Brit Hume Raises the Question of Barack Obama’s Muslim Background
By SusanUnPC on June 17, 2008 at 11:45 AM in Barack Obama, Black Liberation Theology, Muslim, Religion, Rev. James Meeks, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., Rev. Michael Pfleger, Rev. Otis Moss
Caption: “Malik holds a photo of Obama and him in Muslim dress, reportedly when the two first met in 1985.” (This image is published at the Israeli Insider and was displayed today by Fox News anchor Brit Hume.)
To be clear: We at No Quarter have no concerns about Barack Obama having had a Muslim background; given the circumstances of his childhood, living with a stepfather in Indonesia who was Muslim as well as having relatives in Africa who are Muslim, it is simply a part of his background, and probably a plus to be exposed to the faith, although he was for the most part rather young to assess it.
Our issue is with Obama’s failure to be frank about his life history and — worst of all — his appearance of running from any past associations with Muslims, as if being evasive would protect him from voter concerns in an age of the Internet and 24/7 news. Instead — by insisting repeatedly that he is solely a “committed Christian” and has “never been a Muslim” — Obama may be insulting Muslims worldwide who are surely puzzled why he hides this past. Further, his obfuscations lose him credibility among voters who seek honesty and forthrightness in their presidential candidates.
Obama seems unable to grasp what most mature people understand: That hiding the simple truth damages one’s reputation far more than the fact that is being hidden.
Today, on his Fox News “Special Report with Brit Hume,” the veteran reporter noted in his daily “Political Grapevine” segment on his weekday program at 6 p.m. ET:
From the Fox News print report:
Throughout his campaign, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has assured his supporters that he is a Christian. He has been battling what his campaign calls an online “smear campaign,” which contends, among other things, that Obama was raised as a Muslim. There is even a statement on his official campaign Web site reading, “Obama has never been a Muslim and is a committed Christian.”
But, Obama’s half-brother is not so sure. Malik Obama tells the Jerusalem Post that if elected his brother will be a good president for the Jewish people — despite his Muslim background.
The article was also accompanied by an image of Malik Obama holding a photo of him and Barack Obama in Muslim dress — reportedly when the two first met in 1985.
See? The facts are not particularly shocking or troubling — at least to me.
But it’s Obama’s fear of acknowledging this part of his life story that most troubles me.
What troubles me are his incessant insistence that he is a “committed Christian” — and constant denials of any associations with Muslims — in desperately trying to cover up this part of his past.
Ironically, his frequent statements about his Christian faith are backfiring — thanks to the innumerable airings of the Jeremiah Wright and Father Pfleger rants.
Now, every single time he mentions he’s a Christian, the very first image that pops into my mind — and surely that of most voters — is Jeremiah Wright’s racist, separationist rants. Or Father Pfleger (who, by the way, is baaaaaack — more about that in an upcoming post).
I doubt Barack Obama will be able to “unring” that bell. Most Americans, once they’ve seen those tapes of the Revs. Jeremiah Wright, Otis Moss, James Meeks or Father Pfleger, will have those WORDs and SIGHTs indelibly imprinted on their brains as associated with Barack Obama.
Flopping Aces blog allowed us to feature their video of Obama’s “Wise Men.” If you missed it, here it is — it’s very well-done:
- From my post, “Judgment of This Unqualified Candidate.”
by Ronald Scott
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