Obama a Muslim? Tales from the Campaign Trail

The issue of Barack Obama's religion flared up before the 2008 presidential election and seems likely to do so again in anticipation of the one in November 2012. This weblog entry keeps an eye on the discussion, in reverse chronological order:

Franklin Graham: Muslims see Obama's as a Muslim: In an exchange on MSNBC as reported by Newsmax, the Rev. Franklin Graham, asked whether he believes Barack Obama is a Christian, replied: "You have to ask that of President Obama."

Graham then noted that Obama has shown strong empathy toward Muslims, and that the president has an Islamic background. "Under Islamic law, under Shariah law, Islam sees him as a son of Islam, because his father was a Muslim, his grandfather was a Muslim, his great-grandfather was a Muslim. So under Islamic law, the Muslim world sees President Obama as a Muslim, as a son of Islam. That's just the way it works. That's the way they see him."

Asked whether he believes Obama is "categorically not a Muslim," Graham said, "I can't say categorically because Islam has gotten a free a pass under Obama." He also argued that Obama's Middle East policies help Islamists while hurting Christian minorities. (February 21, 2012) Feb. 27, 2012 update: Raymond Ibrahim assesses the validity of Graham's statement at "Obama: 'Son of Islam'?" and concludes that it is "absolutely right."

The Rev. Franklin Graham discusses Obama's religious affiliation.

Santorum press secretary accuses Obama of "radical Islamic policies": Alice Stewart appeared on an interview with MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell on Feb. 20 during which she criticized what she called Obama's "radical environmentalist policies." One time, however, she referred to "the radical Islamic policies the president has." The Huffington Post then explains:

Mitchell writes that Stewart quickly called her to clarify that she had misspoken. Stewart called only moments later—while the show was on the air—to say she regretted the slip of the tongue, and to please note that she had misspoken and did not realize until it was pointed out to her that she had used the word "Islamic" by mistake.

Comment: This brings to mind that Obama, speaking on television in September 2008, referred to "my Muslim faith." (February 20, 2012)

Santorum press secretary Alice Stewart explaining Obama's "radical Islamic policies."

Related Topics:  Muslims in the United States, US politics receive the latest by email: subscribe to daniel pipes' free mailing list This text may be reposted or forwarded so long as it is presented as an integral whole with complete information provided about its author, date, place of publication, and original URL.