This has been a sore point for me about the Obama campaign when the rumors first began that he might be a Muslim. And I have no problem with the fact that he isn’t Muslim and has been a Christian all his life, what upsets me is the fact that he vehemently denies being Muslim instead of questioning why we seem to believe that the President of the United States of America needs to be Christian. If I recall correctly one of main reasons for people migrating from Europe to America was fleeing from religious persecution, which is why we have laws in place that separate Church and State. Surely just because our fearless leader seems to believe that everyone should be a “God fearing Christian” does not mean that holds true with the fundamental belief system of our founding fathers and the laws that this country was built on.
I cannot describe how thrilled I was to hear (well really read because I don’t have time for tv so I just read the interviews online) Colin Powell speak out on this topic. I am glad that one very distinguished political figure has finally spoken up for very blatant discrimination. We all know that this country has problems as does the rest of the world and that discrimination of every kind is out there. But to outright assume that any Muslim person in the country would be loyal to terrorists as opposed to the US is just ignorant. It is choosing to be a bigot instead of actually considering the person’s history and merits and deciding from there where their loyalties lie.
I was also pleased to see that one of my favourite columnists Maureen Dowd actually wrote a piece on this today. What I thought was even better was that it was not her typical sarcastic snarky style that I hold so dear but it was actually something rather thoughtful that brings out the humanity of the situation. Colin Powell did not go into those details in his interview but I think it is important to remember that we have Americans that were born and raised here who happen to be of the Islamic faith. They are Muslim, they are American and they should be allowed to be proud to be both. Isn’t that what makes America unique, being able to believe in something different from your neighbor yet still being an American and still being part of a great nation? I fear that if something so small as your religious beliefs can make it impossible for you to dare to dream of being president we are losing an integral part of what makes America great. I would hope that we can do better.
My favorite McCain line is “No mama he’s not a Muslim… he a decent person” I feel like a cartoon shaking his head back and forth until I’m nothing more than a blur. Then they blame the Dems for injecting racism? Say what? Vote Obama.
Amazing you Democrat’s selective memory. It was only last year when the the Democrats created a furor over Mitt Romney being a Mormon. But, most thinking understand that Mormon’s have never vowed to take this country down….a certain part of the Islamic world has and continues to do so. I find it naive that you would even question why some would raise an eyebrow at this. I see this a perfectly legitamte concern at a time where the Democratic party can attack and ruin the life of a simple American for asking a question at a rally and exposing the truth, or the incredible low class attacks on Palin that the Democrat party supports. America does not know who Obama is, and Obama likes it this way. And so do you. So save the whining, hand-wringing thin-skinned weeping about discrimination,,,he deserves the scrutiny. He is, at the end of the day, a simple product of the crackpot Chicago political machine that learned how to read a teleprompter…nothing more. He will win, and we’ll be embrassed that he did. More and more comes out about this man everyday….but we’ve run out of time….he’ll be in office…and we’ll be ashamed that we let it happen.
It was only last year when the the Democrats created a furor over Mitt Romney being a Mormon.
Actually, I haven’t forgotten that and I also don’t think that should have been an issue. I do believe that the candidates should be scrutinized. I just happen to also believe that Palin has no qualifications to be President should anything happen to McCain which is a concern as a VP candidate. That is not a low-class attack, she has no experience and cannot even conduct simple interviews. So feel free to scrutinize Obama all you want, I, in fact, do not agree with everything he says. But I also don’t believe that just believing in Islam means you are a terrorist, the candidates should surely be properly vetted but having a certain faith should not immediately dismiss you from consideration.
Um, it wasn’t the Democrats that vetted Romney it was McCain that burned him to the ground along with the Republican Party. I myself believe that he would have been the Republican’s best choice for President, but what do I know I’m just a crazy Obama supporter. If he was McCain’s running mate right now he might have half a chance of winning. At the end of the day it all boils down to spreading hate won’t win elections anymore (I hope).
Vaughn, while it was the Republicans that vetted Romney there are also people who call themselves Democrats that get worried when there is any insinuation that Obama may be a Muslim (which he isn’t). And that is really where this post came from.
Also I completely agree with you on: At the end of the day it all boils down to spreading hate won’t win elections anymore (I hope).
I couldn’t agree with you more rhealitycheck. I was actually responding to TejasPo and his misrepresentation of who freaked out on the Mitt.