The Emergence of President Obama's Muslim Roots

ABC ^ | 06/02/09 | Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller

[markedmannerf]

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

[Right_in_Virginia]

Bump for later!

[bgill]

the President himself experienced Islam on three continents before he was able to -- or before

Before he was able to what? Walk? Talk? Or able to run for the US Congress?

offended when referred to by his initials "BHO," because he considered the use of his middle name, "Hussein," an attempt to frighten voters

As well it should, Hussein.

rumors suggesting he was some sort of Muslim Manchurian candidate

Alrighty, then. How about he prove they aren't true. Transparency.

"My father... I didn't know him

We don't care about his long dead father, just the influences from that culture that seem ingrained in him.

I just want to be honest with you.

Then show us the honest and true BC, passport, and college tuition reciepts. Show us that you didn't buy your house under suspicious circumstances. Be honest about those guys in the neighborhood.

He was sworn into the Senate on his family Bible

Now that granny is dead, has her Bible been burned? I'd liked to have read the family birth pages. It doesn't matter when you lie to infidels.

He has regularly attended church with his wife and daughters for years

Attending isn't the same as paying attention which he claims he didn't do for some 20 years in the good Rev. Wright's church. Remind me again how many times he's been to church since Wright was slapped down.

the White House has been increasingly forthcoming about the president's roots. Especially when reaching out to the Muslim world.

Denial isn't just a river in Egypt. I don't know about reaching out but there's been more than his fair share of bending over and kissing them and hanging Israel out to dry.

I know, because I am one of them

That part of the statement is true.

[Right_in_Virginia]

“the President himself experienced Islam on three continents

Just when and where did he experience America?

[potlatch]

Thank you. Strange all the gaffs Biden has made. By now he probably knows the ‘real Obama’ and is shivering in hes boots.

I don't know, we are all baffled at how the politicians and Media are letting Obama destroy everything. They have family and children too, don't they fear for the future?

[IrishPennant]

Thanks for the ping...tipping point is approaching for this country hater!!!!

[Fred Nerks]

Obama : “United States, one of the largest Muslim country in the world”
Figaro ^ | June 01, 2009 | Figaro

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2263174/posts?q=1&;page=51

Listen to the end of this video:

http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2009/06/02/01003-20090602ARTFIG00603-les-etats-unis-un-des-plus-grands-pays-musulmans-.php

[GOP Poet]

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[narses]

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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

[JCG]

I never believed Obama was a crypto-Muslim but I was convinced he'd have warm fuzzies for them. The following account illustrated that fact -- long before the election.

Obama: Man of the World

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: March 6, 2007 (New York Times)

Mr. Obama recalled the opening lines of the Arabic call to
prayer, reciting them with a first-rate accent. In a remark that
seemed delightfully uncalculated [...], Mr. Obama described the
call to prayer as "one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at
sunset."

http://select.nytimes.com/2007/03/06/opinion/06kristof.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
http://nevadathunder.com/?p=3626




----

Send treats to the troops...
Great because you did it!
www.AnySoldier.com

[petercooper]

bttt

[adc]

Yup, they did.

[bgill]

Does he even know who his real daddy is??

Google - Obama father Malcolm X

[Mamzelle]

I'm afraid they'll find a way to neutralize Tapper. He's been one of the few reliable sources of fact. He could well be the Last Journalist Standing.

And, you know, I'd be willing to bet he voted for O.

[magellan]

"Also he never seemed to want to admit his father was a Muslim. I guess that has changed now as well."

Don't you mean fathers (plural)? His birth father, Barack Hussein Obama was a Muslim, and his adoptive father, Lolo Soetoro, was a Muslim.

[Professional Engineer]

Deal leader ping

[shibumi]

"Does he even know who his real daddy is??"


Yup!

.....and the godparents:

[Brad’s Gramma]

Millions of Americans are going to see it/share it and say “WTH? I voted for a Muslim?”.

SOME will.

But there are a LOT of people who have fallen for that ole lie that "not ALL Muslims are like this!!!!!!!!".....with that racist sneer toward the person saying it...

[MindBender26]

JT is many things, but he is no Woodstein.

[null and void]

H’bari!

[glock rocks]

"My father was basically agnostic, as far as I can tell, and I didn't know him,"

Didn't know his father? Why, that would mean he's a <slaps head> ... wait, didn't we just recently have a democrat president who ... of course, that one carried a bible prop around, but otoh, half the population is below average intelligence, so I guess it's the other few percent that put this, um, community organizer over the top that we should blame. Then again, they probably were cemetery residents long before the election.