Comments on: Obama, Being Called Muslim Is Not A Smear

The Nation: Candidate Has Not Pointed Out That False "Muslim Smear" Against Him Shouldn't Be Considered A Smear At All

[closethippy1]

I want to commend the Nation magazine for their thoughtful criticism of the presidential candidate they endorsed only a few weeks ago.
The Nation, by the way, is the oldest weekly in the US. They were also one of the only two US magazines that during World War 2 condemned the Holocaust.
Everybody else just didn''t care for that stuff at the time.
I''ve always said the Nation is one of the most honest magazines I''ve read and I hope people can appreciate that.

[irliberal]

"Obama being called muslim is not a smear."

Actually, it is. Not because they used the word "muslim", however.

Actually admitting that you''re part and parcel of any religion should cast serious doubt on your qualifications for any political office. I mean, really, how good can your judgement possibly be if you believe the world was created in 6 days, or that you''ll be rewarded with virgins when you die, or any other ridiculous nonsense with ZERO evidence? As an agnostic (atheism is a bit too far to the other side for my taste) I know that I am in the minority, and that''s ok. Once it was a majority belief that black people should be slaves or that the world was flat.

The simple truth is that we have no evidence whatsoever of what happens after death, and to base any life-altering decisions on any religious belief should be a serious detriment to ANY political campaign. I mean really - if you can seriously buy into these things, what kind of nutso things are you going to do when you enter office? Oh wait, we have GWBush as evidence of that. 8-)

Morality, kindness, compassion and tolerance are not the products of religion. They are the products of human society, for those that choose to follow such social standards. I fully respect and endorse your right to believe and live under whatever belief structure you want. However, when you''re asking to become my president, I need someone grounded in reality. Thank you.

[Solarrays247]

Morality, kindness, compassion and tolerance are not the products of religion. They are the products of human society, for those that choose to follow such social standards. I fully respect and endorse your right to believe and live under whatever belief structure you want. However, when you''re asking to become my president, I need someone grounded in reality. Thank you.


irliberal, and thank you for an intelligent post.

[b-easy63]

In a time when the media and the White house continually barrage us with images and stereotypes of Muslims as terrorists who show no mercy and even police profile them for links to violence; trying for the highest office in the land and being labeled a Muslim when one is not--is indeed a smear. And the nation knows this as well as the fear mongering Republicans and Hitleryites who hope their message of fear is swallowed hook, line and sinker.

[ramos937]

I am an American of Mexican descent. I am also a Catholic. I am proud to be both. Obama has no shame in being a muslim (but he is Christian and goes to a Christian church). Also there is no shame in having the name Husseim as a middle name. People know when people are trying to use ridicue as a weapon like when Bill Cunningham did when he called Obama by his full time.

[Marie Zarankevich]

It is a shame that so many of us in America are so judgmental and narrow minded. But I think that we are just very sheltered from the rest of the world, and not too aware of how it looks to others. We ARE acting like ignorant, spoiled children, here. We need to do better, and learn something from all this election experience. I think we can all handle that! We''re adults!

[dragonez-2009]

True courage is following your beliefs even when it hurts and is not convenient. this is a time when we all need to stand up for our rights. True freedom of religion in your personal religious beliefs. That a person is innocent until proven guilty. That everyone!!!! deserves a fair trial. That as Jefferson said, "It is better every guilty man go free than one innocent man be imprisoned" these fundamental guarantees that our country is based on are the best assets any democratic politician could have and none of them take them up and follow them through. Obama should decry the attacks for what they are? Blantant racial and religious slurs that are far beneath anyone who would call themselves a true American. But the rest of us should recognize these same things within ourselves and reject them out right. Start with something small. Next time you fill out a survey don''t list White or Black or Purple for your race, list; "human". Because that is what we are. We all live on the same planet and now a days even eat from the same food supply. Reality should be slapping us in the face, yet we let petty differences cloud out any possible good judgment. If you had died in 9/11 would you have wanted the legacy you will be remembered by to be "The outright disregard and dissolution of the constitutional rights our founding father fought so hard for.

I know I wouldn''t. I want my children and grandchildren to have more rights and freedoms not less.

[tama351]

And you also prove my point by assuming that I''m a Republican. What about Mrs. Clinton? She''s far more experienced. So, don''t get too cocky about Obama because he hasn''t clinched the nomination yet. Don''t count out Hillary just yet.

[tama351]

Uh...knucklehead, the only reason I know you''re white is because you just said so skyk. My point is that peoples races are not listed here on this message board!!! So pay attention to what you are reading. But thanks for making my point. And speaking of blind hate you''re so upset at people who don''t support your candidate you took a shot at taddles, WHO''S ON YOUR SIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol

[mcvet]

As the Neo Nazi''s and the Klan do the only thing they know how to do, spread hate and division, the Republican Party faces losing all hope of winning anything in any part of the country outside the Fascist South. Recent polling in the Midwest here shows total disgust at this attempt to smear Obama with what shouldn''t be an issue. In recent polls in Minn. the Republican Incombuent there is now falling behind and is trying as hard as he can as is the RNC, to distance himself from this creatures. There are still some very deep and bitter feelings in most of the country for the embarrassment served on this nation by the Klan. To see them, yet again, doing what was once run of the mill politics for them will most certainly add to the turn out against the Republican''s in most of the rest of the nation. Sieg Heil Bush!! Remember folks a vote for McCain is a vote for the Klan

[skyk-2009]

If people are unable to state their opinion about someone due to that persons ethnicity, wouldn''''t that be a racial prejudice in itself? Not to mention a violation of the 1st amendment. And perhaps there is a glitch on my computer, but I can''''t see the listing of the races of the people posting here. So when you assume someone who is against Obama is caucasian... YOU ARE A RACIST!


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Posted by tama351 at 02:02 PM : Mar 01, 2008
+ report abuse

I like most American''s really do not know what I am. I''m listed as White but I''m no different than most... I''m a Mutt! I''m also a native son of the south! This guy in Tenn is a Klan Member and the man who attacked Obama in Ohio, if not a member of the Klan is as close as anyone I''ve ever heard. This kind of thing makes me sick to my stomach. We have the WORST PRESIDENT in our History sitting in the White House. He got there the same way you people want to put McCain there. Do you honestly think the American People are going to fall for the same thing twice? Especially when they NOW know the LIES that has taken them to a war that never had to be. Now they can see the complete and total failure of the Republican Party? YOU think they are going to vote against this man and the change he will bring because of his MIDDLE NAME, which HE had no control over? LOL You need to walk around a little and talk to people. LOL