One thing I don't understand about Obama supporters...

[niceypoo]

...why are they seemingly so ashamed of his muslim roots? Even the mention of his middle name, Hussein, which means, 'good,' or, 'handsome,' in Arabic, is considered a smear against Obama. If anyone says, "Barack Hussein Obama," which is his full name, it is some kind of a smear? I really don't get it; has the republicans islamo-phobia leaked into the Democratic party, and if so, does it belong here?

You would think they would want it vetted now, rather than waiting til the general when it will saturate the MSM.

[Catherine Vincent]

1. That's what I'm thinking.

Barack Hussein Obama. They better get used to it when he wins the nomination. That is his name and it's nothing to be ashamed of.

[niceypoo]

5. Yes, and any objections to same should be addressed by Obama himself

Because if he lets the media do it for him, we know where that will end up.

[bdamomma]

15. I am more ashamed of the name of the present occupant in the WH.

[BOSSHOG]

2. One?

I'd just like to know the origins of those huge chips on their shoulders which seemingly are there for no apparent reason.

For info purposes, I continue to be a General Clark supporter.

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. I continue to be an Edwards supporter.

[bdamomma]

19. me too, Edwards was given a bum deal by the media.

and whoever else was involved.

[ellacott]

3. That's a naive way of looking at it

It's been explained a number of times and is evident just by looking at the the Reps are doing with the lies that they do have.

[Why Syzygy]

4. Muslim roots? What Mulsim roots?

There are no Muslim roots. There are only freepers and freeper media mouths who claim this.
Where did you get the information?

[niceypoo]

7. This is exactly what Im talking about

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. You realize that Islam is a religion, not genetic. Right?

Just checking.

[niceypoo]

11. Well duh

Can you be a little more obvious?

[lumpy]

131. Look up the definition of 'roots'. It does not exclusively

refer to genetics.

[Why Syzygy]

14. The blank message? Cricketts chirping?

I asked you a a couple of questions. Where did you get your information? Provide it here or admit you are doing nothing other than promoting a freeper slur.

[durrrty libby]

62. Slur? How so?

[Mags]

12. Wasn't his father Muslim? I thought he was.

[ellacott]

20. His father converted to Chrisitianity when he moved to America

[MoonRiver]

22. Both biological and step fathers.

Nothing wrong with that!

[CyberPieHole]

34. EXACTLY!

His father was Muslim as was his step~father. He should embrace his family and not reject them.

[scheming daemons]

45. Muslim is not a "race"... its not in the DNA.... he's not a muslim because his father was one....

Religion is CHOSEN. He chose Christianity. That's all that really matters.

[CyberPieHole]

64. Who said Muslim is a "race"? I didn't write anything of the sort...

His father was a Muslim and he and his wife named their son with two Arabic names: Barack Hussein Obama. As far as I know there are no Apostles named Barack and Hussein. Obama may have chosen Christianity and he may choose to attend a separatist church, but those facts do not deny his past. He should embrace his past not run from it.

I'm Jewish by birth. I don't practice my religion, but it still is the religion my parents gave me. I may decide to practice another religion at a later date, but it won't change who I was as a child.

[tigervalentine]

126. He's a junior.

Daddy was Senior. The names were not picked out of a Muslim naming dictionary.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

58. I don't get it either

[kerry-is-my-prez]

69. Yes - his father was Muslim and that's how he got the muslim name...

n/t

[demokatgurrl]

74. His father was NOT a Muslim- do your homework!!!

He had a STEPFATHER who was born into a Muslim family. I don't even think he practiced the religion but Obama happened to go to a school in Asia where Muslim kids went to school. Not a religious school, just a freaking school.

[DemBones DemBones]

89. Obama has said his father and his grandfather were Muslims.

Maybe you need to do your homework?

[CyberPieHole]

13. Was he named after "The Apostle Hussein"?

Why are you bothered by the fact that Hussein is an Arabic name? Do you hate Muslims?

[Why Syzygy]

16. Why are you acting like George Bush?

A bunch of you love freeper tactics I see. No wonder people gripe about this forum.

[CyberPieHole]

18. I guess you do fear Muslims...

otherwise you wouldn't be bothered by the question.

[Name removed]

54. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[niceypoo]

23. This is a perfect example of what this thread is about

Bring up a legitimate question about Obamas roots, get smeared as 'Freepers.'

[CyberPieHole]

31. It's apparent they have trouble with the Arab name issue...

and I suppose we are to believe that issue won't come up if he is the nominee.

[scheming daemons]

48. Spreading an untruth is now a "legitimate question"?

I guess rumors of Hillary's lesbianism are "legitimate questions" too?


Is ANYTHING out of bounds with you?

[niceypoo]

113. "Spreading an untruth?"

Denial is fear based

[JackintheGreen]

25. His father was a Kenyan Muslim

lapsed

Just as my daughter has WASP roots, because her father is an Illinois Presbyterian...lapsed.

It's pretty common to attribute religion to some weird genetic passage through time, given that most parents inculcate their religion into their children. Just because the child doesn't accept it doesn't mean the "roots aren't there.

I'm an Obama supporter, I accept that he has "Muslim roots," and I understand that this doesn't mean much. Oh, and I'm not rabid. I was shaving!

[itcfish]

41. Wait!

Obama's religion is no one's concern, but his father was a Muslim and his mother an Atheist. Don't deny Obama's heritage because of your own bias.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lumpy]

132. Look up the definition of 'roots'. Muslim roots could

indicate his father's Muslim background and Obama's connection thereof.

[scheming daemons]

9. Obama is a baptized Christian... that's why.

It's lying about his religious beliefs in order to scare "main street" America.


There's nothing wrong with having muslim roots. Two problems however:

1. Obama doesn't HAVE muslim roots.

2. Most Americans are not as sophisticated in their thinking as we Democrats ;-) ... and they FEAR muslims.



One could turn this question around and say "Why should Hillary Clinton be ashamed about rumors concerning her sexuality? What's wrong with being a bi-sexual?"

The reason the question ITSELF is offensive is because it is based on a lie.

[CyberPieHole]

17. When was Obama baptized a Christian?

I haven't found that on the Google. Could you supply a link to his baptism record?

[ellacott]

24. Are you doubting it?

How many baptismal records do you find on google?

He said he's a Christian.

[scheming daemons]

42. Both he and his church say so..... I'll let you know when I find *MY* baptismal records online....

..

If a person and their church both state something, it has to be assumed as fact unless proven otherwise.

[Why Syzygy]

60. After this thread, I now feel it is my duty to inform all who will listen

that Hillary is a lesbian! Anyone who stays married to a cheater has to be. Right?

[durrrty libby]

68. And you denigrate lesbians why?

[Why Syzygy]

72. where's the denigration?

:shrug:

[Name removed]

86. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Why Syzygy]

87. Can you stay on topic? Your dizziness is showing. n/t

[CyberPieHole]

90. The topic is Obama's "Muslim roots"...

that's the topic at hand.

[Why Syzygy]

96. which has yet to be substantiated. He was never a muslim

so there can be no "roots". IF his step father was, that's not "roots".
NO MATTER what his name is, that's not "roots".
My name means "moon goddess". Are you going to bow down?

You veered OT a long time ago, so you can keep your Hillaryesque venom away from me.

[CyberPieHole]

101. Barack Hussein Obama. Muslim roots...

in a nut~shell. You can cry and scream and holler and yelp all you want, but the fact is that no one who is Christian names their child Barack Hussein. Both those names are Arabic. Embrace them for what they are and don't try to run from his heritage.

[Why Syzygy]

102. You are showing a gross amount of ignorance.

In your world Arabic = Muslim. What a pity you've never been outside your box.

[CyberPieHole]

104. Pot. Kettle. Black.

This from the poster who calls Hillary Clinton a "lesbian".

Hah!

[Why Syzygy]

108. I am so rubber...

that makes you GLUE!

[niceypoo]

119. And you are the type of person this thread addresses...

The ones who worm and squirm and deny and call people 'freeper' or 'lesbian' rather than deal with the fact that Obama has muslims in his heritage.

[Why Syzygy]

120. deal with the fact?

This is rather like the terra warnings, isn't it? I have zero problems with his name.
FREEPERS do!

Now, it's "in his heritage"? What happened to ROOTS?

[lumpy]

134. It is obvious some people here show predjudice towards

the Muslim religion. I believe Obama, who is a Christian, would not appreciate the religion of his forbearers being denigrated.

[niceypoo]

118. "roots" = family history

[lumpy]

133. Your ignorance is showing that you aren't aware of the

definition of the word roots. Got a dictionary? Omar most definately has Muslim roots. I am not a member of the Quaker Church, but I have Quaker roots. I have never lived in the South, but I have Southern roots. etc.

[Cant trust em]

10. It's more the context of why his muslim roots come up

than the fact that they actually exist. When someone brings up his middle name it is usually in the context of associating him with the former brutal dictator of Iraq. Similarly when my mother called me by my full name, Joshua Henry Low, I knew that she wasn't trying to piss me off by highlighting the family connection to my grandfather, but that I was in trouble for some reason. I didn't want her to use my middle name because I knew that I was probably going to get busted for something.

[niceypoo]

30. Obama needs to be open to discussion about this now...

...and not let the media run with it or his supporters freak out over it while he says nothing. He could easily quell any doubts now, otherwise it gets vetted during the general and we know what the republicans and media will do with it.

[Cant trust em]

53. Open to what discussion?

It's common knowledge that his Kenyan father married his mother and gave him muslim names. It's in his book, in his speeches, Jon Stewart mentioned it last night at the Oscars. The honest discussions are being had and will continue to be had. What is dishonest and only hurts him to have to keep addressing are the claims that he is a closet muslim who is bent on the destruction of America.

What we're really talking about is how these issues come up in certain contexts and who brings them up. Obviously we at DU know that his name and his muslim roots are totally innocuous. But when his political opponents bring these things up it isn't to show his multicultural upbringing in a positive light. They are using it to drudge up negative associations between him and radical Islam.

[niceypoo]

114. Obama needs to stop having the media bring stuff up, then issuing statements...

Reacting puts you on the defensive, he needs to go on the offensive, it really isn't that complicated.

[Cant trust em]

136. How many books should he write?

His story isn't hidden at this point. Rezko is an exception to that and he should completely disclose whatever he can.

[durrrty libby]

21. Apparently Obama and his supporters are ashamed of his heritage

:shrug:

[CyberPieHole]

28. I do believe they are.

They obviously don't know how to react to the facts of his heritage.

:hi: libby

[totodeinhere]

32. That is absolutely untrue.

One of Obama's great strengths his his diverse background. Obama is proud of his heritage and so are his supporters. It is his opponents who try to use that against him.

[niceypoo]

36. I dont think they are ashamed, per se

but I do believe they do not want to talk about it because it is controversial, in some peoples minds. I say, vet it now and get it out of the way before the MSN and Republicans have a field day with it this fall.

[lumpy]

135. Definiately he should clear the air somehow. It won't be easy

since there is so much prejudice against Muslims thanks to the Bush Wars. This thread proves that this will be used against Obama to pump up bigotry.

[BlackVelvet04]

43. If it's a strength then why is it a smear? make up your friggin' mind. n/t

[totodeinhere]

52. Some people try to turn it into a smear.

That's my whole point. Obama's heritage is a great strength, but in spite of that, a few (not all) Clinton supporters try to turn logic on it's head and appeal to bigotry and prejudice.

[BlackVelvet04]

65. I'm sorry you feel that way....

I, for one, am not trying to appeal to bigotry....I think the photo is no big deal and should be made light of. It's going to get worse if he's the nominee and you guys need to learn to take this a little more calmly or you're going to explode.

Obama has gotten in his fair share of licks......it's what politicians do and those who hate politicians do and Drudge hates Hillary.

[totodeinhere]

76. Remember, I said "a few, not all."

Most Clinton supporters like you are fine people who believe in their candidate for all the right reasons. But it only takes a few rogues to cause trouble.

[durrrty libby]

73. Once you sign up with the cult there is no "mind" to make up

It is all done for you:shrug:

[Forkboy]

33. That's ok, I ashamed I live in the same state as you.

Even by Masshole standards you make us look stupid.

[CyberPieHole]

39. You don't need anyone to make you "look stupid"...

you proved the point by your post.:hi:

[Forkboy]

49. Oh shut your cyberpiehole.

;)

[CyberPieHole]

70. Put a fork in it...

...boy.:eyes:

[Forkboy]

75. Wheee!

:rofl:

[CyberPieHole]

95. Q.E.D.

Proof is complete.:hi:

[Forkboy]

97. K.F.C. - All that's missing is U.

You're fun. :hi:

[durrrty libby]

50. Nah, you make yourself look stupid all on your own.

And I never said that I am living in MA. You always make F'd up assumptions

[Forkboy]

63. Don't plagiarize Cyperpiehole.

:rofl:

[durrrty libby]

77. Consensus of thought is not plagiarism. F'd up Boy.

[Forkboy]

79. Somebody needs to plant a sense of humor chip in your head.

And F'd up Boy? Did you get that from your playmates on the monkey bars at recess? I mean really, that's not even creative. I hate lazy insults. Work on that next time Gunga Din, and get back to me.

[CyberPieHole]

92. Not everyone is as easily amused as you are, F'dBoy...perhaps some fail to read "humor"...

...where humor does not exist. Strange, huh?

If you hate "lazy insults", it begs the question as to why you post them all the time? Please advise.:hi:

[Forkboy]

94. C'mon, I even made up a limerick for you, which you so poorly aped.

Shit, that alone beats anything from your keyboard.

[Why Syzygy]

55. Hillary and her supporters are ashamed that she's a lesbian!

Come out of the closet, Hill!

[durrrty libby]

78. link please

[totodeinhere]

112. I criticised what you said.

But on further reflection, perhaps you were just being sarcastic. I hope so.

[emilyg]

84. Seems so.

[meow mix]

128. wrong, were ashamed of so called liberals acting like bigots

[ProSense]

26. Why is Hillary's campaign trying to imply that he is linked to terrorists? n/t

[susankh4]

29. Where?

I must have missed that.

[ProSense]

38. Here:

link

[susankh4]

46. Looks like an awful lot of spin....

I can't make heads or tails of it.

[ProSense]

67. Yeah, especially: "Barack Obama's Willie Horton" and the fact that the information

came from Hillary's campaign. I especially like Phil Singer's quote.

[Why Syzygy]

66. Yeah. They owe her big time and all she needs

in access to the WH. She is a viper with a league of snakes following her.

Yes. I know not one civil Hillary supporter. They even disrupt parts of DU which are supposed to be safe from the likes of her minion's tactics.

[Why Syzygy]

57. It's to throw them off the Hillary is a lesbian track. n/t

[durrrty libby]

81. And why would anyone care is someone is a lesbian? What track?

Link please

[Why Syzygy]

83. haha that's pretty funny

asking for a link when I've asked OP twice for his reference material which was met by the sound of silence.

hahaa :rofl: link ..

Actually I heard it first here!

[Occam Bandage]

27. Not at all. We're proud of them. Which is why we're angry when people like Clinton attempt to use

them as smears.

[niceypoo]

44. Would you even see it as a smear if you were proud of it?

?

[Occam Bandage]

47. Pride is not blindness. One can be proud of one's skin color or orientation,

and at the same time recognize when others are attempting to use those as attacks.

[damntexdem]

35. Go back and watch the Jon Stewart monologue at the Oscars:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMMyGHLdwl4

The part about Gaydolf.

[Skidmore]

37. I don't think that people are ashamed of his parentage. What I am

ashamed of is that a Democratic Party candidate is seeking to piggyback a campaign onto the fearmongering and whispering campaigns of the Republicans and is using the same tactics you refer to. This is not vetting. It is hatemongering in all its ugliness, something that I thought the Democratic Party had stood against in my lifetime. Apparently, you have no problem with perpetuating lies and innuendos.

[democrattotheend]

40. Nobody's ashamed of it

But since he is not a Muslim and an overwhelming majority of Americans said they would not vote for a Muslim for president, it's important to put it to rest.

His middle name might have a nice meaning, but it's unfortunately the same as the last name of a dictator we took out, so it has pretty negative connotations in this country. So when I see it emphasized in such a way that seems designed to emphasize it, it feels like a smear.

[zulchzulu]

56. When Obama was born in 1961, King Hussein was very popular as a peace activist

I have no problem with Barack Obama having a father who has at one time a Muslim. he was agnostic at the time Barack was born. It's when his middle name is used as a "negative" that I have a problem with people actually thinking it's an issue.

[JackORoses]

59. you are goddamned ignorant if that is really what you think.

We are in no way ashamed of Obama's Muslim heritage.

We are, however, outraged that Hillary would stoop so low as to try to use it against him.

You, apparently, are just fine with supporting a bottom feeder for a candidate.
I am just glad you do not represent the majority.

[Political Heretic]

123. .

wrong place

[Orangepeel]

61. It is similar to when the right wing says that Clinton is a lesbian

It shouldn't be a smear. But when it is said in hushed tones to idiots who do think that it is a bad thing with the intention of using it to make them vote against her, it's a slimy thing to do. It would also impugn her honesty, because it implies that she is lying about who she is.

[durrrty libby]

82. Show me one Clinton supporter who cares if she is accused of being a lesbian.

[Name removed]

85. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Orangepeel]

88. votesomemore (below is correct)

but when search comes back on, I will see if I can find some of the outraged posts about McCain joking that Janet Reno was Chelsea's father.

[durrrty libby]

93. That's denigrating Janet Reno and Chelsea. That's ok with you?

:shrug:

[Orangepeel]

98. It's not okay with me. That's the point. But why is it denigrating?

Why is it denigrating to Chelsea in particular? Are you saying that Hillary supporters don't care if people imply that Hillary is a lesbian but do care if people imply that Chelsea's mother is a lesbian?

That's why it is the same as this photo. It isn't embarrassing to be a lesbian just like it's not embarrassing to be Muslim. But it is slimy to use it as a tool to capitalize on bigotry. It's particularly so when it isn't true because then the "accuser" is calling the person a liar, too.

And it is disingenuous for you to pretend that you don't get it. You don't seem like an idiot.

[durrrty libby]

99. It is not "slimy" to acknowledge Muslim roots. It is "slimy"

to pretend Janet Reno is the father of Chelsea, because there is no there there.

"And it is disingenuous for you to pretend that you don't get it", unless you are an idiot.

[Orangepeel]

100. It is slimy to use bigotry as a tool to win an election

It was slimy when Nixon did it and it is slimy no matter who is doing it now.

Of course, what is and what is not "slimy" is a judgment call. Obviously, different people have different standards.

[durrrty libby]

103. Well truth would be a good "standard" then one doesn't

have to rely on faulty or prejudicial judgment

That is the norm but The DU often likes to use BullShit as a "standard"

[Orangepeel]

106. Well, it isn't true that Obama is Muslim.

but even it it was, it would still be slimy to try to capitalize on bigotry toward Muslims as a campaign tactic.

In my opinion, of course. Your mileage seems to vary.

[durrrty libby]

107. No I go with truth. My mileage doesn't vary at all

[demokatgurrl]

71. Why the hell does it have to be "vetted"??/

I am NO Obama supporter but I just get furious when I see or hear anything that makes me think you have to be a Christian to get elected to office in this country.

If Obama happened to be a Muslim (which, by the way, seriously..... no one believes, do they???)
well then SO WHAT???????

[cooolandrew]

80. OK, yes no objection to anyones faith ourselves but like it or not there will be and we have to

...just make it clear who he is. They are trying to distor his character as disloyal to America. He has no objection to islam he has said so previously, but it is an untruth and has every right to correct that.

[DemBones DemBones]

91. They seem to think the media will continue praising Obama

if he gets the nomination. They will in fact go after him with everything they can and present McCain as the wise, experienced war hero. You know it, I know it, why don't they know it?

Denial.

[high density]

105. What you are describing could happen to any Democrat

I don't see why this is suddenly an Obama-specific problem.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

109. or this matter: Is Obama a Black nationalist that embraces the ideals of his church?

I don't know. He doesn't address the issue, and the media hasn't even expressed an interest in investigating it.

And that's the point... We don't know who the guy is.

The issue for me is not so much his affiliation with the groups and people outlined in this article,http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?status=a rticle&id=285292746454291&secid=1501 , but the fact that it is not even being addressed in the public discourse for the electorate to decide for themselves.

Romney's Mormonism was addressed ad-nauseum in the media, even to the point of questioning HIS racial tolerance due to the Church of Latter Day Saint's past racism to wards Blacks... Romney even gave his own JFK-type speech addressing his religion.

Even more important are Obama's positions in relation to Africa, particularly Kenya... Regardless of which side you feel is justified in the Kenyan situation, American voters deserve to know what interests a potential president may have in such foreign policy matters.



Unfortunately, as we've seen already in this thread, people are not even INTERESTED in scrutinizing such legitimate issues, and are eager to dismiss them as "hate mongering," when that is clearly not what this is about.

Look, JFK"S Catholicism was an issue...

if Romney's Mormonism was an issue...

If Huckabee's Evangelical platform was an issue...

If George Bush's conversion and dealings with Billy Graham was an issue...

Then Barack Obama should be subject to the same scrutiny as anyone else.



Fear of appearing "politically incorrect" or "racist"--- or FEAR of anything for that matter--- in reporting and investigating relevant issues is BAD JOURNALISM, and it is dangerous for the country.

I don't think Obama is a racist or a Muslim. I don't think his Afrocentric church is necessarily racist. I embrace Afrocentrism, and the right of the Black community to determine for itself the proper path to social, economic and political equality.

But I am only one person and my opinion doesn't hold for everyone.

The electorate needs to be informed, and Obama needs to be scrutinized in the public sphere just like everyone else.

Otherwise the media has failed the American people (which wouldn't be the first time), and we have not selected our presidential candidates on sound and informed terms.

[mmonk]

110. Obama is a Christian, so the question is quite suspect.

It's very very very Republican. You all can join them in the general election if Obama wins.

[Obamaman2008]

116. EXACTLY everyone knows he isn't a Muslim

[weezie1317]

111. There's nothing wrong with the photo; what's wrong is that HRC...

thought it was smear material.

[Skittles]

125. how do you know it was her?

how???

[AX10]

115. I don't see the big deal either.

These Obama people are too defensive of "messiah".

[Tom Rinaldo]

117. It has provided such a useful a club to batter Hillary with

There is a ton of fake outrage being used as an organizing tool to fire up people against Clinton; she whose staff is said to dare to mention Obama's middle name or notice a stock photo of Obama in the traditional garb of a nation he was visiting. Remember when Clinton was accused of noticing Obama was Black? It was all part of his campaign to point out how vile her campaing was, so he could better claim to have the "hopeful" campaign. If he acted like his muslim roots were no big deal to talk about - or even something positive to talk about, then he couldn't keep accusing the Clinton camp of fighting dirty regarding it.

Watch, if Obama clinches the nomination THEN he will stop considering any reference to his heritage a smear. Then he will speak proudly of it and explain to voters how he can be the President to help secure internatioal peace due to the good will shown him. But not before.

[AZBlue]

121. I've not seen anyone express this shame.

Do you have any links or quotes to back this up?

[CreekDog]

122. When Hillary's campaign goes out of their way to point out his name/background/race

I kind of doubt that they are just trying to give him the dignity he deserves.

[CyberPieHole]

130. I think Barack Hussein Obama is a wonderful name...

I don't understand why his supporters are uncomfortable with it.

[CreekDog]

138. You didn't respond to the point

Or do you not have a response?

[Political Heretic]

124. Not ashamed of his heritage. Ashamed of sleezy, scum campiagns that use heritage agains him

[meow mix]

127. "people" often invoke his multi-cultural background as a bigoted attack. like your doing now.

and gee your shocked to see us not happy about the way you twist something good, into something bad.

[The Anti-Bush]

129. I not ashamed of his roots

But the fact is the man is a christian. And if there wasn't the "terrorist" link being made there, I dont' think anyone would have a problem with his "roots"

[RememberWellstone]

137. Religion should not matter

I am more concerned with his lack of experience than his religion or having the same name as a former Iraqi President. I thought every thing was okey dokey with Iraq now? Rethugs will use this in the GE.

[ginantonic40]

139. Transparently disingenuous

When they(you) start referring to John Sidney McCain III and Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton and Michael Dale Huckabee then I'll start to believe they're (you) not using it as a synonym for xenophobic imprinting.