Katie Couric's Notebook: Obama's Background
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.
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.
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 86 CommentsBack to the real subject.
I don't believe it matters where Obama prayed in his youth, prays now or doesn't pray now, for that matter.
Experience matters a lot in public service. How much true experience does he have?
As for mistakes: who has not made them? If I had a penny for each I have made, I would be a millionaire.
Good night, Katherine Anne. I hope to speak to you again soon.
Eric
I wouldn't sweat the plaigarism issue. No one thinks that you write your own stuff or believe what you say -- I mean, it's TV for god's sake. The only people who do probably still believe in the tooth fairy.
Salve5
What is the motive for brining up Obama's religious preference? Aren't we supposed to be above considering such thing?
This stuff is too heady for you! Stick with issues like, "The care and feeding of goldfish."
I look forward to a piece on, "How to grow mushrooms."
Don't read anymore manuscripts unless you have personally vetted the source and content.
Unresearched information gets people in trouble. Ask Dan.
I watch your show every night - for laughs.
Arch Heller
Clinton/Obama in 2008!
1) Socialized health care. It has worked so well in other countries. Got cancer? Well just fill out this form and wait a few weeks while the government finds you a doctor of the government's choice. Maybe you can hold out. I should have a choice on which doctor can treat my body. See? I'm pro-choice here.
2) More assaults on the First Amendment and Second Amendment.
3) Increased taxes. It's always the answer. The American family can always do with less, its the government (pork spending and failed programs like social security) that will never do less. It's too much power to give up.
4) Social Security. A total disaster from day one. It is a shame that most Americans don't understand what a total waste of money this is. I should have a choice where I put my retirement money, not the government. Any mutual fund manager who mismanaged the mutual funds like Social Security has been would be in prison for life. I like the negative returns!
5) Many more reason's... too many to list here in this leftist forum.
It's going to be blissful!!!
Someone who's *only* been in a megachurch is far scarier than someone who's *ever* been in a mosque.
The fifth column hates Mohammad. And in the name of their hatred, is prepared to undo constitutional democracy.
We'll stop them, don't worry, but be sure: they're be a-tryin'.
Welcome to the fourth great awakening.
To: billyindc
I am more interested in a president who will uphold the law, The U.S. Constitution, and defend the American people. I could care less what his or her religion is. The problem I have with Mrs. Bill Clinton is that she could care less about the first two items I mentioned in the first sentence.
Not sure what you meant by mega-church people as scary? Kind of lost me on that one. Last time I checked, I haven't seen someone who attends a mega-church engage in brutal terroristic attacks. Please explain more, I await your rich wisdom.
I is so mad today because those people made you read somethings befores you even got to know what you was reading. And then they made you say that maybe that Obama was praying like a terrorist and everthing. And I knows that you was just probably busy yesterday getting you makeup on and practicing taking you%u2019s cute glasses off and on and just forgot to check the facts before you goes on and talks. So i don%u2019ts blame you too much because I knows you was probly thinking hows you wanted to looks real cute for that new dreamboat hunk you robbed from his momma and everthing. But yous did a good job covering ups how you feels about him trying to acts so tough and everything and yous probably did fools all the mens but we womens knowed what you was doing.
But I still on you side Katy because I knows how hard is in the mens world for to be compition with the mens and everthing.
But I gots to say if you wants to be able to corrects what you say youself you gots to quit worry so much about you makeup and practicing with them cute glasses.
Give it a break, Katie. Haven't you learned from Imus? People are TIRED of focusing on how we are different. We are simply tired of it, so give it up. Please, use your position to help UNITE America - if you want to stay on the air...
As as for any candidate's religious affiliation, isn't exactly you media types that make this an issue in the first place? The media gods coined "right-wing Christians" and conservative extremists and all the other 'catch phrases to popular today. Barrack Hussein Obama brings lots of baggage to the table which you gusy have mostly ignored. Keith Ellison wants to convert the rest of Congress and America to Islam. This is the Islamist's mission so why not ask him what he thinks?
What cheap, alarmist red journalism. CBS should be ashamed of the trash in this story. Did a producer write this story for you too, Ms. Kouric?
I will write to Sen. Obama's website (and I hop others will too) and alert them to this trash and I hope that CBS will be hearing from the Senators' campaign.
Katie, where did you pray?
I will now revert back to ABC for my evening news.
The most interesting item in your little piece on Sen. Obama was your reference to his mother being a Christian. The Chicago Sun-Times has reported that she was an atheist even in high school and I have seen numerous other references to his mother having been an atheist. Since Sen. Obama has identified his mother as a key formative influence, further information on her religious conversion might be more enlightening than the other items you mentioned.
Katie, you can surely find some useful comments made by the more independent responses to your notebook and you will see that most people detest reporting or opinion that converts truth into other things.
WAS THIS WRITTEN BY THE HILLARY CAMP????
RE:IMUS HAS DONE MUCH GOOD AND MADE AN ERROR
IN JUDGEMENT
THE TWO FAKE REV.s DID THEIR USUAL
THING AND CBS EXECS BENT OVER AGAIN
DUMP KATIE AND MAYBE YOUR RATINGS
WILL GO UP
OR DO YOU NEED HER TO GET HILLARY ELECTED....???
The absolute last thing we need in America, besides illegal aliens, is a muslim in a position of power.(yes, I realize Obama is not a muslim). We have way too many problems to deal with -terrorism, illegal alien invasion, a prez that cares more for the almightly dollar than he does for the country he leads and the CITIZENS he consistently ignores, people that are so damned PC they bend over backwards to kiss everyone's ***. For me and a whole lot of Americans, we just want our country back - where control of who enters is closely watched and the wishes of WE THE PEOPLE are heard and obeyed. Can it ever happen ???????????????????????????
WORTH READING
Is America ready for a vacuous amoeba to offer numbskull opinions about their fellow citizens? Not for much longer, I think. Should the Good Lord ever give me the power to be broadcast over our great country, I certainly wouldn't waste the opportunity on such shameful, divisive, and pointless ***.
Unless I am mistaken, your comment implies that Jihadism is synonymous with Islam. Wrong. Islam itself is a religion that preaches many of the same messages as Christianity and Judaism, and infact recognizes the historical validity of Christian prophets such as Moses. Jihadism is a radical movement within Islam that misconstrues the basic foundations of that faith. So, before you make broad, sweeping comments about one of the biggest world religions, I suggest you actually learn something and move beyond your blinding ignorance.
It is no wonder that people are leaving this broadcast in droves. Unfortuntely, Ms. Couric is way out of her league. She's a total embarassment to the network.
How soon until Les Moonves comes to his senses and finds a credible anchor that knows what the hell he/she know what they are talking about? Tomorrow isn't soon enough.
"Is America ready to elect a President who grew up praying in a Mosque. Barack Obama...."
She just repeated the message: Barack Obama is a Muslim. The only time the words: Islam, mosque, and radical madrassah are used in the news is when they report on terrorism. At least she did not call him a terrorist.
She then had the nerve to repeat, and help spread, a nasty rumor without telling the viewer that it's untrue (all she said was that Obama's people deny it). If I did not know about the rumor, I learned it now from Katie Couric.
This from the same woman who basically told Elizabeth Edwards: since you're dying, your husband should not run for President.
Ms. Couric: please, just read the news. Leave the political messaging to the campaigns.
A person is a person, regardless of his or her background, religion, blood type... we're all different... it's a matter of how a person is going to be able to perform. We need a humanitarian. This country needs truth. This country needs positive change.
Although this may not prove to be a consequential matter, I would feel a lot less secure having a president who needs to respond to a future 9/11-type attack on America if it is someone who has written that the most profound influence in his family came from a Muslim grandfather! Even though I'm not a Democrat, I would feel far more comfortable with a Dem candidate without this potentially conflicting influence!!
Hmmm, reading these comments from give-peace-a-chance libs is interesting. You claim to believe in free speech, as long as it's yours. You espouse tolerance as long as it is for your particular views and you claim to believe in open-minded consideration of other views with the exception of those you don't personally agree with. Gee, there is a word for folks like you oh yeah, "hypocrites".
Perhaps, and this is just a thought, is it time to rename the Democratic party because I don't know that there are any Dems left and only high-strung liberals. There is quite a difference after all.
Don't worry, be happy :o)
And where is the news coverage about their (Dems)economy-shattering. middle-class-back-breaking tax increases? WHy isn't the "MSM" covering those?
On a side note, I could care less how everyone else chooses to live their lives. I'm Muslim and that's my choice, and everyone else is entitled to their choices in equal fashion. I'm a Libertarian in that respect, most respects really, because I don't force my way of life on others, and all I ask is the same respect in return.
It is real interesting to watch the mudslinging staring already. I can tell you this: I am not looking forward to the next year and a half, because it's going to be non-stop and ugly. With all the money raised by so many candidates (almost none of whom are really worth a ***), it's going to be a very long election campaign. I think if the politicians would shut up for a while, maybe we could avert global warming by virtue of all their hot air staying contained!
I strayed from the original thread, but I'm operating on 5 hours sleep over 2 days, so it's expected.
What is a fools favorite flavor Koolaid?
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 86 Comments