American Weirdness du jour: More Americans imagine that Obama is Muslim

[karlhenning]

The news last Thursday was:

The number of Americans who believe — wrongly — that President Obama is a Muslim has increased significantly since his inauguration and now accounts for nearly 20 percent of the nation's population.

As if that were not enough, politicians on the Right — more than a little predictably, more than a little cynically — don't want to risk alienating the dunderheads:

Obama the non-Muslim

With a sizable slice of the country misinformed about Obama's religion, the Senate Republican leader said the following on "Meet the Press": "The president says he's a Christian. I take him at his word. I don't think that's in dispute."

McConnell's people didn't want to get drawn into this controversy, and liberal bloggers have teed off, including the New Republic's Jonathan Chait:

"Mitch McConnell is careful with his words, so this dog-whistle message to the far right. . . . is notable. . . .

"To say that you 'take him at his word' means two things. First of all, it suggests that the president's word is the only information we have to go on here. Of course, that is absurd. Second, if further suggests that, the evidence being weak or inconclusive, McConnell is taking the high road by accepting Obama's testimony.

"The formulation is a way of putatively siding with the truth so that he can't be pilloried by the media, while subtly suggesting that he is open to the views of Americans who think Obama is Muslim."

Washington Monthly's Steve Benen:

"In fairness, McConnell, after pointing to what the president has said about his own faith, added, 'I don't think that's in dispute.' That's closer to what the official party line should be, but it's still short.

"The correct answer is to dismiss nonsense because it's nonsense."

[MN Dave]

People is stupid.

[greg]

People is stupid.
Ppl iz stewpid

[MN Dave]

People is stupid.
Ppl iz stewpid
Ppl am stewpid   0:)

[karlhenning]

"Dumb all over,/A little ugly on the side . . . ."

[snyprrr]

Just be thankful that things aren't soooo strange that this doesn't even get noticed. Haha, FacePalm for Obammy!

He sure isn't American Christian,...oh, unless that means mediocre. I like how Jesus says in Revelation that if you (one) are Hot or Cold, that's one thing, but, if you (one) are LukeWarm, you (one) make him sick, and he vomits you (one) out. In that case, Obama is the PosterChild for American Religion. Yawn!

btw- I'm one of those who thinks "W" is a "liberal". And, before anyone reacts, just remember that government expanded under him to the point where Obammy just picked up the relay. And,...they're related, so, it's all in the family, no? Brad Pitt?

They appoint people for us to "elect".

Obammy's religion is the same as most every politician's: cud chewing!



btw- Sarah Palin??? Can anything be so transparent? oy!!! I love how she tells everyone to be, uh, "free", or something, but then directs them all to join either of the Man's two Parties. Hey, at least we have one more Party than the Chinese!

[Todd]

People is stupid.

This is true.  It is also an international problem.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-512087/Challenge-Churchill-One-think-Winnie-didnt-exist-Sherlock-Holmes-did.html  (Not related, but I find the foolishness to be of a similar sort.)

That opposing politicians take advantage of stupidity is not news.

[karlhenning]

Well, I do find comfort in the thought that it is not uniquely Amerkin.

[Florestan]

What is the religion professed by Obama? I ask because I am not familiar with the issue. I only know he professes to be Christian --- but what specific denomination?

[MN Dave]

What is the religion professed by Obama? I ask because I am not familiar with the issue. I only know he professes to be Christian --- but what specific denomination?

Whichever is your favorite.

[Florestan]

Whichever is your favorite.

I doubt he ever heard about it. 

[karlhenning]

-- but what specific denomination?

I'm not sure. He's downplayed the matter for a small menu of reasons.

According to the Wikipedia article, he was baptized at a UCC church.

I'm not clear about the UCC, either, so here's what Wikipedia reads there:

The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC. These two denominations, which were themselves the result of earlier unions, had their roots in Congregational, Christian, Evangelical, and Reformed denominations. The UCC's 5,320 congregations claim about 1.1 million members, primarily in the United States.

[bwv 1080]

these same Americans likely also believe that Obama's policies differ materially from his predecessor

[karlhenning]

these same Americans likely also believe that Obama's policies differ materially from his predecessor

Now, now . . . .

[bwv 1080]

Now, now . . . .

just sayin..

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-june-15-2010/respect-my-authoritah

[Florestan]

I'm not sure. He's downplayed the matter for a small menu of reasons.

According to the Wikipedia article, he was baptized at a UCC church.

I'm not clear about the UCC, either, so here's what Wikipedia reads there:

Thank you.

[Josquin des Prez]

He is a Muslim by upbringing and a Christian by political choice. He is probably neither as far as his truth faith, or lack of there of, is concerned.

[karlhenning]

He is a Muslim by upbringing and a Christian by political choice. He is probably neither as far as his truth faith, or lack of there of, is concerned.

Your information is bad, not a surprise since your prejudice is the driver.

In that, you are probably no great distance from the dunderheads.

[Josquin des Prez]

His father was a Muslim, his step father was a Muslim, and he DID himself say that he was "once" a Muslim, and I, for one, am willing to take him by his word. Of course, the idea that he is still a Muslim is ridicolous. He is as irreligious as any career politician, but i guess if you are a dunderhead and a bit paranoid to boot, it isn't a bit of a stretch to believe a man who has a Muslim past, and a Muslim name, may have some underlying Muslim sympathies. He sure doesn't have any sympathies for white Christians, which is the real issue for the dunderheads.

[karlhenning]

His father was a Muslim, his step father was a Muslim, and he DID himself say that he was "once" a Muslim, and I, for one, am willing to take him by his word. Of course, the idea that he is still a Muslim is ridicolous. He is as irreligious as any career politician, but i guess if you are a dunderhead and a bit paranoid to boot, it isn't a bit of a stretch to believe a man who has a Muslim past, and a Muslim name, may have some underlying Muslim sympathies. He sure doesn't have any sympathies for white Christians, which is the real issue for the dunderheads.

Fascinating curtain line, and entirely like you.  Not that it's racist or anything.

The reportage I find is that his father was "raised a Muslim." Barack wrote that he was "not raised in a religious household."

Your "and I, for one, am willing to take him by his word" is the same weaselly tack tried out by Mitch McConnell as cited in my first post.

Don't you read? ; )