The "Obama is a Muslim" Rumor is still alive and well...

[RoadRage]

My husband & I (both big Dem's) went to my in-laws last night for dinner. My in-laws are very very Christian, and vote with their Church (I didn't throw up once during dinner last night - Yeah)!

I had given my Mother-in-Law my copy of "The Audacity of Hope" about 2 months ago after she asked my husband & I to read Bill O'Rielly's last book (I don't recommend it - it's total crap). She said that she would.

So, during dinner last night, my Father in Law asks what we thought about the Iowa Caucuses. We say we were thrilled that Obama won, and hopes he does as well in NH. He then says "I know you aren't church goers, but how can you support a Muslim extremist for President? He even took his senate Oath on the Koran". He then said that he had an EMAIL from a Bible Club member to back up the story, and that at their church "Pastor Jim" privately confirmed this for them.

I grabbed my daughter and started getting her coat on.. and my husband could tell I was ready to hit something. He then calmly got out the book "Audacity of Hope" (that they hadn't bothered to read) and opened it to the "Faith" chapter, and asked them to read it. My husband also emailed him a nice message with links to Keith Ellison's oath on the Koran.. and several other links on Obama's faith.

It just pisses me off so much that otherwise Smart, Savvy people can be so stupid! But, they also believe that the earth is only 10,000 years old... so why am I surprised? Sorry.. just needed to vent! I'll let you know if my husband gets an email back.. i'm not holding my breath. Ohh.. and of course my in-laws are very excited about voting for Huckabee (surprise, surprise)!

Editied to Add One of MANY Links discussing this story:
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/11/obama-supporter.html

[Yael]

1. Ouch.

I have been hearing it too, but not the connection to Keith Ellison.

*sigh*

[unpossibles]

2. not surprising based on how much the ones I know tend to project their faults onto others

it's how they work: repeat the same bullshit lie enough to their target audience, and it'll stick at least a little. It's kind of like how they've attacked science by saying "evolution is just a theory" without explaining what a Theory actually is - they know that people will repeat it without trying to learn the truth. And sadly, it seems to work.

[suston96]

3. If the rumor was that Obama is a genetic recreation of the worst tyrant in history...

...he would still win. The people don't believe anything bad about him.

Don't worry. That Muslim label is destined for the toilet.

[Deep13]

4. He's going to be swift-battleshipped.

There will be no ads, but there will be a national whispering campaign that has already started.

[LibDemAlways]

11. I sadly agree. And I think there will be ads that will, subtly

and not so subtly, appeal to people's racist instincts. Remember when one of the news magazines darkened OJ's skin on its cover? I expect that sort of thing. And don't put it past the r's to refer to him in their ads as Barack Hussein Obama.

I wish him well, but I have a feeling Obama faces an exceptionally tough and bigoted road.

[hedgehog]

5. So is the "refused to salute the flag" rumor. I was shocked at how angry

someone was at Obama because this person believed the rumor. We're going to be busy getting the facts out this year.


On edit: in 1960, the rumor was that JFK was going to install a direct line to the Vatican so he could get his instructions.

[oasis]

8. Obama's refusal to wear the flag on his lapel will also surface again. (eom)

[RoadRage]

25. Yeah.. it's all the same

stuff bundled into one theory.. that Obama is somehow a "secret closeted Muslim" poised to takeover the world. UGHGH!

I wish people would read just a little bit before they throw accusations like this around - but if it doesn't further their agenda, why bother?

[Deep13]

28. It is his Jane Fonda photo.

:eyes:

[RoadRage]

9. Haha!

I also have a direct line to the vatican at my house.. I call it every day just to listen to the music. ;)

[LibDemAlways]

6. My sister-in-law told me the other day

she won't vote for anyone whose middle name is Hussein.

She also said she is voting for Romney because to her he looks "Presidential." I think he looks like a scary Ken doll come to life, but what do I know?

[RoadRage]

10. At least she had his middle name right..

Something else flew by (email? I don't remember) that said "Barack Muhammad Obama" is a terrorist.

I was like.. WOW.. i'll stay away from THAT guy! But, Barack Hussein Obama is a Guy i'll VOTE FOR!

[surfermaw]

16. That email was in my email next morning after Iowa

From a distant cousin in Georgia..Did the Muhammad mean he had changed his name for his particular church they were talking about... I would like to know if he mentioned his church on Oparah, or if that was just something someone posted.. I missed that program

[RoadRage]

23. I'm not sure if he mentioned it..

It's kind of funny.. he sort of HAS to mention his church and religion more often then normal to keep this "swiftboat" rumors at bay.. and I think BECAUSE of that, a lot of Republicans and more religious Independents are voting for him, because they think he mentions his religion a lot- he must be very spiritual.

It's sort of backfiring on the conservatives when they pull this kind of crap. Make me laugh to see their dirty tricks not work as well...

[oasis]

7. I'm hearing "Obama's a muslim" from non-political junkies. It'll be difficult

for him to shake off that tag.

[RoadRage]

14. Ehh..

At this point, I think the only people who will believe that a guy could be so popular and still be a "closet muslim extremist" are those who WANT to believe that.

And, for my in-laws.. that's perfect... they can pretend that is why they don't like him so they don't have to come out and admit that it's probably because they wouldn't vote for a black guy.. or anyone who doesn't think that the White House should be surrounded by churches, and the president should have to consult 3 pastors before making a decision on anything. Except war.. that's always justifiable in any case. :puke:

[NewHampster]

12. Did you think the rethugs were going to prostrate themselves in front of the One

They're waiting to add BaRockStar to the trophy wall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mwp44ZaIP4

[sinkingfeeling]

13. I'd send them a copy of the snopes.com rebuttal and the CNN one. I'd also ask why they

go to a church where 'Pastor Jim' tells lies (breaking one of those commandment thingies) to his flock.

[RoadRage]

18. This was the Email my husband sent them last night..

Hey Dad - So, Obama is a MUSLIM???


No, actually he isn't. He's Christian. That matters more to you then it does to Erin or I, but we wanted to clear it up. There are certainly lots of lies on the Internet about it.

Click here (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2007/dec/20/chain-email-gets-obama-religion-wrong/) for who started the rumor that he took his oath on the Koran.

In actuality, he took his oath using his own personal Christian bible.

Click here (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/206/story_20604_1.html) for the senator that DID use the Koran. You can call him a Muslim all you want - because he is, and he's proud of it! Ahh.. fredom of Religion - what a novel idea!

Also, note that there is NO requirement in US law to take the oath on the Christian bible or any book for that matter.

When the time comes for new Representatives to be sworn in, no Bible, Koran, or other book is involved. The Speaker of the House asks everyone to stand and raise their right hands. All 435 members are sworn in right then, at their desks, at the same time. That's the swearing in ceremony.

Later, a Representative may schedule an "unofficial" ceremony to be photographed for the voters in his/her district. THAT ceremony is set up by the Representative's office and can include anything he/she wants... a judge, a friend certified to give an oath of allegiance, and any book the Representative chooses (Bibles, Koran's and Law Books have all been used). He could even choose to use no book at all. Also, that ceremony has no official standing... it's just for the folks back home.

Something else to consider. The US Constitution states that in Article 6, section 3, that, "...no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States".

If you want to know more about the Senator from Illinois (and possibly our new president), click here (http://www.barackobama.com/index.php).

I'm sure you didn't intend to do it - but by saying things that aren't at all true, and not researching them before you said them.. you really upset my wife & I. I hope that in light of this new information, you'll spread the truth about Obama. We know you still probably won't vote for him.. he is a liberal after all. But, we'd appreciate it if you also didn't spread false rumors about his past to further your political agenda.

Thanks,

[abburdlen]

24. FWIW

The Koran that Rep Ellison used in his private swearing in ceremony was once owned by...

Thomas Jefferson.
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/03/ellison-jefferson/

I just loved bringing that up with my less tolerant relatives.

[MethuenProgressive]

15. Your link is from two months ago - the only people keeping this alive is ObamaNation.

The plea for pity got old two months back. Move on.

[Robbins]

17. Email

I was forwarded an email claiming after Obama's parents got divorced she married an radical Islam.
Thus Obama Is a Islam sleeper agent.

We may see the first of what will be the attempted swiftboating.I find these racists and paranoid.

If you raise questions about the Kennedy Assassinations,and Martin Luther King assassinatio you
are called a nut but any Islamic Conspiracy talk Is taken as gossepel.

[Cronus Protagonist]

19. IF Obama wins the nomination OR he's a Vp candidate

It WILL be regurgitated at that time when it can do its work best. Right now, using that slur might prevent Obama from getting the nod, hence it is being held in abayance. I still remember McCain's "black" baby.

[RoadRage]

22. I agree.. but as we've seen, even "white guys" get swiftboated..

Any candidate is going to have thier issues, and false information spread about them. I guess i like having something so easy to debunk. "Obama is a Muslim Extremist".

Umm.. no.. he's been going to this Christian Church for years.. long before he ever thought he'd be considered for a serious Presidential Bid. Here is his Pastor.. Here is his Church.. here are pictures of him in his church.

Now, please show me the pictures of him bowing and praying to Allah. Where are they? Oh, you don't have any. OK.. show the pictures of him going to his local Mosque. Again, nothing? Well, surely you have info that shows his formerly Christian wife converted to be a Muslim, right? Again.. nothing.

Well - then DING DING DING - I win. If you don't want to vote for the guy.. fine, but you'll have to do better then that!

[Cronus Protagonist]

26. I agree with you on that point

No candidate will escape the GOP slime machine. None of them.

[RoadRage]

21. What the heck are you talking about?

I'm not keeping any story alive from 2 months ago.. i made a comment about a dinner conversation I had LAST NIGHT. And exactly how does that link benifit the "Obama Nation". No one on this website- Obama supporter or Not believes that he is a Muslim (I HOPE).. so the point of this post was not to dissuade people who think incorrectly that he's Muslim - on this site they shouldn't exist.

The point of this post is to point out that there are other people (especially Evangelical Republicans) who are spreading this information - either falsely on purpose or unintentionally (i'm assuming my In-Laws are the latter, but you never know).

So although the link, and this "story" came out 2 months ago... guess what - it's still being spread & believed by those who choose to believe it, or want to spread mud about Obama.

The point of my post was to let DU'ers know that there are still a large number of uneducated Repugs out there who need to be corrected. My family included.

[Sparkly]

20. It's a shame.

It may be one reason Obama uses religious rhetoric on the campaign trail -- an understandable but unfortunate consequence.

[RoadRage]

27. Agreed..

I can see why he has to bring up his church more & more.. to dispell these rumors. But, I also think it's part of his cross-over appeal to Repubs and Indies.. they hear him talk about Religion and think he's a great guy.. so now they want to vote for him.

Sorta backfiring on the Conservatives approach, eh?