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.

Comments

[Marrob]

Am an "anti-Obama" democrat and it doesn't have jack shit to do with his religion.

[oracle99]

Must be his race...rig­ht?

[kennedy]

So everyone that doesn't want Obama in the WH is a racist????

This is one among many reasons Obama will never be president.

[daddigrace]

Why am I not suprised by any of this?

[delsop]

It's clear to me that he is not a Muslim. However, if he were, so what? Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Shaq Oneal, and Mohammad Ali who our country accorded the greatest tribute when he lit the Olympic torch not too many years ago, are all Muslims . These sports stars are held in the highest esteem despite being Muslims. So Obama's Muslim smear is just a convient hoax.
My friends, who are Hillary supporters say they just can't trust him. Well, her Bosnia sniping scenario, debunked by official newsreel footage showing her prancing around the tarmac after landing, demonstrates to me that she cannot be trusted to tell the truth.
I for one have had enough of 8 years of Bush lying, and do not need anymore from Hillary.

[danceswithyids]

Shaq is not a Muslim, just an fyi.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[whatsmyname]

Art Levine a big salute to you for a piece -a much needed, long overdue piece- on her. While discussing the clintones, and their propensity for untruths with 100 plus folks the other night we realized that IF SHE GOT IN....Bill would come back more as Dick Cheney, than the old Bill. Can you say, De Facto president?

[Liverp2]

I KNOW Barak Obama is not a Muslim.

Unfortunately, I will never vote for him for many other reasons. The more the media such as MSNBC, rave on his abilities to be President the more I am turned off. There is no reason they can't see what others can see.
I know there are people who are a lot smarter than I am, and yet they are continually overlooking this man's many lies and his arrogance.

Today he told the audience on the 'View' that if his Pastor had not retired, judging by what he has said, he may have considered leaving his church. I wonder how many people believed him?
He also mentioned that he had not heard those wicked comments until recently even though he attended for 20 years and was a close friend with the Reverend.

This is the same rubbish he told us at the Debate when he said he did not know Rezko and had only done 5 hours work for him.
I have many, many reasons for disliking Barak Obama, my problem is how can so many intelligent people believe his rhetoric?

Is it because they hate the Clintons so much they are willing to put the fate of our country in his hands?

I see no other reason.

[kristin]

If you can see no other reason perhaps you should try listening and reading more carefully.
Here is a place to start:

Pastor Of Clinton's Former Church: Don't Use Wright To Polarize -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/25/pastor-of-clintons-forme_n_93418.html

[Selbourne]

IN THE COUNTRY OF THE BLIND
In the country of the blind the one eyed woman is queen. The person with two eyes is dismissed as a dreamer by some, and hated by others as not being one of US.

[nypoet22]

and most of the fully sighted feel the need to close their eyes, just to fit in.

[ijgibson]

Cynara
"Somehow, in the successful smear campaign, which exists completely in an alternate reality, he can be both a Muslim and devote follower of a "crazy" pastor.

That would, at least, limit the prejudice. Its probably the same people putting out both of these lies - aiming to hit two separate sets of folks who'll believe anything - so long as it fits their own prejudices !

choicelady
"- - - all real faith people - love, hope, commitment to one another, a strong moral center, and a belief that our basic decency can be made manifest."

Those views are not held by only (or, sadly, all) faith people. They're also held by a great many people of no faith. Its called 'common decency'

[disgusted48]

ijgibson, Great Post.

[almondleaf]

As far as I know. Do I know anything further than what I know? I wouldn't know. So, as far as I know, what I know is what I know. - Now have I said anything here that would IMPLY THAT BY SAYING that as far as I know means that I know something more? BY FORCING ANYONE TO TALK LIKE DONALD RUMSFELD creates a worrisome situation but to treat an everyday expression of knowledge as a cynical conniving OPPOSITE meaning is disgraceful, so Mr. Levine - HAVE YOU NO SHAME?

[Amminadab]

You MUST be a racist bigot. Hillary is clearly at fault for ALL of Obama's perception problems.

[cackal]

"As far as I know" is a rhetorical device and as such is not intended to indicate one's actual knowledge of things but rather to produce a certain effect in the listener/reader, i.e., to cause the listener/reader to believe that that which has been denied might just be true: my neighbor does not beat his wife, "as far as I know;" my boss does not cheat on her husband, "as far as I know;" my nephew did not cheat his way through Harvard, "as far as I know."

[wmfor]

I think I know some of these people.

They have no trouble at all believing simultaneously that Obama is a Muslim and that he is a puppet of Rev. Jeremiah Wright (star of Fax News currently running show: "Anatomy of a 30-Second Sound Clip", playing 0:00 to 24:00 EDT Monday through Sunday).

And they were probably Bush Democrats in 2000/2004.

And think the "surge" is "working" and "victory" will come "soon", without bothering about the meanings of any of those words.

[nazgul]

Since they think all the rest of the Dems are voting against Hillary because she's a woman, I'm surprised it's only 25%.

[babar77]

This just in: 25% of Clinton supporters are completely delusional and lack the ability to think for themselves.

This is a quick and easy stupid test:
Q: Is Obama a Muslim?
If you answered yes, please seek professional help.

[Technician]

The question of whether Barak Obama is a Muslim may receive a short answer of "no!" The broad picture does not so easily yield to such black or white answers. If Obama were truly Muslim there are any number of Mosques he could have attended. Whether this would have made sense to a climbing political star is another question. He apparently attended Jerimiah Wright's church for the political advantage that it gave him. He may have avoided Mosque's for the same reason-political advantage. At this point we really don't know much about Obama's religious beliefs. All the Scripture we have heard was misquoted for political advantage.
We do know what he has done. He spent 20 years in a church that supported Anti-Semitism and black superiority. It is said that a man is known by the company he keeps. We know who he has been keeping company with. Many have reacted to any criticism of Obama with a conditioned response of racism. However, color is irrelevant. Whether it is a black Barak Obama or a white David Duke it is a matter of issues and beliefs. Nothing more.

[Larry Buchite]

I'm sure you would prefer David Duke. I have friends that in their words “ damn nigers ” they are still my friends even if I do not share all their views. They are not real found of Jews either that is their opinion and they are entitled to it. Just because Just because I disagree with someone on some things does not mean that I kick them to the curb. It sounds like if you disagree with someone on something it's tour way or the highway they are better off without you as a friend.

[whatsmyname]

Technician­..........­.."Nothing more"? Nothing more? And, do you really think you can get away with that garbage and those ill-founded assertions? People like you, in the 50's and 60's were called honkies and signifying monkeys (worst kind) Your little subtle barbs are completely perverting all forms of truth, here.I pity the children that would be under your charge; talk about a mental rapist here. You got a hate for Obama 'cause of his skin and although you try to hide it....well­, you fail at that too. OBama, is NEEDED for this country to provide (unity) NOT divide. The rest of the world will know once and for all we can Walk the Walk, instead of just always Talkin the Talk!

[boyblu95843]

Again with the 20 year anti-semitism and black superiority crap. The pastor never preached that. You people are unbelievable.

[richardsgirl]

If only you knew what you're talking about and did not rely on rumors, soundbites, and conjecture, your argument would be credible.

Pastor Wright participates in Jewish celebrations and is occasionally asked to speak at Jewish synogogues as well as Muslim temples, and in Christian churches around the nation. He has never expressed that African Americans are "superior" to any other peoples, which is what a 'racist" would believe, though he has suggested that African Americans are at least equal to others. No one can deny that our government has been controlled by the majority race since ... forever; and when he speaks of "white people" he is speaking of our government, not about the ordinary white people in his congregation or the ordinary white people in the country, but the people in power who have promoted policies that have created great injustice to Americans, black and white, and to people throughout the world. He speaks of our moral imperative to love God, to love one another and to love America enough to address these injustices. He is no David Duke.

[kennedy]

Obama does have Muslim roots.

His father was a Muslim ( until he passed away)

Obama was named after his Muslim father: Barack Hussein Obama, Jr.

Obamas father: Barack Hussein Obama Sr.

Obamas fathers family's are Muslims.

In Obamas own book he says he went to a mostly Muslim school.

Facts are facts.

[disgusted48]

Obama, accepted Jesus Christ, and has been a Christian for 20 years. Before that, I believe he was an athiest. In America, we have choices. We aren't like other countries that are hogtied from birth to a particular religious belief.

[OttoMann]

Well, if he IS a Muslim, then the whole Rev. Wright thing is a complete non-issue, right?

[LesHamilton]

In a world of smears who is responsible for determining the truth? The Rupert Murdochs of the world have done a great disservice to unbiased journalism, as has the government in changing the regulations to allow the control of the media to fall into so few hands. A free press is the measure of a democracy and it appears that with people rightly turning a jaundiced eye to a shackled mainstream media, they’re left to search for truth on the net at their peril.
If the smears have the weight of a feather as in the cases above, why would they influence a supposed independent-minded voter? I suspect that those who say they are influenced by such smears are playing it a bit coy.
The best smear is the last smear. It has to be big and timed to perfection so there is no time to research the smear and prepare for it. It should leave the smearee struggling to respond to at least two unsupported accusations (eg. candidate x signed a release for a baby killer to go free (which he didn’t) and if he didn’t why did he not take responsibility to ensure that the rules (of the previous administration) didn’t allow this to happen).

[gjoh]

How can he be a Muslim and at the same time have a Christian pastor problem?

The people who believe this stuff need a rationalization to dislike Obama and anything will do. (And the HRC campaign has provided one for them)

[jeannekhan]

Northeast makes sense to me. Hillary Haters hound her in every media because their messiah
has come and no one will question his judgment following Wright's mentoring for twenty years.
We are forced to vote for Obama if he is the nominee, but I prefer a seasoned competent person
named Hillary Clinton who has a few clues about working well with others who are republicans
from the old school before the religious reich ruled our beloved country. His religion is of no
consequence, his judgment following Wright for twenty years is. His quick rise is no accident.
Rove and others are dancing as he calls those who have read no history to his Rapture. This is
a job that Hillary can do; Obama needs his own church to inspire the faithful who see an
opportunity like Richardson and others have seen to feather their own nests. Fie on them all.
The media led by Mathews and others who hate women are marching in sync while Wright types
hum a few bars from a Rove script like the one that jailed Seligman, but none are so blind...
I told DNC, DSCC and DCCC my years of monthly contributions stop if Florida votes where
Gore was so artfully gored are not seated. God's Only Party has the goal of selecting Obama,
alas. His judgment supporting Wright will not be questioned by the true believers, alas.

[Aristedes]

WE DON"T LIKE OBLAMA BECAUSE:1) He's an egotistical preener, 2) He praises Republigun & Reaganite ideas saying they had the most transformative ideas, 3) He thinks Bloomberg's congestion pricing is actually a good idea, 4) His supporters think he could possibly choose Bloomberg as a Veep, 5) He probably accepts lots of dough from GOP'ers like Bloomberg, 6) He takes low potshots at Hillary but never really clears up his falsehoods, 7) His wife reminds us of Condoleeza and is bitter about Hillary when she has no reason to be, 8) He & followers wouldn't stoop to considering Hillary as Veep, 9) His sense of humour is limited, 10) He really has not accomplished as much as he alludes to, 11) No humility, 12) Is a knowitall smart-ass, 13) Gloats too much over supporters like Richardson & political moron Russel Simmons turning away from Hillary, 14) Would surely continue to woo Republiguns at every turn, 15) REZKO.