Look, I’ll be honest straight off the bat: I’ve never much liked politics. There, I admitted it, and I am not ashamed to have done so. Having said that, of course, I try to pay attention where necessary. And sometimes things will just jump out at you, interested or not. I totally understand why, in Australia, we seem to follow the US elections (including the primaries) with as much, if not more, interest than our own. We have good reason to care about the outcome, even if watching reruns of 90210 might seem more appealing than following a US election (not that I watch 90210, just saying. No, honestly.)
So, like many others, I’m quite fascinated by Barack Obama and his inspiring cue-the-orchestra campaign. You see, it’s easy to forget about John McCain: there was no juicy primary contest against Hillary Clinton (who sadly lost to Obama, despite her pledge to obliterate Iran if they attacked Israel, the little gem). McCain does have a good chance of winning, what with the war history (he was in Vietnam, and a POW no less) and well, he is a Republican. But he’s lacking in other areas. Namely, he’s not Obama.
Obama has a lot going for him. For starters, he’s the most eloquent of the contenders, and let’s face it, American politics has been short on that for quite some time now. He speaks in soothing tones of hope and love and it’s hard not to conjure images of rainbows and unicorns and other lovely things in your mind as you listen to him. And, well he’s young, African-American, a democrat and NOT Muslim. McCain isn’t either, to be fair, but his name is McCain, and well, he was in Vietnam.
Of course, none of those things qualify Obama to be President of the United States. If Obama wins, it will be because of what he appears to represent (that whole hope theme I mentioned earlier).
I’m loathe to even consider him as the lesser of two evils though. Obama is weak. I was disgusted, although I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, by his feeble position on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory. I don’t think he really offers much by way of actual solutions (economy, etc). His weakness is also very evident in the way he panders to the redneck demographic.
It’s sort of amusing, but he’s heading into dangerous election territory. In his rage to win over Americans, Obama is isolating American Muslims, of which there are many, and consequently excluding them, I presume, from the American utopia he will create if he becomes President. He seems to be positively going out of his way to assure everyone that not only has he never been Muslim, he sure as hell wouldn’t want to be one. Even non-Muslims are noticing, and well, they’re not too impressed by it. Writer Emily L. Hauser has a great piece on this issue.
There was that amusing rally incident where his volunteers ushered some Muslim girls out of a shot. Obama, as has become his shtick, personally apologised to the girls over the phone.
But what I find most amazing is the way in which Obama considers the Muslim connotations to be a smear. Let’s just be clear on this, because Obama has a lot riding on this point: he is not, nor has he ever been, a Muslim. He really isn’t. Anyone who says otherwise is tarnishing his image, discrediting him, sullying his name.
Well, you get the idea.
Obama says so himself on his special Fight the Smears website. So, for the record, here is the truth about Obama’s faith:
Lie:
Barack Obama is a Muslim.Truth:
Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised as a Muslim, and is a committed Christian.
The actual smear on the intro page originally read “Barack Obama is a Muslim”. Now it reads “Barack Obama is secretly a Muslim”. Either way, apparently being called a Muslim, a secret one or otherwise, is a bad thing.
I can back up Obama’s claim. He’s not Muslim. Well, I haven’t seen him at any of the meetings in any case.
49 comments ↓
Maybe you aren’t interested in politics or maybe you just like the faux naif schtick – but either way you can’t avoid the fact that it isn’t anything to do with Obama, it’s to do with the fact that a Muslim could not win the election and nor could a candidate ’soft’ (to use your perjorative) on Islam.
So because a Muslim couldn’t win an election, that makes his pandering acceptable? I hate to use the comparison method, but I cannot imagine that Obama would list being called a Jew or a Buddhist a smear.
As for his not being ’soft’ on Islam, I didn’t realise politicians were meant to crack down on religion.
No, it doesn’t make his pandering acceptable. But then, most things in U.S. politics are completely unacceptable. Our political system is, to be blunt, utter crap these days. The candidates spend most of their time trying to appear as the perfect “American,” which apparently means moderate politics, conservative lifestyles, Christian, and not at all offensive to anyone, ever. At least, not openly.
Point is, he’s doing what he’s doing so that he stands a chance to win. Do I think it’s an acceptable way for him to do politics? No. Do I see any alternative for him, given our political structure? No.
…and given that McCain is shaping up to be GWB 2.0, I’d rather go with someone who will at least be different.
Of course something which would cost him the election, as which is beng USED as a smear is called a smear. And the US public certainly expects its politicians to crack down on some aspects of religions.
Obama is a politician trying to win an election. Not a professor of ethics.
It must be my faux naif schtik that makes it so difficult to comprehend what you’re saying, antish, but thank you for using BIG LETTERS. And please, don’t insult me with ridiculous statements like “Obama is a politician trying to win an election. Not a professor of ethics.” Thank you, I really had no idea he wanted to win an election.
The point I was making, which seemed to whizz right past your impressively large brain, is that he is taking his offensive too far. He’s making it worse for himself.
All candidates get dragged through the mud in an election. Obama could just deny it and get on with things, rather than go on and on about it, giving it more attention that it warrants, distributing flyers, crying about a smear campaign.
You see, silly Muslims like me don’t like to think of our religion as being THAT bad. We know people like you don’t like it, but that’s OK. Thankfully, you’re not in office. But the interesting thing is that non-Muslims are also noticing and they’re not impressed either.
It’s unfortunate that you can’t see why his approach to the Muslim issue is pathetic.
I understand that you are disappointed that US voters are chary of electing a pro-Muslim president. But I don’t understand why you are surprised.
Are you deliberately missing the point or are you just that stupid, antish? I don’t think anyone expects a Muslim President, like, ever. The point is, Obama is a pandering sissy. He could have just made a note of the “accusation” that he’s Muslim, denied it and left it at that. Instead he’s acting like a hysterical twit and insulting Muslims in the process. Of course, you’re saying it’s understandable. That’s because you have a nasty view of Muslims yourself. His approach is wrong on so many levels.
And please, enough with the fancy words. “Faux naif” and “chary”. Do you write these fancy expressions down to be used at a later date, like Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice? Or is it an online thesaurus?
I would like a US presidential candidate to be sympathetic to socialism. But I know that being accused of socialsm is poltical death. So I would not take seriously anything he said about socalism during the electon campaign. If he removed a person wearing a Che T-shirt from a photo op I would applaud his canniness.
(I actually use “fancy words” IRL – sorry, I’ll dumb down.)
You’d really use the word “chary” IRL? You must be old. And seriously, no need to dumb down. I’ve no doubt we can all keep up with your stunning intellect and impressive vocabulary. I just couldn’t help but notice that you were pulling them out with more frequency today, perhaps to sound more intellectual-like.
You’re still missing the point btw. Being sympathetic to socialism is not on a par with being sympathetic to Muslims, for God’s sake. He doesn’t have to hold a rally in their honour, but he doesn’t have to get so hysterical about it. Sheesh. I’d have thought even you could see how weak that is. He talks of unifying Americans and all that other junk. But ya know, so long as you’re not Muslim. Whatever.
I am old, d00d.
I hope that Obama’s research is accurately suggesting what the Emily Hauser link in the OP suggests – that the people who worry about his ‘anti-Muslim’ stance are the ones who are going to vote for him anyway. It’s the ones who wouldn’t vote for him if he had a pro-Muslim ‘taint’ that he needs to vote for him.
BTW, I don’t really see any serious difference between beng sympathetic to socialsm and sympathetic to Islam, but I’m not gong to go into that in this thread.
Socialism isn’t a religion that people subscribe to. It’s not really an issue; how Muslims are perceived most certainly is, and I know that I wouldn’t like a leader who thinks I’m someone to be despised because of my beliefs or, who panders to those who do think that way.
[...] Amal writes: It’s sort of amusing, but he’s heading into dangerous election territory. In his rage to win over Americans, Obama is isolating American Muslims, of which there are many, and consequently excluding them, I presume, from the American utopia he will create if he becomes President. He seems to be positively going out of his way to assure everyone that not only has he never been Muslim, he sure as hell wouldn’t want to be one. Even non-Muslims are noticing, and well, they’re not too impressed by it. Writer Emily L. Hauser has a great piece on this issue. [...]
Actually, other than countering the ‘Obama is a Muslim’ smear (for smear it is, in the context of the election campaign), what has he done to suggest that “he sure as hell wouldn’t want to be one”? Much less ‘going out of his way’ to do it.
This strikes me as pre-emptive victimology.
[...] saw this post over on ijtema.net and my curiosity was piqued. Yes, it’s true, I’ve felt alienated by [...]
I’m yet to see you offer any legitimacy to a complaint a Muslim makes, antish, so I’m hardly surprised that you’re pulling out the Victim Mentality card.
In the post, I made the point that Obama is so vehemently denying that he’s Muslim, rather than simply denying it and getting on with things. Is that enough of an indication that he sure as hell doesn’t want to be a Muslim?
If not, I’m not too concerned. You have a tendency to reduce every discussion to “Muslims are whinging”. I’m quite comfortable in the knowledge that I have anything but a victim mentality, but thanks for your deep thoughts on the matter all the same.
I would expect Obama himself is quite sick of having to deny he is a Muslim. Obama is a practicing Christian so I would not be surprised if he dislikes being called a Muslim. Just like an observant Muslim would not like being called a Christian, Jew or Bhuddist.
It is an issue that has continually come up during his campaign which would also explain why he has put it up on his website answering the smears.
I think you are being quite unfair to Obama on this issue.
I don’t think I’m being unfair at all… If Obama was called a Jew or a Buddhist, I strongly doubt he’d make a fuss about it, even if he didn’t appreciate being mistakenly called either.
He’d deny it, sure, but given his relationship with AIPAC, I don’t think for one second he would write “Smear: Obama is a Jew” or even “Smear: Obama is secretly a Jew” on his website.
Anyway, to each his own opinion. If others perceive his behaviour as acceptable because he’s trying to win an election, then that’s fine.
The more Obama denies that he is a Muslim, the more that I think that maybe he’s just trying to compensate for the fact that he was once a Muslim living with his Muslim dad in Muslim Indonesia and listing his religion as Muslim. He’s obviously a Christian now but he was once a Muslim.
“…Hillary Clinton (who sadly lost to Obama, despite her pledge to obliterate Iran if they attacked Israel, the little gem)” – LOL, AAaahahaha
Obama’s not Muslim, we just wish he was. Very charismatic figure, but won’t win the elections – Republicans (~50% voters) won’t vote, and democrats will swing. May be a good thing, with a GWB-clone president like McCain, America’s image is only going to get worse, and make it easier for other countries to hold USA accountable for its criminal foreign policy.
You can draw comparisons with the Muslim smear campaign Obama is victim to, and the one that nearly happened in Australia with the flyers, etc (there’s a post on Austrolabe somewhere). Funny stuff.
Israel does not “occupy” “Palestinian” territory? Why? Because there is no such country as “Palestine” that has sovereignty over this alleged “occupied” land.
Sara
Muslims are “insulted”? AGAIN? Well you could blow us all down with a feather! Please.
Sara
I think it is you who needs to get a clue. Both Islam and Socialism are political ideologies and programs. They are both also religions.
Oh, John Greenfield, I’m so glad you commented. Seriously, Johnny (can I call you Johnny?), I was so ashamed when I read your comments. I just can’t believe how clueless I am. I just don’t know what we would do without your stunning, amazing insight into everything.
Any idea where I can pick up one of those clues that you seem to have in abundance? No one’s as smart as you, Johnny. You’re here to tell us that Israel’s land was all taken fair and square! Duh! Those settlements are totally legal! I suppose that fancy wall they’re building that divides up Palestinian farmers’ lands is all legit too, huh? Oh, and socialism is a religion! I had no idea. I think we should alert the public schools. Socialist kids should have their own scripture classes.
Seriously, Johnny, don’t let anyone here tell you you’re a loser and a bigot. Because even if you are, I learn so MUCH from you. It hurts me to think you have such a low opinion of me. I feel so sad now. *sniff*
Rubbish.
So I guess that its Palestine that has ACTUALLY been wiped off the map, as opposed to Israel, which has only been obscurely threatened with with the same treatment.
So, what is it the Zionists actually whine about?
Er, I’m not sure how “obscure” that threat from Mr Dinner Jacket and the mad mullahs actually is. It may be a lot of hot air given the consequences, but the verbal threat at least has been pretty clearly enunciated.
Apparently Obama doesn’t like satire either.
http://afp.google.com/article/.....t0BGaKv92w
Oh well, banned from MV again – so I’ll come back and annoy you lot.
Of course Obama would mind being labelled a Jew or a Buddhist if being labelled a Jew or a Buddhist was detrimental to his propects of being elected. Being labelled a Muslim IS detrimental, obviously. You might not like that but you can’t deny that it’s a fact.
Sheikh Haron’s reply letter to Obama 12th June this year shows that Obama might be a Muslim.
ummm… I am confused:
http://www.sheikhharon.com/med.....e-2008.htm
I’ve deleted inappropriate remarks. Please keep the comments constructive.
Yes, and antish, try and keep your comments non-stupid. Your last comment is probably one of the dumbest things you’ve ever said and there have been some corkers. Seriously, do you even reread what you write or do you just type and hope you’re being extra clever? Don’t even answer that.
Great, we’re getting MV rejects.
Why dumb? It was argued (dumbly) that Obama wouldn’t be objecting if he was labelled a Jew or a Buddhist. Well, duh. Of course not – being labelled a Jew or a Buddhist isn’t likely to cost him the election. If it was, he would be protesting just as loudly.
antish, my remark on his objections is not dumb (although I thank you for the kind words). To use your reasoning, it’s “a fact”. As for my sentiments on the matter, it’s called having an opinion, something you seem to cherish only when it’s your own.
I was using dear Sarah’s language…
You said:
“I don’t think I’m being unfair at all… If Obama was called a Jew or a Buddhist, I strongly doubt he’d make a fuss about it, even if he didn’t appreciate being mistakenly called either.”
Of course he wouldn’t make a fuss about it because it wouldn’t cost him the election. It it would cost him the election, of course he’d make a fuss about it. That seems so patently obvious to me that I can’t imagine why you think it isn’t the case. (This is the third time I’ve made this very simple point.)
Your simple point isn’t my issue. You’re not acknowledging what this means, you’re just stating how it is. It doesn’t matter to you, because you’re not Muslim. I have spoken to many non-Muslims who can grasp this all without difficulty and who seem to agree that Obama is going about it all the wrong way. Yeah, if people think he’s Muslim, it’s not good, but anyone with half a brain can understand a simple denial: No, I am not Muslim. Thank you, end of story. Move on. The ones who can’t understand this, I presume, are not the ones likely to vote for Obama anyway.
If he’s not a Muslim, why does he feel the need to keep denying it?
The real question is what doesn’t he believe in and when did he stop believing in it.
I really must deflate this idea that there was a verbal threat issued from the Mullah’s. I have managed to dig up an article addressing whether Dinner Jacket, as you so affectionately refer to Monsieur Ahmedinejad, actually said ‘wiped off the map‘, the MEMRI-esque translation, or ‘vanish from the pages of time‘ as it actually translates into English from Persian. Of course, the second and more accurate translation has no ‘impending holocaust of Israeli Jews by Nazi Iranians‘ connotation, unless you believe the fiction that anti-Zionism equates to anti-Semitism.
Sorry but I beg to differ.
http://mickhartley.typepad.com.....srael.html
Amir, I’m not sure that you’ve shown that he keeps on doing it. He’s answered the ’smear’ and has made a statement about his faith. Nothing like ” He seems to be positively going out of his way to assure everyone that not only has he never been Muslim, he sure as hell wouldn’t want to be one.”
Also, he presumably spends a lot of money on polling and research, and if that told his that a “simple denial’ was all it takes, that’s what he would have done. You might not like it but Muslims ARE viewed with deep suspicion by much (probably most) of the US electorate.
Agreed, his tactics might or might not be the best ones, but your OP implies that he’s somehow being unfair to Muslims, that his denying it is somehow a sign of his bad attitude towards Islam. Unless you think that everyone who is not a Muslim has a bad attitude towards Islam, that isn’t the case at all.
How about a ‘glass half full’ view? That it is astounding that someone with the middle name Hussein has at least a 50/50 chance of being the next president of the USA, just 7 years after 9/11?
I think it is because for the rest of non-Muslim non-Republican Americans Obama is being marketed as a superhero. Or at the very least, another Martin Luther King Jr or Nelson Mandela.
By listening to his campaign spin doctors and trying to distance himself from any Muslim connection, happy to trample over Muslim Americans in his rush to get away from them as fast as possible, is a chink in that superhero image.
It means Obama is just like any other politician – willing to pander to the racist red-neck (or even the slightly concerned white) voter IF it will ensure him votes. (Don’t forget Our Kevin was anti-Islamic school in Camden before the federal election, because to support it might have given John Howard the wedge he so desperately wanted).
Yet people – including Muslim Americans – don’t want an ordinary politician for a president. They want the return of Jesus after having had to put up with Bush and the GOP for so long.
Umm Yasmin, I tend to agree with you except on the “happy to trample over Muslim Americans” bit. What ‘trampling’ has happened? True he hasn’t taken the opportunity to say ‘islam is wonderful’, or ‘I’m not a Muslim but Muslims are wonderful’. Those seem to be the only things being complained of here.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com.....7710_o.jpg
http://www.smh.com.au/news/us-.....41245.html
I guess dressing like a Jew certainly doesn’t hurt his chances.
Anyway, more p***-weak statements from Obama. He spent what, like, ten minutes in Ramallah? Economic hardships of Palestinians gets a mention but, wait, please don’t forget that I HEART ISRAEL.
We believe you, Obama.
Poor old Obama, hated by Muslims, hated by Jews. What next? Hated by Hispanic illegal immigrants? Maybe he should concentrate on trying to please American citizens who identify as Americans first.
http://www.debbieschlussel.com.....l#comments
Well he’d be some sort of wacko Muslim to tell the world he supported an undivided Jerusalem. Wouldn’t the Splodies go nuts!?
Rrelying on that powerless, intellectually vacant lot is a sure way to lose the election. That’s why!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JX8X_FsBCDk
Pretty words Amir, but I believe that the Federal Government over there in America grew under his Presidency.
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