Obama Takes on Question of Faith

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Barack Obama is stepping up his effort to correct the misconception that he's a Muslim now that the presidential campaign has hit the Bible Belt.

At a rally to kick off a weeklong campaign for the South Carolina primary, Obama tried to set the record straight from an attack circulating widely on the Internet that is designed to play into prejudices against Muslims and fears of terrorism.

"I've been to the same church _ the same Christian church _ for almost 20 years," Obama said, stressing the word Christian and drawing cheers from the faithful in reply. "I was sworn in with my hand on the family Bible. Whenever I'm in the United States Senate, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. So if you get some silly e-mail ... send it back to whoever sent it and tell them this is all crazy. Educate."

Obama is referring to a debunked chain e-mail circulating widely on the Internet that suggests he is hiding his Islamic roots and may be a terrorist in disguise. It says he was sworn into the Senate on the Quran and turns his back on the flag during the pledge.

There are some truths in the e-mail's details. Obama's middle name is Hussein. His father and stepfather were Muslim. And he spent part of his childhood in Indonesia, a largely Muslim country. But he attended secular and Catholic schools, not a radical madrassa.

His campaign has been pushing back against the false rumors all year. His aides decried an incorrect news report that Obama was educated in a Muslim madrassa and a section of his Web site is devoted to correct that and other false rumors circulating on the Internet.

But they are stepping up the effort now that the campaign has hit South Carolina and soon turns to other southern states where religion is so important to voters. The campaign distributed an open letter from seven Jewish senators this weekend condemning the attacks; aides are planning an event this week to respond directly to the e-mails; and campaign representatives blanketed South Carolina churches Sunday with literature that touted Obama's Christian faith.

One piece features photos of Obama praying with the words "COMMITTED CHRISTIAN" in large letters across the middle. It says Obama will be a president "guided by his Christian faith" and includes a quote from him saying, "I believe in the power of prayer."

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A second piece, which like the first doesn't mention the Muslim rumor, includes photos of Obama with his family and a caption that says they are active members of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. It explains how as a young man Obama "felt a beckoning of the spirit and accepted Jesus Christ into his life."

Obama says he's going to fight harder against other mischaracterizations about his positions that he says are being perpetrated by rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband, the former president.

"When I see Senator Clinton, President Clinton distort my words ... that is not a way to move the debate forward, that is not a way to help the American people," Obama said during his rally at the Columbia Convention Center. "I am not running for president just to become president, I'm running to help the American people. I'm not willing to say or do anything just to win an election."

The Clinton campaign suggested the former president would continue pointing out what it says are inconsistencies in Obama's record.

"President Clinton is a huge asset to our campaign and will continue talking to the American people to press the case for Senator Clinton," said Clinton spokesman Phil Singer.

Obama adviser Steve Hildebrand said the campaign has organized "truth squads" made up of South Carolina supporters ready to defend Obama's record from any attacks made by the Clintons this week.

In an interview broadcast Monday on ABC's "Good Morning America," Obama said the former president "has taken his advocacy on behalf of his wife to a level that I think is pretty troubling" by making statements that are not supported by the facts.

"This has become a habit, and one of the things that we're going to have to do is to directly confront Bill Clinton when he's making statements that are not factually accurate," Obama said.

The Clinton campaign responded to Obama's interview with ABC by posting a fact check on a campaign Web site in an effort to bolster Bill Clinton's arguments against Obama.

"We understand Senator Obama is frustrated by his loss in Nevada, but facts are facts," Singer said.

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On the Net:

Obama site responding to Internet rumors about his faith:

http://tinyurl.com/ytt5jw

Comments

[Bocababs]

Obama's Speech yesterday was BEAUTIFUL....I don't care what you think of him as a Candidate....that speech was totally moving.

[shangti]

Do Obama know that it was Clinton Campaign who started the e-mail? but then it doesn't matter who started it, it is racist so it have to be Clinton campaign (but let forget the fact this smell so much like a republican tactic). Obamaniacs keep accusing the Clintons as being calculating and cold, but if they are calculating then they know that these tactics will backfire on them if they should win the general election, but hey the Obamaniacs will attribute everything to the Clinton even earthquakes if they can.

[facemn]

The fact is, the Clinton campaign will say anything to win the election - that is a fact. The Clintons are very good about distorting the truth and leaving out certain info for the public so that it puts doubt into their mind about Barack. Anyone who doesn't think that the Clintons will do anything to win the election are kidding themselves. I used to like Hillary and was on the fence about voting for her. But her tactics over the past few weeks have depressed and frustrated me. It's absurd at how they continue to spin for political advantage. What's even more depressing is how ill-informed the public is - most people take what the Clintons say as gospel. I challenge the public to actually research the facts on the internet.

Barack '08
barackforpresident08.blogspot.com

[ljsfolly]

That the robo calls throughout Nevada told the lies and the emphatic Hussein as a middle name pushed it hard and many times as a show Obama was Muslim when he obviously is not showed too many the lie and I think had a big hand in the fear it raised. Who was behind this robo call? I would venture someone working for hil but not so obviously that anyone can dig it out, yet. It is a shame that these kind og swift boating lies can be told as long as there is a bit of truth told during the call. My middle name when told makes me sound like a back woods hillbilly but does it make me a hillbilly? No. Nor should Obama be forced into a "muslim" because of his.

[independentrepublicrat]

I feel sorry for the Clintons. This blantant race baiting by the Clintons themselves as well as their campaign, advisors, and supporters---such as the infamous media whore Bob Johnson---is beyond offensive and pathetic. I hope that the black community brings about a reckoning if she is successful in her electronic vote tampering and injection of racial division to steal the democratic nomination. I say it here and I will say it everywhere there is a black pair of ears to hear me. If she gets the nomination in such an unscrupulous and Bushian manner, blacks should vote with all the might and power of their constituency for either Huckabee or Bloomberg. If they can't hold their noses long enough to vote republican, then stay at home on election day in November and don't vote for Hillary at all. MLK and supporters eventually took a stand and stopped riding the bus when forced to sit in the back and black people should not stay on the racist, electronic vote tampering Hillary train in the general election. The Clintons are expecting that no matter what racist, divisive tactics they use against Obama, blacks will have no other choice but to vote democrat; however, there is another choice and it is to not vote for Hillary or at all in a general election. Now is the current generation's time to make a stand against this kind of racism and oppression that the Clintons are harkening us back to. Make a stand against supporting her ilk in November if she steals her way to the nomination with the most deplorable racial tactics.

[ronspri]

These emails could only be believed by those so stupid they couldn't figure out how to vote anyway.

[coonce]

When you are taking on two of the best POLITITIANS in the U.S. -- you HAVE TO STAND UP AND FIGHT or lose big time.

They will stop at NOTHING to win. This is coming from a previous two time voter for Bill. It's not 'right' how they are swift boating Obama.

Coonsey's View
www.freewebs.com/coonsey/

[epistrophy]

what's that old adage?

something about be careful when fighting the monster, for fear of becoming one...

and the there's the "laying down with dogs & getting up with fleas"...

i feel that what it takes to get elected POTUS automatically disqualifies one from being the best candidate for the job.

[AnninCA]

Obama also managed to imply that it was the fault of the Clintons, too, while at the same time talking about how he's running a fair campaign and unity.

It was a strange speech to me.

At this point, it would appear it will work, but for someone used to watching politicians, he looks to me like a regular ole same ole, same ole.