Obama personally apologizes to Muslim women for treatment at rally

[Douglas Carpenter]

snip" Aref said Wednesday that Obama campaign volunteers had invited them to sit behind the podium during a Monday rally for the Illinois Senator at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. But she said they were told that women wearing hijabs, the traditional Muslim head scarves, couldn't sit behind the podium — and in front of TV cameras."

"Obama released a statement Thursday evening, confirming that he "reached out" to the two women.

"I spoke with Ms. Abdelfadeel, and expressed my deepest apologies for the incident that occurred with volunteers at the event in Detroit," he said. "The actions of these volunteers were unacceptable and in no way reflect any policy of my campaign. I take deepest offense to and will continue to fight against discrimination against people of any religious group or background. Our campaign is about bringing people together, and I'm grateful that Ms. Abdelfadeel accepted our apology and I hope Ms. Aref and any who were offended accept my apology as well. "

link:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-06-19-rally-apology_N.htm

[rpannier]

1. I take him at his word as to what happened

But, I can understand why people in the Muslim community (or any community this happens to) might not be so understanding.

These days it seems to be getting more common to keep out people who might be viewed in a negative light by members of the public and then later apologise and blame a volunteer or low level flunkie.

[Douglas Carpenter]

9. I don't believe Sen. Obama is a bigot. In fact, he will probably be the first American President

in history who has a background that would lead him to NOT have spontaneous attitudes toward Arab or Muslim people.

I can unfortunately imagine some lower level staffer or volunteer interpreting some vague guideline about insuring the people standing in back of Sen. Obama are reflecting "a diverse and positive image" to mean - no Arabs and No Muslims. Most sadly, that seems to be how some even "liberally minded people" define diverse and positive.

[rpannier]

15. I agree with you

I'm just pointing out how I could see someone in teh Muslim community not accepting the explanation.

on note: I agree with everything you wrote.

[SwampG8r]

2. as a christian....kind of...

i am not afraid of muslims
takes all kind of critters to make uncle sams fritters
i wish they would talk about the real scary stuff
instead of the daily create a monster
we have real issues to work out here and how my neighbor prays isnt one of them
our constitution has protected us from the southern baptists
muslims aint gonna dent it

[TexasObserver]

3. he did the right thing about this

Staffers make mistakes. The question is whether the candidate corrects them.

[global1]

4. Remember These Guys (pic).......

[SwampG8r]

5. why?

[woolldog]

6. I never understood what the big deal was about abercrombie-gate

[flor de jasmim]

7. I don't think it was A&F per se... but whoever sits in that spot gets a LOT of attention, so

people who want to make a statement of some kind get free publicity. It's possible that the volunteer who asked the women not to sit there was also afraid they were Republican plants -- who knows??

[The Doctor.]

8. Or...

Perhaps his campaign knew what would happen with a picture of women in headscarves behind him.

Seriously, the RW would go nuts over it. The talking heads would go into overdrive, and it would become an issue that ate up weeks in controversy. Even a fast, tactical response might not be sufficient to stifle it.

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. actually on a number of occasions - woman with the hijab have been photographed with him

so, I have to chalk this up to an intolerant or ignorant volunteer or lower level staffer volunteer

I'm glad Sen. Obama did the right thing and apologized:

"Campaign spokesman Bill Burton issued an apologetic statement. "This is of course not the policy of the campaign," he said. "It is offensive and counter to Obama's commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run. We sincerely apologize for the behavior of these volunteers."

Burton also circulated several photographs that prominently feature women in head scarves at previous Obama rallies."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/18/AR2008061803402.html

[The Doctor.]

11. No! Put it away! Quick!

Seriously, I'm sure that they don't have an exclusion policy of that nature, but I imagine the decision, right or wrong, was made with exactly that concern in mind.

There's still plenty of time, I'll bet if there's a pic out there, or one taken in the future, with people wearing ME garb surrounding or standing behind him in sufficient numbers, it'll be used against him.

One woman wearing a scarf? Not enough. A half-dozen standing behind him at the podium? That'll do it. If such a photo is out there and available and hasn't been used, then I owe you a dollar. ;)

[Douglas Carpenter]

16. on the other hand, there is no possible way of winning Michigan without a strong turn-out of Arab-

American and Muslim American voters. Without their votes in lopsided proportions, Michigan will be lost to the GOP.

[okieinpain]

12. damn, wish I could get in that picture..... n/t.

[barack the house]

13. In a way it's good this happened he reaffirmed his commitment to freedom of religion.

[Douglas Carpenter]

14. I agree