Obama: Muslim Rumors Not A Concern (VIDEO)

NEW ORLEANS (Associated Press) - President Barack Obama said Sunday he isn't worried about a recent poll showing that nearly one-fifth of Americans believe he is a Muslim. "The facts are the facts," said Obama, who is a Christian. In an interview broadcast on "NBC Nightly News," the president blamed the confusion over his religious beliefs on "a network of misinformation that in a new media era can get churned out there constantly."

A poll released earlier this month by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center showed that 18 percent of people believe Obama is Muslim. That was up from 11 percent who said so in March 2009. Just 34 percent said Obama is Christian, down from 48 percent who said so last year.

"I'm not gonna be worrying too much about whatever rumors are floating on out there," Obama said Sunday. "If I spend all my time chasing after that, then I wouldn't get much done."

Asked about persistent accusations that he wasn't born in the United States, the president responded, "I can't spend all my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead."

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW:

NBC anchorman Brian Williams also asked Obama about conservative commentator Glenn Beck's rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday. While he didn't watch the event, Obama said, "I think that Mr. Beck and the rest of those folks were exercising their rights under our Constitution exactly as they should."

The president acknowledged the ralliers' concerns about the economy and terrorism and observed, "Given the fact that, you know, in none of these situations are you gonna fix things overnight, it's not surprising that somebody like a Mr. Beck is able to stir up a certain portion of the country."

Obama added: "I have no doubt that we are gonna rebound and rebound strong. But when you're in the middle of it, and if you don't have a job right now, it's a tough, tough situation."

Comments

[Eris23Skidoo]

08:35 PM on 09/11/2010

OUR president used the word "funk". Rad. I really hope he does communicate constantly with the American people, like he said. When he talks, people like him. When he doesn't say anything for a while, he leaves a vacuum that Fake News is glad to fill.

[M Williams]

10:35 PM on 09/03/2010

I have searched the web and have yet to find one speech or statement by Barack Obama himself stating something like "I am not a muslim, I do not believe in Islam, I'm a Christian"

So I have to wonder, what prevents Barack Obama from directly stating this for himself and put all these rumors to rest once-and-for-all?

Until I hear him deny it for himself, I'm really not sure what faith he believes in.

I do know he studied the Koran as a child because he said so himself in his book and in an interview published in the NYT, and I read online that he was baptized at the Trinity Church in Chicago in the early 90's when he was about 30 years old, but that was not Obama himself stating that, a reporter had gotten that info second-hand for the Chicago Trib article.

So I don't know.... maybe I'm not as trusting as the Media?
I'd like to hear a man make his own statements before I'd concider it a fact!

[Agathena]

08:24 PM on 09/10/2010

He did say it to the Israelis

[Candidate] Obama to Israeli paper: I'm a committed Christian, not a Muslim
By Stan Goodenough

ebruary 27, 2008

http://www.jnewswire.com/article/2355

As president he affirms that he is Christian whenever the question is raised but does not say "I am not a Muslim."

[Eris23Skidoo]

08:38 PM on 09/11/2010

For him to do what you want would just give ammunition to Glenn Beck, et al, and encourage them to say even MORE ridiculous things about him that he then has to deny or risk people like you assuming the "worst". In the meantime, have you affirmed that you are NOT a murderer, bank robber or racist? Because until you say so, in person, to me, I'm just going to assume that you are all of those things. How do YOU like it?

[iblog]

09:20 PM on 09/01/2010

Obama: Muslim Rumors Not A Concern (VIDEO)
Commented Sep 1, 2010 at 21:05:13 in Politics
“Ok. Got it. The page loaded with the first headline cropped.”

Obama: Muslim Rumors Not A Concern (VIDEO)
Commented Sep 1, 2010 at 21:06:46 in Politics
“I have one screenshot of the website entry. Though this site is debating what the context semantics of "public option".

Look to the lower left of the screen capture:

http://www.correntewire.com/did_obama_­campaign_p­ublic_opti­on_lets_ch­eck_websit­e”
Share it
Permalink

Obama: Muslim Rumors Not A Concern (VIDEO)
Commented Sep 1, 2010 at 21:09:48 in Politics
“Quoting OFA's Obama's Plan it says:

Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can't find affordable coverage with a real choice.

So what didn't he do?”

[rubberneckduck]

08:34 PM on 09/01/2010

FOR IBLOG WHO SEEMS UNABLE TO READ

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/23/headlines#1

[iblog]

09:05 PM on 09/01/2010

Ok. Got it. The page loaded with the first headline cropped.

[iblog]

09:06 PM on 09/01/2010

I have one screenshot of the website entry. Though this site is debating what the context semantics of "public option".

Look to the lower left of the screen capture:

http://www.correntewire.com/did_obama_campaign_public_option_lets_check_website

[Veratruth]

02:45 PM on 08/31/2010

FOX says "Go out an preach the gospel to the world," and Beck felt he was the CHOSEN ONE...

[6465billy]

11:42 AM on 08/31/2010

Sounds to me like Obama is already talking like a beaten politician and it is NOT 2012 yet.

[LiveLoveLaugh7768]

12:48 PM on 08/31/2010

wow --- that is a really insightful comment. of course your're right. in fact - the gop will probably win every race they enter from now until 2013. freaking brilliant comment.

[LiveLoveLaugh7768]

12:50 PM on 08/31/2010

based on your comment -- i figured i should return to tell you i was being sarcastic -- you may not have picked it up

[alfatu]

09:27 AM on 08/31/2010

This is nothing but a Mormon (Beck), because of what he was thought all through life about black people is hell bent on getting this man out of office because he, as a Mormon, doesn't believe that he should be there in the first place. Don't they believe and preached it for a long time, that blacks are inferior to whites? So what is so surprising here when we have Glenn Beck, who is Mormon leading the charge? What gets me is that organizations, such as Pew would actually use funds that they could give out as grants to schools and other needy organizations to conduct a survey about who the president's religion. Why didn't they do it when George Bush was president, Bush said he was a christian and nobody doubted him; same for Clinton and Carter. Nobody every questioned them about their faith but because this man is borned to a Kenyan man and a white woman, Glenn Beck vis-a-vis the "Tea Party" are all in arms about his religion. Don't they have muslim leaders around the world that have gone down in History as being great leaders? It all goes back to Mormon beliefs and the fact that they don't think black people are equal. I know the HPost might not post this but it's a fact.

[Eris23Skidoo]

08:41 PM on 09/11/2010

Not to mention the fact that Glenn Beck, no matter WHAT his religion is, is personally a racist.

[Candide33]

07:10 AM on 08/31/2010

I used to step over my kids when they flung themselves in the floor having a tantrum, I would say, "When you calm down, you can tell me what you want." Then I would ignore them until they calmed down, each kid only had 2 or 3 tantrums before they got it and we never had that problem again.

Of course my 2 year olds were way more intelligent than these people throwing temper tantrums, calling names and hurling insults instead of calming down and talking logically and rationally.

[dalifemme77]

12:02 AM on 08/31/2010

When you look back at the affiliation of the previous presidents, there is a very common theme.

Except for Kennedy.

Might have something to do with the fact why a US President "has" to be in some way Christian. Even tho Lincoln wasn't either...

[dalifemme77]

11:55 PM on 08/30/2010

WHO CARES!!!

The ones that the GOP want to scare to death about Obama being a Muslim have already been brainwashed. They're the ones that voted for Bush twice and think Sarah Palin is just super.

The whole thing is absurd.

Separation of Church and state. What is SO difficult to understand about that?

[Eris23Skidoo]

08:43 PM on 09/11/2010

It isn't that they don't "understand" the separation of church and state. It is that they don't LIKE the separation of church and state. They claim to love the constitution but what they don't tell you is the myriad ways they would like to change the constitution. They wanna get rid of the 14th Amendment. But they also want rid of the 1st, 3rd, etc (all but the 2nd). These are people who want a theocracy, not a democratic-republic.

[massai]

11:32 PM on 08/30/2010

Ok, ok, I give. Obama is a Muslim. Now what? And Glen Beck is a Mormon and their teachings on race explain Glen Beck's obsession with black people, culture, and politics. Obam is a Muslim, Obama is a Muslim. How does that "revelation" help your children?

[carolo]

09:41 AM on 08/31/2010

I believe some people have so little to say that all they can talk about is Obama being Muslim or his birth certificate. He would have never been president if he was not a US citizen and Hawaii has verified his bc but still that old argument continues.

People that are Muslim do not go to Rev Wrights church for 20 years, they do not marry in church, they do not baptize their children in church and they do not celebrate Christmas or Easter. Anything even resembling anything close to common sense seems to have gone out the window.

[massai]

11:44 AM on 08/31/2010

Carolo: agreed.

[KeepMeLearning]

12:24 PM on 08/31/2010

On this topic, here's a repost from late last night:

Impaler 10 hours ago (2:31 AM) 19 Fans

Perhaps people should do a little research and make up their own minds. Google his step father, have fun.


Manutdtifosi 10 hours ago (2:33 AM) 24 Fans

Unfan How about a beer summit? Or eating a salami sandwich during daylight, during Ramadan. Or his one wife, that doesn't wear a head cover, either do his daughters. Why does research need to be done? It is so obvious, that to believe it, you have to be ignorant of Islam.

---------

And my two cents: He doesn't stop what he's doing 5 times a day for prayers.

But those who want to believe he is Muslim don't know anything about Islam.

[Indie2008]

10:51 PM on 08/30/2010

So what answer would anyone expect from Tea Partying, Fox News viewing, Palin supporting sore losers from the last election- when asked such a set-up question?

[GrandMaSassy]

10:38 PM on 08/30/2010

It breaks my heart to see our Country fracture on the basis of Religion. We made such wonderful advancements by electing Obama. Now it is not about policy it is about faith. Fundamental Christian side vs. muslims. I cannot believe this is what God had in mind.

[Delroy Mosley]

10:04 PM on 08/30/2010

JUDGE NOT LEST YE BE JUDGE. A STILL TONGUE KEEP A WISE HEAD.

[Chimelle Hamiche]

09:53 PM on 08/30/2010

I don't think "misinformation" is the factor of what people think about Obama. Obama's Muslim beliefs issue was written on stone when
he was sworn in as U.S. president: "I, Barack "Hussein" Obama do solemnly swear...." The word "Hussein," by default an anathema in
the U.S. psyche, pierced the ears of all people who were watching the ceremony live on television like "a needle," and stuck in their beliefs! And for many - especially for those who don't like Obama, it is still there! And, like a pebble in the shoe, it always pain them on every step toward the debate on "who Obama really is?"

Then, there are those who still believe Obama was born in Indonesia, and creeped under the U.S. Constitutional birth-place requirement with a fake Hawaiian registration. For them, the Hussein name is the proof that he is a Muslim.

For the rest of americans, it doesn't matter. They would have voted for any Hussein for U.S. president to keep John McCain out of the White House.
You barely escaped a nuclear holocaust by the nuclear-trigger happy Bary Goldwater as president in the 1960's, and Isome of you sure didn't want another Goldwater-style warmonger at the white house. Therefore, let's say: "Viva Hussein." Hawaiian, Indonesian, or Kenyan!

[Puddin]

12:07 AM on 08/31/2010

My middle name is Greek and my last name is Jewish...I am not Greek and I am not Jewish...my granny's first cousin gave me my middle name because he liked the way it sound...my last name, well we all know the history in this country...I am a black christian woman who has not been to church in months and sundays...I believe ALL human beings have the right to BE...

[Candide33]

07:04 AM on 08/31/2010

We do not name ourselves, our parents name us! We are not our parents! I guess that 20% or so of teapartiers think everyone should change their name to Bob Smith to be electable. It is just pure insanity.