25% of Anti-Obama Dems Think He's a Muslim
All the smear tactics aimed at Barack Obama appear to be working with key segments of the voters who support Hillary -- no matter how false the charges. The Pew Foundation reports today, while noting that Obama is weathering the Rev. Wright storm:
White Democrats who hold unfavorable views of Obama are much more likely than those who have favorable opinions of him to say that equal rights for minorities have been pushed too far; they also are more likely to disapprove of interracial dating, and are more concerned about the threat that immigrants may pose to American values. In addition, nearly a quarter of white Democrats (23%) who hold a negative view of Obama believe he is a Muslim.
So when Hillary Clinton said in an interview that Barack Obama was a Christian..."as far as I know," that signal gave indirect credence to the Barack-as-Muslim smears circulating on the Web and elsewhere during this campaign season. It's also naive, as some progressives claim, or flatly disingenuous, to insist that such false allegations shouldn't be seen as smears at all, just because there's nothing wrong with being a Muslim.
Now the Barack-is-Muslim lie appears to be taking root with some voters -- many of those who may bolt to McCain if Obama is the nominee.
To smear artists everywhere, it's a job well-done.
UPDATE: For the full story, check out the Anatomy of a Smear broadcast on PBS's Now from January, showing how it began in 2006 and filtered into the early primary campaigns and right-wing media. Here's how that Muslim smear -- along with the false claim that Obama didn't put his hand over his heart when doing the Pledge of Allegiance -- developed later in 2007, part of an in-depth timeline:
Nov. 29, 2007: The Washington Post publishes an article, "Foes Use Obama's Muslim Ties to Fuel Rumors About Him", by political reporter Perry Bacon Jr. exploring the rumors that Obama was Muslim. The article did not explicitly dispel those rumors.Dec. 9, 2007: In response to "ferocious" criticism from readers and others, Washington Post ombudsman Deborah Howell addresses Bacon's story in a column titled Refuting, or Feeding, the Rumor Mill. She writes: "My problems with the story...were that Obama's connections to Islam are slender at best; that the rumors were old; and that convincing evidence of their falsity wasn't included in the story."
Dec. 13, 2007: Despite being debunked by mainstream news organizations, the claim that Obama didn't place his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance is repeated on Bill O' Reilly's show. In response to a caller who says she's disturbed by Obama's alleged action, O'Reilly doesn't correct her and, according to MediaMatters.org, replies: "I think that Obama needs to answer some questions about his point of view, not only on the USA, but on a lot of things."
And now, thanks to the hard-fought Democratic primary campaign, such smears continue -- and have a clear impact.
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I heard a program about rumors and truthiness on NPR the other day. Farhad Manjoo, the author of a new book titled
_True enough : learning to live in a post-fact society_ said that once a rumor has taken off, there's little that can be done to put it back in the box; and that continuing to deny a false rumor simply reinforces the perception that it is true in some minds. So The Clintons have accomplished at least one of their goals.
No, Mr. Levine, it's you who is smearing Hillary. What kind of "signal" do you suppose she was sending her followers when her first response to the question was "of course not. There's no basis for that"? Or the several other times during the interview when she flatly stated that he wasn't a Muslim? Can you really deny the intellectual dishinesty of repeating the "as far as I know" canard without ever mentioning that she flatly denied the rumor several times? It's people like you trying to gain political advantage for your candidate through these lies who are debasing this debate. It's very telling that every time someone defends HIllary by pointing out everything she said in the interview, there is silence from OBama supporters. I'd like to hear the pretzel logic that interprets "of course not" as "Yes."
God Bless you ChrisO
I watched that show and I agree with you.
The interviewer should be condemned for the way he badgered her so many times.
She immediately said NO, Barak said he is not and I believe him!!
That was not good enough so he repeated it and repeated it until she finally said what would make headlines for the people who wish to hurt her.
Hillary Clinton has been kind to Obama and she has only questioned or rebuked him on issues.
She has been treated so bad by the press, and Obama is eating it up.
Shame on you. They do the same to Bill Clinton, anything that will make headlines and give Obama more support.
I think it is disgusting.
Badgered her? Sorry, but I'm not buying it. Clinton was asked the same question several times, true, but I have a hard time applying the term "badgered" to a situation where you're being asked repeatedly about someone else. He didn't ask Hillary about herself, her personal life, her beliefs - he asked her opinion about someone else. Would it have been so hard for her to say, "I've already answered that, can we move on?" Or when asked the same question, to have continued to give the same answer? Why the need to change the answer at all?
Did the interviewer "make" her say this? Was she "water-boarded?" Why is it unfair to hold her accountable for the words that came from her mouth?
Here's your "pretzel logic": You're right that Clinton flatly denied the rumor, but Mr. Levine is also right to point out that she later qualified that denial. Why is that so hard to understand? Maybe she didn't mean to open that door of doubt, but even unintentionally, she did. Some people heard it that way, and it was inevitable that they would. In the end, it's a lot like Ferraro's comments. Probably not meant to be denigrating, but clumsy nonetheless.
My comment is only to add a bit more information regarding this strange Barack Obama frenzy.
I am a white woman democrat, one of the strange breed that actually had the stupidity to believe that the dream ticket would come to pass. Duh! How stupid could I be!
One particular political discussion I had here at work, opened my eyes to what might be going on We have several fellow workers that happen to be black, and justifiably pro Senator Obama. I overheard a conversation between them regarding there insistance that he was a Muslim. I thought I have to inform them that he himself says he is a Christian. They looked at me and winked, saying OH YES HE IS A MUSLIM. In order to allow the black communtiy to believe HE IS BLACK ENOUGH, they must believe he is a Muslim. It is not the white race that is perpertrating this myth (perhaps not such a myth), but rather the black race. If the Media had any credibility at all, they would follow the money that is coming in for Obama and leads right to the door of Louis Farrakhan and his followers. Why do you not hear from any media outlet that Senator Obama lives within shouting distance of the Farrakhan Mosque and Farrakhans house which is only a block a way from his own. How can Senator Obama insist that he has no connection with Louis Farrakhan and never mention that they are in fact neighbors?
What have you been smoking or drinking ...? What makes you think Farrakan has that kind of money? You are delusional !
I have a difficult time taking you seriously. First, I do not believe Black people need to believe that he is a Muslim to accept that he is black enough. Any black child in America knows that if you have one black parent, you are BLACK. Michelle and Barack Obama have dispelled the myth that he is not black enough. You appear to have your own hangups. Do you really believe that one must associate with every family (Farrakhan) in the neighborhood? You are adding to the problem by supportng guilt by association because they live in the same upscale area of Chicago. You probably got over the notiion of your "dream ticket," when it became apparent that he would most likely be on the top of that ticket. Revisit your co-workers and have an honest conversation with them, that way you may be privy to what they really think instead of what you "overhear.
Madam, by your own admission you were "stupid" and after reading your comment I must submit that your stupidity it now at a severely advanced stage. There are many reasons to disagree with senator Obama as far as policy goes but his race and religion are irrelevant. As a democrat, I suggest you desist indulging in office gossip and educate yourself about the candidates that represent your party. You can start by listening to any...any.
Excuse me, MadamMijanou, but most blacks in America are Christians, so WTF are you talking about?
MadamMijanou, Farrakhan and his band of people are broke! He preach to people who are very poor! Do you know who lives in your neighborhood? How do you know you don't live in the same neighborhood as the grand dragon of the KKK....... Do you have any connections to any of your neighbors? Give me a break! Why are you all linking Obama to every BLACK LEFT WING NUT...
Actually Obama is an "Apostate" one who has foresaken islam and their birth from a muslim father. Islamic law doesn't recognize the changing of religions as we do freely here. Islamic law dictates once a muslim always a muslim, doesn't matter that youcall yourself a christian. Islamic men ther could face exxecution for foresaking their original faith
Oh, great - another reason for the Islamic world to have something against us ...
Actually 707 the reason this is hanging around for Obama is that he has not denounced his Muslim roots. His father and step-father were Muslims and that makes him a Muslim unless he publicly relinquishes his Muslim roots. Now he has not done that so in the eyes of Islam he is still a Muslim. This falls into the camp for many haters that he is a Muslim that is doing what Muslims are allowed to do to infidels and that is lie to them. I like Obama but to get this from around him he will have to do this in a public forum and I doubt that will happen, I think he sees that as a risk to loosing allot of Blacks that see this Muslim roots as making him for acceptable.
What part of themselves do Senator Clinton or Senator McCain have to renounce? So far, at least on this site, Senator Obama has been asked to denounce his African father, his African American church, his African American pastor, offensive comments made by other African Americans (i.e. Minister Farrakhan), his Muslim name, and now his Muslim roots. What else does he have to renounce to be good enough, or "white enough" for you to accept him? It's one thing not to support Senator Obama, and I'm sure that many have legitimate reasons for not doing so. But to ask him to be something other than what he is, simply to fit your paradigm of what he should be, and to make you feel more comfortable about him and about yourself, is asking a little much.
Then why do we still have "missionaries" in Muslim lands trying to "convert" them to Christianity? Notwithstanding that it's a little arrogant, but it's what they were sent there to do. I appreciate the danger that you speak of in Muslim lands where strict religious traditions are enforced; but many Muslims in America, and in other parts of the world, have converted from Islam to Christianity. Senator Obama never practiced Islam as his faith, does not live by Islamic law, and is therefore not an "apostate.
Trinidad,
The thing is, we live in America, thank God, and I mean that. Here in America all that stuff means nothing. We get to choose our own religion and our own destiny, with all its warts, that is whats so great about America.
A large segment of the American public is just plain ol' stupid. Unfortunately, many of those people tend to vote, and often times, against their self-interest.
SMEAR OR THE TRUTH----be HONEST !!!
MS Obama makes sarcastic remarks about America.
They both have crazy UNCLE Wright as their MENTOR and for 20 years !! Didn't denounce their crazy Uncle who hates whites--jews and America----but consider him one of the family !!!
Something is wrong with the OBAMA's JUDGEMENT.
If America didn't recognize GWB was SLOW when they elected him twice.
They apparently aren't getting this about OBAMA either. until YEARS too late again.
I see there is another to tell if someone is a Muslim they do not put their hand over their heart during the national anthem. I guess I must be a Muslim I have never put my hand over my heart since I got out of the Army in 1969. The truth is I can not be a Muslim because I'm an atheist I think that disqualifies me from being any religion. It's time for all these assholes to get a life and get back to the real issues that do make a difference.
This is a real issue.
Larry,
Mind telling us why?
I can probably guess why though...
What's Obama's excuse?
What is he NOT telling us?
SonofLiberty1,
Why don't you tell me why you do?
I was born and raised in the good old USA and am a Christian and I haven't put my hand over my heart since becoming an adult and DO NOT NEED AN EXCUSE for not doing so. I love my country and find your ignorance replusive - I am embarassed for you.
Anyone can put a pin on or put hand over their heart and NOT be a patriot - it's what's in your heart. The definition of American is you have the FREEDOM to choose, duh. You sound like a Nazi, we must all conform or we are unamerican - not!
Thank you Larry. Well said.
Please see www.discus
Stupid Poll tricks.
We are supposed to believe Land Line Phone polls why?
we can guess from various polls and votes, that roughly 30% of Americans are crazy. They still support BushCo.
30% of the people are stupid enough to fool with unsubstantiated claims just before elections.
That's what Hillary's campaign wants people to believe. After her "As far as I know comment on 60 minutes" her supporters take her word like God. It is sad that there are so many sheep just ready to jump off of a cliff when Hillary says jump.
Ditto for Obamanuts. Just like lemmings following him off the cliff.
If you had watched that 60 minutes program then you would not be repeating garbage that you did not hear.
Now I am confused, is Muslim a bad word ? How about Buddhist, that too ?
Friend of mine called this morning, hysterical because her entire family--mother, sisters, brothers-in-law-- said they'd vote for McCain if Hillary doesn't get the nomination, because Obama lacks experience. I could post a list of the prestigious educational institutions these people attended, but it would reflect poorly on the schools. My friend's family argued that what got us into trouble with Bush was his lack of experience (not his willful ignorance or his arrogance or his daddy thing or simplistic world view or anything else obvious to us). I assured her they were an aberration, but I'm trying to figure out how seven smart people can be so easily converted. Is it subterranean racism? Or a throw-back to their Republican roots? Or identification with the rich? Beats me.
Oh my god, could it possibly be that these people would do what they say for the very reasons they stated? You just told us their reasons behind backing McCain, and unlike most others they actually have a reason, as opposed to those who threaten to vote the other way out of spite.
Take these people at their words for crying out loud. Just because they disagree with you, doesn't mean there is some nefarious reason behind it.
The only problem is that you can't and won't respect seven intelligent people having a different opinion than yours.
Take them at their word and go look for the shooter on the grassy knoll.
Everything is not part of some grand conspiracy.
Is it possible that one of Bush's problems was a complete and total lack of experience?
However smart and reasoned these people might be, they are dead wrong about what made Bush's term such a disaster. It wasn't inexperience. Bush had been a governor of one of the largest states in the union and had one of the most "experienced" foreign policy teams ever, yet, they still fucked up. That is incompetence and poor judgment, blinded by ideology and failing to face reality, not inexperience. All the experience in the world tells John McCain that we are "winning" in Iraq and that more of Bush's economic policies are what we need.
Exactly. Experience. That's why Cheney and Rumsfeld were the voices of reason in the Bush Administration.
Dear Hillary:
Thank you for all your hard work for my campaign. Let's do lunch!
Hugs,
President McC
Obama supporters tend to be upscale...
Check out what a New Hampshire paper has to say about the beloved Clintons (I used to be one of them)
http://www
+The+Clint
how not surprising! I wonder more and more if Obama's candidacy isn't a lightning rod for what is best and worst in the country, and not just politics. For every person who is threatened by Obama and knows it is not correct to talk about race, some other marker of identity politics has to be found, whether it is in the sermons of a black pastor at a black church, in suggestions of failed patriotism, or association with unknown but deeply hated foreign enemies called Muslims. Luckily, those who are buoyed by the Obama candidacy, and who are more knowledgeable about foreign countries, more educated, more ethnically and racially diverse, and more likely to enter politics themselves, will become inside of a generation more numerous and influential than their elders, who include many of my age group. The anctics of the Clinton campaign, rich with slur, innuendo, and outright lies, are the last ditch effort to maintain against all fact a nation of definite demography which determines success and failure based on group similarities rather than individual acts of distinction and accomplishment. I hope this is the last presidential campaign in which the claim that "he or she is not one of us" is the basis for the way individual voters choose. Only then is there a possibility--at present unthinkable--that a deeply patriotic , as yet unborn, Muslim American could aspire to the Presidency.
"I hope this is the last presidential campaign in which the claim that "he or she is not one of us" is the basis for the way individual voters choose. Only then is there a possibility--at present unthinkable--that a deeply patriotic , as yet unborn, Muslim American could aspire to the Presidency
Or Jewish American.
Wow, people who disapprove of interracial dating. I'm surprised there are Democrats who will still admit to that one (they always have this high-minded excuse for hating illegal immigrants, of course --- respect for the LAW!! - not that they ever demand that anybody with money or power is held to the law, because they secretly envy people with power and money). What a pathetic constituency.
VicPerry,
You conveinently forget that if you happen to have an interacial marrage there can be many
HUGE problems for the children as they become school age.
And you find this out as you sadly watch your close relatives experience it.
Ahh, the compassionate approach - 'think of the children' - I heard this umpteen times as a child in the early 70s. We've moved on. And Obama is one of the children, by the way.....
Depends on where you are. Here in Los Angeles, my biracial daughter is one of many multiracial kids in our neighborhood of blended families, interracial marriages and same sex partnerships. Back in my hometown of Austin, Texas -- it's no big deal either. But go to some parts of Alabama or MIssissippi and it's another story. It is not, however, a HUGE problem as you say. Kids today are globally connected online and through the media. Half of my nephew's friends wish they were Japanese. My little white neighbor girl says her idols are Jennifer Lopez and Halle Berry. I think yours is a bit of an outdated argument.
I've seen a lot of children experience HUGE problems when their parents are of the same race as well. I too have close relatives who are in interracial marriages or relationships, and with the exception of one, the children are doing fine. The one exception to this is my nephew, whose white mother raised him in an all white environment in Arizona, with virtually no exposure to the African American community, except when he visited with his father and his father's family, but he was too young to make the connection. When he was fifteen, he was faced with the real world when he entered high school, where he was forced to recognize that he was different. He did indeed have HUGE problems, but it was not because his parents were interracial; it was because he did not receive a foundation or the support that would prepare him for the experience of being black in America. For him, it was like waking up one morning and discovering that we was someone else! I give so much credit to Senator Obama's mother and grandparents for providing him with a healthy foundation that not only helped him to be comfortable in his own skin, but helped him to embrace all humanity, without regard for the superficial differences that often separate us.
Sigh. If the Dems lose to McCain because we have such a large population of ignorant / racist / xenophobic people in our party, then frankly, we get what we deserve.
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