Couric & Co.
April 11, 2007 4:31 PM

Katie Couric's Notebook: Obama's Background

By
Greg Kandra
Topics
Katie's Notebook
CORRECTED NOTEBOOK: Changes in bold

Is America ready to elect a President whose connections with Islam were the subject of rumor and innuendo?

Barack Obama has arguably the most diverse religious background of any candidate, ever. He was raised in Indonesia by a Christian mother and Muslim stepfather, and attended a Catholic school, but while growing up, also studied Islam. That background sparked rumors that he had studied in a radical madrasa, or Koranic school – rumors later disproved . Obama is now a practicing Christian.

Last month, the Los Angeles Times interviewed a person who grew up with Obama. In the LA Times article he said, "We prayed in the mosque, but not seriously," noting that Obama also prayed with his Catholic schoolmates. In a later Chicago Tribune article, however, the source said he was not certain whether they prayed together.

It's too soon to know what America will decide about Barack Obama or his background.

But it's not too soon to wonder if America will see that background as an asset...or a liability.

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by ceecee34 April 13, 2007 2:57 PM EDT
Look at the facts. While he may have had minor exposure to another religion in his childhood, the only religion that reached his heart is Christianity. (2 years in a Muslim grade school vs. 20+ years as a Christian as an adult--long before going into politics.)
Reply to this comment
by fatwhitecow April 13, 2007 2:49 PM EDT
Once a MUslim always a MUslim at least in Islam's eyes. He did pray in mosques. Why isn't this a fair question?
Reply to this comment
by derfzo April 13, 2007 2:45 PM EDT
Its not whether America is ready for a Mosque praying president, its whether liberal Democrats are ready. As we know, liberal Democrats are ready for just about anything that will make America more diverse, more perverse, weaker, broker and more cowardly so long as it doesnt interfere with abortion on demand. America must also be totally politically correct. Americans must not treat a presidential candidate any differently whether he worships Allah or Satan or Jesus- hold on, wait a minute. Scratch Jesus off that list. Followers of Jesus will not abide abortion on demand, but the mosque praying guy is okay. Let's vote him in!!
Reply to this comment
by perception5 April 13, 2007 2:43 PM EDT
Couric is a puppet of the new Exec Producer of the CBS Evening News, who has been a friend of the Clintons for years. When he was in charge at CNN, he was able to basically turn it into the Clinton News Network.
Posted by KyleCope at 11:14 AM : Apr 13, 2007

......KyleCope, this new Exec Producer is Rick Kaplan, a longtime friend of Bill and Hillary. This Democrat slept at the Clinton White House twice the last time in April 2000.
Maybe he went to CBS (Clinton Broadcasting Station) to run Hillary's 2008 campaign......who knows...... bottom line is this represents a "CONFLICT OF INTEREST". and goes against our Founding Fathers desire to have an "independent" and robust press.
If Americans don't like this conflict of interest they should hit the "contact us" link at the bottom of CBS's website and tell them such.
Reply to this comment
by tikicain April 13, 2007 2:37 PM EDT
I think this was a very irresponsible question. Even by asking this question one can obviously assume that Katie was intentionally planting a seed of fear in the American voters mind. And what justified her even asking the question to begin with? I hope for the sake of CBS its not based on the two years he spent (as a child) in a Muslim school. This entire show is becoming a joke!!! Since you all are allowing her to make fact-less comments about serious issues on television you may as well let Mary Hart from ET! come on the show and do a weekly segment.
Reply to this comment
by kylecope April 13, 2007 2:14 PM EDT
Not that I'm backing either of them (and it's not because Obama is black, it's because he's supremely unqualified) but the reason Couric came out with this line of attack is simple.

Couric is a puppet of the new Exec Producer of the CBS Evening News, who has been a friend of the Clintons for years. When he was in charge at CNN, he was able to basically turn it into the Clinton News Network.
Reply to this comment
by briguy7700 April 13, 2007 2:08 PM EDT
I saw a comment at the beginning where someone said people don't support Obama simply because he is black. I get so tired of people always turning things into a racial issue. If a white man doesn't make it to office, it's "because he's not qualified." If a black man doesn't make it, it's "because he's black????" That's messed up. I'm aware that there are people who have racial prejudices....but NOT EVERYTHING IS A RACIAL ISSUE!!!
Reply to this comment
by nevadarules April 13, 2007 1:57 PM EDT
Barack Obama is surging.

From http://www.solidpolitics.com

Barack Obama and Rudy Giuliani are in a dead-heat, according to a new Time poll, but Giuliani leads Hillary Clinton by 5 points and John McCain's up 2 points on the former First Lady.... On the Democratic side, John Edwards has moved into a statistical dead-heat for second place with Obama, who trails Hillary by 7 points...
Reply to this comment
by sarbaaz-2009 April 13, 2007 1:49 PM EDT
Sounds like Katie backs Hillary Clinton to me? Drive-by media has turned on a liberal candidate and solely because he's black and a threat to Queen Clinton.
Reply to this comment
by ceecee34 April 13, 2007 1:43 PM EDT
Wow. All someone has to do is make a charge and then it takes on a life of its own. For those who
believe Obama is a Muslim, there's apparently no possible way to disprove it. Shame on a "serious" journalist for fueling fear and non-fact based speculation.

Obama wrote a very candid memoir right out of law school, long before going into politics, and his religious upbringing is quite clear. No agenda.

He was raised by his non-religious mother. He grew up with no religious affiliation. In Indonesia he spent 2 years at a Muslim public school and 2 years at a Catholic school. It was 1st through 4th grades. Talk about making something out of nothing.

As an adult, again, long before going into politics, he became a Christian. He's been attending a Church for over 20 years. But people want to believe 2 years in a Muslim public school carries more weight than his 20+ years as a Christian. Come on, people.

This is fear-mongering at its worst.
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