Obama and the Muslims

He deserves this hit. What often goes unsaid in his repudation of being a Muslim is the idea that it's something wrong with being a Muslim. It's disturbing that Obama lets the underlying logic stand.

MORE:Apparently Ellison and Obama got into it about the head-scarf fiasco. But here is why I support Obama for president, despite the fact that his campaign was dead wrong:

The conversation got so heated that CBC Chairwoman Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) banged her gavel to try and quiet Ellison. Obama though asked Kilpatrick to let Ellison speak.

After Ellison finished, Obama told the caucus that he regretted the incident, but said that he had not ordered the women to be removed. Following the meeting, Obama called the women to apologize.

Classy. Very classy. That said, I am glad that Ellison called Obama to task. We have to hold him accountable.

Comments

You know, I feel for the Muslim community in this, in part because my lack of religious belief is treated pretty much the same way when it comes to being addressed by politicians. Atheists are at least as invisible as Muslims to mainstream politicians. There are twice as many Muslims serving in the US House as there are atheists, and Pete Stark doesn't quite proclaim his atheism aloud. So I get the feeling, I really do.

But we're talking about a guy trying to get 65 million people or so to vote for him, so while I'd love for Obama to come out and make a big deal about the fact that before he joined his Chicago church 20 years ago that he was a religious skeptic (a nice way of saying he was an atheist), I'm not going to pressure him, because I know that my life as an atheist will be better with him as President than with McCain. And the same is true for Muslims in the US.

There are Republican congresspeople who are so stupid that they not only see Arabs and Muslims as synonymous, but they want to deport all Muslims. You don't see so much of that in the Democratic party.

One other thing. If Barack Obama's name were different, and he did the same thing, would he be catching any crap for it? For that matter, how much time did any of the other candidates for either major party spend in mosques during the primary? Not a lot, I'll bet.

Posted by Incertus | June 23, 2008 6:34 PM

Not only was this wrong on General Principle, if you're running a campaign that has a one of its main themes-INCLUSION

But, it was a dumb ass move POLITICALLY.

McCain had already insulted a huge Arab fundraiser. That, coupled with the GOP's natural disdain for the Arab community, Obama SHOULD HAVE been able to get that voting block with ease.

THIS BONEHEAD INCIDENT BLEW THAT.

There isn't a larger concentration of Arabs in America than in the Detroit/Dearborn area. They vote AND give money.

Dumb.ass.move.

Posted by rikyrah | June 24, 2008 12:52 AM

Obama and his campaign should be ashamed of themselves.

Posted by Eat My Shorts | June 24, 2008 4:49 AM

Obama has often said that if here were a Muslim he would tell us. I tend to think that this is no small comment. I'm not sure if the Obama camp believe there is anything wrong with being a Muslim, so much as it's problematic to be seen as one if he/she really isn't.

Posted by Jason | June 24, 2008 10:54 AM

I think that he's been forced into a corner, what with the media refusing to truly debunk the Muslim rumor (rather, they keep focusing on the fact that some people think he is). It just seems like he cannot win.

He handled the error correctly, however.

Posted by shani-o | June 24, 2008 11:24 AM

Obama's being political in not speaking on Muslim identity at all in his campaign.

I get it. I'm guessing if he were to ever say something nuanced or positive about Muslims, given the current state of the media, there'd be some sort of stupid implosion of talking point-media-loopage-Mohammed-Hussein-Obama-hates-America.

But it's not the right thing to do by any measure. It's a crappy message to send to Muslims, that they are people a candidate running for office needs to distance himself from. I know a white candidate wouldn't have the same issues as a brown-skinned man named Hussein does in the eyes of the American public, and so Barack is dealing with a higher bar here, but still.

And given how much dialogue Obama's brought forth on blackness and whiteness and even attention to Native American issues, it's a crying shame that it's a taboo for him to speak on the campaign trail on whatever insights he's gained on a personal level from his Kenyan family, some of whom come from Muslim roots, and from living in a majority Muslim country as a child.

It is disappointing to see him being politic instead of fair.

Posted by Breukelyne | June 24, 2008 2:25 PM

Between this, and the FISA compromise, and his comment last week about marriage being between one man and one woman, I'm pretty disappointed with Obama. I don't expect perfection, but in order to govern effectively rather than just win, it's going to take more courage than he's been showing lately.

Posted by Darkrose | June 24, 2008 7:59 PM

I don't get why people aren't really putting their foot down on this Muslim thing. You don't know how many white folks say, "yeah, but I still think he is Muslim". And? I seriously think that is code for "I don't want to vote for a black man because I don't trust them, so Islam is my excuse". Ignorant and completely obvious yet the media doesn't question it.

Posted by shani | June 25, 2008 1:27 PM