Obama: Americans Shouldn't Turn on Each Other

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Domestic Issues

Asked about anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States, President Obama said at his press conference Friday that Americans "have to make sure that we don't start turning on each other."

"And I will do everything that I can as long as I'm president of the United States to remind the American people that we are one nation, under God," he continued. "And we may call that God different names, but we remain one nation. And, you know, as somebody who, you know, relies heavily on my Christian faith in my job, I understand, you know, the passions that religious faith can raise."

"But I'm also respectful that people of different faiths can practice their religion even if they don't subscribe to the exact same notions that I do, and that they are still good people and they are my neighbors and they are my friends and they are fighting alongside us in our battles," said Mr. Obama.

"And, you know, I want to make sure that this country retains that -- that sense of purpose," he added.

Concerns about anti-Islam sentiment have increased in recent weeks in part because of the debate over the planned Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero and the (possibly suspended) plans by fringe Florida Pastor Terry Jones' to burn copies of the Quran on September 11th.

President Barack Obama speaks at a news conference on Friday, Sept. 10, 2010.

Nearly one in five Americans erroneously believes that the President is Muslim, and just one in three say he is Christian.

In explaining the rise in anti-Muslim sentiment, Mr. Obama said, "You know, I think that at a time when the country is anxious generally and going through a tough time, then, you know, fears can surface -- suspicions, divisions can surface in a society. And so I think that plays a role in it."

He went on to laud former President George W. Bush for his comments about Islam after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"One of the things that I most admired about President Bush was, after 9/11, him being crystal clear about the fact that we were not at war with Islam," he said. "We were at war with terrorists and murderers who had perverted Islam, had stolen its banner to carry out their outrageous acts."

"And I was so proud of the country rallying around that idea, that notion: that we are not going to be divided by religion," he continued. "We're not going to be divided by ethnicity. We are all Americans. We stand together against those who would try to do us harm. And that's what we've done over the last nine years. And we should take great pride in that."

"And I think it is absolutely important now for the overwhelming majority of the American people to hang onto that thing that is best in us: a belief in religious tolerance; clarity about who our enemies are," the president added. "Our enemies are al Qaeda and their allies who are trying to kill us, but have been -- have killed more Muslims than just about anybody on Earth."

More from the press conference:

Obama: Economic Recovery 'Painfully Slow'
Obama: "Fair" to Say I Haven't Fostered Cooperation in Washington
Obama on Afghan Corruption and the Hunt for Osama Bin Laden
For Obama, Stimulus is a Four-Letter Word
Elizabeth Warren Gets (Vague) Support From Obama
With Key GOP Vote Secured, Obama Urges Senate to Pass Small Biz Bill
Austan Goolsbee Tapped As Top Economic Adviser
Obama on Quran Burning: You "Don't Play Games" with Troop Safety
Obama: It's Not Us Vs. Them -- "It's Just Us"
Obama: We've "Fallen Short" on Closing Gitmo

Brian Montopoli is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of his posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by AislynLass September 10, 2010 6:50 PM EDT: As an American, I am appalled by some of the hate-filled, ignorant comments I have read that ignore the fact that Muslim-Americans also died during 9/11 during that tragedy. One notable young Muslim-American man was an EMT and police cadet who was on his way to work and lost his life by trying to assist others. His remains were found in the rubble of the towers. His name is Salman Hamdani and his sacrifice is noted and honored by name in the Patriot Act. Google his name to find out about him. Why doesn't the news media focus on stories like this young man that show what being an American is all about, rather than the ignorant hatred of that so-called "Christian" pastor threatening to burn the Koran. I am a Catholic....how does someone like that demonstrate the character of Christ whose name we hold, with such hatred? More Muslim-Americans died in Towers than were on the planes. This hateful divisiveness is causing us to lose the very values that make us Americans. Retired Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton stated it very well when he said, "Freedom and tolerance form the bedrock values of our society. Continuing to embrace those values will win us allies the world over, allies who can share the burden of leadership. By contrast, abandoning those values will not only erode support from our allies, it will corrode the very society we're fighting to protect."

We have witnessed a horrific attack on a law-abiding man, whose children are Americans, going about his daily business as a cab driver, right there in Midtown Manhattan, just because he responded to what he thought was an casual inquiry from a passenger in his cab, that he is Muslim. This should horrify EVERY American that such hatred can occur in 2010 in America. The very values of religious freedom and tolerance that shape our society are being destroyed by the anti-Muslim hatred being directed at AMERICANS because of their religion.

How does it honor the sacrifice of Salman Hamdani, as well as ALL the Americans who perished on Sept. 11, for the backlash against the proposed house of worship whose purpose is to promote interfaith bridges and include prayer rooms for ALL faiths, because the form of the house of worship happens to be a mosque, as opposed to a synagogue or church?

It is during these times that we demonstrate if we hold fast to the beliefs and values expressed in our Constitution and as Americans, or do we ourselves destroy those very same values that we say we uphold. If we ourselves destroy the values and freedoms that make us Americans, then we do the work of the enemy whose purpose it is to destroy America.; Reply to this comment


by archemeedees September 10, 2010 6:04 PM EDT: What an idiot. He turns on anyone who disagrees with him on a regular basis. He has to be the most divisive President I've ever seen.; Reply to this comment


by Samwinters September 10, 2010 5:28 PM EDT: Islam is the most violent religion in the World today. In 2001 they destroyed the Historical 2000 years old statue of
Buddha, in Afghanistan, and the whole Muslim world celebrated. Muslims celebrate hate. Their unholy book
Is the most violent book ever written. I have read it at least ten times.; Reply to this comment


by mrjustice1 September 10, 2010 5:26 PM EDT: OBAMA'S WEAKNESS AND APPEASEMENT POLICIES
ENCOURAGES ANTI-WESTERN ACTS BY FASCISTS

Obama set up the stage for a huge amount of further conflict by his failure to take appropriate active measures against terrorist nations', and murderous terrorist organizations' IDEOLOGIES - particularly Iran, Hamas, Hezbolla, Islamic Jihad, etc.

By Obama's appeasement of Islamic encroachment, various Moslem extremists now EXPECT more concessions by the West, thereby weakening any resistance to imposition of Islamic Law - inch by inch and country after country!; Reply to this comment


by Samwinters September 10, 2010 5:18 PM EDT: The way President Obama advocated rights of Muslim to build the mosque near Ground Zero, it proved beyond doubt
He is a closet Muslim. Very passionately he protected the constitutional right of Muslim. What about same
Constitutional right Pastor Terry Jones of Florida have Mr. President? The freedom of speech. These violent Muslims
burn countless copies of Bible, they burn American Flags, and there is no outrage from Media or any political leader.
Since when we Americans have become so coward that to exercise my constitutional right, I have be scared from
a bunch of thugs like Al Quaida and other violent Muslims?; Reply to this comment


by dadirt September 10, 2010 4:35 PM EDT: The country must unite and stand up for the hardworking people and businesses that make this country great. Government doesn't do that for us. If Barack understood that, most of our problems would go away. Politians on both sides are out to keep their jobs, not out for the country and what is best for it. The dems have gone far astray and have been selling us out for 6 years now. Repulicans do the same, but are less obvious. All politians start working ot get re-elected once they are in office. Term limits and no multiple terms, no high dollar retirements and healthcare, no big salaries. Jus go there to represent the people of their states and districts and get out in 4 or 6 years. Take the big bucks out of politics and put normal people in the roles of lawmakers. There will always be political corruption, but maybe we can get joe public in office instead of multi-millionairs and 20, 40 and 60 year senators and reps out of office. Out with the old, corrupt and in with people who serve because they want to do good! Just a pipe dream!; Reply to this comment


by thy-one-king September 10, 2010 4:24 PM EDT: Obama: Americans Shouldn't Turn on Each Other

Obama has no room to talk.
He has turned against the American people.; Reply to this comment


by Ithiaca September 10, 2010 4:14 PM EDT: None are blind, save those who wish not to see! Folks we stand on a cliff's edge we can step away from this edge if we wish or we can fall over the cliff. I know which way I want to go, and that is to step away from the edge to look at the uncertainty that has been given to us and clasp a hand in friendship with my fellow man. I call upon us the American people to look beyond the color of someone's skin,what country they hail from, what their belief's are or what culture shaped them. We as Americans are better then what we have been portrayed as. Our Nation is feared by the Extremist because we can see the Peace that is inherent in each religious belief, when a Disaster has struck overseas ours is the First Nation to be in line with help and aid. We show these Extremist every day why it is they fear us, because we hold all the beliefs of the world with in our borders, we hold almost every culture in our borders and with the exception of a few isolated cases of violence or misunderstandings we get along with one another. I prefer PEACE, I prefer knowledge to the ignorance. Now you can sit their and scream against the evils of the world or you can get up and join us as we clasp the hands of our fellow human beings and step into the future.; Reply to this comment


by anOPINIONATEDsob September 10, 2010 4:10 PM EDT: This is nothing more than the agenda of the Bush republican divide and conquer strategy to return another Bush to the reigns of power and to further enslave the working class democrat. Listen to Fox radio and then tell me how the talk plays when put up against the Bush Bin Laden family business associations. Who do you think pays the freight for all that air time to denigrate the duly elected President of the United States? Funny how these same haters of Islam grounded the entire air traffic control system for 4 days to assist the enemy in fleeing to states with no extradition reciprocation with we the victims of premeditated mass murders. Believe the republican at your peril for he is the harbinger of pestilence and destruction. The republican will even kill his own kind to further his agends, just ask Charlie Crist in Florida. Put the republican back in power and the menu will becom Soylent Green and your it.; Reply to this comment


by Myopinion046 September 10, 2010 3:29 PM EDT: Americans shouldn't turn on each other. It's unfortunate that the extremists amongst us don't see it like that say like with liberals indoctrinating kids against the wishes of their parents and such like.; Reply to this comment