THE EMERGENCE OF OBAMA'S MUSLIM ROOTS
Posted on 06/02/2009 4:25:37 PM PDT by markedmannerf
Edited on 06/02/2009 4:52:25 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
June 02, 2009 6:58 PM
ABC News' Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller report: The other day we heard a comment from a White House aide that never would have been uttered during the primaries or general election campaign.
During a conference call in preparation for President Obama's trip to Cairo, Egypt, where he will address the Muslim world, deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications Denis McDonough said "the President himself experienced Islam on three continents before he was able to -- or before he's been able to visit, really, the heart of the Islamic world -- you know, growing up in Indonesia, having a Muslim father -- obviously Muslim Americans (are) a key part of Illinois and Chicago."
Given widespread unease and prejudice against Muslims among Americans, especially in the wake of 9/11, the Obama campaign was perhaps understandably very sensitive during the primaries and general election to downplay the candidate's Muslim roots.
The candidate was even offended when referred to by his initials "BHO," because he considered the use of his middle name, "Hussein," an attempt to frighten voters.
With insane rumors suggesting he was some sort of Muslim Manchurian candidate, then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and his campaign did everything they could to emphasize his Christianity and de-emphasize the fact that his father, Barack Obama Sr., was born Muslim.
The candidate's comment at a Boca Raton, Florida, town hall meeting on May 22, 2008, was typical: "My father was basically agnostic, as far as I can tell, and I didn't know him," he said.
In September 2008, candidate Obama told a Pennsylvania crowd, "I know that I'm not your typical presidential candidate and I just want to be honest with you. I know that the temptation is to say, 'You know what? The guy hasn't been there that long in Washington. You know, he's got a funny name. You know, we're not sure about him.' And that's what the Republicans when they say this isn't about issues, it's about personalities, what they're really saying is, 'We're going to try to scare people about Barack. So we're going to say that, you know, maybe he's got Muslim connections.'...Just making stuff up."
Back then, the campaign's "Fight the Smears" website addressed the candidate's faith without mentioning his father's religion:
"Barack Obama is a committed Christian. He was sworn into the Senate on his family Bible. He has regularly attended church with his wife and daughters for years. But shameful, shadowy attackers have been lying about Barack’s religion, claiming he is a Muslim instead of a committed Christian. When people fabricate stories about someone’s faith to denigrate them politically, that’s an attack on people of all faiths. Make sure everyone you know is aware of this deception."
The website also provided quotes from the Boston Globe and Newsweek mentioning his father's roots.
Since the election, however, with the threat of the rumors at least somewhat abated, the White House has been increasingly forthcoming about the president's roots. Especially when reaching out to the
Muslim world.
In his April 6 address to the Turkish Parliament, President Obama referenced how many "Americans have Muslims in their families or have lived in a Muslim majority country. I know, because I am one of them."
- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller
Although parts of the Christian church have attempted over the centuries to convert people to Christianity through force or extortion, very few people believe that Christ--the object of Christians' worship--actually instructed any of his followers to behave in such fashion. Certainly the vast majority of Christians believe no such thing.
I'm pretty certain, however, that Muhammad did instruct his followers to corce others to join in his worship; he was, in many ways, a Medieval version of Hitler. If someone were to announce that he worships Hitler(*), I would find it very difficult to regard the Hitler-worshiper as a very good human being. I find it difficult to understand how Muhammad-worshipers would be different, unless many of them are willfully blind to who they're actually worshiping.
(*) Certainly there are many people who admire certain aspects of Hitler's deeds and accomplishments. There is nothing wrong with that, for Hitler was indeed skilled in a number of ways. As an overall person, however, Hitler was evil; it would be impossible to worship Hitler without also worshiping what he taught. And that was evil through and through.
The only part I care about is that he is socialist scum.
Yep. He is systematically dismanteling our Republic amd no one can stop him. Maranatha!
In his first formal interview since taking office, the president spoke with the Dubai-based station Al Arabiya on topics pertinent to the Arab and Muslim worlds. Much of the interview was spent defining the new approach that the United States would implement in that region: respectfulness over divisiveness, listening over dictating, engagement over militarism. But the president drew the line when it came to terrorist organizations.This all seems to have even more meaning four months later...
...
“I think that you're making a very important point. And that is that the language we use matters,” he said, according to a transcript provided by the White House. “We cannot paint with a broad brush a faith as a consequence of the violence that is done in that faith's name. I cannot respect terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians and we will hunt them down. But to the broader Muslim world what we are going to be offering is a hand of friendship.”
...
“I have Muslim members of my family,” said the president. “I have lived in Muslim countries.
Later on, Obama pledged to engage Iran as one of several means of preventing that country from developing a nuclear weapon. He promised to follow through on his campaign commitment “to address the Muslim world from a Muslim capital,” and said that George Mitchell, his recently appointed Middle East envoy, was going to the region to “listen” because “all too often the United States starts by dictating.”
...
The interview was the first one Obama has granted since being elected President. And while Bush and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice both have appeared on the network (which is Saudi financed), the president's media team seemed to be driving home a message in their choice of venue. The interview itself is as much a signal to the Muslim world as the words he said.
Why are there no fatwas on him being an apostate?
Have many other high profile people left Islam so easily?
Army recruiter killed in Ark.; Muslim convert held
One Army recruiter died and another was injured when a Muslim convert who said he was opposed to the U.S. military shot the soldiers in Little Rock, police say.
Carlos Bledsoe, 24, of Little Rock, who was known as Abdul Hakim Mujahid Muhammad, was arrested on I-630 shortly after the soldiers were shot outside a recruiting office about 10:30 a.m. CT, police said. An assault rifle was recovered.
“This individual appears to have been upset with the military, the Army in particular, and that’s why he did what he did,” Little Rock Police Lt. Terry Hastings said in a phone interview with USA TODAY. “He has converted to (Islam) here in the past few years.
Some interesting stuff on Drudge tonight...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/02/AR2009060200947_pf.html
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6453529.html
No wonder he wants to free all the Muslims at Guantanamo.
Barack already referenced with his own mouth “[his] Muslim faith” on This Week with George Stephanopolous. When George has to correct him on air and Barack skips a beat before he can catch on, that was enough for me. That is, ALL doubt was removed.
The whole bowing before the Saudi King was just his own Muslim self coming through. Just as a devout Catholic might kiss the pope’s ring.
He’s sad. Mainly because he thinks he has us all fooled. We’re all sinners but he seems to relish in his ability to fool almost half of the people all of the time.
I would have, too! I guess that the blood debt this nation paid during the Civil War wasn't enough to settle the score over slavery.
Nor 40 years of income redistribution and affirmative actions.
ABC has also reported that Rev. Jeremiah Wright was Obama's religious mentor for 20
years ... it was actually more like 25 years, until Obama decided to run for president.
Now, this got "lost" last year during the election, pertaining to Rev. Wright's Masters
Degree at Univ. of Chicago's Divinity School. Perhaps it has more relevance now
(Published in a Church bulletin on July 2007 -- more details here):
"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and
then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the
Bible for killing innocent people."
Not so sure about Rev. Wright's translation, but this IS in the Bible:
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly
are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered
from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but
the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad
tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and
thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. (Matthew
7:15-20)
Oh, trust me, I noticed! Right away! I wouldn't say we're being branded as commies. More like we're being branded as the Confederates.
Isn ‘t it sad that the first President of color in America is this guy?
What a disgrace and maybe even a set back.
Perfect photos!
Holy crap, Batman!
Have the sleeper cells been activated or something?! Liberty County is just north of Houston. Manpad range is generally 10,000 feet AGL, and Liberty County is flat terrain, pretty close to sea level. 13,000' is pretty damn high for a homemade rocket!
Liberty Co., FAA to discuss report of object near plane
By MIKE GLENN, HOUSTON CHRONICLE
June 1, 2009, 11:38PMLiberty County Sheriff’s officials are expected to meet with the FAA on Tuesday to discuss what a Continental Express pilot reported as a “missile or rocket” flying near his airplane.
A pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration that at about 8:15 p.m. Friday, an object passed within 150 feet beneath the aircraft, sheriff’s officials said.
The aircraft was near the southern edge of the county, flying at about 13,000 feet, officials said.
“The pilot, from what we understand, was former military. He was able to get the coordinates down real quick,” said Cpl. Hugh Bishop with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff’s deputies searched Friday night for signs of evidence where a missile might have been launched or landed.
“We couldn’t find anything,” Bishop said.
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