Posted on 09/01/2009 6:43:24 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Is the White House dinner tonight celebrating Ramadan and honoring the contributions of American Muslims the latest exhibit in President Obama's charm offensive toward the global Islamic community?
Sure, but it wasn't Obama's idea. Turns out that the Ramadan dinner was an innovation of George W. Bush, who hosted one every year he was in office and who also used the event to recognize the contributions of American Muslims.
Check out this Voice of America piece on Bush's final iftar, the nightly dinner at which Muslims break their Ramadan fast, in 2008:
This was the president's eighth Iftaar dinner in eight years at the White House. Mr. Bush gave thanks for the many ways that Muslim Americans enrich the lives of all Americans.
"One of the great strengths of our nation is its religious diversity. Americans practice many different faiths. We all share a belief in the right to worship freely. We reject bigotry in all its forms. And over the past eight years, my administration has been proud to work closely with Muslim Americans to promote justice and tolerance of all faiths," he said.
The president singled out some of those attending the Iftaar dinner, including those who have worked on America's space program as well as those who have made advances in health care and technology.
The biggest difference in the Bush- and Obama-era dinners is how the United States' Bush-era war on terrorism figures into them. Obama has framed his Muslim outreach largely as an effort to repair the damage to the U.S. image in the Muslim world by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Bush, by contrast, proudly invoked those wars during his final Ramadan dinner. From Voice of America:
The president said the United States has partnered with Muslims around the world to spread freedom. "We are helping the people of Iraq and Afghanistan build free societies after decades of tyranny. And during the month of reflection, we will remember all the brave Muslim Americans who wear the uniform of the United States armed forces. They represent the best of our nation. I am honored to be their Commander-in-Chief," he said.
Can you say, Cognitive Dissonance?
We are at war with radical Islam. George Bush knew it but Obama considers them kin. That is the difference.
Our Muslim citizens have helped make our Nation a stronger and more hopeful place through their faith, generosity, and compassion.”
Obama celebrating Ramadan is Bush’s fault?
Bingo!
The Rats at the US News and World Report know this is not going to play well in fly over country. So now they are trying to point the finger at Bush. How pathetic.
Perhaps, US News and World Report is simply making the whole thing up about Bush having eight Ramadan Dinners at the White House.
Yeh! but Geoge wasn’t a closet Muslim
Bush had an R after his name, which makes him good. Obama has a D, which makes him bad. It doesn’t matter that their policies are identical, war is peace, ignorance is strength.
Plus Bush is happy in the background enjoying his life. Everyone knows he won’t bite back at this juncture.
You may be on to something.
Yawn... every Ramadan dinner under Bush was hosted after 9/11. After the use of military force against Muslim nations was predetermined and the assistance of other Muslim nations was required. We needed Muslims to stand with us. Muslims within our military, Muslims within the countries we were invading and Muslims in neighboring countries.
In fairness, Obama does too. But let’s not pretend his other overtures to Islam, combined with his slights of Christianity, don’t go well beyond the strategic embrace of Islam that was the policy of the Bush administration.
Anyone who doesn’t see the difference is blind.
Bush’s fault.
(rolling eyes . . )
Certain individuals on this and another similar thread are incapable of seeing the difference.
Who said anything about slamming Muslims?
It’s becoming clear to me that the ONLY good thing about George Bush was Dick Cheney.
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