campaign. Whether it should be is a nice discussion for Starbucks but irrelevant to the real world.

Romano was just reporting what he's heard. If the Obama people can't take this little, well-balanced column, they're not prepared for the general and should step aside.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Sloane — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:55:45 GMT

In addition to writing Newsweek, you can also write:

letters@msnbc.com

If you feel this article, which is linked to MSNBC.com is inflammatory drivel disguised as journalism. I still cannot believe Newsweek wrote this or that MSNBC allowed a link to it.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

msshechild — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:56:30 GMT

Sloane-

Calm down. First of all this is a blog and this man is free to write what he wants. Second, did you not read the article??? This "Muslim Rumor" unfortunately is a potential problem for Obama and the author of this article is pointing that out. If he is the Democratic presidential nominee, this issue might be a stumbling block (as the author of this blog points out when interviewing various people about Obama). Look, I don’t think Obama is Muslim but that isn’t going to stop his opponents from trying to push the issue. Perhaps people will point to Islamic doctrine of al-Taqiyyah (you can look that up on your own) to try and prove this rumor. This is a presidential campaign and believe me campaigns never have been and never will be a pretty. It’s going to get even uglier and the rumors (like the Obama Muslim one) are going to fly.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

gamediva2112 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:56:45 GMT

I got passed one of the innuendo emails at work today. It was a series of photo shopped pictures. It depicted one iconic symbol of Islam after another pasted to easily recognizable American symbols. It was titled American under the Obama administration. When I saw how many times it had been forwarded just within our company I was shocked. So I said something to the guy who forwarded it to me (who had forgotten I was a democrat I suppose). He believes Obama is a muslim. What is he basing this on? The man's name. I suggested that if that was how he made his decisions about candidates that he please not vote.

It's easier to believe what you hear at the bar than take the time to learn something about the candidates. Because I have so little faith in Americans to research their candidates I am very afraid of the Obama vs McCain race. I am afraid that folks who would have voted for Hillary will cross party lines to avoid voting for someone rumored to be a Muslim. It's very sad, but Americans are very very stupid.

I would love to see both Hillary and Obama on the same ticket. A democratic dream team. We will have to see what the convention brings. I remain....concerned.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ragtopdodge — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:59:39 GMT

Ah yes, a Clinton supporter bringing up doubts that he can win a General Election due to his father's side being Muslim.

Never mind that he never knew his father!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ragtopdodge — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:01:34 GMT

I also find it interesting that the MSM brings up viral, smear e-mails which gives it more press.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

perci m — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:01:53 GMT

post the fricken comments or you don't. blacks a lot of them dodge the war, that's when they started claiming to be mohamed, muslims and doctors. post it!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

deborahdi — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:04:53 GMT

There's nothing wrong with a Jewish candidate either, but I bet it will be a very long time before we see one winning their convention. (Now a Mormon candidate... ;-)

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

msshechild — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:07:54 GMT

Hey ragtopdodge:

You make a good point that yes, he never knew his father, but his step-father he did know and he was Musim. So, that alone can and does fuel the flames of this rumor.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

newzy — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:08:55 GMT

These kind of comments occur when ever we have an election, about any candidate who runs. Why does it appear that anything said about Obama causes such an outrage. Comments are made 24/7 about the Clintons and its okay. This is the reason why people are now becoming very nervous about his rise, his background, and the cult like spell people seem to be under when it comes to this man. The media is not asking him hard questions in the debates and the reason the republicans want Clinton as the nominee, they will be able to say whatever they want (because she's white). They want not to be seen as racist. So right now they are very nervous because he could just be the nominee. Believe me, Obama is sitting around his hotel table with his friends laughing his head off, because he realize he is getting a free ride in this campaign because people are so afraid to attack him due to his religion, his race and his record in government which is less than any candidate running. So since his followers are supposed to be so highly educated "STOP ACTING LIKE A FIFTH GRADER". THIS MAN CANNOT WALK ON WATER. LET HIM ANSWER TROUBLING QUESTION THAT MAY CAUSE CONCERN TO OTHERS. "MOMENTUM" SEEMS TO BE THE BUZZ WORD NOW. BUT DON"T THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

perci m — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:11:46 GMT

If Obama gets the Democratic nomination, Las Vegas will bet, Republicans will keep the U.S. Presidency. What's the point of discussion? If Democrats wants that Presidency taken away from the Republicans, smart Americans know what to do. It ain't late to get it done.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

lmv — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:16:55 GMT

It's not relevant whether he knew his father if he's embracing his father's heritage and extolling his perceived ability to reach out to Muslim countries based on that heritage.

And, yeah, the Republicans will play this for all it's worth. If Obama can't deal with that, he's not tough enough for the general. I know Hillary is.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

jimbo3800 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:25:19 GMT

I'm amazed at how many of you lefties are outraged by your perception of a misleading and disingenuous article in Newsweek. Gee, welcome to the real world. Newsweek is, and has been for some time now, run by left-wing zealots who spin every story to fit their perverted world view.

But now that the author mentions it, what if Obama is elected and then gets "the call of Allah"? Scary stuff...

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Mastersockmonkey — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:26:29 GMT

It amazes me that "Muslim" is now a bad word in the US. Our country has a sickness. If you look at any religion or race, you will find examples of bad people. The truth is that Barack is a great example of an American. He has done great things in his life. He decided to do more with his life than most would ever dream. He has a harvard law degree. He was the first black person to ever chair the Harvard law review. He was an Illinois state senator for ten years. He is a US Senator. He has authored best selling books. Now he is running for president. All of this with with a torn background growing up. We should give him credit for what he has done. I think he is attacked because people can't come up with anything substantive to hate him for. So they make up lies.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

borass — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:29:22 GMT

Instead of focusing on the "muslim" allegations, it may be worth looking at Obama's pattern of selectively picking aspects of his heritage and distancing himself from others.

His "non-practising Christian" father of the 2004 speech who left him at 2 turns out to be the link to his biggest vote bank -- African Americans. Yet, he comforts his white base by distancing himself from "black civil rights Americans." Comparison (even favorable) with a civil rights leader like Jesse Jackson is considered a demeaning "racist" statement. Yet, Barry and Michele have no qualms wrapping him in MLK garb to go pimping for black votes. He is just slightly black enough to be entitled to black votes, but not black enough to be tainted by his "African" muslim father. He attended primarily white schools and colleges. He won the presidency of Harvard Law Review on the basis of support of right-wing conservatives against the liberal candidate -- again using his blackness to break into the liberal vote bank. He shunned the pro-gay rights mayor of SF because gay issues don't play well with religious blacks. Obama is a cunning politician who has shown that he will cynically use every dubious trick to get ahead without actually accomplishing much. Perhaps the right question to ask is how dangerous the Obama cult can turn out to be for America's future. Unfortunately, the media is taking a back seat -- maybe the Republicans will do a better job. (And for all the anti-war rhetoric of Obama -- why is it too hard for some talking head to ask him about his plans to invade Pakistan and use nukes readily?)

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

usbworks — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:29:53 GMT

You mean Obama could be a Muslim but he's actually a Christian? Damn... I was going to vote for him, but now there's no way I'm voting for a Christian. Christianity has been the most evil religion in history. Christians have killed more people than any other religion in the history of mankind.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

CalexanderJ — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:33:56 GMT

Ironically the comment section to this article validates Mr. romano's article. Folks, the point of the article is that some people will not vote for Obama because they a) think he's a muslim or b) think he's a muslim sypathizer (presumably meaning he won't go after bid Laden or will somehow open America up to a terrorist threat). For those of you who are outraged at Romano, don't these comments prove that very issue. And why else would the right wing media repeat his middle name every 5 seconds. Ask youselves this, do you know the middle name of any other candidate that's run in this race? I don't.

For those of you that feel Obama is a muslim, where are the facts? Can you point to one action in his adult life that might indicate that this is true? Has any one seen him with the Koran, or in a mosque? Of course not, this is why you resort to non-sensical arguments like "it's in his blood"

Unfortunately this sentiment is still floating out there, but hopefully it's confined a small ignorant section of the population. As we've seen in the primaries, educated unbigoted people will make their voices heard this November.

YES WE CAN!!!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Coalitionfilms — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:37:15 GMT

Newsweek may have changed the title of the article but I would suggest that this is actually a HATEFUL and BIASED article.

There is a reason that Newsweek changed the title - because they know how inflammatory this was to Muslims. If you think that it is a big deal that David Shuster insulted Chelsea Clinton wait until this gets around the blogosphere. Unbelievable.

Not surprising that it was written by a nose in the air Princeton grad who probably wets his pants every time Bill Clinton bites his lip and winks at him.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

grammagram — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:37:22 GMT

Get over it! Obama is Christian. He has NO muslim ties, and was raised by a Hawaiian mother after his father left when he was VERY young. Look at the man he is. Scuttle now has it he is too nice to tackle White House problems. If you believe this, then by all means lets bring slippery Bill and his lady back into the whitehouse. They certainly know how to manipulate and play the system. You get what you want. Me, I remember their past tenure in office and Hillary's badly buffed healthcare solution! It's time for some fresh air in Washington. Vote Obama for that change we need

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

PKRichardson — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:42:35 GMT

The problem with this story is that it is like telling someone not to think about a yellow Volkswagen. By covering the story, you become a part of it. Just like the people who think the Moonlanding is a hoax like getting coverage. Obama is a Christian. If the press wants to be responsible it should report the facts. He is NOT a muslim. Instead, we get into discussions about whether the fact that some people think he could be muslim could hurt him.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

wenoti — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:43:29 GMT

Andrew, it's you. Shame, shame, shame.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

msshechild — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:46:15 GMT

grammagram-

I am still on the fence on who I am voting for. What is the "change" that Obama is going to bring?? Every campaign I have seen in my lifetime promises this "change" in one way or another. I have never heard a candidate say that they like the current way and want to keep it going. Obama is not saying something different. He is just a great speaker and makes it sound good. Call me cynical but this change no matter if Obama becomes president or any of the candidates will be that we have a new president.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

River70 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:48:49 GMT

I first received the offensive Obama is a muslim email in July from a friend who lives in UT and is a mormon. My first thought was " will this make me support Mitt?" No way. A month ago some Jewish friends sent the same email to me. I am not sending this email anywhere but to my trash can and I am replying to all to whom the specific mail went to and telling them just how irresponsible feel they were to sanction such filth.Would't it be better use of time to pick a candidate and work in a truthful and honest way to get that person elected??

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

DrEdF — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:49:28 GMT

What a bloody joke! Obama has some nerve complaining as does his supporters as he has been given a free ride throughout the campaign. No one pushes him for a response due to being called a racist. However, Senator Clinton is called vicious names, accused of being racist, her daughter is called a whore, and the entire Clinton family is demonized daily by all the news netowrks. Disgusting!!!!

Wake up silly Americans and stop being blind sheep. People wonder why Americans are laughed at throughout the world. Anyone that blindly supports Osama Obama is an idiot!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Chris_1972 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:49:44 GMT

I enjoyed your article, and have a relevant question that I don't think anyone in the media has addressed, and I'd be very interested to know the answer. Most articles about the Obama/Muslim accusations has focused on religious bigotry in the US. However, that's a very US-centric discussion. As you've made clear, Obama is a Christian in his heart and profession, but will he be perceived by fundamentalist Muslims around the world as an apostate?

Obama's father was a Muslim before he became an atheist. "Barack" (blessed) and "Hussein" (good, handsome one) are both Swahili/Arabic words. In addition, Obama's stepfather was Muslim. The two key questions are: did Obama ever state the Shahadah while attending the moderate Muslim school in Indonesia? Will the fundamentalist world believe he did? Thus, if Barack today is a professed Christian, fundamentalist Muslims may perceive Obama as an apostate. The penalty for apostasy in Islam is death.

We should know if conservative/fundamentalist Muslims will call for Obama's death-by mere virtue of his faith-as his politcal fortunes rise. There's an understandable instinct in the US media to avoid asking Obama if he has stated the Shahadah. However, will people in the Middle East ask him that question when he visits as President? If he did state the Shahadah as an innocent child, would he be willing to lie about it? Obama seems like a very honest guy.

A big portion of Obama's popularity stems from the hope that his mutiracial/ethnic background can unite divisions in a fractured world. I think it is worthwhile to ask if that background may tragically inspire hatred as well.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

River70 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:50:24 GMT

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

jimbo3800 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:55:20 GMT

I'm not sure what is more amusing; listening to all of you left-wingers wring your hands over some perceived Muslim slur that you somehow believe was secretly and purposely encoded into the headline, or listen to you go on and on about how "smart", "well-educated", and generally intellectual you are in comparison to us in-bred heathens out here in the hinterlands of the red-states. I think I'm going to gag from it all.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

jimbo3800 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:55:21 GMT

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

River70 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:57:54 GMT

Contrary to a recent poster, what makes us the laughing stock of Europe is our puritanical ideas about sex, marriage and more. Take a look at the wedge issues and you can see that people are voting against their best interests to see that one segment of society is controlled.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

jimbo3800 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:09:52 GMT

I have a news-flash for all of you; I've lived, worked, and traveled extensively in Europe. We are not a "laughingstock" of anything there, as the leftist press would like you to believe. This is just a figment of the imagination of anti-American journalists at the New York Times, the Washington Post, MSNBC, and others of their ilk.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

aqw8326 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:10:57 GMT

Not all Muslims are Islamic just as not all people named Limbough are nazi's! The teacher in Florida is expressing the 21 century version of "the one drop" theory.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

MShawn — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:11:43 GMT

By bringing this ridiculous concept up, you are giving it credence. Speaking to "dozens" of people on the campaign trail does not give you some kind of tremendous insight on the American electorate as a whole.

Any teacher who would say on record that Obama is Muslim because it's "in his blood" is a complete nutcase. It's ridiculous to imply in the general election that Obama will have a problem because a small number of whackos think he's not as anti-muslim as them.

I know the media's role in the 21st century is to sensationalize everything, but try and be a little more creative when coming up with story ideas. I know that we are oversaturated with TV, internet and print media sources, but if you can't find a more interesting angle on the presidential election, you are in the wrong line of work.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

mbronner — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:13:05 GMT

Would you prefer a born again ,neo-fascist, alcoholic, President. VOTE BUSH.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

dianamanwaring — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:20:08 GMT

This smear campaign has been running for a very long time, and it just won't work. It just goes to show how desperate some people are to keep Senator Obama from winning! You know what they say - desperate people do desperate things!

I understand that this nation's feminists would like nothing more than to see a woman elected to the White House, and I do believe that our country is long overdue to be able to put either a woman or a person of color in as President. However, I do not believe that Mrs. Clinton is right for the job.

Her campaign has had way too many issues to deal with. Her campaign is having serious financial problems, to the point where some staff aren't being paid, as are some bills (see below links I am including as documentation). Her public crying as of late makes her ability to take the heat that comes with this job rather suspect. The constant mudslinging against Senator Obama is another turnoff, as is Mrs. Clinton's refusal to accept MSNBC's apology for the "pimping" comment. My response to her would be "Accept the apology and move on with your campaign. Deal with it." If she can't do that, Mrs. Clinton is unable to handle the job!

Part of a President's duties has to do with our nation's budget, and the Clinton campaign has had serious issues in that regard. Here are several links that deal with this subject, the first two of which pertain to the billing problem I mentioned:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080208/NEWS/802080448

http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080208/NEWS/80208066/-1/NEWS09

And, here's a link to a NY Times article for tomorrow's edition (2/12/08) re. supporter concerns that Mrs. Clinton's campaign is failing:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/us/politics/12clinton.html?ei=5065&en=83bd560436fa713f&ex=1203397200&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print

There are many people who are desperate to see Senator Obama lose or Mrs. Clinton (or any of the other candidates) win. Candidates should be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character and their stand on the issues. Mrs. Clinton fails on both counts as far as I'm concerned. And, even if the smearing continues, this middle-aged woman is proud to support Senator Obama as President!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

chelbelle — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:25:15 GMT

jimbo3800, you're hilarious. Firstly, you're correct America is not a laughing stock of Europe, we are the scourge of the entire rest of the world who, not without reason, see a country that has destablised the region in a quest for power, oil, money, who knows why not only through the war in Iraq but also through it's arrogance that it is the moral guardian of the world. Europe sees America as the new upstart on the block, the alpha male determined to show everyone who's boss. I know this from years and years of defending America while living in Europe.

And far more importantly, even if there was some total meltdown on the part of Barak and he caught the 'call of Islam' although it's bloody unlikely, how could it possibly be more scary than the last 8 years - including 9/11?

Surely people we want to enter a new era. If the politicians want to sling mud at each other then let them, as someone mentioned, they're grown ups they can cope.

If people want to incorrectly label Obama a Muslim then fine, it opens a forum for discussion.

But why is everyone so darn angry at each other. Why scoff at Obama's calls for change? Why ridicule and mistrust an ideal.

I think John McCain, Hilary Clinton and Barak Obama are all good people with much purer intentions for their campaigns than what we've had so far.

So really shouldn't we be happy about the fact that change is in the air (in whatever form), stop getting involved in the mud slinging and respect the candidates, listen to their messages and see the better side of life. Personally I like Obama, not just because he is a good speaker but because he represents a lot of my beliefs (and has sound financial policies). But I respect each of the candidates and I urge you not to get involved in all this misplaced anger - instead look to a more positive outlook in the future with either a woman, a war hero or a mixed race and culturally diverse person at the helm of this ship.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ashleysmartin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:26:18 GMT

Obama is not a Muslim. End of discussion. This headline is misleading!

If you want for the EDUCATED and INFORMED readers to continue buying Newsweek, please stop with all this propaganda.

Thank you,

Dr. A. in Chicago.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

faramade — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:29:13 GMT

After reading your past articles, I am forced to ask you these questions.

Are you okay with an american president who happens to be black ?

Does your vote depends on the muslim rumor?

Please do not answer this with what people are telling you on the campaign trail, this answer should be yours (solely).

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

AnAmericanwithabrain — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:30:43 GMT

It may be in vain, but I would hope that John McCain would demonstrate the kind of character he's shown in the past...and stand up and make a clear, unequivocal statement that he knows Obama is not Muslim, and there is nothing inherently wrong with anyone who is, in fact, Muslim; and if you want to spread propaganda and hate-monger, then McCain wouldn't want your vote either. Maybe that would get these morons to shut up.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

skates — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:35:15 GMT

Hardly anyone in the media brings up the misogyny that is so apparent in our society. Sure, you guys talk about people being worried about Obama being a Muslim, or the issue of racism but no one says anything about the bigotry towards Clinton. There are so many voters out there that will not vote for Clinton because she is a woman because women are too emotional or some such nonsense. Can the media please explain why our country is so backwards in our views towards women?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

marco34la — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:35:24 GMT

Hi Andrew,

I just read your blog and I have 2 important questions:

1. How does someone born in the Unites States, receive a birth name of

BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA without having any ties to a muslim background?

If someone's name was Giancarlo Tomaso or Pierre Chaque -- one would naturally assume that the heritages of these people are italian and french respectively.

2. It sounds from your blog that you are indeed an Obama fan. I am very curious to understand WHY?

You appear rather young, and it seems that your predilection for him is the same that someone your age would have for an "American Idol" contestant or "America's Top Model". I am an enthusiastic democrat with akeen understanding of politics and the current state of our nation. Mr Obama has NO experience, no track record, and quite frankly, no ideas that are unique or innovative. He is simply a young, good looking african-american guy who speaks well, albeit, with empty words. SO... what is it? Do you depise the Clintons? Does it threaten you to think that a woman could be president?

Our country is in trouble here -- we dont have time for games here. I appreciate the fact that you have a blog and something to say. Given that you are associated with Newsweek - I would hope that you understand the weight that that has... and are very careful to use your words in a manner that benefits all... not just further your own agenda.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

hknight24 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:37:41 GMT

An atheist friend of mine said of Barack Obama that he wished he were Muslim because the so called Christian compassionate conservative ideology that elected George Bush and dominated domestic policy with a politics of fear for the past seven years has done nothing abroad but boaster Al Qaeda's standing in the world. The Republican Party's evangelical crusades against the whole world is very dangerous. We need peace loving Muslims around the world LISTENING to an American President that dispels the notion of the evil white man that wants to run the world and kill all the Muslims. This country that I love DOES NOT HATE Muslims BUT we will fight against radical Islamic terrorists because that is a common enemy to the United States AND the Muslim world. AMERICA PLEASE WAKE UP. Idiots who believe that an orange or red terror alert from home land security means buy duck tape for national security ??? With that kind of pervasive, persuasive stupidity, you wonder why this country is going to hell in a hand basket whether there's a Muslim, a Mormon, a Jew or just another idiot calling himself a Christian sitting in the oval office. It is time for real change. Fear is NOT an option this election. IT IS TIME FOR REAL CHANGE.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

equinoxranch — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:38:04 GMT

The great danger, and we see this to no end, are all the lies, cover-ups and propaganda coming from hussein obama, as well, the media, in support of this ruthless Potemkin village of a candidate.

Mr. Romano, an obvious hussein obama supporter and no less allowed to spew his propaganda via Newsweek, has resorted to doing what he can to make the truth out about hussein obama to be a lie.

How pathetic.

It is a irrefutable fact that hussein obama (nice Irish name, by the way) studied for a minimum of four years in a Muslim madrassa, in addition to the twenty-one additional years he was officially Muslim. Oh, then hussein obama "found" God via Jeremiah Wright's negro-centric/negro supremacist Trinity United "Church of Christ" in Chicago. This is one helluva "church", if ever there was. A "church" which is clearly negro-centric, espousing negro supremecy at a minimum. And I thought that Christians were inclusive and 'non-partisan'. Silly me.

hussein obama's handler, none other than self-appointed Demi-God oprah winfrey has been a parishioner there, too........, for over a decade.

But, beyond the religious thing, that, no matter which way you slice it, it comes out ugly either way. Then, of course, is the raging incompetence, the total lack of experience, the novelization of his "life", the indicting voting "record" which has been from day one....., hardly any vote placed whatsoever, all deliberately made by hussein obama so as to make himself amorphous. In other words..., he has no record, no one can pin him down. How convenient. Well, that is if you are (barack) hussein obama and his myopic followers. And then............, all those lies. I'm surprised by now that his nose doesn't stretch to the moon and back. Then again, Geppetto wasn't a Muslim, nor his father, that explains the short nose. And the lack of angry eyes.

When it comes time to vote for a president - more accurately - Commander-in-Chief, step away from all the sweet nothings being whispered in myopic America's ear. Step away from all the worthless beau mots that amount to nuthin'. Step away from the propagandistic lies and the feeding frenzy as proffered by the candidate's au current Joseph Goebbles song-and-dance oom-pah band. Step away from the winfrey "thoughtspeak" metronome. Step away and dare to see the propaganda, the lies, the nonsense.

Germany once found itself filled with euphoric delight, drunk on sweet nutins'. The German people followed a propagandistic chant and believed that yes, they could. And how high they artificially became before the hard reality of how low they would eventually go.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

jcfinsf — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:42:13 GMT

By just mentioning this bit of nonsense, a baseless smear born of politics' worst nature, you have helped to both propagate and lend credence to its very existence.

In a nutshell: You should be ashamed of yourself.

And given that Paul Krugman over at the New York Times just repeated the same slur (in a different yet equally 'just letting you know it's out there' sort of way), I can only assume that you, too, are under the influence of Mark Penn and his media hounds.

Really. The Clinton bunch makes Karl Rove and his team look like choir boys.

I don't know your writing very well, but judging by your photo you look like a young man. Get your act together. Give yourself a worthwhile future in this business by not being such a political hack.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

stanjz — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:52:04 GMT

I'm a person who studies my Christian Bible daily and did thousands of hours of volunteer work. I've given my extra money to charity instead of buying cars or going on vacations.

I've gained some wisdom from reading the Bible every day for going on two decades.

One thing I'm certain of is that you are a trouble maker.

You are "the people who are spreading false information."

How would you like people making false inuendo about you. Did you ever stare at a little girl too long? Maybe it wasn't just an innocent stare? Isn't that disgusting? That's what you do Sir!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Gary Peterson — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:52:14 GMT

Damn it all, Andrew! Turn your pain around! Turn your fears into joy! Of course: anything can happen. Own your own power and speak your own truth clearly. Yes, there is nothing wrong with being a Muslim candidate. More to the point: Obama is not a Muslim! In the name of Jesus, Allah, or Yahweh: lift thine eyes to the hills from whence cometh thy help!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

chrisphx66 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:54:19 GMT

The only thing I understood from this article is that, if Mr. Obama is nominated, then the fascist right will use their typical fear-mongering tactics to scare people from voting for him. Obviously, they arleady have, considering this email mentioned.

Sometimes I wonder if the Constitution is worth anything anymore. No religious test for presidential candidates, due process under the law - why don't we just dissolve the Union? There hasn't been a "United" States in decades.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

nanjo415 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:55:16 GMT

Andrew, So glad to see you address this load of crap that's been floating around the internet for months. I usually just hit "delete" whenever I get something of that nature in my inbox, but I made an exception when I received that bunch of lies from a Republican friend of my mother's before Christmas. I used very nice compassionate language and directed her to www.snopes.com, saying that it was a good idea to check such so-called "facts" before sending them on. This lady voted for Bush both times, and I got back a venomous reply, pretty much telling me that even if the email was false, that "the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree". Let's just say she was added to my blocked email list afterwards.

It truly troubles me that good people can be smeared by such blatantly false rumors. But what troubles me more is that alot of the folks reading the crap should know better than to believe it or to pass it on. Whomever the candidate is, Barack or Hillary, will get this household's full support. I'm counting down the days until Georgie heads back to Texas (according to my countdown calendar, there's only 344 more until Inauguration Day!).....

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

dblue54 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:56:52 GMT

Where is he getting his campaign money from?

He can't even wait ,first thing he is going to do is sit and flatter those Arab countries presidents / kings etc.. who are going to feel enormously big and influential because they know strong is tough weak is flattery -This is the Muslim way of thinking for generations.!!!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

lee226 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:01:24 GMT

Better change your title again....being a muslim should not have to be a "smear".

There are peaceful muslim alongside the warmongers, there are peaceful american and warmongers american.I would vote for Obama wether he was christian, jew,atheist or whatever.

In fact to stop the smear as you call it,stop talking about it yourself. We all know what the less informed people believe and talk about.They are too lazy to go on the web and research the facts, so they just repeat that same stupid gossip they have hear. Like chewing someone else's dinner.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

GJP2006 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:07:04 GMT

Was it a slow news day? I though there were multiple primaries and caucuses to cover. It is rather unfortunate that the media continues to report on this - I am not sure why as I do not read of it being raised and thought it had been put to rest.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

rosalynne — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:07:06 GMT

What is in your blood does not go away because you register as a Christian after you are 26 years old and have already discover your apolitical ambitions. Many Americans are been naïve or pretending to be political correct. WAKE UP AMERICA IS OUR FUTURE!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Ned123 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:16:18 GMT

This is one of the worst political columns I've read in a long time.

You mention that the polls show Obama leading McCain nationally right now, so however prevalent this "problem"you claim exists is, it obviously (based on polling) isn't big enough to stop Obama from getting more national support than John McCain right now (and more than Hillary Clinton as well). But you state that getting Obama to get Republican support "may be tougher than ... current polls suggest." Oh? Why is that? Because you've spoken to DOZENS of voters over several months, and a few of them have mentioned the muslim thing?

Gosh, Andrew, over the past several MONTHS on the campaign trail you've actually found the time to speak with DOZENS of potential voters? Well, you sure are working hard! How do you find the time to talk to so many people in just a few short months?

And the comments of a few people among these "dozens" outweighs the validity of national polling, scientifically conducted among thouseands and thousands of US citizens? That polling is negated by the "trend" suggested to you by ignorant woman at a Giuliani rally, or by a few anonymous comments posting on this site?

I agree with most of the other commenters in this thread. there can be no other point to your entire, ill-conceived, poorly argued column than to plant this desperate "fear-mongering" seed in potential voters minds because you favor Hillary Clinton. "Don't pay any attention to those polls that show Obama is more popular nationally than Hillary, folks! No, i heard a few people say 'muslim! and that means an Obama nomination will be torpedoed by whisper campaigns!"

So this must argument must be the latest talking-point tactic being proposed for use by Hillary's campaign operatives, as well as pro-hillary columnists like Mr. Romano. How pathetic.

You say, "The problem exists, and ignoring won't make it go away." But the "problem" does not exist as a statement of fact. It's pure speculation on your part. All you've demonstrated is that there exist of a few ignorant bigots in a country of hundreds of millions of people. That does not prove that a real "problem" exists that false muslim rumors will torpedo Obama's candidacy in the fall if he is nominated.

What about the rumor that Hillary is a lesbian? Why not write a column about that, citing exactly the same reasons why it will make her vulnerable in the fall? Why wouldn't that be fair game - after all, SOME people think she's a lesbian. There have been "whispers," after all. I've spoken to dozens of people, and more than one thought she might be a lesbian.*

* Not that there's anything wrong with that. And I know you might not think it's fair of me to mention it. But i just need to warn voters that the rumor's out there, and the Repbulicans may use that to "swift boat" Hillary. Just a warning, that's all.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

progressive1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:16:27 GMT

I have canvassed for Barack several week ends. If I had a nickel for everytime someone either said "but he's a Muslim" or asked "Isn't he a Muslim?" I could have a VERY nice dinner on the Coast! It's something that shouldn't matter, but most definetly DOES. Obama 08! Yes We Can!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

michelle567890 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:16:42 GMT

What must our soldiers in Iraq be thinking about all this excitement over a man named "Hussein"? That is his name. Right? Then, it's not worth the risk to elect someone who could possibly be sympathetic to that group of people on this earth who want to kill us every one. This election makes me sick. ONE candidate had the skills and experience to solve our problems.....Mitt Romney. If McCain chooses him as a running mate, I vote for him. If not, then Hillary gets my vote. No way in hell am I going to jump on the Hollywood bandwagon and vote for this most unimpressive man. His resume has nothing impressive on it. I don't care who Oprah picks. She's made mistakes before and this is her biggest one yet. NO, NO, NO, NO WAY to Obama. BTW, I don't give a damn about the color of his skin. He is not a COMPLETE Americanand he frightens me. I bet those alqueda guys are slapping their legs laughing at the epidemic of stupid in the USA! A man named Hussein may be president. God help us all.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

hartpa — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:19:00 GMT

Andrew,

It strikes me that the very nature of your "reporting" on the muslim smear campaign of Obama does nothing more than help Clinton now and the Republicans later should Obama get the Democratic nomination. (Full disclosure, I've given money to both Clinton and Obama but am now supporting Obama).

How about digging into who is putting out this garbage and attacking them for lying instead of just stating that the email is untracable? How about taking apart the email bit by bit and showing it to be a complete lie instead of just linking to another site? How about attacking Limbaugh for lying? Perhaps actually finding out if Clinton is helping to spread the rumor - I personally doubt it. It would be much more interesting than speculating on how lying is going to hurt a candidate. Isn't that the role of the mainstream press? To find the truth?

Your type of article is just the latest example of exactly what is wrong with the mainstream press today, little reporting of actual news (the fact that you met 12 people somewhere in the country who believe Rush Limbaugh is not news) instead of perpetuating lies. Are you really just that lazy? Or is there something more sinister in your intent?

Perhaps you should read Vanity Fair's piece on the treatment of Al Gore in 2000: http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/10/gore200710

Is this your attempt to be quoted in 2015 in VF?

I received the smear email weeks/months ago, but let me assure you, no person who would even remotely consider voting for a Democrat this Fall believes a word of it. Yes, the rock hard 30% who still support Bush might, but they aren't going to decide this election. Finding and then quoting from these nuts who attend Guiliani rallys is also not news. Even among my many very conservative friends who are not voting for either Democratic, this email and attack is meaningless. I at least give them credit when they say "we don't believe that garbage this time." (They typically use a more colorful word than garbage). Guess I can say the same about your reporting.

Very poor and very lazy journalism, if one can even call it that.

Please don't print this garbage on real paper.

Shame, shame.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

muslim_obama — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:19:07 GMT

This is RIDICULUS.

"Muslim Smear Hurt Obama"

I Am an AMerican and a Muslim (proud to be both). Its insulting to me.

I spent my last 3 years fighting for Americans - in the urban area, fighting for Americans (YES, I DID).

There is nothing WRONG being a Muslim. We are Humans, YOU THE MEDIA, please TREAT us like one.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

liquidlife — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:23:44 GMT

The new title is pretty inadvertly offensive as well. If I were an american muslim I might be offended. It's true people will believe what they want to based on their prejudices. I doubt that either candidate will get off easy with the smear campaining. Muslims have so much in common with evangelical christians, and even jews. Why all the animosity. Like when the japanese americans were herded up when pearl harbor happened. It's racism. It's a problem many places and if a freaking evangelical christian blew up a plane would they recieve the same animosity. Since our country is very diverse and will vote it is my hope that they would be disgusted by the smear tactics. But all too often people chose to be closeminded. This must on an evolutionary level have helped people, and still does.(but what kind of people) We don't feel as bad about the t-shirt we got at target that some laotian girl made for pennies because she is not our daughter. Well I am trying to be the change I want to see in the world. We effect each other so much.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Juanis — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:30:50 GMT

This woman is a school teacher? That's comforting. Thank God I don't have any kids in Boca Raton schools.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

la4dst — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:31:35 GMT

I think its amazing how so 'concerned' people are, not because of any evidence of a non Christian background but because of his name. Who cares if his father was a Muslim? He was raised by his white CHRISTIAN mother and white CHRISTIAN grandparents. His father had little influence in the man he is today. Its amazing how so called reporters attempt to 'just tell the news or relay information from the ground' when in fact there are perpetuating the problem. Its a lie and only idiots would believe it. And I agree there is nothing wrong with Muslim candidates. The Oklahoma bombing wasn't orchestrated by Muslims. There are extremists in EVERY religion. Those that are complaining or are concerned probably don't go to church. Just another bunch of hypocrites. Shame on you for perpetuating these lies. You should focus on the fact that during the Clinton presidency the government ignored the Rwanda massacre. Or you can speak on how social programs were cut during the Clinton years and perhaps how that may again happen under another Clinton presidency. Or you can discuss how EXTREME and culturally polarizing Huckabee will be were he to be elected. A reporter's job is to speak on the facts and not perpetuate rumors. Its a pathetic attempt to sway undecided voters.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

perci m — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:31:50 GMT

The mystery of easthern names: arab/ barak/ akbar/ rack/ crak/ amab, are we facing doomsday?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

michelle567890 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:33:30 GMT

How do you know it's a "smear"? Why do his supporters support him so much when he is completely unknown. His election was going nowhere until Oprah opened her big mouth. She just wants a black man in office. The black doesn't bother me, but the name Hussein, the lack of any noteworthy accomplishments, the risk that he is a con man conning millions of ignorant Americans, bothers me tremendously. ANY other candidate running is a better choice than this one. For God's sake, people, Obama is not a sensible choice. Don't get on the Hollywood bandwagon. You know how those people live. We certainly know enough about Hillary to have no doubt about her loyalty to the USA, likewise McCain. The biggest issue they must solve when the take office is the deficit. What kind of experience does Obama have in this regard? Oh. NONE. Oh. Well, what the hell do we need him for? Oh. A romantic notion about electing the first black man who won't engage in the usual politics. B.S. Folks, you better vote for Hillary and send this guy back to the shadows. Our future is at stake!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

fearmongure — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:34:38 GMT

I can't believe the ignorance of some of you people. Barack is the son of white woman from Kansas and raised by his white grandparents in Hawaii for most of his life. And you all fear he's some secret Muslim. With that you're basically saying every Muslim is a terrorist. It's ironic that the people that perpetuate these Muslim lies are people that pretend like this wasn't a country of people that enslaved and lynched people, blew up clinics in the name of religion, etc.

Also, when Barack was born in the 6o's, I'm sure no one thought anything of his name. I'm certain prior to 9/11 no one thought much of his name. This tells you how shallow people are. The funny thing is, Barack grew up a little white boy just like half the people criticizing him.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

millerdt2001 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:35:31 GMT

I'm a Republican, so right away I'm not voting for Obama or Hilary either way. McCain is a military man like myself so theres where my vote will be going. I say this just so everyone knows where my loyalties lie and why. But if I had to choose between the two Dem candidates right now, I would choose Clinton, even though I didnt like the Clintons the first time around. I know everything there is to know about HRC and Bill. OTOH, I, like many Americans know nothing about Obama, especially his past. For the last 20 years he's been a Christian? Fine, but most men are made what they are in their youth. Of his youth I know virtually nothing, and I think Obama and the media havent been very helpful telling the story of his youth. Was he a Muslim? Has he changed? Where did he go to school? Obama better get his story out, before the Republicans get it out for him. This all rests on his shoulders, not the author of this story or any of the posters. If he wants to be president, he needs to address this issue squarely. Silence leads to suspicion. Laugh all you want bout Rush using his middle name, there is a vacuum in Obama's past and if he doesnt fill it his opponents will. As a military member currently, I would feel a lot better about serving under him if I knew more about him, and rest assured, if he is elected I would serve just as proudly as I do now. God Bless.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

amurcia — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:35:32 GMT

Yes, I'm an independent and what I have read about Obama worries me. It is what it is now and

I'm not about to take CHANCES, neither is my family or friends. He is winning but with liberals

and young voters, that does not know any better. If he wins the nomination

he will not be president, so he needs to step down for the party so we can really take back

America, he is such a rookie, and we still do not what his plan is for America. He talks a good

story but there is no substance, behind his words. His record in both senates is very poor if not

scary.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ceojuliej — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:37:11 GMT

Obama knows NOTHING about foreign policy. That is the most devastating problem to our longitivity. And Obama has not been criticized by the PRESS or by the REPUBLICANS... YET. He is starting to act cocky and he won't no what to do if they come after him like they came after Hillary. If we lose Hillary, we are in big trouble. This guy is a great speaker, but he wants to employ people to tell him what to do and that is how George W hurt the US. Obama is NOT the guy for us. IF WE WANT CHANGE we must get Hillary in. Stop the goofiness of an oratorical giant. Hope is great, but words are going to get us anywhere. We need experience and the right kind of action. Hillary is our only chance!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

johncarcerano — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:38:24 GMT

your liberal bias shows. you would bet your life that barack is not muslim. your piece makes anyone who thinks he's muslim feel like crap for being so stupid to even think a thing. here is THE FACT THAT BARACK IS MUSLIM. ON THE SEAN HANNITY SHOW ALL LAST YEAR HE PLAYED A TAPE OF BARACK GIVING A SPEECH TO A MUSLIM GROUP. HE IS QUOTED SAYING " if given a choice between my muslim brothers and the american people, i stand with my muslim brothers" CASE CLOSED! HE SAID IT HIMSELF, HE IS A MUSLIM.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

charlesaristotle — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:39:06 GMT

Andrew--provocative piece. He isn't linked to Islam--and time on the trail should prove that to the vast majority of the population. At the same time, were there links, they absolutely WOULD matter. You're joining others with the notion that "He's clearly not a Muslim, but if he were, it wouldn't matter either." That certainly is not the case. It is neither uncharitable nor reactionary to suggest that Islam is the most destructive and repressive (major) system of thought in the world. After 9/11, I was one of thos who passionately trumpeted the idea that "we need to be careful not to lump all Muslims into the categroy with these small numbers of radicals." And while, from a a civil liberties standpoint, that is absolutely true, at the same time, the systems of thought of potential leaders should be considered in selecting that leader. Any sect or ideology (Naziism, a religious cult, etc.) that produced even a fraction of the frequency and volume of violence and human rights violations that modern Islam does would--and never should--produce a candidate who would be considered for leadership (violence aside, would you vote for Tom Cruise for President?). Yet for some reason, Islam gets a free pass. As if it is an eastern version of the western worlds' Christianity. Uh, not so. I will potentially vote for Obama--and excitedly so. But were he a Muslim, I'd be fighting him tooth and nail, like I would anyone with a tie to any other radical and dangerious ideology.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

calico — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:41:37 GMT

Senator Obama's relgious problem? It amazes me how you Hillaryites and surrogates, watch the BILLARY play at going to "church" on Sundays , mostly for political reasons, giving your heartfelt endorsement of their immoral ways. Mr. Bill has openly broken the commandments several times without hesitation, yet Mr. Obama has a religious problem?

Talk about calling the kettle black!

Before you Hillary supporters start throwing stones at Mr. Obama you need to check the status of your own religious household first. What goes around comes around. Ask Mrs. Billary how she feels after continually playing her deck of race cards, for her "I'll say or do anything to win" campaign. Religion isn't even part of their conscience.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

mike.cram — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:46:14 GMT

“Over the past few months, it's become clear that there are some shady people out there bent on spreading the claim----completely, inarguably, demonstrably false--that Obama is a "crypto-Muslim Manchurian candidate." It started with a set of untraceable viral emails, which say that "Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background" and ask "Can a good Muslim become a good American?" (the answer, they add, is no). . . His typical response? "The American people are, I think, smarter than folks give them credit for."

=========================

Now Andrew, aren’t you lending credence to this ridiculous, conspiracy theory smear campaign by not decrying it completely and tacitly implying that Barack Obama is somehow naïve in thinking that Americans are smarter than "poundits” (sp. intended) like you take us for. Implying that Americans are somehow xenophobic by nature or twisted to bad ends by our fear of the terrorist is a media distortion and has no credibility in punditry backed by polls? You are either intentionally trying to further the reach of this lie, or are naïve yourself in thinking that you wrote an article exposing the artifice behind it. An outright condemnation of this would have been more appropriate, not a tongue in cheek tweak of the candidate.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

fearmongure — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:47:12 GMT

Why do people keep saying Barack isn't saying anything? Are you guys watching the debates and listening to every speech. For example, he wants to lower health care costs while Hillary wants to mandate health care on each and every one of us. Baracks speech in 2002 about Iraq was just about identical to what Dick Cheney said in 1994 about what would happen if we entered into Iraq. It was like they both saw into the future. Of course, Dick Cheney went against his better judgement. My goodness, I know why most Americans can't find countries on a map or name people in our government. They hear but don't listen. Also, it's becoming a universal talking point to just say, Barack gives a good speech. (sigh)

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

HolyRoller — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:47:12 GMT

I very much appreciate the volume of attention that has been created by simply stating the obvious. The sitting President of these United States has been accused of everything from stealing the Office of President to carrying out 9/11. However, when these same individuals choice of candidates is revealed to be what he is, an ISLAMIC SYMPATHIZER AT BEST, then the people making these statements are going too far, and need to be stopped. Well cry me a river.

This American will do whatever I can to even the playing field. As the old saying goes-"if it gets too hot, then stay out of the kitchen." We need a real Commander-In-Chief in these dangerous times. As McCain has said, "when you point a gun, you had better be willing to pull the trigger."

GOD BLESS AMERICA-He will not abandon His people.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Maisha — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:48:33 GMT

Am I the only one that becomes more and more ashamed as I watch our media, our politicians, and ourselves discuss the reasons for supporting or not supporting a candidate. Who has time for senseless absurdities such as whether Barack Obama is a Muslim or whether he exaggerated his drug use. PEOPLE, Americans lives are in the balance- in Iraq, in lower in middle class communities, in our schools. Return your focus to that which is important. The president is a human being. The president needs a country of citizens that can unite to implement the right solutions to the issues that face our country. We can not afford to lose this race to elementary gossip and innuendo.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

jaymiller — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:54:05 GMT

michelle567890, I'm sorry, but I believe you are posting to the wrong site. Fox News is at www.foxnews.com. You will find many people there willing to share your fears about how all Muslims, all 1.6 billion of them, are trying to kill Americans and drink our blood, and how Barack Obama is part of this conspiracy. You can also share with them your thoughts about how Britney Spears just gave birth to a two-headed Elvis clone, since you probably got that in an email too.

Now that we that have that out of the way, in defense of Mr. Romano, I've been following his stumper posts for quite some time now and can honestly say that he has been quite complimentary to Senator Obama. I believe the point he is trying to make here, and unfortunately is getting lost in a poor choice of semantics in titling this post (that's twice Andrew!), is that despite our best efforts, the American electorate still seems to be vastly uninformed about Barack Obama's religious beliefs (not that they should matter), and that the Republican party, if their attack machine turns out to be all that its cracked up to be, is likely to capitalize on this misinformation by peddling to the irrational fears of these folks to scare up votes again (see the posts from HolyRoller and michelle567890). So in sum:

1. Religious beliefs in a perfect world should not matter in a presidential candidate, but most certainly do in reality land.

2. Barack Obama is a Christian.

3. Many uninformed people believe that he is a Muslim, and due to either explicit (see HolyRoller) or implicit irrational fears, believe he is part of some crazy conspiracy to conquer the universe.

4. It would be easier to convince these people that Obama is a Christian (undisputable fact), and hence could not be a part of some crazy conspiracy, than it would be to convince these people that their fears are irrational (racism and hatred are NOT rational feelings, so no amount of logic, no matter how compelling, is likely to change a mind).

5. Andrew Romano has picked a crappy title for this stumper posting twice now.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Juanis — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:54:08 GMT

Hey Michelle567890

So Obama is not a COMPLETE American? I’d love to know how you arrived at that conclusion. He was born in Hawaii, which even you must know is one of the 50 U.S. states. Which makes him every bit as much of an American as you – or your beloved Mitt Romney.

Look, there are many acceptable reasons for not supporting Barack Obama. He’s young, he’s inexperienced, he’s never dealt with foreign policy in his life, etc. But hells bells, get off the name game. After all, the guy who will be the Republican nominee has the same first name as a noted serial killer (Dillinger – gasp!).

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

xxkcwolfxx — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:55:37 GMT

I think as a whole we give the american public to much credit. To honestly believe that no will care whether Barack is a "Muslim" or not is niave and foolish. I live in texas and fully intend to vote for Barrack on March 4. I have a friend that lives in Alabama and we were talking the other night and she told me that she voted for Hillary and her only reasoning for not voting for Barack was that he was Muslim. The upset me to no end, and we spent about twenty minutes arguing about his religious background. I am a young Black American, NOT AFRICAN-AMERICAN, Black American, and the color of my skin has no bearing on how i feel about this country, nor does my religious background. By some people beliefs I should have three wives and think that there is nothing wrong with that because I was raised as a mormon for most of my formative years. As we grow and get older and experiance things and interact with people around us, this interaction is what truly helps formulate what kind of person you are and are going to be. And that generally happens after we have left our parents households. The fact the Barack has been a practicing Christian since he was 26 speaks volumes for him and his religious beliefs. Had his beliefs been formulated by his parents (as most of our beliefs are) he would be agnostic. But due to the people he met most likely in college he is now a christian and has been for 20 years, NOT A Muslim as some people would and do believe, nor is he agnostic as his father is. The Bias and bigotry in the country never cease to amaze me. We stand on the brink of making history and I am amazed that people would choose not to vote for a canidate just because he might be Muslim.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

amurcia — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:57:35 GMT

For all of you at there. He was `raised as a muslim, he change his religion in order to be able

to appeal to the american voters. He belongs to a very radical church that hates Israel. These

are not our american values folks!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

bluethunder1962 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:57:53 GMT

When you are one step away from being a card-carrying member of the Bush squad of "If we say it enough; if we write it enough; if we lie enough, it becomes true." Well, time to go over and ask Hillary for a job as her newest puppet and hope you out-last Patti, as you don't even pass muster as a journalist turned pundit turned advisor turned chief campaign strategist. I'm not even sure how you ended up affiliated with Newweek. I am a subscriber to its magazine and I never see you mentioned. Maybe you can take your below-average journalistic efforts back to a community college or continuing education program that might help you realize your potential.

Who are you besides a hate-spewing clown? I would offer that you should consider taking your act back to the circus of poor slight-of-hand and visable "oops" moments as a third-rate carny act. And, you have now passed into the realm of passing on and spreading racist rants. You are pathetic.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

amurcia — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:00:33 GMT

For all of you at there. He was `raised as a muslim, he change his religion in order to be able

to appeal to the american voters. He belongs to a very radical church that hates Israel. These

are not our american values folks!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

gr8_faithful1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:03:09 GMT

Just because Obama's father was Muslim does not mean anything negative. He is multiracial and in many ways this is a positive thing. His father left him when he was two years old, and he was raised by his mother and grandmother as a Christian.

Obama knows the meaning of struggling as a citizen to get where he is today. He had to work hard to get where he is now; which is why people respect him, and he also respects people who are still struggling to get somewhere.

If people can get past all the junk that the press and others put out in the media, they may realize that the Muslim community may see Obama as an asset to the Presidency of the U.S. He may actually be a President that they want to try and work with in a civil way instead of through terrorism. We will never know until he gets in office. Just the fact that Obama's father is Muslim may give the impression that they may feel Obama is on their side. It does not mean Obama is a traiter to the U.S. at all. Who knows it may work kind of like reverse psychology.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

nycdjguy — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:03:39 GMT

"MUSLIM" ISSUE IS NOT THE PROBLEM - IT'S THE CHURCH BARACK OBAMA BELONGS TO!

I think a lot of people are not hitting hard enough on a very important point: it's not this Muslim issue/non-issue that's troubling about Senator Obama. It's the Trinity United Christian Church and Obama's pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright - and the media is not probing hard enough on this. Yes, Senator Obama has said he disagrees with some of the things that Rev. Wright says/does, especially Wright's support of the black Muslim Minister, Louis Farrakhan - who is unabashedly anti-Semitic and often spews anti-white rhetoric. (the Church even gave this bigot, Farrakhan, an award). Sen. Obama needs to be pressed harder on this -why doesn't he agree to leave this Church if its leadership supports people with so much hate? Qutoing from the Jerusalem Post 1/30/08: "The United Church of Christ to which Obama does belong has taken harsh anti-Israel positions that Obama has not repudiated boldly." Most mainstream media hasn't touched this with a ten foot pole!

If the Obama candidacy is really about "unity" he should strongly denounce his church's leadership - and Minister Farrakhan, both of which have supported ideals that are anything but unifying -- rather quite divisive

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

holyroller2 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:09:56 GMT

BARACK OBAMA comes to us like a thief in the night,mesmerize our young and weak minded people into thinking that he is our savior, I've alway's been taught that a man would come into this world and win over the people with his charm.

He.s known to me and the lord JESUS as the antichrist.

holy roller2

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

AJ from KY — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:11:22 GMT

First of all, Obama is not Muslim. He continuously states it, he attends church regularly, and he was sworn to office with his hand on the Bible. What more does he have to do to prove to ignorant people that he is Christian and not Muslim? Second of all, whether he is Muslim or not what is the problem? So because a few crazy terrorists murdered innocent people makes all Muslims bad or terrorists? Don't forget there were a few hundred Muslims that also died in the Twin Towers.

Third thing is for all those ignorant people again; I happen to be a Muslim. I served ten years in the Army. I went to Iraq for a year with the 101st Airbourne Division (Air Assault). I wanted to serve more time but we elected a Texas cowboy into office. My father came here wanted to start a life in this great country of freedom. He opened and restaurant but it was burnt down by people who don't like Middle Easterners. I hear about these racist remarks about one's religion makes me think "Is this really America?"

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

DogBitez — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:12:32 GMT

Well, that was an irresponsible and highly questionable article. Certainly makes me rethink the integrity of Newsweek. And it makes me sick to my stomach to hear or read any American's comments that are suspicious or intolerant of the Muslim religion... as though Christianity is some ultimate beacon of benevolence. What an ugly mean-spirited country we've become.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

camaras2 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:19:50 GMT

Andrew, I had been a keen and interested reader of your articles recently. However, your recent comments about Obama'a muslim background are baise and clearly reveals the Pro-Clinton in you. I bet she will make you her next campaingn manager if she loses in Texas or Ohio.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

progressive4change — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:21:24 GMT

Okay, the relative ignorance of a significant portion of the American public, of which many of my conservative Southern in-laws are a representation of, have voiced concerns over the truth of the email mentioned above. I would have argued against the need for electoral votes given the pervasive nature of the media, however, because so many seem so willing to believe such crap. I wish we could all just become literate and discerning.....

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Juanis — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:22:53 GMT

AJ from KY

No, this isn't the real America, at least I hope not. Through ignorance -- and there have been plenty of examples of that on this thread -- often comes fear.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Got2beTru — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:27:29 GMT

Has anyone discussed the question of "does Obama believe in the Pledge of Allegiance" ??

If so why has he refused stand and observe this. If he does not believe in it's validity, is this the "NEW" type of leader we need as our President.???

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

OBWan — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:35:09 GMT

While I am an independent - I do believe that the malicious intent of the rumors brings this to the level of libel.

Very dangerous for those who started the rumor if every found.

Oh! yes, I had my name long before StarWars was every released.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Not Hopeful 08 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:36:51 GMT

Gee, I would hate to see how most of you would react if someone actually wrote a negative article on Obama! The response to this article is demonstrative of the current problem with the U.S. If someone says, does, or suggests something you do not agree with they must be wiped from the earth. Why not celebrate being challenged to think instead of spewing the same ol garbage? I am a lifelong democrat and can honestly say that I have never been more underwhelmed by my choices for President. Any of the current choices will be more of the same. I read this article and did not come away with a message that we should be concerned with this man's religious leanings. On the contrary, it appeared the author was trying to make sure that his readers were aware that he WAS NOT. If an Obama presidency is a return to camelot, why hasn't he come out against REAL ID, et al? All I keep hearing is we need to protect ourselves and this will help. Protect us? More likely, protect Washington from thinking Americans. Pretty easy to get everyone divided and fighting in the party. Just throw in claims of racism or sexism and all focus is lost. C'mon people, this election is not about black/white or male/female. We need to roll back some of the garbage strewn on us over the last 7 years. Keep arguing over stupid, petty crap and we will end up with war mongering MCain in 08.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

holyroller2 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:37:10 GMT

Hopefully the "MUSLIM' smear will wake the american people up.

ONCE A MUSLIM ALWAYS A MUSLIM.

HOLY ROLLER2

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

jijika — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:38:24 GMT

I am so tired of the media focusing on Obama. It is the media that is putting all the extra hype into Obama. Understand, he is a one term Senator, he does not have the experience it will take to take this country out of the pit Bush is leaving it in. You may not like Bill Clinton, but Hillary does have the experience, the understanding and the clout to deal with international issues. Get over it. If Obama wins the nomination (what Republicans want) he will lose in the general election. Media as a sell-out is nothing new.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

OBWan — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:40:18 GMT

Obama both stands and leads the Pledge of Allegiance.

Please check your facts.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Chris_1972 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:41:39 GMT

AJ-thanks for your service to your country, and I'm very sorry to hear of the hatred your family faced. Can anyone address the apostasy issue I raised in my earlier post? Namely, will Obama be viewed as an apostate by fundamentalist muslims for his conversion to Christianity, and be sentenced to death?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

hope-3 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:48:45 GMT

America is letting it's voice be heard with it's over whelming support of obama in these past days.The clintons are trying to make this a black and white issue,it is not.Bringing up issues that have notihng to do with who is best at running the country is exactly what team clinton wants you to focus on.Obama is not a muslim.He has stated this over and over many times.Does obama have baggage(negatives in his background)of course he does,but compared to the clintons his is only carry on.Theirs would require an entire plane?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Hawkdawg — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:49:18 GMT

"Background suspect"--what kind of conspiracy-theory bunk is that? Same thing people were whispering about Kennedy umpteen years ago, and equally intellectually bankrupt.

"acheivements inconsequential"-- Obama's achievements absolutely dwarf our sitting President's, to begin with. Separately, a degree from Columbia and President of the Harvard Law Review, graduating magna *** laude, a stint as a state legistlator and a United States Senator is a good start.

"experience lacking"--true enough. But "experience" is not at the top of my list for a President. Intelligence, depth, rhetorical skills that inspire, empathy, confidence that allows for changing one's mind--all these missing in Bush--are far more important to me.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

amurcia — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:49:23 GMT

Thank you Andrew for this article I know for a fact that Obama changed his faight to christian

for political gain. If you read his book there is concern. Also tf you watch him carefully you can

see that he is calculating aloof and disrespectful. His wife is very very troubling and angry. The

republicans will eat him alive. We democrats or anyone out there who wants change can forget

about for now, unless we get behind the candidate that is prepared to delivered change as "

love for the USA, our values , and prosperity"

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Ned123 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:50:49 GMT

Chris 1972: Regarding your "apostasy" question: Obama didn't "convert" to christianity. He was never a muslim to begin with.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

onecommonman — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:50:51 GMT

Has anyone seen or heard of a 527, Right Wing, grainy, black and white, slow motion ad showing Barack snorting lines of cocaine? The image grows dark as the camera zooms into one of his pupils and an image of him speaking to school children fills the screen with a foreboding voice-over saying: Barack Hussein Obama: Inspiring America's Children?

Is this true? I hope Barack can inoculate himself from what the swift boat producers have prepared for the general election. Maybe the Clinton's are doing us a favor by prepping him for these kinds of attacks.

The other ad is of Barack buying cocaine from a dealer in a dark alley. The ad is grainy and black and white. The scroll across the screen: "Barack Hussein Obama Preparing Himself to Lead the United States"

If these ads are proven to exist, Hillary should denounce them and Barack should challenge them to be shown! Let's not have another Kerry episode! We need to be united against these tactics! It was admirable for Barack to admit to taking Cocaine and it’s a testament to his inner strength that he was able to stop doing drugs on his own!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

bowman07 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:52:46 GMT

Andrew -

Your post actually lends legitimacy to these hateful rumors. Have you seen some of these member comments? Do you think it is really enlightening people as to the "dangers" of an Obama candidacy by giving voice to unfounded smears? You may not be working off of the Clinton talking points, but your post is nothing less than a hit piece. Maybe you could devote your next post to John McCain's well-known psychological imbalance from being a prisoner of war. Does McCain have the temperament to be our commander in chief? Or maybe asking how Bill Clinton's efforts to secure a uranium mining deal with a Kazhakstan dictator for his Canadian friend helped them get a $130 million donation to the Clinton foundation, and whether that really squares with the international human rights issues she supposedly supports. These are facts, not lies. But you've succeeded in what you set out to do -- set this smear in motion again, now linked to the front page of MSNBC. I hope you sleep well at night.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

cmseric — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:55:22 GMT

Is there intelligent life out there?

Let me get this straight. Barack Obama is martin Luther king, John F Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and the vision for America’s future just because he voted against the war. This man is none of the above!

Martin Luther king was a man of religion and conviction a true inspiration to mankind he spoke in a time that could and did take his life. He led the biggest protest gathering to the steps of the white house.

If Mr.Obama wants to be in martins shoes he should have inspired a protest against the war in Iraq. Not just a vote. This man is no John F. Kennedy. John was an American hero and decorated navy war hero in a time of war.

Mr.Obama did not even serve in our arm forces. These are very big shoes for Obama to fill or anyone else for that matter. And as for the kennedy family indorsing this pretender they should be ashamed of themselves the kennedy dead must be rolling over in their graves over this one.

This man is no Robert Kennedy. Robert Kennedy was a senator and attorney general in a time when organized crime ruled our country by corruption yet bobby went against them and lost his life.

Mr.Obama is not even a full black man. Give me a break! Bill was right this is the biggest fantasy of all time.

There are a lot of great black men that should be leaders of this country, who are truly who they are not trying to be someone else.

George Bush is an *** not because he led us to war. Because he is running this country in to the ground. And this is against the will of the people.

We went to war to for a reason and most Americans voted for the war.

Are we all wrong too? Mr.Obama!

What we did not vote for was occupation of Iraq and that’s why this president has lost his popularity and the will of the people. Let me tell you about a first lady that does have the quality’s of the men above. Hillary Clinton fought a republican congress that has no place for women of power they prefer the first lady of our country to stay home and bake cookies.

Not this lady! Despite all odds she took the challenge and fought the big boys on the right. And that was a first and an original move and that inspires me to believe that she has what Bobby, John and martin had, and that’s no fantasy.

Mr.Obama I think some day you will lead this country!

I just believe that Hillary is the better choice right now and she deserves it because she worked for it.

So stop playing the black card and do something that really inspires people! Get your own identity and stop using our heroes. They made their mark and so has Hillary why don’t you make your own.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

charlesthutchins — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:55:36 GMT

Andrew, Barack Obama did not help his own cause by initially lying about ever having been a Muslim. The facts have been verified and re-verified. His father was a Muslim. His father gave him a Muslim name - Barack Hussain Obama. After his mother divorced she married another Muslim man. In Indonesia, Barack Obama attended a non-Muslim school, but was registered as a Muslim. He took Islamic study classes in this school. He attended a local mosque in Indonesia. His school records and his former classmates have verifed these 'uncomfortable' facts. His conversion to Chrisitanity came prior to his first run for political office. It was a lie to say he was never a Muslim. If his conversion to Christianity was heartfelt why did he feel a need to lie about how he was raised.

It is curious to note that, in January 2008, the pastor of his church, trinity United Church, heaped praise upon and gave a Lifetime Achieverment award to the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Google it. It was widely reported. Guess there were not any Christians meriting such an award. Better to give awards to a hateful anti-semite. Some more Kool-Aid Andrew?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

cpaul — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:56:27 GMT

I laugh on the Notion of some people posting " you think americans are that stupid", HELLO!!, Americans elected G.W.Bush, not only once, but twice.and you still doubt it??

Regarding this Muslim report, I think is important for many people, but I don't consider it important, there are many legitimate questions about Obama, and nobody really stands and ask them.

Americans, once again are followers, and can't think on their own,,

some of the legitimate questions are:

-why Obama has "no Votes " everytime that some real important legislation did come thru? why not take a stand on something? , Edwards asked him the same. How are going to judge his position if he never voted when was important (of course nobody can accused him of any wrong doing, nor left or right of the issue)

- why will people elect sombody that has never managed anything, not even a small bussines, and proven a succesful enterprenuer or great managerial or economic skill?? will you hired someone like that for your own bussiness, so why give him a country to try out??

- while he talks about the racism and movements in the 60's and 70's, about how other people fought, he was going to white schools w/ his white family,and never went to the getto as we know it, he's only black skin, he has never been a black man, the only time he got close to black was when he married a black woman, so why rejoice on the black culture if you never were part of it??, of course when to non for profits as all politics do. and figth for the poor. you have never been POOR... white or black or Brown.

Just ask the questions, no prejudice or politics and think for yourself..right or wrong just ask the questions..how will you know ///

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

holyroller2 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:57:30 GMT

MUSLIMS IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!

"JUST SAY NO"

holy roller2

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

jaymiller — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:01:10 GMT

Aaaagh! The humanity! Enough with the misinformation! For the love of God people, there is a fantastic search engine that exists on the very Internet that you are using to write your ignorant posts at www.google.com. I suggest you start using it. Try this:

1. Go to www.google.com

2. Type "obama muslim" in the big shiny box in the middle of the screen

3. Read.

4. Go to step 1.

5. Type "obama pledge of allegiance" in that same big shiny box.

6. Read.

If you are still not convinced, I have $5 million trapped in an offshore account of which I will give you a 10% share if you help me get the funds released. All I will need are your checking and savings account and routing numbers. And if you don't forward this message to 500 people in the next 10 seconds, gnomes are going to sneak into your room in the middle of the night and steal your underpants.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

amurcia — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:06:06 GMT

Thank you Andrew for this article I know for a fact that Obama changed his faight to christian

for political gain. If you read his book there is concern. Also tf you watch him carefully you can

see that he is calculating aloof and disrespectful. His wife is very very troubling and angry. The

republicans will eat him alive. We democrats or anyone out there who wants change can forget

about for now, unless we get behind the candidate that is prepared to delivered change as "

love for the USA, our values , and prosperity"

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Omoomojoe — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:07:13 GMT

I won't argue about religion so much, but what every American has to think of is Obama's division and in so many families. If he is a christian, he will rmember quite well that Satan started with its malecious eloquent means and divided the two creators then. Likewise does he act in malicious way to create broblems for s many families, and for real, he is not coming to unite US if he becomes US president, but only coming to cause much more distortions to every American.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Peacemaker 1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:21:07 GMT

Nothing surprises me, Andrew. America remains a bigoted country and will remain bigoted.Remember we are not born into bigotry, we acquire it -- and the badly educated person raised in a bigoted household is the only one that Obama has to confront.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

cvik — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:25:22 GMT

The gist of fellow reader comments is scary and encouraging at same time.

Scary part being -'we can't be impressed or inspired. if we are being, there must be something wrong. How can it change, what is there to change.'

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

fratboy76 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:34:38 GMT

I'm a Hilary supporter. Obama has no experience. He won't survive Republican attack. If he's the nominee, I will vote for McCain.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

grizmiler — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:38:53 GMT

Andrew,

I'm disappointed in this piece, because your missing the point and I think everyone is. The whole point is, it shouldn't matter. What happened to freedom of religion. I know Obama is a Christian, but even if he was a Muslim, it wouldn't change the way I feel about him. He's the best choice we have for President. Religion has never been and will never be a deciding factor for me. Every religion has radical factions, yes Christians included. People though the Pope would run the country when Kennedy was elected and that didn't quite happen.

Intolerance and radical religious factions are what is destroying America, not Muslims.

Muslim, Christian, Buddist, Hindu, I don't care what Obama is. I'm voting for him because of what he offers America. Hope, sound judgment, inspiration, intelligence and strong morals. Oh yes, and experience.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

apu_nahasapeemapetilon74 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:40:24 GMT

Jeez, I don't know whether to laugh or cry at some of the comments here. The notion that Muslims are dangerous is absurd. The idea that one should vote only for Christians is equally absurd. That anyone is concerned with religion at all is the height of ignorance.

If Obama is elected, what do you anti-Muslims think he's going to do? Disband the PTA in your town and replace it with an Al Qaeda cell? Fly over to Tora Bora on his magic carpet and invite terrorists back to DC for tea and cookies? Force your wives, sisters and daughters wear burqas to the beach? Give me a break. The guy is American - just like you, just like me. He loves this country. He crushed Hillary in his home state, which means he must be doing something right. If you dislike him, then at least make sure you dislike him for a logical reason. His religious beliefs, whatever they may be, do not matter. This is America. We have Muslims, we have Jews, we have Christians, we have a million other religions too. Get used to it. Otherwise, you may as well tattoo a swastika on your forehead so the more reasonable members of society can spot your bigotry more easily.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

American Eagle — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:41:31 GMT

Shame on you Andrew Romano. Why does the url for this piece still say "obama-s-pesky-muslim-problem.aspx"? You are giving life and oxygen to a stupid rumor, empowering the racists who would never vote for a black man anyway, but now hide behind a more acceptable American hatred of Muslims. Obama doesn't have a Muslim problem. Bigoted people do. Please change the url.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ChrisSinclair — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:47:34 GMT

Ok it is Islam may not be in his blood, but it is irrelevent to Barack's candidacy for President or his status as a Muslim. However, according to the traditions of Islam, he is a Muslim by birth. He and his father may be (have been) apostate, but it does not change things from an Islamic legal point of view.

In this case let's just say that the US constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion trumps the Quran and Hadiths. No Muslim will agree, but in America it is a fact. Yes this issue will dog him and it will never go away because it may be relevent.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ajafri — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:48:25 GMT

Is Mr. Romano immitating Bob Kerry? Or is it the Paul Begala act from CNN? A night before New Hampshire primary, ala Newsweek here, CNN also ran a "warm" and "soft" and seemingly benign story on Obama and his "muslim" grandmother in Kenya. The first thought that came to my mind was Paul Begala and the other Clinton hacks at CNN was floating Obama's related fears at the last minute with no time for Mr. Obama to respond and no time for voters to find the truth. Mrs. Clinton was sinking then just as she is now but pulled out a miracle - like the one she needs tomorrow! Coincidence? I like to believe I am wrong but I wont be surprised to see the result are not as expected in tomorrow's primaries. It is sad indeed.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Peacemaker 1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:52:26 GMT

Andrew, allow me to add something without pointing an accusatory finger at anyone. People arguing forHillary's presidency solely on the basis of experience need to study history. Think of Bush, Saddam, etc. Also think of many of our elected national representatives' long, lon years of political experience. Finally, look at Hillary's campaign tactics and her long work as a corporate lawyer. Compare and contrast all of tose experiences with that of Barack Obama. Experience does not change thigns, a fresh start in the lfie of our country does.

Please note that while I switched to Obama last week -- I havebeen a Hillary supporter for so long, and I regret being misinformed and mislead on Hillary's qualities and background. This election should not be about experience vs. change; it should be about change vs. unity.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ph_soft — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:54:31 GMT

Very biased article, and definitely it will harm the message of hope by Obama and eventually articles like this will hurt the reputation of Newsweek magazine to the level of tabloid news magazine.

The article undermined the profession of good journalism.

Ph_soft

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

news_to_me — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:58:15 GMT

Hey, NoMooseLimbs,

Don't include me in your "us" ("That's us folks."). White people aren't the only ones who can read or use the internet. Or vote.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

tider — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:03:56 GMT

Obama's father and grandfather were muslims and it's not a smear. They very fact that Andrew Romano uses the term "smear", shows that he is an Obama shill trying to spread pro-Obama propaganda. The very fact that the Democratic Party, six years after 9-11, is in the process of choosing such a nominee shows a serious disconnect with Middle America. The campaign has not even begun and McCain is already showing nearly 20% strength among Democrats. This will only widen with time. It is not NBC News who will be choosing the next president. By and large, the next president will be chosen by moderates and whites. Neither constituency is part of Obama's march to a McGovernesque nomination.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

news_to_me — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:07:06 GMT

Based on what I've read, "holyroller2" sounds WAAAY scarier and more "dangerous" than Obama.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Wilfred — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:17:52 GMT

I'm surprised that your noted magazine even bothered to mention the contents of the malicious email doing the rounds around the world about Barak Obama's alleged 'Muslim' links. Blatantly false according to http://snopes.com/

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

vizon — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:20:09 GMT

wat is this really about????????-i wonder if u/r not planting a seed-or is this wat u/r supposed 2/do as a writer -trust me it is only going 2/get worse for obama and we black folks know itr-nothing in america really changes-von

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

AJ from KY — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:21:25 GMT

You know what our problem is? Instead of asking how can we kill these Islamic extremists, we should be asking why do they hate us so much? Well I asked that question when I was in Iraq. And I asked more than one. They say, believe it or not, that they envy the US and that they wish they had the type of democracy we have after a tyrant like Saddam Hussein. But the one thing they disagree with is our foreign policy. American soldiers and CIA do a lot of harm to other countries that citizens of America do not hear about. I asked the same question to Palestinians in Jerusalem and they say they idolize a lot of things about Americans. But they don't understand why America always stands for Israel over anything. Israeli spies have been caught in the US yet you don't hear about it. Israel gets billions every year from the US and we have veterans who are homeless. We need to be fair all around the world or we will have this world divided and that looks scary.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ajafri — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:21:34 GMT

Neil Armstrongs words, a small step for man and a giant step for mankind, as he stepped on the moon - bigots among us would sow fears in our hearts to deny a giant step for America to march into the frontiers of equality and brotherhood. But we wont let go of this opportunity - Obama 08. Yes We Can!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

CAMPY — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:22:45 GMT

OBAMA HAS NOTHING MUCH IN COMMON WITH REAL AMERICANS WHO WERE BORN AND "RAISED" IN THE AMERICAN TRADITION. HE HAS NOTHING IN COMMON WITH THE AMERICAN BLACK PEOPLE, HE HAS NOTHING IN COMMON WITH "ANY" CHRISTIAN AMERICAN. AFTER ALL, HOW MANY AMERICANS WAS RAISED BY AN ATHIEST AND A MUSLIM??? WHAT HE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT IN DEPTH IS SOMETHING THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE CONCERNED. I AM A DEMOCRAT, AND WILL NEVER VOTE FOR HIM. IF HE WINS THE PRIMARY I AND ALL THE OTHER DEMOCRATS THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY HAVE DECIDED TO VOTE REPUBLICAN..........THAT'S REALITY.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Lance - SF — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:31:45 GMT

Wow.... some firestorm you've set off here, eh Andrew? First of all, I'll say i often read your work and feel for you in the accusations of "bias.".... People will find this "bias" when they disagree with what you've written. I'm sure you know it to be part of the job at this point.

In reading the above article, I feel you handled a difficult subject as carefully and thoroughly as possible.

Ultimately, I end up in feeling like this: if indeed we know the accusations to be false, then covering them, even as fairly as you've done, only lends credence to them and supports those who keep these admitted "smears" going. It is ultimately a disservice to the truth. Yes, there is truth to the fact that the Rovian machine will utilize this untrue smear in everyway possible... covertly and overtly but, it remains untrue and a smear and to me that is where responsible journalism needs to draw the line: to not propogate and enforce that which is not true. Believe me, I respect your work and your efforts here but, I think the buck needs to stop at the truth. The truth is Senator is not a Muslim. He never has been a Muslim. There are no "even if's" that are relevant here. He wasn't and isn't. Let the paranoid minority be just that, the minority.... the "terrorists" have already won in their case.

Barack Obama is a good, honorable, honest man who loves this country and is working every day to be a leader that can fundamentally change politics in this country. Vetos and filibusters or the threat of them has left this government paralyzed for all intent and purpose for the past 20 years and it is time...... we are up to the axle and the wheels just keep spinning.

Though there have been many excellent posts in here among the spattering of hate and ignorant fear, there is one that stood out to me so strongly that I'm going to copy and paste it here in hopes that it might reach another few readers eyes.... this commenter, though perhaps a bit harsh in her/his assessment of the view of the U.S. by the rest of the world, is otherwise a voice of reason in terms of what is going on in this campaign.

________________________________________________________________

Posted By: chelbelle (February 11, 2008 at 9:25 PM)

Surely people we want to enter a new era. If the politicians want to sling mud at each other then let them, as someone mentioned, they're grown ups they can cope.

If people want to incorrectly label Obama a Muslim then fine, it opens a forum for discussion.

But why is everyone so darn angry at each other. Why scoff at Obama's calls for change? Why ridicule and mistrust an ideal.

I think John McCain, Hilary Clinton and Barak Obama are all good people with much purer intentions for their campaigns than what we've had so far.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ajafri — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:32:44 GMT

CAMPI:

I am a republican but will vote for Obama solely because he is the best candidate that inspires me like no other candidate. Not all Republicans are bigots but yes there is a crowd that you fit right in.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Johnny1967 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:45:42 GMT

Obama should welcome the Muslim smear. As for losing votes, the people who are foolish enough to believe it, or who do not verify it, would not vote for him anyway. However, fortunately for Obama, its the kind of stupidity that will galvanize his supporters to the polls.

So this kind of smear (Muslims or Drug Use) is they type of smear Obama should welcome.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

HuntTheWumpus — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:55:49 GMT

I weep for America after reading some of these postings!! I think that there should be an intelligence test for people to vote because a good portion of you are demented!! As it was stated before, this "If I say I don't want to vote for him because he's black and that would make me a racist" mentality seems to be eased by grasping a pseudo factoid about his religion. Come on people....quit being sheep and start to research and think for yourselves....

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Mr. Ferrario — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:56:55 GMT

I for one would never vote for anyone with a middle name of "Hussein." And, I don't care what his religion is! I'm a republican who dislikes Nixon and loves Truman. But, come on people, let's think responsibly!

Now, let me tell you about this global warming B.S.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

imbred — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:30:06 GMT

If Barack Hussein Obama is indeed "muslim friendly" as one could speculate, he might be the man to end this war. Israel and the muslims could end their differences and there will be world peace. You could then concentrate on killing all the inbreds and unopen-minded citizens of the US. A good idea would be to put all "their kind" in ghettos and etc. Wait! That's been done before hasn't it. (This is in response to "bring on the inbreds"). I did not know that Obama had stated that he hated his mother's people(white people) but I'll be sure to pass that along tomorrow at the water cooler. :)

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Jion — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:43:04 GMT

Joseph Lieberman and Israeli lobbyists support John McCain and are preparing for a new war. Mike Huckebee is a third-term George of the jungle. We don’t need any crusades and war heroes, we need righteous leaders and wise politicians with new way of thinking.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Dürrenäsch — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:46:36 GMT

Observing the U.S. primaries from Europe (Switzerland), I have come to the conclusion that

not only the "Giuliani folks" still seem to have a problem with racism and bigotry, but also

many of the Clinton supporters. It is quite amazing, how many similar characteristics

there seem to be between those 2 groups when it comes to the topic of "smear and fear campaigns". Maybe a New York thing.....????

Mr. Romano obviously doesn't have a problem with racsim or bigotry.

He only seems to have a problem with impartial reporting.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Peacemaker 1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:51:36 GMT

Tider,

Only if you thought so. I mean, Andrew is simply using the word "smear" in reference to the notion that Obama is Muslim (which is false), not his grandparents or parents (which is true, although his father and grandfather were much more like atheists than real Muslims, and I doubt his father could have married an atheist were he a true Muslim). Are you having trouble articulating your pro-Hillary points or comprehending what he wrote?

I honestly do not find any perceived bias in his article. I'd commend him for confronting the very bigotry of this nation -- a nation that institutionalized slavery and racism as well as sexism as initially supported by the nation's own constitution. Slowly but surely, we had to overcome America's deeply ingrained bigtory that has been the very contributor to our nation's disunity and the Civil War as well as our misguided -- and biased -- foreign policies.

How can we claim to be the "land of liberty" and the most tolerant society when conservatives and bigots stand in the way of our democracy by trying to influence both the direction of our nation and the world we live inand the values and beliefs that we must adopt as ours?

As I stated earlier, nobody is born a bigot, a conservative, a liberal, etc. You learn to hate or love others depending on the quality of your education and the influence of your family and the media. But as you become more invovled in education -- an education with an approach that employs objectivity and stays netural on controversial issues (but challenges the attempts of a small minority of people to influence our thinking through pseudoscience)-- you'll have a fuller grasp at the realities past and present.

You need the courage and intelligence to reject being swayed by ideologues. You have to stand up for what you believe, but you also have to take responsibility for your education -- don't accept every argument you hear from anyone without a second thought and checking facts (if at all possible and if you have the time and resources). Being a critical thinker is better than being easily swayed. And by the way, it is my opinion that Andrew and Newsweek are simply rejecting bigotry, even though the media has long been accused of pandering to the racists and corporate interests. Remember that if a widespread "smear" campaign falsely portraying Hillary as, say, an evangelical in disguise tries to brainwash unwitting and misinformed voters, it will - and definitely must -- get the attention of the media and be corrected to educate us.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Baghdad Berg — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:56:03 GMT

I'm worried about what will happen if they find out he used to be black? Swift Boater's" will be all over that, calling for the return of a good ol' lynching. The nerve of a black man, or a Muslim or Jew running for President... This is America, and people of all race, creed and color are fighting right next to me here in Iraq as sick people like Andrew Romano score political points with Hiliary, and a few extra web hits because his mind is to shallow to write about how having a Muslim background might help with mending ties with some of these other countries. I work with Muslim's everyday in Iraq. They worship the same God as we do as Christians, and share many of my Christian beliefs as were played out in the bible. Bush has left this part of the world in a big mess, and Obama may just be one of the most likely American to fix this mess. And if the worst thing the Republican's can come up with, is to go after the sins of Obama's parents, then that will likely be better than a campaign with Hilary and the Republican's going after her for the sins of her husband (Monica ring a bell), or the sins of herself (Whitewater). No, I am sure the Republican's would never bring up WhiteWater again???

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Peacemaker 1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:12:13 GMT

Andrew,

After re-reading your article, I thought I should add something here.

Despite my commending you and Newsweek for calling the Obama whispering email campaign a "smear", I urge you to be netural on other matters. Try to be someone trying to help voters find facts, and don't take sides. You can, of course, support whoever your favorite candidate is, but that is not the job of the media to tell voters who is the best qualified candidate. The job of yours should be to correctng false statements by the two candidates and their suporters (or those of Republicans).

I appreciate your stand against bigotry, though. But please STOP taking sides. It is easy to influence innocent and unwitting voters by what the media has to say. Educate, as Obama said.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Peacemaker 1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:12:53 GMT

Andrew,

After re-reading your article, I thought I should add something here.

I appreciate your stand against bigotry, though. But please STOP taking sides. It is easy to influence innocent and unwitting voters by what the media has to say. Educate, as Obama said.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

thomasgwilcox — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:23:37 GMT

One thing that upsets me about this whole Barack Obama having a former Muslim background is, people need to realize that he has found God, and has said numerious times that his faith in JESUS CHRIST is a very big important roll in his life. I think the other campaigns are trying to find something to feed off of like dirty rats just to get votes from the Evangelical Christian groups to try and ward off who Barack Obama really is. He has professed Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior yet everyone wants to bring up his past as a Muslim. What ever happend to being saved and finding faith in God? If anything as other fellow Chrsitians we should REJOICE with Obama is his finding of faith in Jesus Christ. Get over yourselves and quit beng such biggots. Remember, we were all sinners at one time until we gave our lives to Jesus as well, and Obama just happens to be the same as you and I. Even if he had a Muslim background from before. Many people came from not believing in God at all, from being Pagans to believing in the powerful beauty of the Cross which Jesus died apon. Just remember where you came from... not everyone has a past they are proud of. But it is in Jesus Christ where we have forgiveness. He has forgotten about Barack Obama's previous beliefs. So why cant you?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Dürrenäsch — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:44:20 GMT

After Iowa it was clear to everyone that Hillary Clinton could not beat Obama by "regular means" (the people there had enough time to have a close look at the candidates...). That's when the tears started to flow and Bill started his little personal "crusade". After a few initial successes in New Hampshire and Nevada, they had to realize in South Carolina that the whole thing started to

backfire and so Bill was told to tone things down.

The problem is: As soon as the polemics went down, Obama went up again in the polls, which

brings us back to Iowa. If both are playing "nice", Hillary has simply no chance against Obama.

That's why she, her campaign and her surrogates in the press (Mr. Romano ??) might be tempted to try it again.

It looks like desperation.

It smells like desperation.

It is (pure) desperation.

And I'm afraid in the end it will not work.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

doc3osh — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:59:48 GMT

So? Some Christians will refuse to see that Obama's not Muslim. To them, I guess he'll be not just the first African-American president, but the first muslim president. Other Christians will crow to anyone who listens how wonderful it is that Obama "found Jesus". What's your point? If you're trying to figure out which group is more delusional, it's a waste of time.

The Republican party has for decades survived by fostering hatred of some group perceived to be "the enemy". Some years it's black people, some years it's illegal immigrants, some years it's gays... it doesn't really matter who the enemy is, as long as the Karl Rove-types can convince dumb white middle-america that SOMEONE out there is tryin' ta take what they gots. The whole point of Obama's campaign is to bring change to this country. Of course they're going to smear him, and of course it will be lies, like it was with Kerry and the Swift Boaters, or McCain and the "illegitimate black child" in 1999. If it isn't the muslim thing, it'll be some other lie. That's what Republicans do.

He'll win anyway. Fear not.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

mark.lehner — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:39:06 GMT

I am a seventh grade public school teacher in a relatively low socioeconomic, white Ohio school district. While seventh graders don't seem on the surface like a strong barometer for public opinion, the truth is actually quite to the contrary. WHile they don't tend to have very many political views of their own yet, they certainly carry their parent's views into the classroom. With that said, I have heard some of the craziest rumors about Obama out of their mouths. THey swear he is a Muslim. THey swear that he refuses to say the Pledge. THey swear that he is (still) a (heavy) drug user. I can't believe the willingness of most AMericans to believe anything they read in email. Unfortunately, this is a wave that Barack will have to fight throughout the election.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

hear-we-go — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:39:54 GMT

Romano Stop using MTV, VH1 and so called Reatity Shows as barometers of US Adults. Pay attention. Clearly Obama has a muslin background. He has admitted so. Andwhat about his Christian name? I thought so.

Once again the domocratic Party has placed bad candidates from which to chose. If not for the fact the Dems out number Reps, these candidates would not stand a chance. Add the race/sex factors and the youth vote and chances are good for either Dem candidate to be elected. This election has all the potential for a President with less to offer than Bush when he ran. Imagine that! Hope, no pray for a miracle that a good candidate will appear. Obama and Clinton are not the answer.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Kaybi — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:11:21 GMT

Dear Mr. Romano,

Color and region should be petty issues in this election in the US. Washington DC is modernday Rome. White House is a very complicated place now. None of the candidates are so far proved to be intelectually competent to reside in the White House. Perhaps Clinton was the last intelectual President who knew his responsibilities and limitation to serve the nations beyond fifty two states.

The Bushes had already caused the begining of the decline as was done after Tiberious in Rome. Obama is not black or a Muslim , he is incompetent and will not be capable of running the world which the President of United State should do. But others arent any better. It is a pity that one capable , competent candidate did not come forward.

It is likely that small minded conservatives funding and manupulating campaign for Obama to lead and in ithe process wounding Clinton. It will then be easier for Republicans to retain White House.

God help this earth if McCain gets elected.

Could you propose a way whereby you could cancel all these candidates of both parties and draft some real guy who will connect with human histry, and has mission to take this humanity to a goal that mankind is struggling for since the dawn of civilization.

Please bear in mind that Russians are already showing their fengs, Europeans and some Britts feel that they over the worst and by 2020 both India and China may not need to export to the US.

You may need get a visa to go to California from New York.

Please do not write about Obamas religion now. Time is very critical now for you put a smart cap on.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

J Lewis — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:12:03 GMT

This is a classic example of Clinton smear tactics. Recalls the quote from Sally Bedell Smith's book re Hillary: "She was extremely Machiavellian, a master of doing things that could not be traced back to her." Romano, you should be ashamed of yourself for acting as an accomplice.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Houlbelat — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:18:10 GMT

What is the connection between Babrak Hussein Osama, a popular name in contemporary Afghanistan and the presidential candidate Barak Hussein Obama? It has to be a smear tactic to malign Obama's image. But Obama has a wonderful chance to counter by presenting himself as an answer to the three bogymen of terror embodied by Providence in his unique name. Babarak Karmal, Saddam Hussein and Osama-bin-Ladan, all Muslims.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

PuterBoi — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:43:28 GMT

Well Andrew, if there were some who hadn't seen this email before....they have now. I hope your check from the Hillary campaign doesn't bounce.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

VernonX — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:48:18 GMT

Was Obama's mother a Muslim? Did she allow/keep the name Hussein? Does our Constitution allow a religous test for office?

Why do people buy into the 'one drop rule'?

George Bush's background includes a Nazi sympathizer, is that what makes Bush a Nazi?'

It is illogical to ask/require candidates to prove negatives, which is what rumor promotes.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

onemansopinion — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:53:16 GMT

When does repeating the racist, stupid comments of ignorant people under thr guise of reporting a challenge for a campaign become facilition of for spreading those views? Did anyone not know ignorance still exists? How is this article anymore justified than the leaks years ago that MLK was a communist? Once it appears in print others will give the views more legitamacy. The article should have beeb written discussing FACTS, then the ignorant could add their comments, as yours truly is doing. This article is an abdication of the professional responsibilities of the press, reportes and professional opiniion writers.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

K from TX — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:19:43 GMT

This should be heard:

Hillary Was AGAINST the Civil Rights Act of 1964

While a Republican and ‘Goldwater Girl’

I know and appreciate that Barack Obama has taken the high road, but as a black man it is important to me that we all know the TRUTH about Hillary. Read This…..THEN SPREAD THE WORD !!!!

A March 12, 2007 article written by acclaimed Washington columnist Robert Novak sheds a very revealing light on the true sentiment of Hillary Clinton during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement. Clinton recently was found to have minimized the great and monumental strides taken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by stating that it was Lyndon B. Johnson, then president, who should receive the credit for the civil rights progress including the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In an attempt to attract black support Hillary Clinton regularly shares her ‘civil rights experience’ during every speech given to black audiences. Novak writes of one such speech at Selma’s First Baptist Church on the 42nd anniversary of the ‘bloody Sunday’ freedom march there, where Sen. Clinton declared: ‘As a young woman, I had the great privilege of hearing Dr. King speak in Chicago. The year was 1963. My youth minister from our church took a few of us down on a cold January night to hear [King]. . . . And he called on us, he challenged us that evening to stay awake during the great revolution that the civil rights pioneers were waging on behalf of a more perfect union.’ But Novak’s article states that there’s a big problem with her statement.

The fact is, in 1963, not only was Hillary Clinton a republican, but she was also a staunch supporter of republican Senator Barry Goldwater, well known as a segregationist and one of the most vocal senators adamently against the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which is why he lost in his presidential bid to Lyndon B. Johnson. Novak writes ‘…how then could she be a ‘Goldwater Girl’ in the next year’s presidential election?’ He continues, ‘…she described herself in her memoirs as ‘an active Young Republican’ and ‘a Goldwater girl, right down to my cowgirl outfit.’

Novak adds, ‘As a politically attuned honor stu dent, she must have known that Goldwater was one of only six Republican senators who joined Southern Democratic segregationists opposing the historic voting rights act of 1964 inspired by King. Hillary headed the Young Republicans at Wellesley College. The incompatibility of those two positions of 40 years ago was noted to me (Novak) by Democratic old-timers who were shocked by Sen. Clinton’s temerity in pursuing her presidential candidacy.’ Novak adds, ‘What Hillary Clinton said at Selma is significant because it betrays her campaign’s panicky reaction to the unexpected rise of Sen. Obama as a serious competitor for the Democr a tic nomination.

Clinton’s plans were transformed by the advent of Obama, an African-American threatening the hard allegiance of black voters forged by Bill Clinton. On one hand, the Clinton campaign has attacked Obama and his supporters. On the other hand, she has sought to solidify her civil rights credentials.

While Clinton was re-inventing her past, her road to the White House is not going as planned. Instead of a steady procession to coronation at the Denver convention, she is involved in a real struggle against credible o pponents led by Obama. No wonder she and her handlers were tempted to imply the existence long ago of a young lady in Chicago’s suburbs who never really existed.’

We greatly appreciate Mr. Novak’s findings which bring one main thought to mind. Wake up Black America! DON’T BE FOOLED ! The fact is, despite her falsehoods, Hillary was AGAINST the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that Dr. Martin Luther King died for. As a ‘Goldwater Girl’ she was actually even against Lyndon B. Johnson, the very person she now gives the credit to for Dr. King getting to the mountaintop. She has worked extremely hard to hide many truths about her past, including ordering that her 92 page college thesis that she wrote at Wellesley College be ’sealed’ and unavailable to the public, an order forced upon the college by Bill Clinton while president, although all senior thesis’ at Wellesley have been available for public reading for over 100 years, except one….Hillary Rodham Clinton’s.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Ganpat — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:34:18 GMT

I am in full agreement with Mr Romano about Obama - but with this difference, that I agree with what he will be thinking abot Obama a few months after the great infallible god's inauguration. I will agree with Mr Romano when he is bitterly, inevitably, disillusioned.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

FDJ_LA — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:34:45 GMT

I am Hispanic. I was raised in the projects of Watts, California. I have two adopted sons who are Black. I despise racism in any form whatsoever. I also received a Purple Heart as a Ranger in VietNam and hate threats to this country. Please do not use petty child psychology and brand me a bigot because I do not want Obama Hussein Barrack, who attended a Muslim school and whose parent was Muslim to be President of the United States. The Muslim world has exhorted hatred for the West throughout history, and, most notably, over the last 50 years. I have read parts of the Koran where infidels are considered to be from the devil and anything, including violence, against them is justified. During the beheadings of American civilians in Iraq, approximately 50 percent of the Muslim world in the Middle East saw nothing wrong with that.

Whenever I hear Obama speak, I am always very impressed with what he says. However, I rarely hear any substance behind his words. His words may be able to move us emotionally, but without a real viable plan, they are worthless. I will not vote for Obama. Not because I do not agree with his words, but because I do not hear how he plans to implement his vision. I will not vote for Obama. Not because he is Black, but because he does in fact have very foundational Muslim ties as a child, and I am not willing to place this country at risk in this time of war. I will not vote for Obama. Not because he attends a Christian church whose stated alegiance is not to the U.S., but to Africa, and whose members are notably mostly all Black, but because belonging to a church that, for all practical purposes, is all Black is, by definition, racist.

The author of this article quotes that "Also, you forget that there is nothing wrong with a Muslim candidate, just like there is nothing wrong with an Evangelical one." I disagree. I would never want a Muslim to be President of this country. And it not because of bigotry. It is because of the reality of what the world is, and the stated ideology within the Koran for all to read.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Abetterplace — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:44:39 GMT

If you will go to the web site of United Church of Christ and look back through their monthly

magazine issues, you will find one that featured Louis Farrakhan. This church seems to epitomize

him. Goggle Louis and Obama. You will also find where Obama is distancing himself from

this man. Why would he belong to a church with these views if they were not his own.

Obama will say anything to deny Muslim links. Don't believe him.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

troublemaker — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:49:06 GMT

You forgot to mention that , should Obama win the nomination, the sleaszy Republicans already have a campaign slogan ready for bumper stickers, T-shirts, etc.:

"OBAMA - Sounds Like OSAMA"

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

SaadShafqat — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:08:27 GMT

Well, Andrew, you still got the title wrong - the world "Muslim" is not a smear and even if some people think it is, that doesn't make it so and you shouldn't be propogating that idea. A better title would have been "Can the Muslim label hurt Obama?" The difference between 'label' and 'smear' is that the former is nothing more than a noun, but the latter is a noun with a good bit of adjective thrown in. Adjectives are used to convey preferences and bias. By reagrding the term "Muslim" as a smear, you are conveying yours.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

muslimman — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:08:35 GMT

wtf if obama is a muslim whats going to happen, i support hilary but that really ticked me off well then who ever is against him should go learn about the islam religion then judge the man. first of all the people that are against him should judge themselves and thier own religions.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

JackieOh — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:10:20 GMT

Andrew - You know there are readers that wil never venture past your "headline" (which is STILL inflammatory on MSNBC.com). To head an article about Obama NOT being a Muslim with such a headline is pure Yellow Journalism. You should be ashamed. Newsweek should be ashamed.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

paul962 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:33:23 GMT

When you put this slapped this "article" together why didn't you mention a few important details?

Details like: Barack Obama has had a full field background investigation conducted by the FBI, the CIA, the DIA and the National Security Council and has had his background completely vetted and been granted complete Top Secret, Compartmentalized Access security clearance fully qualifying himself for the special access briefings that occur so a candidate can be prepared to assume the office of president of the united States if elected?

I can only surmise you view such details as meaningless to your "article".

This begs the question.

Was that a toga party you attended?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

julian007 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:57:55 GMT

Andrew, no matter how much u and ur friends in the liberal press try, Hussein Obama will not win a General elections that has the legendary John McCain in the ballot. I did not see the spirited defense that u and ur liberal press colleagues all seem to be falling over urself in putting up for Hussein extended to Mitt Romney when he was facing an even worse situation concerning his religion. I have a right to continue to ask questions about Hussein's religious affiliation and part of the reason is because I do not believe anything u guys in the so called main stream media write or say anymore, look around, u and ur colleagues have coalesced into a coalition in a rush to elect a man who has not been subjected to the same standards that all other candidate have been put through. Can u point to one critical assessment done by any of the major news network, news commentator or newspaper on the Hussein candidacy; r u telling me we should all go home and not take introspective look at someone who wants to ascend the highest office of the land? Sorry pal, ur PR job for Hussein is a little too late, the Hussein muslim story is catching around like fire and the only places it is regarded as rumor is within the liberal offices in Manhattan.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

HolyRoller — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:09:48 GMT

A lot of folks assume that the "SOUTH" is in-bred, incestual and by far extremely racist!? And all of you Obama hopefuls are counting on Texas or Ohio? Well I can't speak for Texas but I lived in Ohio for 4 years before returning to GA. Still.till this day, I am shaken by the level of racism and intolerance in Ohio. I have never experienced racism at such high levels until I moved to Ohio. I'm convinced Hillary will defeat Obama big time up there. This begs to question though-is the South the most racist? Obama kicked Hill's butt in GA but rest assured Hill will kick his in Ohio! And as far as the Muslim part of it? You're darn right it affects my view of Obama. I haven't forgotten 9/11 or the terrorists that infiltrated us within! Have YOU?

Signed, Tiffany (HolyRoller's Fiance)

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

mattnewby04 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:18:44 GMT

My Grandmother called me a few days ago (I'm working in the UK at the moment) to tell me that "This Muslim N***** just might become President" and to pray against it- that he just might be the anti-Christ.

First off: Grandmother, it's not acceptable to judge someone by their color- He's more white than you are. Don't forget that you're Native American!

And Secondly; It is not acceptable to say a Muslim man would be more hurtful to America than a Christian, Buddhist, Sikh or Athiest man!

I know, I know, "America was founded on Christianity" but look at how many people call themselves "Christian"? The KKK. People who blow up Abortion Clinics. George W. (sorry, bashing Bush isn old news now, isn't it...) These "domestic terrorists" consider themselves Christians but a man who is "religious" and named something that isn't Anglo or Hebrew in origin get's cast out like a leper? Come on. I think Obama's right. America needs change. People who think that Religion runs in your blood, much less deems you a terrorist, need to grow up.

Grandmother: Obama isn't your man. But you probably won't be alive by the time he's in his second term. Don't worry about it.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

lmcchesn — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:29:21 GMT

We need a democrat in the WH, without a doubt. Obama will be crucified by the republicans not only for his Muslim past, but for the simple fact that McCain is soooo much more the anti-Muslim Amercia needs. McCain will tout terrorism and radical Islam, nevermind Obama lak of foreign policy, Obama will get squashed. He will not have a chance, so while you may not like Hillary, SHE IS THE BEST SHOT AT A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE-WHICH IS OUR OBJECTIVE.

WE MUST VOTE HILLAY TO GET BACK THE WHITE HOUSE

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

MFried — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:29:27 GMT

Andrew Romano, your response to the general outrage on the message board

"I'm working off of my own experience and reporting on the campaign trail, where I've spoken to dozens of voters over the past few months--and where a surprising number, as I note in the article, brought up what they called Obama's "Muslim background" as a source of concern" is wholly inadequate. To believe the swift boat veterans ad's were damaging to Kerry's campaign only serves to nulify the culpability of the mainstream news media's coverage of the issue. Those silly ad's were not the problem, it was the days of coverage they were given by the press. Honestly instead of either ignoring it or placing them in an appropriate journalistic context you all went for the sensationalism. This article is no different. The people you spoke to on the trail are a obviously far right leaning (honestly I think John Mcain is to their left, they probably like Huckaby and don't believe in evolution) They were never going to vote for Obama. By writing this article you have given a bunch of bigoted, uneducated extremists a voice and made their bias a point of discussion. Don't kid yourself - it makes you no better than they are.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

mattnewby04 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:30:34 GMT

One more thing...

I will seriously have a heart attack and die (quite happily) if I hear or read ONE MORE PERSON relating 9/11 = muslims= Obama. I mean, COME ON!!!!!

1) Those Terrorists were motivated not by religion but by politics. They'd been fed the line that America is hurtful to them and their respective countries

2) 98% of Muslims AROUND THE WORLD highly disagree with 9/11 terrorists points of view beings that it was against the Qu'ran

3) IF Obama (even though He's a CHRSITIAN) that doesn't mean that he has a heary bent on destroying America.

I'm a Christian, but have no problem electing a man who just so happens to be named something different than what most of White-middle class is named as president. WHo cares that his father is a former muslim??

And don't forget this: Even if he were a Muslim, the Muslim world overseas would hate himjust as much as say, GWB....

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

catalyzt — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:30:49 GMT

My problem with barack is that with what we have and are going through in Iraq I don't know how we can have a president with the middle name hussein - to me as ignorant as it sounds it is just a slap in the face of everyone who has died fighting extreme muslims who are on a holy mission to kill all none muslims

and here is a very ignorant statment since i dont care what anyone thinks

if i wanted someone who was pro muslim in the white house - i would send them to catholic school to

nothign like being groomed for where THEY want you

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Southern Bell — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:32:26 GMT

It's not racist to worry that Republicans will use Obama's background against him. It's not about race at all but about the fact his father is a "foreigner". If this was 1980 and the Democratic candidate was the son of a man who was Russian and the candidate has spent time in a Soviet school system that fact would have been turned against us.

Does that mean we refuse to let wonderful people seek the Democratic nomination because of ethnic background or religions? Of course not, but you do have to aknowledge there might be a problem and the possibility of smear campaigns. I believe Mitt Romney lost the Republican nomination in part because he was a Mormon who tried to pretend that it wasn't an issue, except for one speech. John Kennedy never ignored his being Catholic was disturbing to some people and that's how he neutralised the issue, but addressing it head on.

I have to wonder if Bush's lies about Obama on Faux news (Obama would embrace Ahmadinejad! He would attack Pakistan!) was an opening salvo for a planned attack against Obama.

In my opinion Hillary's being a woman is much more a strike against her in the public's mind than the Clinton "scandals" and that's how the Republicans would approach attacks upon her, by making people uneasy about her gender.

No matter who is chosen Democrats have reason to be very proud of ourselves. If we wanted to take the "safe "road John Edwards, a wonderful man and well-liked by most people, would be our nominee.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Ragozy — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:47:37 GMT

I didn’t see the article as smear against Obama or Clinton, but informational. The subject matter is controversial. Has caused no end of arguments and put that nagging question in the back of the general populace. There’s no denying that. Are we – the general public – racists? Bigots? Or have we been programmed to associate the word Muslim with terror? Whatever you think don’t kill the messenger. Good article Andrew. Yes, the majority of we American’s cringe at the thought of not voting for Obama because he’s Black. And no one will admit to it. Maybe that means it’s not time yet. We’ll only know if we are ready when the candidates are finally brought to the podium.

I don’t know who started the rumor – fact or fiction. I believe it has been addressed, dismissed and tucked away in a battered chest. Guess there wasn’t a lock on it, because it keeps coming up. Best way to deal with it – present it whenever it is brought up. Dispel the rumor for just that. Don’t point the finger at who you might thing stirred the pot, again – the ravings and rants of the perimeter politician’s campaigning for their candidates doesn’t bode well for the team. Answer the question(s) and move on.

Mr. Obama isn’t my personal choice this time around. While he has a way of speaking that draws you in, the years have given me that jaundice eye. More times than not, the general public has fallen for the words and we’ve had hard times. A Democrat since day one – I just may find myself standing in the Republican line this time.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

HolyRoller — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:50:33 GMT

Isn't it wonderful to live in a country where we, as citizens, can

express our opinions-no matter how impassioned? I do not

consider myself as ignorant or in-bred. I've done a great deal

to educate myself into the inner workings of the Islamic belief

system-including studying the Quran. And let me tell ya, it's

real scary stuff! You can try and sugar coat it all that you want.

But, it's hate filled ideology at best! And if Obama is a so called

converted Christain, why does his name reflect otherwise!?!!

Go HILLARY!

Signed, Tif a.ka. HolyRoller's Fiance

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

what a strange world — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:56:40 GMT

Is anyone concerned about what the GOP will say about Bill's whitehouse indiscretions and the idea of letting him back into the whitehouse (should Hillary get the Dem nod)? Just curious. I believe that no one has a background above reproach...

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

abadreview — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:06:57 GMT

Nothing can hurt Barack Obama at this point, especially some ignorant racist claims that are completely untrue. The fact that you're reporting on this again is just perpetuating the problem, and keeping it alive, good job. First off, I am a 28 year old white male. That said, I could give a s#$% less if Obama's father was muslim, it doesn't bother me one bit. This country was attacked by Islamic extremists anyway, not EVERY muslim is a terrorist, I can't believe we still have to point this out all of these years later. The fact is, there is a new generation on the rise, a generation that is more concerned with making the world and America a better place, than we are concerned about someone's ethnic background. If anything, we look to Barack to be able to use his charisma and diplomatic skills to ease U.S. tensions with the middle east, ultimately making America safer, even saving a few racist inbreds in the process. These hate mongers claim to be patriots, I guess we'll find out how deep their loyalty to America truly is, when Barack Obama is their Commander-in-Chief. It is a new day in America, either get on board, or get left behind in the murky waters of the past. Obama 2008!!!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

bigotry_root_of_idiot_tree — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:08:22 GMT

It is truly astounding to me that so many people can spout things like "raised muslim" when the simple fact is that Obama's father LEFT when Obama was 2 years old. Astounding that anyone thinks that because one is born into any religion that it is inescapably and forever one's guiding compass. (Nevermind that there is nothing wrong with Islam as a religion - it is those who warp and twist the doctrine to fit their own extremist thinking that makes it "wrong".) I was born into a MORMON family, and had issue with the doctrine and the church since I was about 12. By the time I was 15, I had rejected it completely, and haven't been to a Mormon church since. (28 years - is that long enough to prove I'm not Mormon? Absurdly, for some of you, it isn't!) It seems to me that those of you who think people are incapable of deciding for themselves who they want to be and how they think are the only ones who really are fettered by those bonds. You are the ones who can't escape your own closed minds, and it is sad...and often dangerous.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

TommyTee — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:08:46 GMT

Stumper: Can all the old Cigar jokes and innuendo hurt the Clinton campaign? Just a parrallel question... No "smear" intended--just want to make sure we bring out all the "potential" problems so we can deal with them before it's too late... RIGHT...

But we DO all rember how we felt when the world was just laughing at us, and "President Clinton" was the punch line to every late night talk show monologue one-liner and off-color joke heard 'round the water cooler. Otherwise, our current president would not have been able to use the line "...restore honor and integrity to the office..."

Kinda humorous in retrospect now, huh?

Now the world just pities us, but I think we're gonna do something about that come November. My $64000 question to everyone out there would be: Do you honestly, think (without having to talk yourself into it) that the country can unite behind a President HR Clinton?

I tend to agree with others here--a civil, uplifting campaign between McCain and Obama to the finish is just what this country needs. No more laughingstock. No more divisive politics producing gridlock and disappointment. That way we all win...

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Southern Bell — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:15:27 GMT

The point isn't that no one's background isn't above reproach but figuring out how to neutralize potential swiftboat attacks. You need to have a plan of action before they come at you and that means an honest assessment of what they will perceive your weaknesses to be.

I'm pretty sure HRC's Achilles' Heel in the Republican's mind is her gender, not the Whitewater stuff, which will be much easier for her to defend. It's much harder to face down people's prejudice's and I think there are folks in the US who have problems with a female president. It's a fact I find depressing but it is a fact I have to face. Wishing away gender bias isn't going to make it disappear and if HRC is the nominee we must be ready to refute the notion a woman can't lead America.

Again, it's not facts Obama has to worry about. He's a good, decent man with nothing to be ashamed of. But as I keep saying, anyone can be swiftboated and have the details of their lives distorted beyond recogntion. The best defense is a good offense.

The fact that we can't discuss race or gender without people accusing others of being biased shows how little we've come and that we've substituted political correctness in place of reality.

Any women or African-American or Hispanic will tell you prejudiced attitudes are alive and well in America and pretending they don't exist makes it harder for us to get past our past.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

JEDIGENTLEMEN — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:21:30 GMT

When was being mulsim such a bad thing? This is the problem with our society instead of differentiating between the false version of Islam that the terrorists preach and the truth we just associate the two of them together. I find it embarassing to even read that people make no effort to establish the fact that all muslims are not evil. From what I remember of being brought up Christian one needs to practice tolerance towards other religions. And who are we to question Obama's faith, if he is playing some type of game then GOD is the ultimate judge not us.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

sayasitis — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:23:05 GMT

it goes to say that the older, less educated ( ill-informed) , lower paid white people amongst us are easily swayed by fear mongering bigots. It also goes to say that whoever converts to Christianity could never be true Christian because it is in your blood that you were once a non-Christian. So are the rest of us , are we not? So actually it is not about religion that bothers these people, but the color of your skin. But they dare not say that in your face.So they label Obama a moslem. So colored people of America, wake up! you are not their ( white ) equals. So what if Obama is a moslem. you still have a Senate. Do you for once think that George Bush made all the decisions. Of course not! he's an idiot!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

nohawk — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:27:15 GMT

I think his problem began when he refused to wear the Anerican flag lapel pin. What has angered more Americans has been an email circulating with a photo of him not saluting the flag. Senators Clinton, Edwards, and Brownback was in the same photo and in some form saluted the flag

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

membery — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:36:05 GMT

I wouln't worry about swiftboating tactics too much. If Obama gets the nomination his opponent will have to be careful in the way he attacks. Too aggressive of an attack will easily be made to look like a racially motivated barrage and treading carefully in racial waters is not really republicans' strong point.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ArchiesBoy — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:40:10 GMT

This whole thing about the "Obama cult" is pure crap. If Obama has a cult following, then so have Ronald Reagan, Karl Rove, John and Robert Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, and the whole neocon/religious right. There are factions of the Foxified Murdoched press who have a vested interest in scandalmongering, bringing Obama down and keeping the status quo. This is the MSM mounting an unwarranted attack. It has nothing to do with the voters. Press reporters and the cable news talking heads have been making damn fools of themselves for years now, and this is one of the clearest instances.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

iamnumba1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:54:17 GMT

It is true, in college they teach us the methods of spotting and recognizing this biased crap when it is written. I say let Hillary fight her own battles. While we are on the topic of discussing media bias, I'd like to point out a few things:

HILLARY'S PESKY MONEY PROBLEM

1. What happened to the coverage regarding HRC's refusal to release her income tax returns until AFTER she gets the nomination. We haven't heard anything about that.

2. How can you suspend Schuster for his comments. SUSPEND ANDREW ROMANO.

HILLARY'S AND BILL'S PESKY PAST IN THE WHITE HOUSE

3. What about the mountains of ammunition that the republicans have on HRC? When is the media going to start discussing that.

HILLARY'S PESKY REZKO PROBLEM

4. What about the misguided attack on Obama for ties to Rezko (slum lord) and the photo of Rezko and the Clintons that surfaced a day later? VIEW THE PHOTO ---http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/photos_surfaces_of_hillary_cli.html

HILLARY'S PESKY WAL-MART PROBLEM

5. Where is the coverage regarding HRC's claims that universal healthcare for everyone is a moral obligation, yet she was a corporate lawyer on the board of a company NOTORIOUS for denying adequate medical coverage to their employees - WALMART!!!

HILLARY'S PESKY FOX NOISE PROBLEM

6. Where is the coverage regarding the fact that despite previous opposition (at a time when HRC THOUGHT that she still had the African American vote) to FOX NOISE debates, she has not agreed to them (Now that she can't get an African American to vote for her to save her life)

HILLARY'S PESKY BILL PROBLEM

7. Where is the coverage regarding the dubious deal that Bill Clinton made with with some foreign dictator that netted him millions in his William Clinton Foundation?

HILLARY'S PESKY LOBBYIST PROBLEM

8. Where is the coverage regarding the fact that HRC refused to admit that she would NOT have lobbyists in the White House on day one?

SEE # 8

9. Where is the coverage regarding the fact Hillary has taken the most money from lobbyists as any candidate (democrat or republican)?

HILLARY'S PESKY HEALTHCARE FAILURE PROBLEM

10. Where is the coverage regarding the fact that Hillary already tried and failed horribly to acheive universal healthcare? Why should, and why will anything be different this time?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Karenn1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:59:01 GMT

Obama was not in prison check the other party candidate. You may be on to something. Run with it Master of the Obvious.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

corkymako — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:06:42 GMT

Andrew, you agree with one commenter that there is nothing wrong with a muslim candidate...

That statement needs to be qualified, by the letter of the law, constitution, or whatever other document that "guides" this country, yes there is nothing wrong with a muslim running for presidency.

But there is something fundamentally wrong if you hold strong religious beliefs that differ from the "muslims" beliefs, simply put, if I am a devout Christian, then I truly believe the muslim beliefs are wrong, to take it to the ultimate scenario, I'm going to heaven and he is not. It is my duty as a Christian to uphold my beliefs and voting for a muslim (or mormon, or Jehova witness, etc) would not be in the best interest of Christianity in this country.

Now haviong said that, I'll through in the zinger, the whole concept of separation of church and state is a befuddled one. I believe the founding fathers only intended that the government does not impose religion, not that religion could not be expressed in government. If you look at veirtually all the "documents" that this country was founded on, you will find innumerable "religious" references (i.e., God). Not to mention that virtually every last "important" figure in the founding of this country were very religious (christian) men, which is contradictory to the EXCLUSION of religion from government.

I digress and then some...It waon't matter in the end because the American people (as a majority) will no longer allow religion to be part of government. At best, any attemp to make religion relevant would result in chaos, heck, Sonny Perdue got slammed for just "praying for rain"...

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Murphey — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:09:35 GMT

You are exactly right. I've had two men -- both good people -- tell me they can't vote for a Muslim. The first time I heard this, it was shocking. The second time was scary. This is definitely an issue he needs to address if he hopes to run against the Republicans.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Azim — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:21:56 GMT

This is exactly the point that being a muslim background candidate, it will be an anathma to run for the highest office in the United States of America. It is not to say that Senator Obama is not qualified to be the commander in chief of this great United States of America, it is that mere islamo phobia that will ultimately creep into the electoral system in the general election by the so called Republican machine. It is already evident by the posting of such people like Holyroller's biggoted comment about a candidate who does not even practice the religion of Islam. Moreover, what if the candidates background as a muslim make him or her the most qualified candidate to run for the office should stop them to run? This should be the fundamental question that an American should ask for. This country is built on values, ideals and ideas that makes us indifferent than any nation on the face of this earth yet we are succumed to fall on the same trap that has been happening for the last few years. It is that fear mongering people that will do anything to vilify people of other faith in order to divide the country.

Haning said that, it is advisable for the Democratic party echalon to be cautious who they will put as a candidate for the Presidency and nothing agaist Mr. Obama's electibility but the type of negetive campaign that the Republican party will about to unleash against him. I would prefer very much that a candidate who has been tested year and year out against the Republican machine, Hillary Clinton may be the kind of candidate that the Democratic party to support. And for Mr. Obama, we should look for him to be the vice presidential candidate. In that aspect, this country is about to make a history by electing a Madame president along with a minority African American vice president.

In the conclusion, it is fair to state that there should not be any such biggotry towards any one who has the quality, qualified, and conviction to move forward the agenda of this country in a positive fashion that every one around the world can envy us as they did in the past. This is what we can hope for. Again, Mr. Andrew, I look forward to reading much of your thoughts about this election cycle in the coming days.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Karenn1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:25:04 GMT

WORRY more about McCain as Hanoi Candidate. Now this guy is hurting and is dangerous.Stillfighting vietnam, we LOST get over it. 100 year war in Irag sounds tough.Commendable but Foolish.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

jonawebb — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:28:33 GMT

Keep in mind that the Democrat/Repubilcan/independent split right now is something like 38/33/29. Obama doesn't need any Republican votes to win; he only needs all the Democrats and a bit more than a third of the independents. I don't think he'll have trouble picking those up, Muslim smear notwithstanding. McCain will need all the Republicans and more than half the independents to win -- not so easy to get the independents while keeping the Republicans, if he's running against Obama.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Cincinnati Rick — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:35:29 GMT

Obama's Islamic connection is really nil and I rather think he has much more explaining to do about his racist "Christian" pastor and friend than about his muslim paternal relatives who had little if any impact on his upbringing.

What concerns me about Obama is his principal campaign theme which seems to be "prove you are not a bigot by supporting me and my banal sloganeering." Let's leave the bigots out of this discussion because they will do their bigotry and innuendo as always. But, at some point, those who are capable of thinking rather than emoting are going to realize the dissonance between a theme of "uniting America" and the fact of a 100% liberal voting record. They are going to be looking for someone who has a proven and long standing record of working across party lines to do the nation's business. And they will find that old maverick, John McCain, who is so despised by the ideologues in his own party.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

budmeister — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:48:24 GMT

Only the ignorant would vote on a name or a fathers early religion, rather than the issues. Do all of us want to be judged on behaviors our fathers gave up? Since Obama has split the democratic primaries by 50% or so, I think we can say that the ignorant is a small group. Clinton will mobilize the rebuplicans against her. I belive that most of her voters will vote for Obama- as I believe he shares her values, priorites, and issues. Most of her voters are smart issue voters, and I will not believe the majority are ignorant.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

seventhday — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:59:17 GMT

Well, what ever the truth is, let it be...Who ever wins, wins...But with the war with Iraq now a days, it is whats going to stir the Americans regarding his background in Muslim...Even though he doesn't claim muslim, alot of the people here are also muslim...then it's going to hurt them, but don't let religions catch you...It is Freedom of Religion.....It's this why there is an United States???

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

pransburg816 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:00:55 GMT

It amazes me how stories like these come up around the time citizens head to the polls. I’m pretty sure you’ve gotten a lot of emails like this so let mine add to the list. We all know Obama isn’t Muslim, so why produce a story of such? I read the article but the matter of the fact is that you in the media bring this up, and considering the fear GWB has placed in the hearts of America, it makes them fear anything Muslim. Obama has said over and over that he is a devoted Christian, why can’t it just be said and done that he is in fact a Christian. Let the American people think for themselves.

If you want to do a story, how about doing a story on Mrs. Clinton and the party she threw for KKK card carrying member Senator Robert Byrd. To make matters worse, it was at Fredrick Douglas home – you know, the great African-American civil rights Pioneer. If that isn’t news worthy, then I don’t know what it. But oh yeah, I forgot, it’s a pass for the Clinton’s cause as you know, Bill was the first Black President and Hillary has always luv da black people.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

YouCannotTrickMe — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:15:05 GMT

This woman vicki Hercsky does not exsist. I looked her up on peoples serch not a trace. Some people will say and do anything to stop unity including the auther.

Can we talk about the sad state theis country is in and how we are going to fix it.

Thanks

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Southern Bell — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:17:41 GMT

If someone was running whose father had been born in Germany and had been a member of the Nazi party, some people would have a problem with it. If someone was running whose father had been born in Israel, some people would have a problem with it. Ignoring hot-button issues, even when we're repelled by them, doesn't make them go away.

This discussion has been very fruitful. No matter what some have posted, I bet anyone who plans to vote for the Democrat will now have some talking points on hand now to counter anybody they meet, online or in person, who expresses concern about Obama's foreign-born father or HRC's fitness to be CiC due to her gender. JFK had soaring rhetoric but he also had Bobby to break kneecaps when necessary. I hope Obama's "I can't be swiftboated" is a threat to the Republican attack machine, not some idealistic proclamtion.

And please don't expect McCain to automatically defend Obama (or HRC) from any smear campaigns. He defended the GOP head in Washington for halting the count of the vote, instead of insisting it was wrong to call the race until every ballot was counted.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

hear-we-go — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:18:07 GMT

The muslim thing will hurt him. The race thing will hurt him. America just isn't ready. Too bad, really. It shows rather poor judgement to even try to get elected with the name/race issues. Obama is using blacks, and whites, while clearly staging a balanced representation. Blacks are only 15% of the USA population. A rather small part of a much bigger picture. Even if every black voted for him, and we will because he's black, there is only a slight chance he can beat anyone in a full election based on race. Turning his back on blacks could get him elected. What a sad statement.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

dearestmon — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:18:08 GMT

You are so right. They do not have the guts to say they won't vote for a black man so they use religion instead. I would not want their vote regardless who they vote for - know why. This is America and this is 2008 - time for this unintelligent bigotry to be over. Stand up and say what you feel don't be a coward and hide behind religion.

Obama going on TV and talking about his family - where have you been - read his book, listen to his speech just this past weekend. SHUT UP if you do not have the facts - makes you look uninformed - which most folks are because they depend on CNN, FOX, MSNBC to tell them what - their version of the candidates that all it is their version and perception just like Newsweek, WS Journal, NY Times and all the rest their versions of the candidates running for office. Start paying more attention to candidate not news media.

Look at the awful statement made by a supposed "news analyst" about Clinton's daughter. That was uncalled for and unprofessional and I am not a Hillary fan but I am a human being and yes, I am a parent.and attacking children is to say the least, unforgiving. And last night I listened to Knovack on a show say that Hillary was a politican first and mother second. How can he say that - what does he know and how dare he make that statement that too is an unforgiving statement.

So listen to candidates not these news folks. Now Bill Clinton, if you want to go on TV and talk junk - this would be the time by defending your daughter but no, I guess that is not important enough so let Hillary defend her own campaign from now on since you can't even defend publicly, your own daughter. What a fraud

And to Hillary folks - she is not so "lily white" - so if she is nominee, don't worry her cobwebs will awaken very very quickly and come out of the closet and reveal WOW, I cannot wait.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

crescentdave — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:19:18 GMT

Yeah, he'll have a problem going up against a guy on tape who says he wants to be in Iraq for a hundred, a thousand, 10,000 years while 70% of americans rightfully believe it was a huge mistake. Yeah, he'll have a problem with a guy who flip flopped on taxes and supported Bush's economic nightmare ... a top 3 concern among voters. Yeah, he'll have a problem because he's addressing (beyond the utter hyperbole of McCain) another hot button topic: healthcare. Finally, Andy, look at the turnout numbers and the contributions ... McCain is being swamped, republicans are being swamped. You know the guy with the problem? It's McCain ... completely identified with Bush.

Why shed such a dim light Andy? Obama upset your republican sensibilities? Too bad. It won't even be close come November. Bush is Obama's strongest supporter. McCain's another backwash victim.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

harriscrl3 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:19:46 GMT

It always amazes me that there is not a candidate who is more open and honest than Obama and yet many think that there is something shady or decietful about him and I wonder why people think that. This is a guy that said he is a terrible CEO. This is a guy that said he is a strong progressive. This is a guy with a Muslim name that said he oppose the war when it was tantamount to political suicide to do so. I think people think that Obama is just too good to be true that he is genuine authentic honest and its all a cover for some duplicity. It just shows me how cynical as a society we've become we dont even believe the truth when whe hear it. The NYT did a front page story on speculation that Obam may have exaggerated his drug use to make his success seem even greater. How twisted is that. The guy admits to drug use and now you are saying it wasnt as bad as he made it out to be. Maybe he is too good to be true but guess what they are Good People out there and shockingly some even have Muslim names. There is good people in every country and when we start profiling people by their names the religious practices of their father guess what we may be so distracted that we may actually MISS dangerous people who dont fit the profile.

Senator Obama knows what the republicans are going to do. And who should be surprise they are a one trick pony. Around election time terroist threat level increases coincidence? Perhaps. And perhaps we should be more concerned about being Decieved by the republican establishment and the current administration rather than someone who is running a campaign premised on OPENNESS in Foriegn Policy. Bet you'll NEVER hear the republicans take such a platform so who is really decieving the American people

Carol

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Lisa_Smith001 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:19:50 GMT

I don't agree with the way this article is written but it's not just Obama but every other candidate is being criticized in one way or the other. The fact of the matter is Obama is young and not as experienced as the other candidates and the people need to know some more about his background. But even if Obama wins the Dem or Clinton, do you really think either one of them will make it against the Republican Candidate, we are supposed to be a country of equal rights, advanced and modern but WE ARE NOT and that is the sad TRUTH. People are still racist and prejudice and I speak from experience.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

egooge — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:21:01 GMT

Most americans unfortunately tolerated the extremist conservatives during the past few years but things have turned around. I believe anybody that attempts to bring this issue will get burned. People no longer tolertate the religious discrimarion from the Bush's years.

An article focused on religious discrimation and how conservatives leveraged this in the past might be interseting.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Rauol Duke — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:22:28 GMT

Let's call a spade a spade and the lady from the Rudy Rally is a racist, who would not vote for Barrack if he was a lilly white luthren from around the corner from her house because he is a democrat.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

hear-we-go — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:32:20 GMT

Romano Thanks for ur insight. lol this must be ur 1st pres election. experience is what counts. u dont hv it. i cant believe hw a young know nothing can get soooo many people to respond to ur blather.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

rockstar2day — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:34:02 GMT

This was a nice article, and I'm glad that the author is willing to address the issue. I am a recipient of many bigoted, judgmental, and slanderous e-mails from my own family. I am very different from them, but allow them to spam me with their opinions without comment: usually. Then I received that e-mail about the dangers of Obama's "Muslim" background, I wasn't put off by it because, having recently read his first book, I knew that he was Christian. And I was quick to point this out to my family member, who then quickly condescended that I was condescending. What's wrong with this? How is it that a seemingly good, honest, hard-working man is slandered, suspected and gossiped about. It's fear that Americans have, will always have, and will cherish like no other medicine, unless and until a woman or a black person gets the presidency. I'm under 30, and never thought that I would see such a presidential race. This is history in the making, whether Clinton or Obama wins, and I hope that my family, like so many other fear-mongering Americans, will wake up and opt for change. It's about time.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

VAChris@FC — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:34:58 GMT

Lies persist only because some people, out of complete, unadulterated ignorance peddle them! Same holds true of a truth misconstrued. This is of course helped by some in the media who write stories about them. A long time ago, a prominent politician's son was asked to comment on a rumour about his dad's political achievements, an innuendo, for all anyone knows, and he very smartly said that to comment on that would be to give it air of legitimacy, period! In the same vein, to even write about, or bring into public discussion, this false, and distractive rumour of Obama being a Muslim is a disservice to the general public. If a lie is a lie then let it die on its own.

Attention should instead be directed to the issues before the American public, like who is best suited to tackle the problems we face as a country for greater, not great, result. We're all aware that constant repetition of the same old practice does not produce a different result. Hillary Clinton sure is a tested (?) politician, who has never been a president, unless of course she was an in-the-shadow political tour de' force in her husband's presidency, and so is Barack Obama. So, this talk of her being experienced is somewhat inaccurate. Sure she was close, infact very close to power, but she was not the power itself. She was just an inner circle, but otherwise an observer, much like everyone else that followed the Clinton presidency. This brings us back to the two front runners - none of whom have been in that office before! So for her oft-touted experience comes, not from being in the thick of things as a participant, but as an insider. Obama, in my mind is much more suited to bring about not just change, but the kind of change necessary to overhaul a broken system. We don't need business as usual politics or politicians to get us the same tired results of the past. CHANGE is for NOW as NOW is for CHANGE!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Juanis — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:36:32 GMT

On one hand, the ignorance and bigotry that has been expressed on this thread is pretty disturbing. On the other, it's comforting to know that anyone who would base their vote on a candidate's middle name is probably too stupid to find their polling place, let along their car keys.

Here's a thought: If a man named Barack Hussein Obama is trying to hide the fact that he's a Muslim, wouldn't he have changed his name to John David Smith by now?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

aintwegotfun — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:38:24 GMT

I am not a racist, I do beleive people should be judged by whom they are, not what they are. In my childhood and youth I was quite sympathetic to the plight of the black people and how they were treated in the south. In my family, there was a racially mixed marraige and I have racially mixed children in the family. But, for the most part, there is a genuine difference culturally speaking. Nothing wrong with that. Some are able to transcend that difference and some are not. O'Bama came from such a mixed union. I would like to know more about his mother. All I know is she was white & came from Kansas. The other fact is she married a muslim 2 times ie O'Bama's Stepfather. Is it true that his step father had him in a muslim school in his youth? And what about his mother? Why did she marry a muslim twice? The other is the church O'Bama has been going to for 20 years. Christian oriented, but with a pastor that is still esposuing racial themes. And why did O'Bama join this church? Was it when he got married or before? Now if he becomes the president, I am sure he will want to help out his and his wifes's own people. Nothing wrong at all with that. Many poor white or other racially different people would also benfit. When I lived in NJ, the prejudice was against Puerto Ricans rather than Blacks. My grand parents were mostly Irish and my mother told me about their eating dandelion sandwiches. I remember eating catchup sandwiches.It is a matter of history that both Oriental and Irish were treated very poorly by the establishment initially. All immigrants were. The difference with the blacks is they did not immigrate, they were horribly kidnapped and turned into slaves. The shame is that a kind of slavery still goes on in this country, mostly in wealthy peoples houses where they have illegal migrants under indentured like slavery. My other question is how will the muslim world look at him. Will they beleive he is an infidel? And will this really matter? On the one hand he has rejected the muslim religion and on the other he may have a deeper understanding of this religion.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

aintwegotfun — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:38:36 GMT

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Gwyneth30 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:56:35 GMT

I still haven't heard a convincing argument from people on why we should be suspicious of Obama's religious background other than his father used to be a muslim before he was born and the sky is blue. I think it just comes down to racism and religious prejudice. He's black and that makes many people uncomfortable at best and downright incensed at worst. The man has said, I don't know many times, that he is a Christian, and has been a member of the same church for 20 years (and to the person who mentioned what he might have been exposed to the 26 years before: don't know if you're a Christian or not, but if you are, you obviously don't believe in the saving power of God to redeem anyone). I don't see why he has to constantly defend the faith he claims when no one else in the campaign is being pressured to do the same. Why aren't people asking Hilary, McCain, and Huckabee about they faith every other day? So what if Huckabee was a preacher, that doesn't tell me what he really believes. I mean, at what point do you stop and take someone at their word until you hear something different (and true, not rumor)? It's petty.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

kriley0923 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:00:07 GMT

This campaign has been a good one so far and it makes me very happy that we have evolved as a country to seriously consider a woman candidate and a black candidate.

I have heard this "muslim" problem rumor from several of my fellow white people. It's totally false, but it also demonstrates how racism has gone underground...no more white hoods...just whispers in the lunch line...veiled humor about minorities. It's sad.

I am not an Obama supporter purely because, right or wrong, I think John McCain is more qualified for the job and that John McCain deserves the job because of his lifelong service to our country. But I am intrigued by Obama in that I really believe that he, unlike many so-called civil rights leaders, is focused on uniting our country and righting wrongs for all people - much like Martin Luther King preached.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Michael S — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:16:21 GMT

Andrew, don't forget to change the link on MSNBC's main page to this article. It still says "Obama's Muslim Problem".

Re your comment: "*Changed from "Obama's Pesky 'Muslim' Problem," which was, as several commenters have pointed out, a misleading headline. I should've thought longer and harder about the title instead of posting the first thing that came to mind. Apologies to all."

Apology accepted. It takes an ethical and genuine journalist/op-ed writer to admit a mistake, and respond to commenters so swiftly. My only advice, from one writer (and blogger) to another is to never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever use the first title that comes to your mind. That is, unless you've thrown a few around first, and come back to settle on it. (also, showing it to a few others of different political leanings would help.) A good way to think about it is: "How would Hillary supporters view this" then ask "How would Obama supporters view this", then "How would Republicans in general view it", and finally, "How would ignorant people (of any party) view it. Toss around a few titles. Pick the one that best honors the spirit and meaning of the article. Then you won't go wrong. I know you know all these things, cuz these are "writer-y" things. I'm just offering a freindly reminder. Don't forget, you've been honored to have an international stage, where millions can read your words (and form opinions) in a short amount of time.

Thanks for reading this.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Portle 44 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:19:27 GMT

Obama's religion problem is real but has nothing to do with his Muslim childhood. He belongs to a church whose pastor is anti-white and anti-semetic and a slavish admirer of Louis Farrakan and despite "disagreeing" with these sentiments, he has not chosen to do his praying elsewhere,

That will be what costs him if he is the nominee and it should.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

writer1975 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:20:59 GMT

So............it shouldn't matter, but the fact is that Barack Obama has NEVER been a Muslim. As a matter of fact, he has been attending the Trinity United Church of Christ for over 20 years.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Lynne00 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:37:21 GMT

Obama has Muslim ties, no doubt about that. He is a member of a "racist" black church that might be worse than being a Muslim. Although I don't approve of Muslims. The Jihadis are all Muslim

and they want to destroy us.

We can't afford to take that chance in America. We are a Christian nation and sorry folks but that is the only religion I approve of. Mormanism is not as bad as the Muslim stuff but it kept Romney from being the nominee.

Obama is very dangerous to our country and he will be stopped. Let the Swiftboating for Truth

begin.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Lynne00 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:37:25 GMT

Obama has Muslim ties, no doubt about that. He is a member of a "racist" black church that might be worse than being a Muslim. Although I don't approve of Muslims. The Jihadis are all Muslim

and they want to destroy us.

Obama is very dangerous to our country and he will be stopped. Let the Swiftboating for Truth

begin.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

suzanness — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:43:25 GMT

I am a Democrat and will support our nominee. However, I also have concerns about Mr. Obama's religious background. If he is no longer a Muslim maybe he should consider changing his name. Our names tell people who we are, and, to some degree, define us.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Ragozy — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:53:58 GMT

And isn’t this what is being done. Here. Now. Challenging the old rumor again? Within the thread of posters, I doubt minds have been changed, but they have been rooted out. Some have stood and admitted to their bias. Other continue to disbelieve. It will always be so. I won’t condone mudslinging with silence, but I also have to allow others the right to say their peace without rancor. I won’t make judgment calls on less than well thought out comments, because it serves no purpose. Obama’s association with his father is the family. He is not responsible for dangerous times we face now. To my knowledge neither is his father. For each of us the definition of Christian differs from one extreme to another. Obama is Black. Member(s) of Obama’s family were affiliated with Muslim. Ok. The US has not done well within the Muslim world. To punish Obama for the injustices of the West-to-the-East and the East-to-the-West is wrong. None of the candidates have clean chalkboards. They all carry baggage and things they prefer were best left in the past.

Move on. Religion never works as a good argument. It is far too explosive and I don’t necessarily see the Black issue as pertinent anymore. So how does Obama stand as a politician?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Southern Bell — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:00:29 GMT

Once again let me say a potential Republican smear against Obama has NOTHING to do with anything bad or wrong about Obama. It WOULD be a propaganda ploy that is not based in reality. That's what swiftboating is all about.

Rememer John Kerry? The original swiftboatee? Despite being a big fat lie some voters let it shape their view of JK's character.

I do think Obama has a much better chance of weathering swiftboating because the media really does like him and is emotionally invested in his campaign, quite different from what went on with Kerry, where reporters didn't really issue a hue and cry over the disgusting tactics used against Kerry.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

JackieOh — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:06:15 GMT

MSNBC.com now has "Obama's Muslim Problem" as the headline. Andrew Romano=Shill.

"I should've thought longer and harder about the title instead of posting the first thing that came to mind." - Yeah, right.

That headline was pure Yellow Journalism.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

sali2147 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:12:06 GMT

I DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHY PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS IN A HURRY TO BELIEVE LIES. THIS MAN IS A CHRISTIAN HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE SAME CHURCH FOR THE PAST 20 YRS, AND IS RAISING HIS CHILDREN AS CHRISTIAN'S. SOME RIGHT WING NUT, POST THAT LIE ON A WEBSITE AND PEOPLE BELIEVE IT. I AM COMPLETELY AMAZED BY THE IGNORANCE OF SOME PEOPLE. OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT 2008

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

hillaryforpresident!!! — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:15:42 GMT

Here is a comment I took off of an MSNBC blog and I have been waiting for my feedback to get posted with no success, so I figured I would discuss it here...

Here is the Pro-Obama quote:

"Well, actually the Chicago press has been through his background thoroughly over the years. The reason you haven’t seen a parade of skeletons trotted out already is that the closet is pretty much empty."

And here is my response:

That's just it, like you said, "his background is empty" and there is nothing to talk about. He did nothing, stood for nothing, and accomplished nothing. He brings up over and over again how he DID NOT vote for the war in Iraq and this is his main claim to the Presidency, yet he never talks about exactly what he HAS done and what he WILL do.

Remember who else went into the White House without an issue and campaigned on likability: GW, and look where that got us!

I have posed this question to Obama supporters many times with only answers of hateful Hillary contempt and insults to my character in return:

Give me a REAL, CONCRETE issue that Obama is passionate about changing? I mean he claims that he wants change so much, but has he even thought about what he is going to change?

Settle down Obamacans, no one is bringing up race here, no one is putting him down based on his Islamic background, WHO CARES!!!! To me, I agree, putting down candidates based on superficiality is wrong and ugly and needs to stop ON BOTH ENDS!!!

However, Hillary, Bill, and their supporters are bringing up LEGITIMATE questions and concerns about his credentials and bid for the presidency.

Furthermore, it seems to me that he wants to become President to appease his own ego and has no idea of the responsibility he is taking on, nor the lasting effect it will have on our Country.

Hasn't he said himself, "It's not about knowing what you are going to do on day one, it's about being right on day." Wow, does anyone else see the egotism oozing out of this statement?

I would rather vote for someone that is practically killing herself to get in that seat, that will continue fighting no matter what, and has talked in depth about her REAL plan and REAL ideas to take us where we need to be! Listening to Hillary speak gives me REAL hope for our Country and I hope that people will start standing up for her the way Obamacans and the media have been standing up for him!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

15R8 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:24:59 GMT

I realy wonder if it a smear to call Obama a muslim? with his long upbringing in the muslim faith it is certinally ok to question his sincerity to christ.with friends that downplay his use of cocain & the reality using cocaine is never a small thing.

with his now affilation with his pastor the Rev. Wright Jr. ,a black militant,who says raceismis how this country was founded It certinally is OK to question his position as truly a Christian because a true Christian would flatout reject race militeracy.PS

Senator Kerry you not supporting Senstor Clinton is probally the best thing that evey hapned to her

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

MountainEdge — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:26:36 GMT

I would like to think that most of the people who post on here live in the real world but I really don't think that some of them do. If anyone can remember John McCain 2000 in South Carolina and what the Republicans did to him, they should know that those same Republicans are willing to do the same to Barack Obama. I have had many discussions with friends and posters about who Obama is and many of these people, while not being "Nuckin Futs", do have questions about his background. This includes muslim heritage and what type of person he is and what kind of president he would be. To look at the state of our country and what might happen over the next 4 years, I really don't think that enough people are looking at what type of leader we need or even if we want a Democrat for president. We all saw during the 2004 campaign what happened when Kerry wasn't willing or able to refute the "swift-boating" of his campaign. Do we really want something like that to happen again? On the other side, do we really want to pull all of our troops out of Iraq in one fell swoop? Anyone once again based in reality will know what the possible consequences of an action like that could or would be. John McCain vs. Barack Obama would be a laugh on national security, and for whoever thinks that the economy would override that, think again! I love his campaign about change and hope and wish that i could see the world through rose-colored glasses, but we need to beat McCain and the Repubs in November, not make sure that we have an endless war and much of the past 8 years rehashed again. If Barack can be tough enough then he could earn my vote. There isn't anyway that he can hope to challenge McCain on national security, but he could do so on the economy, possibly.... For anyone who thinks that the USA is past all the hatreds and bigotry of the past, in some cases it is true. But sadly many of our fellow Americans are not and won't be. Even well meaning, uninformed members of our population might well believe that they would be safer with a white man, when the "slur-machine" gets started. This country can not and will not be able to survive much longer if we have a continuation of the policies of GWB. I have not decided who to vote for yet, just in case you want to slam me for being a "Hillraiser". I just want what is best for our country! I hope everyone here does too and will take the time to be informed by reading and studying as much as possible from as many sources as possible, so that we can take back our country and restore it to its rightful place in the world!!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Cecilpau — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:29:00 GMT

COME ON PEOPLE STOP THIS NONSENSE.WE ALL KNOW OBAMA IS NOT A MUSLIM. BY GOD HE WAS RAISED BY CHRISTIAN GRAND PARENTS. HE WENT TO A CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE FORMIDABLE PART OF HIS LIFE. WE IN AMERICA NEED TO BE MORE OBJECTIVE ON RELIGION.RIGHT IN OUR MIDST THERE ARE MILLIONS OF AMERICAN MUSLIMS OF ALL ETHNICITIES ,CONTRIBUTING TO AMERICAN LIFE, OWN LARGE CORPORATIONS IN AMERICA AND LAW ABIDING. DO NOT CONFUSE RELIGION WITH TERRORISM.THAT IS OUR MISTAKE AND BY THIS ERROR, WE HAVE BEEN ISOLATING THE MUSLIM WORLD FROM WHERE WE GET MOST OF OUR OIL AND OF WHOM ARE SOME OF OUR MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS BRINGING IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO AMERICA.

cecil.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

carribnluver — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:32:58 GMT

May I suggest that we, democrats, take a deep breath, settle down a bit and avoid all the name calling, hysteria, which permeates the comments in reaction to Andrew's article. Let us examine coldly, logically, systematically where we are in this campaign and make our individual decision for the good of our country and our party but based on facts not rumors or innuendos.

My issue with Senator Obama has to do with his lack of experience on the national stage, which could be a liability in the fall. I am also troubled by the lack of substance behind the fiery reethorical speeches, which makes him one of the best orators on the political scene, currently. I am more interested in the substance as the saying goes, "the devil is in the details" of a plan. I would like for him to define in more precise terms what "changes" he proposes to deliver, just using the term in itself is merely a slogan, not a plan.

I do like the fact the fact that he is young, energetic, and charismatic, is it enough for me to vote for him, the answer is no, if he is, however, our paryt's nominee, I will vote for him over McCain.

I do not know whether or not Senator Obama is a Muslim, I leave the task of confirming or refuting such rumors to investigative reporters to do. It is disingenuous to say or wrong to think that it would not have a negative impact on the election if it turned out that he were, in fact, a Muslim. I also think it would be prudent to look into his relationship with the Pastor of his Church, and deal with these subjects now rather than later, as I am certain the republicans will in the fall. I am merely suggesting he should be put through the same rigorous examination given to any presidential candidate, if nothing comes out of this tradtional process, he will be a better and stronger candidate. If, on the other hand, he has not been forthcoming, we need to know before we give him our trust, vote and send him as the standard bearer of our party in quest of the highest position in the world! Voting, especially, for a presidential candidate, in my humble opinion, is about making an informed decision, we are in the process of interviewing two candidates for the same position, the leder of the free world!

Finally, I am a an African-American (Catholic Carribbean) married to a Caucasian (Jewish) woman, my wife and I respect everyone's fundamental right to their faith. We do care about the issues espoused and articulated by the candidates, which impact on all of us, especially our 6 year-old boy. This election is mostly about him and his future, from our perspective, and the shape of our country for his generation. There is no racism involved here, nor is there a gender issue, we happen to have two excellent candidates to choose from, one who is inspirational but short on details, the other practical and explicit in her policies but lacks on inspiration and excitement. They complement each other very well as candidates and would make an excellent ticket in November, if there is no hidden bombshell anywhere. It may even become necessary to ensure victory in the general election as it is rather uncertain that neither candidate will have the required 2, 025 delegates to clinch the nomination. Senator Obama's strength among the young, affluent, well educated, black population. white liberals, men, whereas Senator Clinton attracts the union, blue collar workers, less educated, women. hispanic voters, moderate democrats, middle class voters, which represent a very strong winning coalition.

I urge you, fellow democrats, to chill out and not burn the bridges between the two camps, we NEED a democrat in the White House!!!

May God bless our great and beloved country!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

SHIRLDUBO — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:44:13 GMT

I TOO AM A HILLARY SUPPORTER. I CAN IN NO WAY SUPPORT OBAMA. HIS NAME IS ENOUGH TO MAKE ME SUSPIOUS OF HIM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IT IS IF THEY ARE MESMERIZED AND CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES. TO PUT A RELIGIOUS BENT TO THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION WE ARE TOLD THAT THERE WILL BE AN INDIVIDUAL(ANTI-CHRIST) THAT WILL MESMERIZE PEOPLE . I AM IN NO WAY SAYING THAT OBAMA IS THE ANTI-CHRIST BUT WE SHOULD ALL BEWARE OF THE WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING. HOW DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT HE STANDS FOR? SO FAR ALL HE HAS GIVEN IS A LOFTY SPEECH. I AM A DEMOCRAT THAT WILL PROBABLY CAST MY LAST PRESIDENTIAL VOTE TO A REPUBLICAN. I TRUST MCCAIN MORE TO RUN THIS COUNTRY THAN A "MUSLIM" THAT WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

kenbomc — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:47:29 GMT

Some of you have alot of learning to do with diversity within our country when it comes to people of different races, ethnicity, etc. America is full of all people. That's who we are. That's who we've been ever since our country was founded. I suggest that some of you should take a trip outside of your 'box' and take a real look and experience the great diversity of people we have here in this country today -stop being afraid. I'm glad the narrow minded are the minority here. All of you that have some concerns about Obama, get to know the guy. That seems pretty simple to me. To those undecided, republican, or independent voters, take the time to get to know Obama and what he stands for. You can always take a minute and check out his website (barackobama.com) for his stance on many issues. I'm a 34 year old independent white guy (a single parent) who votes, but I never really got to know candidate's positions on issues until this year. Obama is one of a kind.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

miltongalfas — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:49:40 GMT

The Obama camp is always quick to say 'I don't want to play the race card' when no one is. They are as slick as the Bush campaign. It is remarkable how gullible youth voters believe that because Barak says he is change that he really is. If you read how he mecame a candidate it was from the Washington rich white people that are his friends setting him up. He still has far fewer minorities and women working his campaign than any other candidate. He remarkably has NO minorities working the power positions for him.

I know that he is 'The Black Bush', a candidate with great rhetoric and no experience or plans. He has already shifted3 times over the troop pullout. Why isn't he held accountable? Because any criticism is met with 'You are only saying that because he is black.' The truth is he did cocaine and smoked pot. He has changed his postion when he even takes one countless times. He is holding back room PRIVATE sessions and making deals with media people and community leaders. If he means it when he says no more secret deals than let us know the secret deals he has already made and is making.

Everyone I know will vote Republican if he gets the nomination. Another catastophic failure by the NorthEastern Eletists that run the Democratic Party.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

knadiesel — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:50:37 GMT

I don't know what a better talking point for Obama is on this to Christians who are concerned about Muslim roots, stating that his birth father (which they talk about) was a deadbeat, or that he converted and is "saved" just as other converts to Christianity (particularly evangelical) are. Does the fact his father and step-father were Muslim and he chose instead to be a Christian make him somehow less of a Christian? If anything, to Evangelicals this should make him even more of a Christian, as he isn't a cradle Christian, who are often one in name only. Or he could talk about his 40 days of faith campaign. Personally, since there is no fact to the smear, he shouldn't have to worry too much because the only people that won't accept facts are ignorant, bigoted people that wouldn't vote for him anyway

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

knadiesel — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:55:36 GMT

For those that are scared about a Christian whose father and step-father were Muslims, those people's folks probably were worried that JFK would hand over the keys to the White House to the Pope. If those people are Christians, they should be ashamed of themselves. If you can't take Obama on his word and evidence of going to the same Christian church for 20 years, not to mention all the other mentions of faith and activities he's been in that are Christian, then those same people should tell their pastors to stop trying to evangelize people to Christianity. Apparently those converts would never be treated as fellow Christians.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

lillea — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:13:36 GMT

Obama's church website http://www.tucc.org/about.htm

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

knadiesel — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:14:21 GMT

For those Christians out there that dont know if they can vote for Obama because they don't know much about Obama's formative years, please, post a comment telling us what you know about Jesus from the age of 8 in the Temple to reappearing in front of John the Baptist at age 30. 22 years undocumented. We all know it takes blind faith to believe in God, especially considering you never saw Christ walk on water. Obama's just a human being like you and I, not Jesus, but he does believe in him. Heck, even an atheist can believe that Obama is a Christian because they can see him walk and talk about his Christian faith. People, try having as much faith as Thomas did, if not more.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

zeek82 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:21:18 GMT

As an educated Muslim American with degrees in Poltical Science, all i have to say is those who spread rumors like this, defaming Obama and Islam, and more importantly those who actually believe it, deserve administrations like the current one and deserve their children sent to the battle fields.

For those who fear about John McCains attack on Obama's muslim background, one can easily ask him if he wants to say the same words about his adopted daughter who also "has it in her blood".

Sometimes it is truely hard to believe that some people are still so backwards in this leading nation in the world

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ReasonLogic — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:22:37 GMT

I watched in amazement in the last 2 elections as Americans were led to the slaughter by lies and corruption...most of which were pretty apparent. I'd hoped we'd learned better. I still hope we've learned better and Obama helped me regain that hope. However, if we have NOT learned. And we are still subject to idiot and yes obvious manipulation by the media be it subtle means (ie articles like this one) or outright lies and propaganda and the dishonest, corrupt politicians...well then...I hate to say it but we deserve what we get. We deserve to have a failing economy and housing crisis right now because we CHOSE president Bush. His lies and ineptitude were obvoius, his tactics ugly and yet we chose him. I still have hope that we can do better, but unfortunately won't be surprised if we don't. I'll just continue to pray that God grant us wisdom and clarity...and that he have mercy on us all.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ReasonLogic — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:29:48 GMT

Also...what is with no one in the media standing up against all this Muslim hate. Why can they not condemn these Muslim remarks not only b/c Obama is not Muslim but b/c hatred of entire religion is simply WRONG. Yes some muslims commited horrible acts and it was HORRIBLE. But you know what some Catholic priest do bad things...and some Baptist ministers cheat on their wives...it does NOT condemn an entire group of people!! I grew up Christian...my daddy was a Methodist preacher in the deep south. Now I have friends who are Jewish, Muslim, Buddist even Shaman!! One thing all of them have in common?? The are good people. Good americans. Truly some of the best I've ever met. This hate needs to stop. And we all...including the Media should not be a part of promoting it.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

bluestate1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:31:25 GMT

What about Barack's brother Obango Obama who is a devout muslim and his cousin who is a muslim extremist? Just wait for the interviews of these people this fall.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

chytownIL — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:33:48 GMT

Can_we_survive_another_republican_president?

First of all, as a well educated person, I would have expected you to spell check your posting before submitting it. Your comments are riddled with atrocious grammar and misspellings that distracts readers from your ridiculous point.

Second of all, you should speak to registered Republicans. I have chatted with several who have told me one of two things:

1) they would be thrilled for Hillary to win because it would bring out other Republicans in droves to vote against her and ensure a Republican president or

2) they were leaning towards voting Democratic this election cycle and they would support Obama, but would not vote for Hillary under any circumstances.

Hillary inspires so much hate by many Republicans that having her as the Democratic nominee would be extremely problematic in the general election. Hopefully Obama could overcome the close-mindedness regarding his upbringing, but I fear nothing could help Hillary overcome the hate she has inspired among many Americans.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

lillea — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:38:43 GMT

Please take a look at this website http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7176683.stm

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

willakp — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:49:48 GMT

I work in higher education. I see more students every year who are seriously underprepared and I wonder how they manged to finish high school. Reading the comments made by the teacher in Florida explains everything.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

AZ Gal — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:02:40 GMT

Dear Mr. Romano,

Haven't you been to grade school? If you have you then learned that to continue to acknoledge any rumor keeps the rumor alive. You sir are just keeping the rumor alive by putting this into credible mainstream press, or you think people will be so enthralled by your words to think that people will read all of them rather than the few of them that appeal to them and their bigotry.

Finally to even consider this racist teacher as a "real everyday american" is an insult to the american public.

I see that the tactics remain on the billary side, you pretend to tell us "what we need to know for our own good" yet as you said yourself, we are well equipped to judge this on our own. I don't believe you when you say you aren't trying to cast doubt on Obama. I really don't.

Signed,

A disgusted american who believes in her country

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

AZ Gal — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:06:05 GMT

Dear Mr. Romano,

Finally to even consider this racist teacher as a "real everyday american" is an insult to the american public.

Signed,

A disgusted american who believes in her country

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

AZ Gal — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:26:51 GMT

after reading the comments I feel better about the educational level of those posting. no wonder Obama leads among the highly educated.

For example mr I can't spell Here correctly

"Posted By: hear-we-go (February 12, 2008 at 11:18 AM)

The muslim thing will hurt him. The race thing will hurt him. America just isn't ready. It shows rather poor judgement to even try to get elected with the name"

THIS IS THE REAL story - will the 'try to smear obama campaign" take root among the illiterate and the uneducated.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

cleareyes — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:29:53 GMT

There is nothing wrong if Obama is muslim, but the truth can avoid a lot of "political storms". Ther e is an old saying: "BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. "

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Leona10times — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:35:33 GMT

Every time people critic Obama his supporters cry racist. What a bunch of garbage! He is a politician who has NOT accomplished anything worth-while in the years he has been in office and doesn't even honor his country's flag. He will lose because he is too liberal for America and his record of achievment is almost nothing! Not even his supporters can point to a Bill he has passed while in office that helped the country and he missed over 1/3 of the ones that were voted on!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

jerryalb — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:49:00 GMT

This is a silly debate to have. If McCain(though I doubt McCain would) or the Republican's try to say Barack is a Muslim all he has to do is come out and tell the truth.

Yes, my father was a Muslim, though he was agnostic by the time I was born. He left when I was two. More of an influence was being raised in Indonesia a predominantly Islamic country. So yes, I know and understand the Islamic religion. However, I did not find spiritual guidance until I joined the UCC church 20 years ago.

He could even come out and spell out United Church of Christ, which is the church I belong to by the way, the history of which as my minister told me, dates back to the pilgrims at plymouth rock!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

JDanielson — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:56:41 GMT

Andrew...you are so clever. Here it is, the 11th of February, and you're still talking about Obama's ties to the Muslim religion. Then, it's like, "Oh, whoops...so sorry." Find something newsworthy to write about, instead of rehashing a non-issue. Articles like this, spread misinformation by the very act of printing it.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

tran58quil — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:08:56 GMT

I feel like we've been underestimated. Obama's faith is not the problem. He may not be Muslim but certainly does belong to a Baptist church with a focus on Africa, whose minister spews what equates to anti-white sentiments. But that's not the problem, either. Who is Obama? What are his specific positions on the issues and what are his detailed plans? He's generated what equates to a cult-like movement that I find disturbing. Especially because he not divulged any of what a voter needs to know to make an informed decision. And folks just keep drinking the kool-aid...

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

lillea — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:12:05 GMT

I think that the fact that he has family ties to revolutionists in Kenya poses a national security issue here.

I have read that they are denying visas to any of the revolutionists in Kenya that want to come to the US.

I would say the feds are concerned as well.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

New American — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:16:27 GMT

I became an American about one month ago and up to today was very proud of my new citizenship and my new homeland. It's just so disheartning to read some of the comments. So much for the diversity and acceptance of different cultures and religions that Americans like to brag about.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Lula — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:19:16 GMT

Obama may not be a Muslim but he is definitely a Black separatist. His so called Christian Church allows only members of the Black race. Why don't you check that out Mr. Pundit.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

lillea — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:22:22 GMT

Our allys are concerned about Obama's candidacy.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/11/obama.comment/index.html

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

veronica08 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:28:23 GMT

Andrew bring a vail concern. The point is that the media is so keen to Obama right now, it brushes away any points of concern. The most likely reason is that the media and the republicans are afraid of Hillary and promote Obama full speed. But things will change the minute after Obama is a nominee. Overnight, the experience will matter because Obama is pale compare to McCain in that matter. National security will become an issue. Obama is weak on this. He has only his speech in 2006 against McCain's 20+ experience on national security issues. The character will become an issue and there are many ways to get Obama weak on this as well. McCain is certainly a strong character. And finally, when it comes to economy - Obama doesn't have an upper hand either.

With all this doubts, you won't even need swiftboater. Just keeping the lies about his muslim roots alive on media outlets will be enough to persuade many people that the guy doesn't worth a risk and it is safer to go with McCain. All those polls showing him beating McCain by few points - just a reflection of this momentum. Looking to Novemeber, he can't beat McCain. The areas where he had strongest support are solid republicans in general election. And the blue and toss-up states have enough centrist and moderate democrates who voted for Hillary and are ready to become "McCain democrats" if Obama is a nominee. I am one of them.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

benreal — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:34:29 GMT

Let's get over a non sense discussion.

The truth will prevail. What can we be a nation that can speak and support the truth?

OBAMA is not a muslin and the entire World knows this. His biography is very transparent and simple.

Instead of discussion about such nonsense, our beloved country is going through a recession.

Discuss rather whether the candidates are qualified to lead us into a new direction.

Evidently the direction we are headed to leads to destruction.

We are hated than never before in the world. All these after all these "experience" folks in Washington have led us astray.

This time we need quality and NOT quantity to get us all out of the mess.

Wash and listen to this: http://blip.tv/file/647623

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Aaron.in.MS — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:47:35 GMT

LMFAO!! you know what I think is funny? the Democrats, who ALWAYS speak out against the "racist, rich ashole" conservatives have dont NOTHING this entire campaign but bring out a race war and the truth about how ALL the Democrat nominees are tied into having recieved MILLIONS of dollars in campaign contributions from RICH, CHEATING, SCUM (see: Rezco, Norman Hsu, etc., etc. it goes on forever just because I dont personally know their names). They are constantly accusing others of doing the SAME misleading deeds and having the same bullshit ties as THEIR OWN!!! They accuse others of doing EXACTLY what they, themselves are doing! Its called misleading people, kinda like how they (democrats aka, Pelosi, Clinton, Gore, Kennedy, etc) all are constantly blaming the Republicans for "misleading" them into the war in Iraq remember? Goto snopes and look up www.snopes.com/politics/war/wmdquotes.asp , it'll explain what I mean. They themselves acting upon the SAME *** intel that EVERYONE else had said the SAME *** thing as the conservatives did... Does no one in the US realize this at all? Have we TOTALLY forgotten that if we dont learn from History we're doomed to repeat it???? Do you now realize that the US is becoming the next Rome at an alarming rate????? Dont think so? Does anyone remember what the Romans were doing as their empire crumbled before them thinking they were invincible???? Gay Sex, Gluttony, Over taxation, Everyone THINKING they were unstoppable...OBVCIOUSLY some of you have forgotten your history, now you think you might instead of listening to the liberal biased media actually go pick up a HISTORY BOOK with FACTS instead of believing these fools on TV??? hell no you cant right? ***, that might take away from American Idol, or Tila Tequila, or some other BULLSHIT that's just making you stupid pigs while your freedoms get swept away underneath you.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

gsirod — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:53:29 GMT

The Clinton campaign and the media have been very easy on Obama. Even this article is cautiously written to try not to affend the Obama campaign. The opposite has been against the Clinton Campaign with the media. Obama is running on his rhetoric and not on his past actions. The media seems to want to protect Obama and past records such as voting, religion, Rezko, etc. The Republicans will tear Obama apart. Obama's knowledge of the issues that affect America is very weak in comparison to the other candidates. If the Clinton Campaign brings anything up regarding his questionable past, the press perceives this as racial or divisive. The Republicans will not hesitate to show Obama's record. Hillary has not been protected by the media and is very knowledgeable of the issues. The Republicans will have a much more difficult time against her. The current polls only show what the media and the Obama's rhetoric has conveyed. Once the actual actions of Obama and not Obama's rhetoric comes to light to the American people. The Polls will definately change and McCain will proudly be the next President of the United States.

Steve B

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

benreal — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:01:35 GMT

Aaron,

Rome falled because of too much arrogance, that's where we (USA) are today.

We need to lead by example and not by arrogance.

Though we need to have the strongest Army this is not the only way to resolve our conflicts.

We should never negotiate out of fear (current admistration), but we should never fear to negotiate and tell our partners and even our enemies where we as a Nation stands. I am travelling a lot to European countries, and I can tell you that they don't like out foreign politics. Now that the dollar is falling,

I am a Christian and I truely believe in what JESUS said to the woman who was caught in adultry. We also have to reach out to all. And only through that love of GOD, GOD will change the hearts. It is not by "casting the first stones" on them that we will bring them to GOD.

John 8:3-12: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%208;&version=50;

Let's not judge by the appearance, but by the values, the contenance.

All in LOVE for GOD is LOVE.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Atlanta_B — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:19:26 GMT

Hillary supporters should understand swiftboating as well. Rumors are all over that Rupert Murdock (Fox News) has a list of women that Bill Clinton has had affairs with since leaving the White House and Fox News will make the list public as soon as Hil is the nom. She will be dragged through the mud very viciously because so many right wingers HATE HATE HATE the Clintons. This hatred is not based on anything factual, but it's there and cannot be denied. Whether the affairs are true or not, everyone must know that this will be brought up again and again during the general election. Who wants a repeat of that which-hunt from the 1990s!

Whichever Dem candidate is the nom will need to fight these swiftboat tatics and lies as quickly and vigorously as possible or there will be no hope of winning in November.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

thisplaceisazoo — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:48:42 GMT

If Obama is a committed Christian then how does he, in good conscience, support a political party that favors murdering unborn human beings? Same goes for Hillary, same goes for any 'professing' Christian that supports a persons right to murder another helpless human being and stealing from then the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

susangg — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:53:11 GMT

The kind of people who will fall for such a smear are not going to vote for Obama anyway.

As far as Obama vs McCain's "national security" credentials are concerned: Obama needs to keep reminding people that it is the Bush war - which McCain has whole heartedly supported right from day one - that has made America less secure. The war created in Iraq a hotbed of jihadi fundamentalism where it had never before existed. The Bush policy of non engagement with Iran - begun when Iran had a moderate, west-leaning president - is what created the environment that caused the Iranians to elect a fundamentalist Shiite president. It is the Bush administration's total non attention and dis interest in the Israeli Palestinian conflict - until a few weekse ago, anyway - that has removed the US a a serious force in bringing about peace in the middle east.

McCain's support in the near bankrupting of the US economy to fund the war has endangered the long term economic security of this country.

In other words, McCain's national security "credentials" are simply that he has been on the wrong side of every decision that has led to greater insecurity in the world. He is part of the problem...

Obama and his campaign need to continue to beat the drum roll on this. He can do it...whereas Hillary Clinton, who is herself tainted with the same history of being on the wrong side of all these key issues - cannot.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

jazz4111 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:01:11 GMT

I am a Clinton supporter who will enthusiastically support Sen. Obama if he is the Democratic candidate. In an effort to refute comments on his "Muslim leanings" and "dangerous church associations" from my next door neighbor, I went to the website of Sen. Obama's church: the Trinity Church of Christ in Chicago. What I found there was somewhat distressing. The January issue of the official church magazine (The Trumpet) had Rev. Louis Farakkhan's picture on the cover. There was a highly positive interview with him excerpted on this site. There were also very controversial comments made by the church's pastor, The Rev. Jeremiah Wright concerning racism and white people. Sen. Obama has made it clear that he does not agree with every position taken by his pastor (and "spiritual advisor"), but what the Republican sleaze machine can do with this really scares me. These are not rumors, wild accusations, or salacious lies - go to the site and see for yourselves.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

dmh777 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:03:01 GMT

It's not gossip in relation to what O'bama stands for behind the veil. According to Invesor's Business Daily Wed. January 10th (pg A10) there is an article that clearly backs his Pastor Wright who leads a church who preaches politics of black nationalism whom travelled to Libya with black supremist Louis Farrakhan to meet with terrorist leader Muammar Qaddafi. Furthermore, last year Wright honored Farrakhan at a Chicago gala. What's more is that O'bama pleged allegiance to a non-biblical code of ethics which is tied to a black value system at his church (Tinity United Church of Church in Chicago. This value system preaches to patronize black businesses and not white, according to Investor' Daily. I believe there's a dark secret that is being revealed in American politics.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

soxwin05 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:10:56 GMT

This is a major problem in America. I have also been reading where people are questioning Sen. Obama's muslim background and my question is does it matter? I could swear I read "somewhere" where we had the freedom of religion. Oh yea, the CONSTITUTION! I though that what these wars were about, our freedoms to say what we feel, but we have news reporters being suspended for giving their opinion (Sen. Clinton pimping out Chelsea) and that's all it was, his opinion. We have Sen. Obama being alienated for his Fathers belief and what his Father named his son (Hussein). Maybe the wars should end and we let our freedom go since it's a sin to excersise our freedom anyway.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

soxwin05 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:20:30 GMT

I must post a truth about Trinity United Church, being from Chicago and having visited the church on a couple of occasions (although I am not a member and have not desire to become one), do not belief what you read, Trinity is predomenatly black so yes they look out for black interest, but that';s only logical, the fact is, the do have White members.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

redskinman — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:23:49 GMT

Because Obama is winning people are trying anymeans to make him lose or have people not vote for him. He is a Cristian and he is not dangerous in any mean. Even if he lived with a Muslim father it doesnot mean he practices Islam. This has turned into a sexist and racist campaign. And America is not going to advance if Americans think this way.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

steveraftery — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:31:14 GMT

The only people who will give any credence to the muslim smear is racists and ignorant people to begin with. This country has been run by outsiders during the whole Bush Administration. The whole Neo-con movement is an Israeli Zionist movement. These people do not want Obama to be elected and they will use the Muslim smear and any other smear they can find to discredit him. Remember, Obama is willing to talk to Iran. Imagine that, talking to foreign countries before bombing them. No wonder the guy is so popular. McCain, who I actually voted for in the primaries was singing "bomb, bomb, bomb, Iran" last year. Although McCain was the best choice of a very poor choice of a Republican candidates dominated by Neo Cons and the Religious Right, he was the best choice. Americans do not want war. We don't want to be an imperialistic country. It does nothing for your average American and all it has done is make GWB and his buddies rich while making America Poor.

Pull out of Iraq. Let Israel Defend itself.

Vote Obama for president.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

CitizenG — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:35:21 GMT

Wow... I can't believe a teacher, someone who is supposedly an aducated person, would be so ignorant. "It's in his blood".. That makes me sick.. It's sad that this woman is teaching our children. Pray to god she doesn't bring her hateful retoric in the classroom with her. Bigot...

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

cougar1717 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:38:07 GMT

I find it interesting that many people believe that the proofs of Christianity are church membership or a personal Bible. In Matthew 7:15-23, the Bible says it is by their fruits that you will recognize if a person is a Christian or if they are a wolf in sheep's clothing. Senator Obama's stance on many issues is not congruent with the Bible. If you disagree with the previous statement, I would encourage you to read the Bible for yourself.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

neto412 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:40:49 GMT

AMERICA, OPEN YOUR EYES. Muslims want to infiltrate our trust, they want to destroy us, you America, had listened before. Do not forget 9/11, online American beheaded,1983 Beirut 200 Marines dead by muslim Kamikaze. Muslim hate us, that simple.

CATOLICS : CRUSADES KILLS MUSLIMS,JEWS IN THE NAME OF GOD

MUSLIMS :KILL EVERYONE WHO IS NOT MUSLIM IN THE NAME OF EVIL MOHAMED.

CHRISTIANS(Protestans): WE, AMERICANS, HELP OTHERS IN THE NAME OF JESUSCHRIST.

LONG LIFE TO AMERICA, GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS ISRAEL, GOD BLESS ES.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Thetruth111 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:04:12 GMT

There is nothing wrong with being a Muslim?

A Muslim who doesn't read his/her Quran would only say that.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

stjohnmonk — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:22:16 GMT

Obama rose from obscurity to gain a seat in the senate, and now he is running for president.

What bothers me is who is behind this meteoric rise of a nobody. It takes most candidates years

of public service to even gain respect among his peers. Whether Obama is black is irrelevant.

The main question is how will he do in a one on one debate against a slick ploitician, Obama speaks elegantly, but he appears to be speaking from a prompter, he may fall flat on his face

when confronted with serious questions, and not have a prompter or a speech writer to answer

the hard questions. I wonder if he has been wired when he makes a speech or when he is in a

debate with other democrats. If Obama gets the nomination will he be forced to add Hillary as

his running mate, this pair could set America back 100 years because both of them are dyed in

the wool liberals. America has had a stomach full of liberals bad ideas and programs.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Liza Jane — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:59:54 GMT

I don't give a hoot about his religion or lack thereof. I do care that Obama seems to be an empty suit with a mouth full of pretty words that are being swallowed, hook, line and sinker without a question about the issues. All I hear is change, change, change......

Change what pray tell? Is he going to undo some of the evil that Bush has done? Will he rescind the monumental list of "exective orders" and "signing statements"? Will he end this illegal war and quit murdering our own soldiers for the lies? Will he work to restore our Constitutional Rights that have been trampled by this corrupt administration?

What will he do about the economy? The jobs that are still bleeding from this country?

Will he have the guts to demand that the wealthiest of the wealthy pay a fair share of the taxes or will he give them more tax breaks until all of them pay nothing while this country continues it's downhill slide?

What about Medicare for everyone? I doubt it. It will cut into the profit margin of the pharmaceuticals who have been so generous to him.

Yes...... Obama has a whole lot of words and nothing in the way of answers.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Dateecha — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:00:06 GMT

Okay. Let's just play make believe here for a second. Let's say that America makes Obama the first African American president, and after his swearing in he steps up to the mic and says, "My fellow Americans, ʾašhadu ʾan lā ilāha illā-llāh, wa ʾašhadu ʾanna muḥammadan rasūlu-llāh ("I testify that there is no god (ilah) but God (Allah), and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.") What would be different about our country other than the fact that we have not only the first black president, but the first musilm president. What could he possibly do to harm this nation ( Any more than the so-called Christians presidents we've had) after swearing to defend the constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic so help him god (or Allah as the case would be)? What is it that we expect a muslim president to do? Fund the building of mosques all over the country? Try to make the US a Muslim nation? Turn the Navy Seals into a bunch of suicide bombers? Make us pray five times a day? Listen Xenophobes, a Christian president, a Mormon president, a Catholic president, a Hindu president, a Jewish president, a Muslim president, a Budhist president, or an Atheist president could do nothing more than the Constitution allows him or her as far as religion is concerned. He or she could not declare this nation a (you fill in the religion) nation. He or she could not favor his or her or anyones' religion over any other religion.

If Barack Obama is a closet Muslim, the only thing that is sad and wrong about it is that in the most open, supposedly tolerant, nation on the planet he has to hide it.

Grow up America!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

lillea — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:10:08 GMT

Dateecha,

My friend, Radical Islamist are sworn to world domination. I'm not sure if you have watched any news broadcasts lately, but they have NO respect for human life in their quest to gain world dominence. THAT is what is so concerning about a speach given in Arabic by an AMERICAN president.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

JoAnna Graller — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:11:55 GMT

This white Irish-German-Scotch-Catholic- democrat,--- who is a retired physician-mother of three-- is plainly sick and tired of the CONSTANT REFERENCE TO SENATOR "OBAMA" AS A BLACK MAN!

This is a stigma which is rooted in the ugly period of racial inequality going back to a time of slavery!

May I remind all of you media/communication people that SENATOR OBAMA HAS A WHITE MOTHER AND A FATHER FROM KENIA!! HE IS A PERSON OF BI-RATIAL ORIGAN! SO---GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!

JOANNA GRALLER

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

fabaig2007 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:11:00 GMT

I just find it hilarious that so many people are not concerned about the candidate himself but of a rumor floating around. I find it even more hilarious that people are being so islamophobic. I find it doubly hilarious that the author chose to label his article with "Muslim Smear" as if to incite a fear of Muslim people. This is just another example of the fear politics incited by so many politicians that is reminiscent of McCarthyism. I can't emphasize how many good people are being castigated by the very idea that affiliation with Muslim people is negative. We are a peace loving people just like everyone else working towards a better life for our families. Please, stop preaching hate and fear and honor the rights of this great country to live, let live, to allow free speech, and the right to whatever religion we may choose.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Dateecha — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:17:25 GMT

Posted By: lillea (February 12, 2008 at 8:10 PM)

Dateecha,

Report Abuse

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please explain to me what Barack Obama has to do with Radical Islam. Other than his name, what evidence (hard evidence) do you have to prove this accusation of him being a muslim. It is the fact he spent a good deal of his youth in Indonesia, the country with the most musilms in the world? I could point out Southern Baptist Preachers who grew up there and now teach in seminaries across the country. When has Barack every been associated with Bin Laden or any other terrorist organization? And please don't tell me that you believe that muslim=terrorist. That would be as ignorant as believing White and Christian= KKK Membership or Irish and protestant=IRA affiliation.

And as far as Muslims wanting to violently take over the world, I suggest you look at some of the Christian writers of Dominion theololgy who believe that Christianity should be the religion of the US/world, The Bible its only law (Old Testament stuff like wanting to make adultery a capital crime. Sound familiar. Kinda like those poor women getting executed for being raped of in those heathen muslim countries), and exile or execution for non-believers.

Your thinking is xenophobic and baseless. No foundation in reality, It is nothing more than a childish fear that is easily dispelled by sober thought.

WAKE UP AMERICA!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

placecalledhope — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:34:29 GMT

Many people post here don't seem to know Mr.Obama's background. I post his very detailed backgound from 1950's to 1999. The rest 2007 you can find through a link provided.

_________________________________________________________________________

Barack Hussein Obama Sr. (Senior) was born in Nyangoma-Kogelo, Siaya District, Kenya.

He is a member of the Luo tribe and grew up in the sleepy village of Alego-Kogello.

Senior's father is Hussein Onyango Obama (Grandfather). He was born about 1895 and died in 1979. He was a prominent and wealthy farmer.

Grandfather lived for a time in Zanzibar, where he converted from Christianity to Islam. He was one of the first Muslim converts in his village.

"What your grandfather respected was strength -- discipline." Obama quoted his grandmother as telling him. "This is also why he rejected the Christian religion.

"For a brief time, he converted, and even changed his name to Johnson. But he could not understand such ideas as mercy towards your enemies, or that this man Jesus could wash away a man's sins."

"To your grandfather, this was foolish sentiment, something to comfort women," she added. "And so he converted to Islam -- he thought its practices conformed more closely to his beliefs."

Grandfather had several wives. His first wife was Helima, with whom he had no children. Second, he married Akuma and they had Sarah Obama, Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. and Auma Obama.

Grandfather's third wife was Sarah, the one often referred to by Obama as his "grandmother," and is a lifelong Muslim. "I am a strong believer of the Islamic faith," she says.

Sarah was the primary caregiver for Senior after his mother, Akuma, left the family when her children were still young.

Grandfather - several wives

Senior will have seven children with his three wives and one mistress.

Obama is the logical extension of "It Takes a Village."

1943

Stanley Ann (Anna) was born in Wichita, Kansas to Stanley and Madelyn Dunham and would eventually live in 13 different places.

As an historical aside, Anna Dunham's forebears were slaveholders, one of Obama's great-great-great-great grandfathers, George Washington Overall, owned two slaves who were recorded in the 1850 Census in Nelson County, Ky. The same records show that one of Obama's great-great-great-great-great-grandmothers, Mary Duvall, also owned two slaves.

1953

At 18, Barack Hussein Obama Sr. (Senior) marries a girl called Kezia from the local village. It was Kezia who remained his one true love and to whom he always returned.

Obama Sr. was working in an office in Nairobi, when he took Kezia from her family at the age of 16. Her father was furious.

Kezia said: "He did not like Obama. My father and brothers came to Nairobi to bring me back. They said I had to go back to school.

"When I wouldn't, they said they would never speak to me again.

"Barack was also worried about what his father would think because I was so young, but he gave us his approval. Obama's father (often described as poor) sent my mother and father 14 cows for my dowry.

He remains married to this woman when he goes to Hawaii and sires Barack.

1957

Senior is awarded a scholarship, to the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Senior's scholarship is organized by a former Kenyan cabinet minister, the late Tom Mboya, who was earmarked as the successor to Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first prime minister and leader of the terrorist Mau Mau.

1958

Senior arrives at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is twenty-three years old.

Kezia, who is pregnant, remains in Kenya. Senior would have two more children with Kezia in subsequent years.

1960 Stanley Ann (Anna) Dunham, Obama's mother and a strong-willed, unconventional member of the Mercer Island High School graduating class of 1960, touted herself as an atheist.

She was the curious and precocious daughter of a father who wanted a boy so badly that he named her Stanley -- after himself.

The Dunhams moved to Seattle in the mid-50's and Anna was greatly influenced by left-wing and communist teachers in the Mercer Island High School, who had the students read the philosophers Sartre and Kierkegaard, "The Communist Manifesto" and question the existence of God.

In the 1950s, the Dunhams joined "the little Red church on the hill," where the McCarthyism and skepticism that Anna's father embraced and passed on to his daughter was welcomed.

A high school classmate described Anna as "a fellow traveler. . . . We were liberals before we knew what liberals were."

Anna's father found a better opportunity -- another furniture store, this one in Hawaii.

For Stanley Ann, established a relationship with Barack Obama Sr., who she meets at the University of Hawaii, and spent weekends in discussions that seemed to be, in part, a logical extension of the long coffeehouse sessions in Seattle and the teachings of Wichterman and Foubert, Anna's left-wing instructors.

The forum involved graduate students from the University of Hawaii. They spent weekends listening to jazz, drinking beer and debating politics and world affairs.

Neil Abercrombie, the Democratic congressman from Hawaii, was part of those regular gatherings and described Anna as "the original feminist."

Although Anna Dunham is frequently described as an atheist, Obama remembers, "My mother was a deeply spiritual person and would spend a lot of time talking about values and give me books about the world's religions and talk to me about them. Very comprehensive history of Stanley Ann Dunham here.

1960 Although still married to Kezia, Senior marries fellow student Anna Dunham. Dunham is eighteen years old and an anthropology student. They are both students at the East-West Center and they met in a Russian-language course at a time when the Russian language was inextricably mixed up with communism.

His own father and mother’s wedding in Hawaii may not have been properly documented. "How and when the marriage occurred remains a bit murky, a bill of particulars that I have never quite had the courage to explore," Obama writes in his memoir.

The Dunhams weren't happy and Barack Hussein Obama Sr. was furious. He wrote the Dunhams "this long, nasty letter saying that he didn't approve of the marriage," Obama recounted his mother telling him in "Dreams." "He didn't want the Obama blood sullied by a white woman."

Senior is now legally a bigamist but eventually returns to Kezia.

1961

Barack Hussein Obama Jr. is born on August 4th, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii, six months after they Senior and Anna wed.

1963

After rejecting a scholarship at the Marxist New School for Social Research in New York City that would have paid for his family to come with him, Senior abandons Anna and Obama for Harvard, claiming there was no allotment for his family.

Obama is approximately 2 years old when his father abandons the family.

He leaves Harvard as soon as Kenyatta becomes Prime Minister.

1963

Jomo Kenyatta, who was arrested in October, 1952 on the charges of "managing and being a member" of the Mau Mau Society, seizes control of Kenya and becomes its first prime minister in May.

1963

In June, one month later, Senior leaves Harvard and returns to Kenya, joining the Kenyatta government as a senior economist.

Senior is obviously close to Kenyatta, Tom Mboya and the Kenyatta government,

Was Senior associated with the Mau Mau? He certainly was connected and he was the right age.

1964 Senior marries his third wife, an American-born teacher called Ruth, whom he had met at Harvard while still legally married to both Kezia and Ann and who followed him to Africa.

Senior also had two children with Ruth.

Yup, Senior is a believer in that four wives Muslim thing.

Ruth is the third woman Obama Sr. "marries" in 10 years.

1968 Obama's mother marries Lolo Soetoro Mangunharjo, who is an official of the Director General's office in the TNI Topography division of the Indonesian Army and later an oil company executive.

Lolo Soetoro, a Muslim, promptly moves his new family to Jakarta, Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim country.

Subsequently, Lolo and Anna will have one daughter, Obama's step-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng. It is she who places Obama in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 1968 through 1973.

In Obama's account of this move, he states his mother was shocked to discover how her new husband reverted to chauvinist Indonesian ways as soon as he left America and that Indonesia was a nasty right-wing dictatorship (although the latter doesn’t jibe with her spending much of the rest of her life in that country).

To Obama, his mother is a Kumbaya-era liberal. He feels that she messed up her life due to naïve faith in Third World countries and Third World men.

Years later, when he’s working on Wall Street, he’s creeped out by his visiting mother’s insistence on seeing her favorite film, the 1959 Brazilian art-house classic "Black Orpheus." He belatedly realizes that his very fair-skinned mother is sexually attracted to dark men. He pompously intones, "The emotions between the races could never be pure; even love was tarnished by the desire to find in the other some element that was missing in ourselves. Whether we sought out our demons or salvation, the other race would always remain just that: menacing, alien, and apart."

Wallace-Wells mentions in Rolling Stone:

There is an amazingly candid moment in Obama’s autobiography when he writes of his childhood discomfort at the way his mother would sexualize African-American men. "More than once," he recalls, "my mother would point out Harry Belafonte is the best-looking man on the planet." What the focus groups his advisers conducted revealed was that Obama’s political career now depends, in some measure, upon a tamer version of this same feeling, on the complicated dynamics of how white women respond to a charismatic black man.

Early in his run for the U.S. Senate in 2004, Obama’s pollsters discovered that women loved him, especially nice white ladies who like personalities more than politics and definitely don’t like political arguments.

Photo of the Soteros.

1968

The "An American Expat in Southeast Asia" blog reports that Obama's Indonesian schooling began when he was entered into the Roman Catholic, Franciscus Assisi Primary School on January 1, 1968 and sat in class 1B. He was registered under the name Barry Soetoro, serial number 203. School documents listed Barry Soetoro as an Indonesian citizen and his religion was listed as Islam.

Catholic schools accept non-Catholics worldwide. Non-Catholic students are typically excused from religious instruction and ceremony.

Was Obama a citizen of Indonesia?

Does he enjoy dual-citizenship?

1969

Obama enters Class 2 of the Assisi Primary School.

1970

Obama enters Class 3 of the Assisi Primary School.

1971

Obama's family moves from H Ramir Street to Dempo Street.

1971

Obama enters the Besuki Primary School, a government school. He was enrolled as Barry Soetoro, Muslim.

Iis Darmawan, 63, Obama's teacher, remembers him as an exceptionally tall and curly haired child who quickly picked up the local language and had sharp math skills. "He wrote an essay titled, 'I Want To Become President,'" the teacher said.

His third grade teacher, Fermina Katarina Sinaga, now 67, asked her class to write an essay titled "My dream: What I want to be in the future." Obama wrote "I want to be a President," she said.

Obama's sister Maya, has also said, "There was always a joke between my mom and Barack that he would be the first black president."

Eight years old and already he wants to be president?

Over and over, he expresses his desire to become president.

It is an underlying theme throughout his life.

Watch out for these guys.

1971

All Indonesian students are required to study religion at school and a young Barry Soetoro, being a Muslim, would have been required to study Islam daily in school.

He would have been taught to read and write Arabic, to recite his prayers properly, to read and recite from the Quran and to study the laws of Islam.

In his autobiography, "Dreams From My Father," Obama mentions studying the Quran and describes the public school as "a Muslim school."

According to Tine Hahiyary, one of Obama's teachers and the principal from 1971 through 1989, Barry actively took part in the Islamic religious lessons during his time at the school. His teacher was named Maimunah and she lived in the Puncak area, the Cianjur Regency.

"I remembered that he had studied "mengaji" (recitation of the Quran)" Tine said.

Our guy in Jakarta writes: "The actual usage of the word 'mengaji' in Indonesian and Malaysian societies means the study of learning to recite the Quran in the Arabic language rather than the native tongue. "Mengagi" is a word and a term that is accorded the highest value and status in the mindset of fundamentalist societies here in Southeast Asia. To put it quite simply, 'mengaji classes' are not something that a non practicing or so-called moderate Muslim family would ever send their child to. To put this in a Christian context, this is something above and beyond simply enrolling your child in Sunday school classes."

"The fact that Obama had attended mengaji classes is well known in Indonesia and has left many there wondering just when Obama is going to come out of the closet."

"As I've stated before, the evidence seems to quite clearly show that both Ann Dunham and her husband Lolo Soetoro Mangunharjo were in fact devout Muslims themselves and they raised their son as such."

The Obama Campaign told the LA Times he wasn’t a "practicing Muslim."

(3/14/2007)

But his official website says: "Obama Has Never Been A Muslim, And Is a Committed Christian" (11/12/2007)

This is the basic problem with Obama -- his dissimulation.

1972

Classmate Rony Amiris describes young Barry as enjoying playing football and marbles and of being a very devout Muslim. Amir said, "Barry was previously quite religious in Islam.

"We previously often asked him to the prayer room close to the house. If he was wearing a sarong he looked funny," said Rony.

Amiris now the manager of the Bank Mandiri, Jakarta, recently said, "Barry was previously quite religious in Islam. His birth father, Barack Hussein Obama was a Muslim economist from Kenya. Before marrying Ann Dunham, Hussein Obama was married to a woman from Kenya who had seven children. All the relatives of Barry's father were very devout Muslims"

Rony extrapolates further, that Obama at one point had to change his religion if he ever intended later to run for the office of President of the United States because America would never elect a Muslim to the be President of the United States.

Comments made in 2007

1972

Emirsyah Satar, CEO of Garuda Indonesia, was quoted as saying, "He (Obama) was often in the prayer room wearing a 'sarong', at that time."

"He was quite religious in Islam but only after marrying Michelle, he changed his religion."

Comments made in 2007

1972

Upon Dunham's divorce from Lolo she sent 10-year-old Barack to live with her parents in Honolulu, while she and his half-sister stayed in Indonesia.

Dunham would remain in Indonesia until her death in 1995 from cancer.

Barry Soetoro is enrolled in the Punahou School and becomes Barack Hussein Obama.

Obama's classmate and friend, Keith "Ray" Kakugawa, said. "Barry's biggest struggles then were missing his parents. His biggest struggles were his feelings of abandonment.

Meanwhile, Obama would describe his grandparents, the people who would raise him, as "white folk."

Madelyn Dunham raised Barry Obama. It was probably her money that got him admitted to the prestigious Punahou School in Hawaii and paid his fees. Her efforts were formative, perhaps even more so than those of Obama's mother Ann, Madelyn's daughter. And yet Madelyn is being hidden away.

And America's media have supinely allows Obama to pretend he has no white relatives. He has paraded his step-grandmother in Kenya, who never saw him until the 1980s, as his "granny," and locked the grandmother who actually raised him away in a closet.

Now, the Chicago Tribune reports "the Obama campaign declined to make [his white grandmother] available."

All because she is white and Barry Obama is a "black" candidate for president.

The "segregation" of Madelyn Dunham, Obama's white grandmother, and only real grandmother, has to be one of the cruelest and most mendacious political kidnappings this nation has ever seen.

It is my belief that this is the defining moment in Barack's life.

"White folk" -- gag!

Obama "hides" his white grandmother.

1973

Obama wanted a race to belong to, a team whose accomplishments would reflect well upon him. Of course, it was unthinkable in his liberal white family to take pride in the achievements of his mother’s race, so Obama gloried in being part of his absent father’s race.

From the age of ten onward, though, Obama desperately wants to be black: “I was trying to raise myself to be a black man in America, and beyond the given of my appearance, no one around me seemed to know exactly what that meant.” Honolulu’s paucity of African-Americans means he has to learn to be black from the media: “TV, movies, the radio; those were places to start. Pop culture was color-coded, after all, an arcade of images from which you could cop a walk, a talk, a step, a style.”

Abandoned by his father and shipped off by his mother to his white grandparents, Barry Sotero as Barack Hussein Obama begins the search for his "blackness."

Obama does not identify as a bi-racial person.

He denies his "whiteness."

1974 He cherishes every cause for complaint he can discern against white folks. He is constantly distressed at being half-white. Obama says he "ceased to advertise my mother’s race at the age of twelve or thirteen, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites."

As a teenager, Obama went to parties and sometimes sought out gatherings on military bases or at the University of Hawaii that were mostly attended by blacks.

When his grandmother wants a ride to work because the day before, while awaiting the bus, she was threatened by a black panhandler, he is outraged -- at his grandparents.

Later, when he moves to the South Side of Chicago in 1984, he eventually discovers that, like his grandmother, he’s sometimes scared of black males on the street, too.

"Deeper into darkness."

1975 to1978

While at Punahou School, Obama turns into a disenchanted teenage rebel, experimenting with cocaine and marijuana. Obama admits in "Dreams" that during high school he frequently smoked marijuana, drank alcohol, even used cocaine occasionally.

In his book, Obama recalls that he had "been headed" to the status of "junkie" or "pothead", which he describes as "the final, fatal role of the young would-be black man". He recalls smoking "reefer" in the backs of his friends' vans, dorm rooms and "on the beach with a couple of Hawaiian kids who had dropped out of school."

Obama, told a group of students in New Hampshire that his drug use had caused him to "waste a lot of time" during his high school years.

Bryon Leong, a former classmate, remembers, "He was known as a partier, as a guy looking for a good time, but not much more," Mr Leong said. "There was pot in Hawaii in the 1970s, but it wasn't a big deal."

"It wasn't like guys were smoking dope on campus and coming to school high," said Eric Kusunoki, 57, Obama's teacher from age 15 to 18. "If they did, it would have been pretty obvious. If he did dabble with drugs or alcohol, I didn't see it."

Other schoolmates also remember his time at school rather differently. He was a spoiled high-achiever, they recall, who seemed as fond of his grandparents as they were of him.

One of his former classmates, Alan Lum, said: "Hawaii is such a melting pot that it didn't occur to me when we were growing up that he might have problems about being one of the few African-Americans at the school. Us kids didn't see color. He was easy-going and well-liked."

Lon Wysard, who also attended the academy, said the budding politician was in fact idolized for his keen sportsmanship.

"He was the star basketball player and always had a ball in his hand wherever he was," Wysard recalled.

At school, Obama was surrounded by the island's richest and most accomplished students. America Online founder Steve Case, actress Kelly Preston and former Dallas Cowboys lineman Mark Tuinei, who died in 1999, attended the school around that time. Pro golf sensation Michelle Wie, 17, is a student there now (2006).

In his yearbook pictures, Obama wears a 1970s-style wide-collared shirt and sports jacket, his hair in a neatly trimmed afro that covers the tops of his ears.

He added a photo of himself playing basketball, and a shot entitled "Still Life" that includes numerous items. Among them are a trophy, telephone, turntable and beer bottle.

A package of "Zig-Zag" rolling papers and a matchbook are prominently displayed in front, and in a brief caption he thanked the "Choom Gang" and others "for all the good times."

The "Choom Gang" is a reference to "chooming," the Hawaiian slang for smoking marijuana.

School Daze!

1979

Obama enters Occidental College in California.

1980

In his first memoir, "Dreams," Obama included a description of black student life at Occidental College in Los Angeles.

"There were enough of us on campus to constitute a tribe, and when it came to hanging out many of us chose to function like a tribe, staying close together, traveling in packs," he wrote. "It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names."

He added: "To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students. The foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminists."

Obama said he and other blacks were careful not to second-guess their own racial identity in front of whites.

"To admit our doubt and confusion to whites, to open up our psyches to general examination by those who had caused so much of the damage in the first place, seemed ludicrous, itself an expression of self-hatred," he wrote.

You are know by your friends and associates -- and Obama's are the hard-core leftists.

1981

Occidental College in Los Angeles, which then had a black mayor, Tom Bradley, wasn’t black enough, so in search of a community to belong to, he transfers to Harlem … well, to be precise, to that prestigious university on the edge of Harlem, Columbia. (A recurrent theme in Obama’s career is Power to the People gestures and Ivy League results).

He majors in political science with a specialization in international relations.

1982 "I stopped getting high. I ran 3 miles a day and fasted on Sundays. For the first time in years I applied myself to my studies and started keeping a journal of daily reflections and very bad poetry," he wrote in "Dreams."

He went to the Marxist-Socialist conferences at Cooper Union and African cultural fairs in Brooklyn and started lecturing his relatives until they worried he'd become "one of those freaks you see on the streets around here." Obama swaps drugs for Marxism.

1982

Senior dies in an alcohol-related car accident in Kenya, leaving three wives, one mistress, six sons and a daughter -- there is also the possibility of an eight progeny via the mistress.

Although Obama claims Senior was an atheist, Senior was buried as a Muslim and the rival families of his late father are still suing each other over his meager estate.

One of Senior's former drinking partners, Kenyan writer Philip Ochieng Ochieng says that his friend's downfall was his weak character.

"Although charming, generous and extraordinarily clever, Obama Sr. was also imperious, cruel and given to boasting about his brain and his wealth," he said.

"He was excessively fond of Scotch. He had fallen into the habit of going home drunk every night. His boasting proved his undoing and left him without a job, plunged him into prolonged poverty and dangerously wounded his ego."

Ochieng recalls how, after sitting up all night drinking Black Label whisky at Nairobi's famous Stanley Hotel, Obama Sr. would fly into rages if Ruth asked where he had been.

Ochieng remonstrated with his friend, saying: "You bring a woman from far away and you reduce her to pulp. That is not our way."

But it was to no avail. Ruth sued for divorce after her husband administered brutal beatings.

In fact he was a menace to life, said Ochieng. "He had many extremely serious accidents. Both his legs had to be amputated. They were replaced with crude false limbs made from iron.

"He was just like Mr Toad [from Wind In The Willows], very arrogant on the road, especially when he had whisky inside. I was not surprised when I learned how he died."

Ruth refused to comment on the abuse charges when we tracked her down to the Kenyan school where she now works.

She said: "I was married to Barack's father for seven years so, yes, you could say Barack is my stepson.

"Barack's father was a very difficult man. Although I was married to him the longest of any of his wives he wasn't an easy person to be around."

Senior ends up with three wives, some at the same time and one mistress.

He has either seven or eight children, depending on the report.

1983

Obama graduates from Columbia College moves to Chicago where he finally finding a home where at least some whites reciprocated his antagonism.

Many of his classmates don't remember Obama. He's not in the yearbook. Columbia couldn't find a picture of him at school.

1983 In the period from high school in Hawaii, to Columbia University and then to the streets of Chicago as a community organizer, Obama is the classic angry young black man, describing his world thusly:

"We were always playing on the white man's court -- by the white man's rules. If the principal, or the coach, or a teacher wanted to spit in your face, he could, because he had the power and you didn't. The only thing you could choose was withdrawal into a smaller and smaller coil of rage."

Obama once described the white race as “that ghostly figure that haunted black dreams.”

“That hate hadn't gone away,” he wrote, blaming “white people — some cruel, some ignorant, sometimes a single face, sometimes just a faceless image of a system claiming power over our lives.”

Angry, hateful black man

1983

During college, Obama disapproved of what he called other "half-breeds" who gravitated toward whites instead of blacks. And yet after college, he once fell in love with a white woman, only to push her away when he concluded he would have to assimilate into her world, not the other way around. He later married a black woman.

Half-breeds?

1984

Obama goes to work for Business International in January. He stays one year.

1985 Obama answered a help-wanted ad for a position as a community organizer for the Developing Communities Project (DCP) of the Calumet Community Religious Conference (CCRC) in Chicago. Obama was 24 years old, unmarried, and according to his memoir, searching for a genuine African-American community.

Both the CCRC and the DCP were built on the Alinsky model of community agitation, wherein paid organizers learned how to "rub raw the sores of discontent," in Alinsky's words.

One of Obama's early mentors in the Alinsky method was Mike Kruglik, who had this to say to an interviewer of The New Republic, about Obama:

"He was a natural, the undisputed master of agitation, who could engage a room full of recruiting targets in a rapid-fire Socratic dialogue, nudging them to admit that they were not living up to their own standards. As with the panhandler, he could be aggressive and confrontational. With probing, sometimes personal questions, he would pinpoint the source of pain in their lives, tearing down their egos just enough before dangling a carrot of hope that they could make things better."

The agitator's job, according to Alinsky, is first to bring folks to the "realization" that they are indeed miserable, that their misery is the fault of unresponsive governments or greedy corporations, then help them to bond together to demand what they deserve, and to make such an almighty stink that the dastardly governments and corporations will see imminent "self-interest" in granting whatever it is that will cause the harassment to cease.

In these methods, euphemistically labeled "community organizing," Obama had a four-year education, which he often says was the best education he ever got anywhere. Hillary isn't the only Alinskyite.

1985

Obama goes to work at a Chicago housing project, Altgeld Gardens, where he refines his skills.

Here, Obama worked as an ethnic activist, helping the impoverished black community wring more money and services from the government. That government money was wrecking the morals of the housing-project residents seems obvious from his book, but Obama never comes out and says it. Numerous white moderates assume that a man of Obama’s superlative intelligence must be kidding when he espouses his cast-iron liberalism on race-related policies, but they don’t understand the emotional imperative of racial loyalty to him.

His mentor during this period was the veteran local agitator, Hazel Johnson, who who disputes the version of events at Altgeld Gardens that Obama wrote of in his book and tells audiences at his political gatherings.

While working as a community organizer, Obama was repeatedly asked to join Christian congregations but begged off.

"I remained a reluctant skeptic, doubtful of my own motives ..." he wrote.

This guy is a hard-core, Marxist, black man.

1986

Obama travels to Kenya for the first time.

Obama's 40-year-old cousin Said Hussein Obama commented, "My cousin found it difficult when he came here to learn of his six half-brothers and sisters were born to four different mothers.

Obama's left hand is on the shoulder of Kezia, Obama Sr.'s first wife, who said, "The first time I met Barack Jr. was when he came to Kenya in 1985. He was so much like his father, his looks, his voice, everything. It was like seeing my husband all over again."

In addition to Obama's half-sister, Auma (Obama's right hand), Kezia has three sons by Barack Sr. Her two youngest, Bernard and Abo, live in Nairobi. They are all Muslims. The Clintons and Rodhams were bad, but wait until this bunch starts running around the White House.

1988 When Obama first undertook his agitating work in Chicago's South Side poor neighborhoods, he was un-churched. Yet his office was in a Church and most of the folks he needed to agitate and organize were Church people -- pastors and congregants -- who took their churches and their church-going very seriously. Again and again, he was asked by pastors and church ladies, "Where do you go to Church, young man?" It was a question he dodged for a while, but finally he relented and joined a church.

Obama didn't join just any church, but a huge black nationalist church, the Trinity United Church of Christ (UCC). Its pastor, Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, unabashedly preaches a "black" gospel.

Trinity describes itself as a "congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian. Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain 'true to our native land,' the mother continent, the cradle of civilization."

"Trinity has a non-negotiable commitment to Africa, is committed to the historical education of African people in diaspora and committed to liberation, restoration, and economic parity."

Trinity United Church of Christ adopted the Black Value System written by the Manford Byrd Recognition Committee chaired by Vallmer Jordan in 1981. They believe in the following 12 precepts and covenantal statements. These Black Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Blacks are gathered. They must reflect on the following concepts:

1. Commitment to God

2. Commitment to the Black Community

3. Commitment to the Black Family

4. Dedication to the Pursuit of Education

5. Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence

6. Adherence to the Black Work Ethic

7. Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect

8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of "Middleclassness"

9. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the Black Community

10. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions

11. Pledge allegiance to all Black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System

12. Personal commitment to embracement of the Black Value System.

Please read the "Black Value System" again -- only this time, substitute the word "White" for "Black."

If your church had such a "White Value System" Jesse and Al and the NAACP would have 10,000 demonstrators out front in a heartbeat.

Trinity is very anti-Israel and supports divestment.

There are 15 videos on Trinity United Church of Christ "About" page. You can access them by staring video #1 (double-click) and then clicking the Menu button on the player after its started. The 2nd video is truly disturbing. In it you can hear the Rev. Wright spew 5 minutes of hate speech.

Note: The videos referenced in the above paragraph have been taken down -- more scrubbing of the Internet by Obama's forces -- but HERE'S the link to the YouTube version and it's a must watch. Obama's church

Not your average Christian Church

HERE is the expanded "Black Value System" and it's a MUST READ.

1988 Obama soon falls under the spell of the leftist black nationalist preacher, who preaches African-American unity through antipathy toward whites. Wright, who acts as Obama's personal spiritual adviser, is militantly Afrocentric. His website proudly claims, "We are an African people, and remain 'true to our native land,' the mother continent, the cradle of civilization."

Wright, who married the Obama's, remains a major influence on the presidential candidate. The title of Obama’s second book, The "Audacity of Hope," is borrowed from one of Wright’s sermons.

When he took over Trinity United Church of Christ in 1972, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. was a maverick pastor with a wardrobe of dashikis and a militant message.

He graduated from Howard University and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in English with a focus on African spirituals. At the University of Chicago Divinity School, he earned another masters degree in the history of religions with a focus on Islam.

This video, also available above, presents an example of the Rev. Wright's beliefs -- it is truly disturbing.

Wright sought to build his church on the black theology of liberation, the Marxist ideology introduced in 1968 by Rev. James Cone of New York. It emphasizes Africa's contribution to Christianity rather than that of mainstream white theologians.

At Trinity UCC's 2007 Trumpet Gala, Wright named the "Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan," acting head of the Nation of Islam, as Trinity's "Man of the Year," and awarded him the the "Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., Lifetime Achievement Trumpeteer Award."

It was Farrakhan, who was quoted saying, "White people are potential humans -- they haven't evolved yet"

(More racist quotes from Louis Farrakhan)

Ben Wallace-Wells notes in Rolling Stone: "This is as openly radical a background as any significant American political figure has ever emerged from." Obama's pastor

Wright's an admirer of Calypso Louie Farrakhan

1988 Nobody, except Obama knows if his conversion to Christianity is real or not. Although some reports and even Obama have referred to a "baptism," there doesn't appear to be any record of a baptism.

Chicago-based journalist, broadcaster and critic Andy Martin, when asked about Obama's baptism, wrote, "I have never been able to obtain any evidence that he was baptized, although I asked for those records."

It seems that Obama's conversion occurred when he answered one of Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright's altar calls by walking down the aisle of Trinity Church to make a formal commitment of his faith.

Cathleen Falsani, religion columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, writes, "He (Obama) described his conversion experience in his mid-20s, how he walked the aisle at Trinity United Church of Christ one Sunday in a public affirmation of his private change of heart."

"I came to Christianity through the black church tradition where the line between evangelical and non-evangelical is completely blurred. Nobody knows exactly what it means."

"Does it mean that you feel you've got a personal relationship with Christ the savior? Then that's directly part of the black church experience. Does it mean you're born-again in a classic sense, with all the accoutrements that go along with that, as it's understood by some other tradition? I'm not sure."

"There are aspects of Christian tradition that I'm comfortable with and aspects that I'm not. There are passages of the Bible that make perfect sense to me and others that I go, 'Ya know, I'm not sure about that.'"

"It wasn't an epiphany," he says of that public profession of faith. "It was much more of a gradual process for me. I know there are some people who fall out. Which is wonderful. God bless them.... I think it was just a moment to certify or publicly affirm a growing faith in me."

Falsani warns us that Obama’s walking the aisle at Trinity is poles apart from what Christians commonly refer to as being "saved, transformed or washed in the blood." In other words, it’s not to be confused with what Jesus called being "born again." As Mr. Obama himself explains, "It wasn’t an epiphany … but just a moment to certify or publicly affirm a growing faith in me."

In another account of this event, Manya Brachear, writing in the Chicago Tribune, describes the event thusly: "When Obama sought his own church community, he felt increasingly at home at Trinity. Before leaving for Harvard Law School in 1988, he responded to one of Wright's altar calls and declared a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Falsani wonders, "What kind of faith is it that is growing in Barack Obama? Is it the historic Christian faith? Not according to the good senator, who describes his faith as: (1) Suspicious of dogma (2) Without any monopoly on the truth (3) Nontransferable to others (4) Infused with a big healthy dose of doubt, and (5) Indulgent of and compatible with all other religions."

Unlike traditional Christianity, which Mr. Obama bemoans for its "call to evangelize and proselytize," the good senator’s faith is strictly a personal and private affair. Although he has no qualms about parading it in public in hopes of bolstering his political career, he would never dream of preaching it to others in hopes of converting them to Christ.

At the core of Obama's faith -- whether lapsed Muslim, new Christian or some mixture of the two -- is African nativism and Obama's having pledged allegiance to the Black Value System raises political issues of its own. Obama's conversion

If anyone, anywhere, can validate Obama's baptism, please contact me via feedback or email with a source, link or other documentation.

Note: Some accounts place this event in 1992.

1988

Obama officially becomes an apostate Muslim by his conversion and the question needs to be asked, was Obama's conversion faith-based or political expediency?

In either case, Muslims view Obama as first a Muslim and then as an apostate Muslim. He faces the death penalty in nearly the entire Islamic world.

There is no dispute among either ancient or modern Muslim scholars that under Islamic law, a murtadd, “one who turns his back on Islam,” an apostate, must be put to death. Irtidad, apostasy, is committing treason against God, and traitors deserve to be killed. At a minimum, other Muslims would shun him if not kill him and his mother. The fact they are eagerly welcomed by the Muslim community begs the question, is he their 'Manchurian' candidate?

At a minimum, Obama should be asked if he will support the efforts of Christian missionaries in Islamic countries to peacefully convert Muslims to Christianity.

Big question -- did Obama actually convert?

Has he publicly rejected his Muslim religion and accepted Christ?

The punishment for apostasy in Islam

1988 An American Expat in Southeast Asia blog, written by an American who has lived in Indonesia for 20 years and has met with both the Taliban and al-Qaeda, contains the following:

"Barack Hussein Obama might have convinced some Americans that he is no longer a Muslim, but so far he has not convinced many in the world's most populous Muslim country who still see him as a Muslim and a crusader for Islam and world peace."

"Barack Hussein Obama's race, his staunch opposition to the war in Iraq, his sympathy to Islam and Muslims worldwide and his Muslim heritage receive the Indonesian media coverage. There is no mention of his apostasy."

"A good example of how some of the Indonesian media is reporting on Obama's religion can be found in the following."

"Ayah kandung Obama disebut-sebut seorang Muslim, dan Barack Obama juga disebutkan pernah memeluk Islam. Setalah tinggal di AS dan diasuh neneknya, Obama mengaku telah memeluk Kristen. Masalah agama apa yang sekarang dianut Obama, itu adalah prinsip dirinya yang harus dihormati siapapun. Dan hanya Obama sendiri yang tahu dan akan mempertanggungjawabkan di hadapan Tuhan yang diyakininya."

"begin my translation..."

"Obama's father was mentioned to be a Muslim and Barack Obama had embraced Islam. After living in the USA and being taken care of by his grandmother, Obama claimed to embrace Christianity. The problem with religion and what is now followed by Obama is a principal he himself must honor. And only Obama personally will account before God for his beliefs."

"What I found interesting in the article was the use of the word 'mengaku' when refering to Obama's conversion from Islam to Christianity. The word 'mengaku' in Indonesian means "claimed" and as such leaves the insinuation to the native Indonesian reader being that Obama might actually still be a Muslim. But this is how Indonesians see Obama, they don't see him as an apostate at all, they see him as a crusader for the cause of Islam." How the Muslim world sees Obama.

They don't see him as an apostate but a crusader for Islam.

Written in 2007

1988

Obama goes off to one of the most famous white man's courts in the country, Harvard Law School.

1989

Friends say he did not want anyone to assume they knew his mind and because of that, even those close to him did not always know exactly where he stood.

“He then and now is very hard to pin down,” said Kenneth Mack, a classmate and now a professor at the law school, referring to the senator’s on-the-one-hand, on-the-other-hand style.

Mack added, "Obama stood out from the beginning. He seemed more mature. Everyone understood he was a liberal. He didn't hide that."

Yup, he's definitely a "Progressive"

1989 Obama is a summer intern at the corporate law firm Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago where he meets Michelle Robinson, his summer adviser. Meets Michelle

1990

Obama becomes the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review.

First Muslim-American too

1991

Abner Mikva, a five-term congressman from Illinois who was at that time Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. circuit, tried to recruit Obama as a clerk, a position considered a stepping stone to clerking on the Supreme Court, but Obama turned him down.

"He could have gone to the most opulent of law firms," David Axelrod, a longtime friend who is now Obama’s media adviser, said. "After Harvard, Obama could have done anything he wanted."

The Carl M. Loeb Professor at Harvard University, Laurence H. Tribe, taught Obama and employed him as a research assistant. He remembers him as a "brilliant, personable, and obviously unique" person. Tribe said that Obama’s theoretical perspective on applying modern physics to law was "very impressive."

"He is obviously a serious intellectual as well as a fantastic campaigner who can reach across boundaries," Tribe said. "He will make an extraordinarily fine president."

David B. Wilkins , the Kirkland and Ellis professor of law, said he advised Obama to become a Supreme Court Clerk. "Obama recognized the honor in pursuing that post," Wilkins said, but quickly added that he wasn’t interested.

“He said that he wanted to write a book about his life and his father, go back to Chicago, get back into the community, and run for office there. He knew exactly what he wanted and went about getting it done,” Wilkins said.

Obama works hard to dispel the image of having sought his superstar status. "It's not about me, it's about you," he likes to tell his crowds. But according to those who know him, he has been talking about the presidency for more than a decade. "It was clear to me from the day I met him that he was thinking about politics," says Harvard Law School classmate Christine Spurell.

The one thread, that remains consistent, throughout Obama's life, is his teacher's, mentor's and friend's recollection of Obama's single-minded pursuit of high political office.

Obama plans his work and works his plan.

1991

Obama graduates from Harvard Law School and receive his Juris Doctor law degree.

1991

Obama moves back to Chicago where he takes a job with the civil rights law firm, Davis, Miner, Barnhill and Galland.

1992

Obama and Michelle Robinson of Chicago, Illinois are married (October 18, 1992). The ceremony was performed by Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois.

Michelle Robinson was born into a working-class family from the South Side of Chicago in 1964. She graduated from Whitney Young High School in 1981 and majored in sociology at Princeton University, graduating *** laude in 1985. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 1988.

Following law school, she was an associate at the Chicago law firm of Sidley & Austin.

Michelle has also been an associate dean at the University of Chicago and is currently a vice president at the University of Chicago Hospitals. She sits on six boards, including the prestigious Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools.

Michelle was Obama's mentor at Davis, Miner, Barnhill and Galland.

1992 Obama's brother-in-law, Craig Robinson pulled him aside and asked about his plans. "He said, 'I think I’d like to teach at some point in time, and maybe run for public office,'" recalls Robinson, who assumed Senator Obama meant he’d like to run for city alderman. "He said no -- at some point he’d like to run for the U.S. Senate. And then he said, 'Possibly even run for President at some point.' And I was like, 'Okay, but don’t say that to my Aunt Gracie.' I was protecting him from saying something that might embarrass him." Obama wants to be president, once again.

1992 Obama’s family connections to Islam would endure, however. For example, his brother Roy opted for Islam over Christianity, as Obama recounted when describing his 1992 wedding.

"The person who made me proudest of all," Obama wrote, "was Roy. Actually, now we call him Abongo, his Luo name, for two years ago he decided to reassert his African heritage. He converted to Islam, and has sworn off pork and tobacco and alcohol."

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.

1993

Over the next several years, Obama represents victims of housing and employment discrimination and works on voting-rights legislation for a small public-interest firm.

He also began teaching at the University of Chicago Law School, although he declined to pursue a tenure-track post, hoping to save time for politics.

Obama is named Senior Lecturer at the prestigious University of Chicago Law School.

This guy is getting all his ducks in a row.

1995

When he gets the chance to run for the state senate in a district that included Hyde Park, the home of the university and some of the poorest ghettos on the South Side, he jumps at it.

A longtime, widely-revered matron of the civil rights movement named Alice Palmer had held the seat for a number of years, but she announced that she wanted to run for Congress. So, Obama seized the opportunity and proclaimed his intention to run for Alice's open seat.

Well, Alice lost the congressional race and decided that she wanted to hang onto that hard-won state senate seat. Most of the community leaders tried to persuade Obama to withdraw and wait his turn; he was a newcomer after all.

Instead Obama performed his first real act of political jujitsu. He sent his aides to the courthouse to carefully examine all of Alice Palmer's signatures to see if enough could be disallowed to knock her off the ballot altogether. And indeed, some of Alice's signatures were fake. The aides also found enough other fake signatures on opponents' ballot initiatives to knock them off the ballot as well.

By the time Barack Obama walked handily into his state senate seat, everyone there knew him as "the man who knocked off Alice Palmer." Quite a feat indeed for the newcomer, the young whippersnapper with the odd name.

Here we go!

1995

As part of Obama's first run for office, he releases his memoir/fable, "Dreams of My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance," in which he acknowledges that he used cocaine as a high school student but rejected heroin. "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it. Not smack, though," he wrote.

On "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (12/5/2006) Obama was asked by Leno about taking drugs. Said Leno, "Remember, Senator, you are under oath. Did you inhale?" Replied Obama, "That was the point." In his book, Obama excuses his drug use as "reflective of the struggles and confusion of a teenage boy; teenage boys are frequently confused.”

Even more incriminating than the fact that Obama inhaled and admits to "maybe a little blow," Obama is a cigarette smoker, actually, a chain smoker.

All drug users rationalize their behavior.

1995

Obama's mother dies of cancer a few months after the publication of his 1995 memoir.

Obama’s book is primarily about his rejection of his supportive white maternal extended family in favor of his unknown black paternal extended family.

At age 33, he wrote in "Dreams from My Father, that " he found solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against his mother’s race.

Obama vowed that he would “never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father’s image, the black man, son of Africa, that I’d packed all the attributes I sought in myself, the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela.”

Doesn't like "Whites"

1995 In his memoir, "Dreams of My Father," Obama writes of a story in Life magazine that influenced him -- about a black man trying to bleach his skin white. No such article could be found in Life or Ebony. Liar, liar, pants on fire

1996

Obama is elected to the Illinois State Senate as a Democrat.

A close examination of Obama's first campaign clouds the image he has cultivated throughout his political career. The man now running for president on a message of giving a voice to the voiceless first entered public office not by leveling the playing field, but by clearing it.

Knocks out all other candidates by challenging their nominating petitions.

1996 Obama has no military service record. No military service

1996 - 2000

His political history in Illinois shows that Obama has proven himself to be a nearly perfect Progressive-Democrat.

While in the Illinois State Senate, Obama is named Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. His distinguished works include passing bill to assist children and adults who cannot afford health insurance; increasing funding for AIDS prevention and care; a law requiring police to videotape interrogations for crimes punishable by the death penalty; a law requiring insurance companies to cover routine mammograms; legislation to curb racial profiling.

Obama supports homosexual marriage, racial preferences, banning all guns, flag-burning, socialized medicine and the absolute right to abortion, including partial-birth abortions. He voted against requiring medical care for aborted fetuses who survive.

Obama is anti-war, voted against the reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act, against privatizing Social Security and opposes the death penalty, three strikes laws and school vouchers. He has no military service record. He strongly supports the decriminalization of marijuana.

Obama opposed the Defense of Marriage Act; would work to repeal it in the U.S. Senate; would not vote for any legislation that would restrict the ability of gays and lesbians to marry.

Obama opposed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act four times in Illinois. A similar bill passed the U.S. Senate 98-0. The Born Alive bill would have prohibited a baby from being born alive but left to die according to the mother's wishes.

Obama opposed this bill not once, twice, or three times, but four times.

Obama took almost $90,000 in bundled contributions from the Council for a Livable World. The council is a well-known anti-defense organization.

Obama puts rigid ideology before what's best for the people of Illinois, and presumably he would do that as President as well. He has on several occasions made public his opposition to the NAFTA trade agreement and his belief that it must be negotiated. All the while thanks to NAFTA, Illinois exports $1.3 billion in agricultural goods to Canada.

Obama refused to vote for a bill in the Illinois State Senate that would have increased penalties for drug traffickers.

Obama voted against a bill that would have delivered the death penalty to gang members who murder first responders.

Obama was the only member of the Illinois State Senate to vote against a bill that prohibited early release for sexual predators.

Yup, he's PROGRESSIVE

1999 Daughter Malia, the Hawaiian form of Mary, is born.

_________________________________________________________________

Source:freedomsenemies.com/_more/obama.htm (warning:some may find offensive)

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

sylthe4th — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:42:21 GMT

i'm sure obama has went up against many republicans in order to get where he has in the senate... he'll be ok

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

nknk417 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:55:48 GMT

I think when the muslim issue come up in the Presidential Race, I think the best thing Obama could do, is do the same thing he did When Hillary and Bill went after him. Point to it, show it for all its uglyness, use it to his advantage, and point to his American dream, an improbable American Dream. John Kerry did not lose the election because of swiftboat, He lost it because the Democrats did not have any other issue other than being against Bush. Obama is going to win the Presidency not by a little, but by a huge margin. His message is much stronger than the muslim issue. And McCain is just not the kind of guy who will go that low to swiftboat, I think he loves America too much.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

JOHNHSMITH — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:57:16 GMT

I don't comprehend the section where you say that you are worried if there are any voters who would care if he had any links with the Muslim world. Could you please eludiate that for me? I would also like to say that if he was a Muslim, I don't think it should matter. Unfortunately, during this time period with America's perspective in mind, it does mattter. For me that is very sad to see. I prophesize that John McCain is going to win the the position of being a President. I don't think America is ready for Obama just because he is a different color. I don't think America and the world is ready for Hilary Clinton only because she is a woman . I don't think other countries will take her seriously because with outher clutures, the women aren't respectable and succesful figures. I think the reasoning behing their vote for Mccain would be because he is that typical all-American guy. But, I haven't elaborately checked Mccain's background.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ghostu — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:06:05 GMT

i know im not that smart, but now i know that the rest of america is pretty stupid too. the clinton people, zealots in their own way, would have us believe that bill didnt have sex with that woman, that he didnt inhale, and all that is good in the world flows from him. hillary is the smartest woman in the world, a victim of a vast right wing conspiracy, and of male dominance and supremacy, experienced by virture of being married to an ex president who couldnt hold a majority while in office.. now we have people insinuating that barak obama is a mole, a muslim sleeper agent, a shiite manchurian candidate.we know huckabee doesnt believe in evolution and thinks AIDS is gods revenge on gays. one helluva a world we live in. i would take my chances with senator obama any day before i allowed two egomaniacal power hungry manipulators to subvert this democracy with their oligarchical schemes, or allow a extremist bigot hiding under the guise religion lead this country. maybe im not that stupid.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

sfelders — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:12:35 GMT

as i watch msnbc, pat buchanon seems angry that obama is winning. he appears to me to be a racists. everything he says about obama is negetive

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

ghostu — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:19:00 GMT

one last observation. i just read that ed rendell, a clinton supporter, superdelegate, and governor of pennsylvania wondered if america was ready for a black president. he implied that white men wouldnt vote for obama because of his ethnicity. i think the fact that ed rendell is a jew and got elected first as mayor of philadelphia and then as governor of pennsylvania answers the question. america will vote the way it sees fit, regardless of the ethnicity or gender of a candidate. if rendell believes otherwise, he is unfit to govern, let alone represent the people of pennsylvania or the democratic party as a superdelegate. america is willing to give rendell a jewish candidate a chance, but not obama, a black candidate? absurd and offensive. maybe im stupid, but im not ignorant.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

honest-to-pete — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:25:00 GMT

here's my comment, make of it what you will: FOR the love of God.........!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

MilitaryMAN! — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 05:02:08 GMT

Tired of Media Spin (February 11, 2008 at 7:38 PM)

My comment is in response to the person entitled "Tired of Media Spin"!

Senator Obama is no more dishonest than Mrs. Clinton or her husband, or Pres Bush and his entire Cabinet. I have read several post from people talking about how Senator McCain will eat up Obama and all that Jazz! Well you people need to sit up, walk to the bathroom and push out that BS. I am a firm believer in what he is saying and I trust him more than the people in the White House now. I am a military member and I know first hand what damage has been done to our country and our way of life. We need a CHANGE! You people have no idea! You talk crap about a person based on his heritage. Remember, not one of you originate from this land, we are all refugees from far away lands. Americans need to wake up and get with the rest of the world, Color, religion and all those futile prejudice mentalities are going to place our country with the Mian's, Inca's, and every other dead civilization that once had the super power title in the world. America needs a person of change, and of new direction. You don't have to vote for Obama, but you will wish you did if you have another 4 years with falling market prices and no jobs, along with a failing international relationship and 50 years in Iraq. Mrs. Clinton is a good person, But she is not what we need now. This article is funny and so is the guy that wrote it. But I know, he will be voting Obama in secret.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

nattie — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 05:36:51 GMT

Barack Hussien Obama is using his Church of Christ religion as a rugue to hide behind the fact that not only is he but his father is a radical muslim in the Far East. Just because he talks the talk doesn't mean that he really knows what to do. Anyone can say they want change and promise this and that but in actuallity if the Congress is not behind him nothing will get done. I have always voted Democrat since I was 19 years old, but this year it is not going to happen. I don't think America is ready for a female president nor is ready for a black president. Both do not have a really good platform and the fighting back and forth doesn't help. I will vote republican because it is the lesser of the two evils.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

MilitaryMAN! — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 05:44:10 GMT

And one last thing; the issue of race and his ability to run the country keeps coming up on these blogs. Obama and his experience is another blog issue as well. Well let me put it to you thick skulled, so called red wing Americans. I will start by asking you questions. Before our current Pres, how much was the price of gas per gallon? How much was our national dept? How was our US economy? How was our Stock market? How was our housing market? Ok, now that you have answered all those questions, wasn't this president a man of so called experience? Now to round it all off, what Race, color or heritage is this man? And now you say what about Obama's race and color now? What race or color got us into this world wide mess. And how far must the dollar drop before you thick skulled racist bigots vote for a person, not by the color of his skin but by what this country needs. The race days are over, this is a new day, why do you think so many college kids are voting and over turning the ways of there parents. We see things in a new light, and thank God for that. Our country would never move forward if things were left up to the so call American Patriots. This country was built on the backs of African Americans, so why not have the best builder with centuries of building knowledge fix this mess the perfect white candidates have made.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Jwani — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:05:23 GMT

Well we are 10000s off mulsims in the state , nothing wrong with moslims or been moslim or having a moslim back ground , who kills and murder are not moslim , wel many crazies and killers in Christian also , good people and bad are every where , Obama is a good strong man , I really like him, wish the best for him.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

AJ from KY — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:11:33 GMT

Let me tell those ignorant people who think for some reason that Obama is Muslim and he wants to let Muslims take over this country. I am Muslim and know many Muslims who will be the first ones in uniform to fight for this country. We like the freedom here and want to keep it that way. Take it from me, Muslims do not want this country. They just want their country free of imperialism.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

SeaOracle — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:25:59 GMT

What is odd about this discussion is that it's about a year old. I assumed long ago that bigotry and racism would prevent Obama from making any kind of run at the Democratic nomination, let alone the presidency because of the irrational anxiety many Americans have about anyone who isn't of English or Irish ancestry. Remember Dukakis? He never had a chance. So what you're all missing is that the electorate is actually making a major paradigm shift elevating Obama to celebrity status. Oprah helped a great deal in this regard. It's becoming "cool" for Obama to have a unique name and background BECAUSE he is different. This is an epochal shift in American thinking. Of COURSE the racist sentiment is still there and rumors are how it's expressed. Are we surprised? If it weren't about his having a nominally Muslim father, it would be about some other nasty rumor. So this isn't a very deep analysis. I don't know who will win in the end, but I'd bet on Obama.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

bigotry_root_of_idiot_tree — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:06:09 GMT

Andrew, I have to agree with the statement made by Obama that "The american people are, I think, smarter than folks give them credit for." There are plenty of lemmings who will follow their beliefs off the cliff of reason but there are far more of us who will intelligently assess the facts and draw our own conclusions. Your article implies that you, too, belive that most of us are idiots ; that this is a "pesky problem" that will hurt Obama in a general election. Even John McCain and Mike Huckabee wouldn't be so stupid as to allege that Obama is Muslim. Are you suggesting Hillary will? While Rush Limbaugh may continue to do so, the bald fact is that those on the right wing won't vote for Obama or Hillary anyway, under any circumstance, so how can their chirping hurt him, or take away something he'd never have had?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

partridge — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:33:11 GMT

The thing is that Obama gets so nervous when this is mentioned. Every bio I read on him says something different and the ones favorable to Obama sound really sugar coated. I don't believe in conspiracy theories, but when I hear this Manchurian Candidate stuff I get a little sick feeling in my stomach. Clinton and the Democrats are being very soft gloved on Obama compared to normal presidential races because they don't want to offend the Blacks, but the Republicans don't care about that anyway. Democrats need to take off the rose colored glasses and be realistic about what is going to go down. But then if you really want to vote for Obama then do so. I always follow my conscience and always vote for the loser. I might vote McKinney or write in for Nader.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

obama4osama — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:50:20 GMT

The only candidate who truly understands the plight of the Muslim is Obama. He emanates the "Can't we all get along?" sentiment. He knows evil Americans like Bush & Co. (Cheney, Powell, Rumsfeld, Negroponte, etc.) have undermined Islamic-Christian relations.

Like peace loving greats like MLK, I also have a dream: to see Obama and Osama embrace in the Oval Office.

Yes, it's time for change! Obama for Osama! A vote for Obama is a vote for Osama! Go Obama! Go Osama! Down with Bush & Co.!

Down with the Clinton Machine!

Obama for Osama!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

Stephen in Miami — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:21:19 GMT

My feeling is that those that beieve the Muslim message will also believe that McCain became the true "Manchurian" candidate while he was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for 5 years.

Its a wash!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

bohdansz — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:43:08 GMT

My only concern is how Obama got where he is. I am a Polish American who went to U.S. and foreign schools, some of the best. Still, I live in exile from the U.S. villified at every turn by the liberal and atheist Powers-That-Be! How is it that Obama had it so easy? Had some powerful interests backed him up? If so, America needs to know who they are, before we vote! Every school where I went in the U.S. was openly fighting my search for truth and morality! I was slandered and accused of terrible intentions "to hurt the youth." The University of Alaska took it up to the Supreme Court. Is Obama not interested in truth and morality, that he was so welcome wherever he went? We need to know before we choose him for President! The last thing America needs is someone who is amoral!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

51Cinnamon — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:37:46 GMT

To all you those so-called good Christians out there, I have a question: Why are you people constantly sending money to preachers who want to convert the "heathen"? There's not a Christian religion that does not collect/ask for money for its "missions". I remember filling up Lenten banks when I was a child (I attended Catholic schools until 10th grade) which were to be used to further the faith. Barak Obama's father was a non-practising Muslim; his mother was a non-practicing Christian. The first few years of his life he had Muslim instruction. As an ADULT, he did what all you Christians want: he embraced Christianity and gave his life to Christ. So what is all this hooey about him being a Muslim? Because if that's what you feel about ANYONE who hasn't started off in life as a Christian, then I think it's a bit hypocritical to keep talking about bringing the world to Jesus Christ. Why should someone of ANY other religion convert to Christianity if they're going to viewed with suspicion? And seriously, how many four year olds have a say in their religious instruction? (I was baptised Catholic when I was one month old; trust me, I didn't have a say in it.) So to all who view Catholics with suspicion, am I to be held responsible for a choice my parents made? Is my commitment to God suspect because I'm not an evangelical? Come on folks, we're better than that--at least I hope we are. Then again, some of you are as dumb as an effing post and twice as mean spirited. If you just don't like Black people, have the decency to admit it.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

VICKEY68 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:49:36 GMT

YES--I DONT SEE HOW ANY AMERICAN WOULD VOTE FOR OBAMA--MUSLIM TIES --IF HE RUNS AGAINST MCCAIN HE WILL LOSE AND ANOTHER REPUBLICAN WILL BE IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!! THE ECONOMY WAS GOOD WHEN THE CLINTONS WHERE IN OFFICE BRING A REAL AMERICAN BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE!!!

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

lostlo — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:14:20 GMT

This has nothing to do with the article, but WHO CODED this site? The comments are set to a wider width than the table that contains them, cutting off every line unless I reduce the font size to 6. My little sister could do a better job.

Even better, I had to register to make this comment, and the registration form repeatedly returned the following error: "Your password is too short. Passwords must be at least 4 characters long." The password I entered was five letters long.

You know, my little sister could write a better article than this as well. I guess this is my first visit to newsweek.com, and I'm certain that it's my last. Nice job, guys. Do you even test our your own site?

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

kachoo — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:34:00 GMT

I believe Muslims in this country should be accepted and not suspected of any links with terror, unless there is evidence. But that is not the same as saying it's okay to have a President with close family ties to the Muslim religion. I do NOT believe Sen. Obama is personally tied to any anti-Christian sentiments. If his father used to be Muslim, it's possible his father used to have ties to people with those sentiments.

...

The point is, why should Democrats shoot themselves in the foot by nominating someone so easy to swiftboat ala Karl Rove? Are we so afraid we might win an election??? The main reason this Freshman senator has rocketed to popularity is his wonderful speaking ability -- and let's be honest -- the fact he is black and brilliant. Would Oprah have endorsed him if he were white and brilliant? I don't THINK so! We should allow him to obtain a few more years experience in the public eye before we launch him to a failed presidency bid, and endure another 8 years of Repugs.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

AJ from KY — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:39:18 GMT

I really can't believe that most of the responders here call themselves democrats. They sit here and talk about Bush's failed presidency and how McCain will follow in Bush's same steps and that's normal for Democrats to talk like that, but then many ( and I mean many) keep bringing up the issue that they would never elect a Muslim in to office, (even though Obama in not a Muslim but that's besides the point). They talk about Muslims taking over America and how they want to kill everybody. Democrats; Do you know there are over 15 million Muslims in the US alone? Did you know that most of them are Americans? Do you know Muslims were also murdered on 9/11? Did you know there are more than 16,000 Muslims in the US military? Look it up. To be honest I don't see a difference between Republicans and Democrats sometimes. They are all the same.

re: Can the Muslim Smear Hurt Obama?*

wiscogirl1105 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:38:24 GMT

The thing that gets me about all of this political stuff is that presidents are just figure heads. Yes they have a say about what goes on in the government, but really can be overridden just like the house and senate can be. What is even more frustrating about all this is that every single candidate every election makes promises that rarely come true. I don't fault them for that--It really isn't entirely their fault.

Moving on, the reason our country is in shambles is because we insist as people on dividing ourselves. We have to fall into a category all the time. Republican vs. Democrat. Men vs. Women. Black vs. White. Religious vs. Atheist. When do we, as people, finally say "enough is enough" and just come together to do what is best for each other. When does the fighting and bickering and name calling and smearing finally stop so that we can fix what is broken?

That said, I find it disgusting that people are smearing any/all of the candidates. Regardless of any beef that I may have with any one of the candidates, each person is merely trying to fight for their belief system. It doesn't matter which party we identify with...what should matter is if our values align with someone who, though very little, does have an impact on what bills are passed, what agendas are handled and what issues are acted upon.

I don't think I have to say who I do or do not support. I just feel that when it come down to character, forget experience, forget the promises, forget where they come from or what they represent. When it comes down to charectar and values...You have to find the one that works the best for you.

The most sickening part of all of this, is that we are trying to defend ourselves when we act like bigots. It always amuses me when we, as people, like to try and say "how far we have come" from the Women's Movement, from the Civil Rights Movement, etc, when really, we have just learned to be more discreet with our predjudices. My question is this: Since the beginning of this country, we have had rich, white men running it--Men who (the majority of, at least) have all had things come fairly easily to them. Not only that, but many have had military experience. Great. Fine. Wonderful. The problem that comes in is that lets be honest: It hasn't saved us. As a country, we have progressed very little in the type of person that we choose to run this country. We've been doind the same thing since Washington. It hasn't worked for us. At what point do we finally scrap the old ways of doing something to try something that may work better?

Maybe that means we need to try something different for a change. Whether it is Hilary or Barack that come into office I don't care. What matters is that it is someone who does not fit the "normal" way of doing things. Someone who can bring a new perspective to running this country.