NewsMax's Ponte falsely claimed Obama's "thinking was shaped by childhood in a Muslim madrassah in Islamic Indonesia"
SUMMARY: In a NewsMax.com column, Lowell Ponte falsely asserted that Sen. Barack Obama could "become the first American president whose thinking was shaped by childhood in a Muslim madrassah in Islamic Indonesia." The claim that Obama was educated in a madrassa has been thoroughly debunked by several news organizations.
In a January 4 column on the conservative website NewsMax.com, Lowell Ponte, "a NewsMax pundit and Contributing Editor," stated that Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) victory "in lily-white Iowa speaks loudly to the world about America." Ponte elaborated by falsely claiming that "[t]his charismatic young candidate could -- Inshallah [Arabic for "God willing"] -- become the first American president whose thinking was shaped by childhood in a Muslim madrassah in Islamic Indonesia." In fact, as Media Matters for America has noted numerous times, the claim that Obama was educated in a madrassa -- which the conservative website InsightMag.com first reported, attributing the rumor to "sources close to [a] background check" allegedly "conducted by researchers connected to" Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) -- has been thoroughly debunked by several news organizations. For example, CNN reported on January 23, 2007: "Allegations that Sen. Barack Obama was educated in a radical Muslim school known as a 'madrassa' are not accurate, according to CNN reporting," citing a report by CNN correspondent John Vause, who visited the school in question. The Associated Press reported on January 24, 2007, that "[i]nterviews by The Associated Press at the elementary school in Jakarta found that it's a public and secular institution that has been open to students of all faiths since before the White House hopeful attended in the late 1960s." And ABC News reported on January 25, 2007, that the school was a "normal government public school without even a hint of the extremist elements reported by various conservative news outlets" and noted that the purported link to Clinton's campaign is "unproven and unsubstantiated."
As Media Matters has also noted, Vause reported during the January 22, 2007, edition of CNN's The Situation Room that he had visited "Barack Obama's elementary school in Jakarta" and stated that he's "been to madrassas in Pakistan, and this school is nothing like that."
From the January 23, 2007, CNN report:
[Vause] visited the Basuki school, which Obama attended from 1969 to 1971.
"This is a public school. We don't focus on religion," Hardi Priyono, deputy headmaster of the Basuki school, told Vause. "In our daily lives, we try to respect religion, but we don't give preferential treatment."
Vause reported he saw boys and girls dressed in neat school uniforms playing outside the school, while teachers were dressed in Western-style clothes.
"I came here to Barack Obama's elementary school in Jakarta looking for what some are calling an Islamic madrassa ... like the ones that teach hate and violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan," Vause said on the "Situation Room" Monday. "I've been to those madrassas in Pakistan ... this school is nothing like that."
Vause also interviewed one of Obama's Basuki classmates, Bandug Winadijanto, who claims that not a lot has changed at the school since the two men were pupils. Insight reported that Obama's political opponents believed the school promoted Wahhabism, a fundamentalist form of Islam, "and are seeking to prove it."
"It's not (an) Islamic school. It's general," Winadijanto said. "There is a lot of Christians, Buddhists, also Confucian. ... So that's a mixed school."
From Ponte's January 4 NewsMax.com column:
It seems that Americans do, indeed, want a change from the prospect of dynastic ping-pong, of being family-ruled alternately by Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton.
For Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, whose mother was born and raised nearby in Kansas, his victory in lily-white Iowa speaks loudly to the world about America.
This charismatic young candidate could -- Inshallah -- become the first American president whose thinking was shaped by childhood in a Muslim madrassah in Islamic Indonesia.
John Edwards' second place finish reminds us that Iowa's caucuses are not what most of us think of as free elections. In Iowa's Democratic caucuses voters must openly declare their choices in front of a group that can include friends, employers, co-workers, and union bosses.
The ridiculous right in this country is truly committed to destroying the reputation of the Democratic candidate that they are afraid of. Both Hillary and Barack are the targets of these obscene attacks, and the worst part is that the average viewer believes them.
The ridiculous right in this country is truly committed to destroying the reputation of the Democratic candidate that they are afraid of.
If telling the truth about Hussein Obama, to wit, his attendance at a madrassa when he was a wee Muslim lad is "destroying his reputation" ...then so be it.
I really don't think the country is ready for a "former" Muslim coke-head anyway.
The Swifties exposing what a lying fruad Kerry was helped spare the country from his idiocy
still not back at work, eh? And a lying fruad to boot, whatever that means.
A friend of mine just made a great analogy ... she pointed out that a lot of the right wingnuts who freak out thinking that there's even a possibility that Obama has had any Muslim instruction probably went to religious schools themselves and most certainly had other religious training. But they were the *correct* religions, Catholic, Baptist, etc, not that scary terrorist Muslim religion !
What a bunch of freaking intolerant hypocrites those wingnut Christians are.
You might have something there. When I was a kid, went to see "The Sound of Music" with some Catholic friends of ours. The dad commented afterwards with a laugh, that when the Mother Superior began intoning the song "Climb Every Mountain" he was incredulous. No Mother Superior, or nun for that matter, that he had ever met, could ever burst into song. ;-)
I think things have changed since the old days as depicted humerously in The Blues Brothers movie...
Mr. Stranger: Either you are unable or unwilling to comprehend current events. If you are unable, you have my sympathies. If you are unwilling, then you are a failed American.
Someone actually called a sports-talk show today (topic - BCS Championship) and mentioned this.
The lies trickle down to Joe Sports Fan and become "fact". It's disgusting.
I heard a sports talk show host in my town congratulate Obama because, and I will paraphrase, "it looks like he will keep the nuclear football out of the hands of someone who can have a few bad days a month." If you know what I mean by a few bad days. This is the type of intellect Democrats are going up against.
I agree. And not to get too technical, at 60 years old, I think Hillary is past the "bad days of the month"
Wow, that sexist statement would be engaging in hyperbole. I'm sure AA will be here condemning it any second now...
The smear has begun! It will be interesting sitting back and watching how this all plays out once Obama becomes the nominee. The Right has to regroup now since their goal was to fight and destroy Hillary Clinton. But you better bet your ass that once Obama becomes the nominee, all we're going to hear through our pathetic, incompetent media is how quasi-Marxist, black separatist church and how he's secretly a radical Muslim.
You thought smearing John Kerry was awful? Ha! We haven't seen NUTHIN' yet.
Preston,
I don't think the Obama onslaught is going to be nearly as widestream, or mainstream, as some do. Sure, there will be the rightwing outfits like Newsmax planting seeds of doubt regarding Obama as subtly as they can figure, but they are far from representative of the mainstream media and their much more "tread lightly" approach.
And even if the rightwingers go to far, it will only backfire against them, in my view. One of Obama's skills is that he transcends these jabs and rises above them - he won't dignify their irrelevancy and knows how to disarm those that play that game. He ain't no John Kerry, in many ways.
Let's hope Obama and his opponent will make this about issues, vision, direction, policy and the future - and leave this extraneous silliness to the desperate fringe operators.
I don't think the Obama onslaught is going to be nearly as widestream, or mainstream, as some do.
You're incredibly naïve then. It doesn't matter who the Democratic candidate is, the onslaught from the Regressive party will be relentless.
Tommy,
You do make a good point. One of the reasons why I'm afraid to jump on the Obama wagon because I just don't know how he'll hold up against the Republican attacks. Sure, most of the attacks thrown to him by Hillary Clinton bounced right back and made her look desperate and silly. However, the Republicans are a whole new brand of opponents. The Clintons may be ruthless, but they have nothing on the Republicans when it comes to manipulating the public through shrewd media tactics at painting their opponents as "anti-American," "weak," "too radical," "incompetent," etc. I think to give them the benefit of the doubt would be a huge mistake -- they're masters at using attack machine politics. And you have to understand that some little stories such as this have the ability to catch on and becoming larger than life. Sean Hannity was the first to start the whole "Obama supports a black separatist church" story, and weeks later Paula Zahn at CNN reported the same garbage without any fact checking to dispute such nonsense. The Republicans have a good sense on how the media is operated than Democrats.
I hope that whatever they throw at Obama will bounce off of him since he does handle attacks with wit and grace. It will be interesting to watch what both camps have in store in the coming months.
Pres,
The reason Kerry was blindsided was because he didn't respond quick enough, he looked desperate and people weren't sure about him.
Obama should meet each of these silly attacks on his religion and his childhood, or whatever, with, you say, wit and grace immediately. Disarm those doing the petty shots and expose them for what they are - divisive and childish and only out to destroy. He is capable of doing it, he has shown it very well.
I have far more confidence in him.
I agree Tommy. Here's a couple examples of how to do just that!
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/06/liberals-this-is-how-you-roll-when-on-foxnews/
http://rawstory.com/rawreplay/?p=425
The second one is my fave by far!
Snoopy, thanks, I like the Hannity video too. Good thing our military isn't made up of p*ssies like Hannity, he really "cut & ran" from a bunch of unarmed Libertarians. Har!! whatta little girl.
Hmmm, What gives? I followed the link and was told the Hannity video is no longer available.
But Sekof, get 'em dog.
hasn't tommy said the way to deal with false attacks is to ignore them and not give them any publicity? and they go away?
Thats my take, though I don't know that he's used it recently. That mindset, and i've used it, has some responsiblity for our media and political leadership from about 30 years ago to today. From the results, they haven't gone away and speak louder and louder with every day.
One of the reasons I like this place quite a lot is the satisfaction of throwing the bullsh*t flag on this humanoid parasites.
i personally have had at least two arguments with him over that exact issue within the last three months or so. now he's trying to say stuff like kerry didn't respond quick enough. before he argued that responding would be furthering the story, so ignore it.
So I guess you've had some sort of epiphany between now and when you used to rabidly attack Obama and his church as "separatist" and "divisive"?
[link to mediamatters.org]
[link to mediamatters.org]
Wow, reading those old comments from Tommy and reading his comments today is like reading two different people. I'm shocked that someone as smart as Tommy would buy into Sean Hannity's propaganda so easily. Perhaps Tommy's views on race have progressed over time. One can only hope.
I'd like to think that he took my advice from late in that first thread, but his current stance on Obama reads like Stephen Hayes, who boasts about his admiration for Obama's strength and intelligence, only to issue stern warnings whenever he feels that Obama is leaning too far left.
Of course we don't know Tommy's motivation, but it seems as though a lot of conservatives are expressing admiration (a lot of it backhanded: see Bill Bennett) for Obama these days. William Kristol at least made his motivation explicit: Obama's the best way to banish the wicked witch Hillary.
And Tommy's 180 on Obama doesn't necessarily indicate a 180 on issues of race. He's now praising Obama instead of attacking him, but has he just found a more acceptable way to say, "Race doesn't matter"?
That's very true about conservatives being star-struck over Obama. Andrew Sullivan, Glenn Beck, David Brooks, George Will, etc., are others who have praised him tremendously. That's another reason why I'm skeptical of Obama: sure, as a black man he can't come off angry like Edwards because he has more to lose, hence, he moves more to the Right than both Clinton and Edwards with his policies, and gives speeches to make us all feel good as Americans and forget about the problems that my disappoint us when confronted. But I think what conservatives find appealing about Obama is his whole "I'm above the usual politics" tactic, which also avoids discussing racial injustice. He doesn't frighten them because by not presenting a platform that threatens the status quo – unlike Edwards whose populism is race and class based – they find comfort that he may be an accommodationist, a la Booker T. Washington. Angela Davis noted that, “Obama is being consumed as the embodiment of color blindness... It's the notion that we have moved beyond racism by not taking race into account. That's what makes him conceivable as a presidential candidate. He's become the model of diversity in this period...a model of diversity as the difference that makes no difference. The change that brings no change.”
This is why I have mix feelings over Obama. On the one hand, as a black man, I'm happy to see that there's a possibility of another black man becoming the first POTUS. On the other hand, at what cost? Surely he's not bringing independents, Democrats and Republicans together because of a strong progressive platform that's tantalizing. Obama's record and his overall presidential campaign been overly cautious to the point where it's hard to decide who he is and what he stands for. And when we do get an answer, it's often vague and ambiguous. As Katha Pollitt noted, "Obama, the black candidate who never mentions his race, gets to smile his mile-wide smile and be a rock star. Somehow he has made himself a great big humongous hope object. People can project on him what they want him to be."
I think it's the whole idea of Barack Obama becoming President that racism has finally been defeated in America is what galvanizes many conservatives to rejoice and ultimately support him. How can the greatest country in the world be racist when we have a black president? Whatever problems faces blacks from then on out are completely the fault of their own, they'll say. This is what I find to be the most fascinating and dangerous aspect to the Obama campaign and overall presidency. America will seep deeper into denial when confronting the racial divide because the politics of symbolism will blind them in not seeing the stark reality that an Obama presidency whitewashes away.
I think Angela Davis has Tommy pegged. Thanks for that quote. That perfectly sums up my suspicions about the conservative crush on Obama.
Excellent Preston, well put.
Preston,
To say that Obama winning the Presidency whitewashes racism and sink American into deeper denial is the exact opposite of what would happen.
I appreciate your sincerity. However it seems to me you have embraced a 'victim' mentality about race relations in America. It looks like to me you are saying even when you win, you lose.
I'm not saying there is no racism in America but having Obama as a President will further erode those false stereotypes that serve as the pillars of bigotry.
Preston,
If you care to check back on the Hannity on Obama's pastor thread from Dec 20th, you will see where I admitted I have had a change of heart regarding Obama and his church. Whether you believe it's sincere or not is irrelevant to me, and your opinion.
As for this whole "color blindness" attraction that some feel towards Obama, well, I cannot speak for anyone else, but for me I have never said we should aspire to a color blind society. I am not that naive nor condescending towards anyone.
What attracts me to Obama is his inclusiveness and his desire to bring people together of all political persuasions to begin to heal the divisiveness in politics and in the country today - his race has nothing to do with it, for me. However, for some, keeping racism alive and people divided along racial lines is vital to their own victim status, sadly.
What is incredibly telling is that when a conservative criticizes Obama they are accused of being a racist - then when they admire Obama, it's disingenuous and the motivation is insincere. Once again, you and others are entitled to your opinion.
So you are more than welcome to ascribe any motives you'd care to with respect to me and why I find Obama attractive. If you believe there is some nefarious reason behind that, I have no interest in changing your mind any further.
"What is incredibly telling is that when a conservative criticizes Obama they are accused of being a racist - then when they admire Obama, it's disingenuous and the motivation is insincere."
No, when a conservative says something racist about Obama they are accused of being a racist. And when a conservative does a complete 180 or openly expresses ulterior motives (like Kristol), then they are accused of being insincere. I'd like to see you cite examples of conservatives being called racists for simply being critical of Obama in a non-racial context.
You just said a "conservative crush", implying insincere motives from conservatives......but the real rub is that Obama doesn't allow you to wallow in your pathetic victimhood, so you look to others to rationalize your own discomfort with his wide appeal, that's what this is really about, isn't it?
Of course it is. I have no interest in anything further from you, have a nice day.
I said "conservative crush" after I cited specific conservatives and gave specific examples. If you would like to argue for the sincerety of Kristol or Bennett or Hayes then let's hear it.
I don't know what you're implying about my alleged "pathetic victimhood." You make that accusation so often that it's now a meaningless catchphrase. But it's interesting that you would make blind assumptions about my feelings about Obama, while at the same time you take offense at having your own motivations questions. Hypocritical as ever.
And incidentally, here's the link to the other Hannity thread where you mentioned your "change of heart." I notice that you never addressed my question about your hedging. You said you had "somewhat softened" your opinion about the church, but then you allowed that Hannity may still be correct in saying that it's segregationist.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200712200007?f=s_search
Tommy,
Recent history has shown that fringe operators can have very deep pockets, deep enough to get anyone to sign a sworn affidavit and deep enough to buy commercial air time on national television.
There isn't a politician in recent memory, for me, that I feel has the stamina and the grace to handle deep pocket slimers like Obama has........he has a "Robert Kennedy-esque-ness" about him that is very appealing, and very disarming.
i thought the way to handle slimers was to just ignore what they say, because you only give life to an allegation by addressing it? you haven't said that many times on here? you haven't claimed that's what this site does by confronting false statements? give legs to the allegations, which would otherwise go away?
TOMMY:
Your "reasonable" stance today doesn't mean you did not celebrate the "Swift Boat" success in helping bring down Kerry's candidacy, does it?
I mean, you were very much FOR GW Bush taking the Presidency, and very much AGAINST "Liberal" John Kerry becoming President ... weren't you?
And whatever negative impact the "Swift Boat" attacks had on Kerry, that was a GOOD thing, wasn't it, from your point of view, and desire for Bush to WIN? Wasn't it?
Or are you now separated somehow from that history? Have you been "born again"?
Tex,
With all the liberals lauding your posts, you still can't get the facts straight. I have said many times on these boards that I voted for John Kerry in 2004 because I didn't feel Bush deserved a second term.
So your accusation of "celebrating" the Swiftboaters is ridiculous. I was not a Kerry fan by any means, he was a pathetic candidate but the only viable alternative at that time.
You keep missing it, but keep trying.
you also said many times that it was no one's business who you voted for, including mine. it was only lately, as far as i saw, that you claimed it was kerry.
The Dems should POUNCE on commentary like this, heavily, and at every chance they get. EVEN IF Obama was raised as a Muslim until he was 21, WHAT'S YOUR POINT, GUYS? Are you "just saying?" Just wanna let us know, in case, you know, without talking about it, we would all change our minds and think that this guy, whom I believe holds the most liberal voting record in the Senate amongst the 3 lead Dem candidates, is really a radical muslim terrorist sympathizer?
Maybe he should just tell them he was "born again."
This is so disgusting, this will be the 2008 version of the Swift Boat crap. Does anyone besides radical partisan cons take Newsmax seriously?
The morons at NewsMax are using that old Nazi ploy - tell a lie often enough, and people will think it's true.
Isn't it just a variation, of "Everything important, I learned in Kindergarten?":-)
I wouldn't worry about it. I seriously doubt anybody who reads Newsmax columns is voting for Obama anyway.
At this point, my guess is he will be our next President.. unless he says something stupid or the Clinton machine brings him down. The press is going ga-ga over him and he is mobilizing the young. I wouldn't be surprised if it is a lanslide.
Isn't it just a variation, of "Everything important, I learned in Kindergarten?":-)
Yes - it's called "Everything stupid, I read on NewsMax." :-)
Another vote from the just ignore it camp. Great. That's super.
You have a point, though. Most people who read Newsmax won't consider voting for Obama. Those Newsmax consumers live in our world however, and they interact the rest of us and they spread those smears like a deadly virus.
So delude yourself all you like, but this stuff matters.
I read a post at another site today that said Muslims threatened to attack the USA from within & suggested that Obama is their Muslim plant.
So articles like the one in NewsMax are obviously resonating with some folks out there. Personally I doubt this would cost Obama enough votes to keep him from getting the nomination or the White House, but these kind of claims still need to be addressed & debunked every time they surface.
jeter, you seriously need to visit better sites out there on the internets ;-)
Stick with media matters...
I was forwarded an e-mail making similar claims this morning. It looks like the right is ready to hit the ground running with this false claim.
Layman,
Just curious... How do you know your email came from the right?
That's the side of the screen where new mail comes in when you're using Windows Vista =->
And if an e-mail is poorly written and full of lies, it's from the right.
So if it is well written it's from the left?
;-)
Yes, and also intelligently written. There will be a significant absence of "Ugh" in the verbage.
Yes, and also intelligently written. There will be a significant absence of "Ugh" in the verbage.
And none of the sentences start with the word "Duh". :-)
gufffaw gufffaw, snort.
point in case.
At this point, my guess is he will be our next President.. unless he says something stupid or the Clinton machine brings him down....AA
===================================================
As usual, nice clumsy attempt to smear a Democrat, AA ... gotta give you a 10.0 for effort.. :)
Of course the Clinton people have made their attacks ... but most of the crap being flung at Obama lately is coming from the right-wing smear machine.
How many more times are we going to have to hear this debunked madrassa story???
SGDave,
Thanks. The only time I read about it is here.
Unfortunately there are fringe groups who will bring it up, but anyone can see that Obama is patriotic even if he refused to wear an American Flag lapel pin. ;-)
The American Flag lapel pin is false patriotism, just like every one of AA's posts.
Absolutely, Easy. I am not i mpressed by people who wear that flag pin while crapping on everything the flag stands for.
The American Flag lapel pin is false patriotism, just like every one of AA's posts.
And as Samuel Johnson once said, "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel".
You know, I could be wrong, but I think the ;-) at the end of AA's post means he was joking...
LOL..well, let me help you out a bit, AA ... the fact that you're reading about it here means it's appeared somewhere else. It's been debunked over and over...but that doesn't keep the right-wing noise machine from recycling it... :)
Don't worry; Rush Limbaugh and his acolytes have a warehouse full of lies which will work on any Democrat. They're ready for whatever candidate we put out there. The key is for the candidate to respond to these lies quickly and forcefully. Gore and Kerry tried to stay above the bullsh*t, and look where it got them.
Actually, the Ponte article is the edited version. I got hold of the original, which was modified after Newsmax readers reported going through 3 times as many star-spangled Depends after reading it.
"For (French and Redskin-named state)Illinois Sen. Barack Hussein Obama, whose mother of all wars was born and raised, possibly as a radical Muslim, nearby in Kansas, home of gay idol Dorothy, his victory( or Jihad) in (or against) lily-white(American) Iowa speaks loudly, like a screaming terrorist, to the (America-envying)world about America, telling them that we appease radical Muslim terrorists.
This charismatic, or fanatic, young candidate could — Inshallah — become the first so-called "American" president whose thinking was shaped by childhood in a Muslim madrassah in Islamic Indonesia, which is where he had the idea strapped to his belt to kill all of us real Americans."
while you were reading this version, did the word "rat" keep flashing on the screen?
Not the word "rat", Mary, but images of little rats wearing little turbans, riding on donkeys with rainbow flags flying off of their saddles. It was pretty subtle.
Well if didn't involve newsmax, I'd say you'd been a smokin' something ;-)
Nerzog,
You give the right wing media too much credit.
Any attack on Obama based on his race or his father's religion will backfire like it already has been demonstrated.
If Obama is nominated, (and at this point I think he will,) the election will hinge on his ability to debate whomever the Republicans nominate.
At this point my guess is he'll win in a walk.
Unless you're expecting republicans to stay home in disgust or to vote democratic I'd say your landslide has less chance than a fish in a blender.
Obama debating the GOP candidate?
What if it's Romney, the human chameleon?
Romney will show up in blackface, claiming HE was indeed educated in a madrassas.
Whatever Romney perceives the voters are buying, that's what he becomes. He can do liberal, he can do rock-ribbed conservative, he can do Bush-supporter, he can do experienced, he can do "change" ... he'd surely try doing "black". It all depends on what he thinks the voters WANT. He's ... versatile!
Don't forget androgenous!
Not much different than Chris Matthews last week saying "muslim" "Hussein" Obama, thanfully he didn't confuse him with Osama like Romney, will send a message to the world about America.
Or Bob Kerry mentioning "Hussein" Obama & Muslim?
“It’s probably not something that appeals to him, but I like the fact that his name is Barack Hussein Obama, and that his father was a Muslim"
Or Ted Kennedy referring to Obama as Osama?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APx2YJ-_jos
Just an innocent oversight that you forget them I'm sure...[sarcasm off]
How many times does Kerry need to apologize before you accept it?
He's apologized at least one more time than Matthews or anybody from the far right wing of American politics. I'm other words these people will unapologetically lie and distort.
Also, you seem to make no distinction between politicians and the media.
Certainly you realize they fill different roles and functions in this society, right?
So, you give Kerrey a pass because he's a politician, or is just because he's a Democratic politician?
Kerrey, as do ALL politicians, don't shoot from the hip when they make public endorsements, his apology meant nothing, he knew exactly what he did, and the seed was already planted - frankly, I could care less who endorses whom......but your slamming anyone from the "far right", as you call everybody who isn't aligned with you, and excusing any Democrat, is so blindly partisan, it can't be taken seriously.
I don't give Kerry a pass.
The Obama camp seems ok with his apology.
When Matthews and the far right issues their apologies and stop their unapologetic lies and distortions I'm sure the Obama camp will be ok with that too.
Johnny One Note,
I don't think Kerrey or Matthews needed to apologize for stating facts. Though I might question Kerry's motives because he's a Clinton supporter. But it's your usual M.O. to leave out a Democrat & blast anyone else.
And both Kennedy & Romney botched Obama's name, yet you failed to mention Kennedy. Another innocent oversight? Not bloody likely.
And I notice you didn't have anything to say about Kennedy even when I reminded you. Ah just so typical...
I'm not "one note", you're just tone deaf.
I didn't castigate Romney, I was amazed Matthews missed "Osama" when he mentioned "muslim" "Hussein" Obama.
Matthews ought to find a new line of work since his big prediction before Iowa was headlines around the world would be celebrating "muslim" "Hussein" Obama's victory if he did indeed win.
I didn't see a headline mentioning either did you?
I think what amazes me the most is that those who represent the Neo Clowns, the republican party and the so called bunch of family values and faith crowd have TO LIE ALL THE TIME!
What is the deal with that?
Is that what they mean by family values? LYING ABOUT EVERYTHING?
Is that what they mean about Faith? LYING ABOUT EVERYTHING?
I have always wondered why they lie all the time and then turn around and claim to be the party of values.
Neo-clowns won't cave in no matter who the nominee is but the power of the people is what fuels Obama. I think after 8 disastrous years enough people will drown out the racist clowns. It will still need to be fought though, ugly lie, by ugly lie.
Since the Gore and Kerry "stay above the fray" tactic didn't work against mis-information, what is the best way to respond to the gazillion accusations that he was indoctrinated with radical jihad ideology in indonesia? Is there a better tactic than just constantly denying it? In other words, I'm wondering if repeating the truth over and over is as effective in the minds of the public as the NewsCorp tactic of repeating a lie so often that people believe it is true?
When you really don't have a plan of attack~ignorance is usually the weapon of choice.
There are people who are going to keep believing that Barack is Muslim. That is how they cope with his presence. They have to mull it over in their minds in that manner. It seems to be comforting to them.
In my opinion, there is melting pot America and there is Multicultural America. The two do not operate off of the same mentality.
Multicultural America is that portion of the population that realizes that the world is not just made up of one race, one religion or one culture.
Then there is the melting pot. Everybody blends into the comfortable image~which is usually one race, one religion and one culture that is not open to others.
In black culture there has been exposure to Muslims for many years. I have friends who are Muslims. They are family orientated, they have a strong work ethic, they believe in habits that promote good health, they work within the community to uplift and make changes. The only difference is they are not Christians.
It seems that people have forgotten that Malcolm X returned from Mecca and wrote about how Islam had believers from all over the world. Not just black people. That exposure changed his views on Islam and how he decided to move as an individual. He stated publically that he was willing to work with anyone who could help turn the tide of the times.
I do not see this misconception going away. I read about Obama being Muslim on a lot of sites. Even when evidence is presented to the individual who points that out~it often does not change their minds. It seems to be easier for them to hold onto the misconception. To me, it is their fear finally surfacing. He is different and I have to keep that upfront in my thoughts. I am scared of different. It is an uncomfortable place for me. That is the message that comes across first. That prejudice that we all have from lack of real exposure. It can happen to anyone.
People who want to know the truth look for it. Those who are happy being ignorant is the reason for the saying that ignorance is bliss.
"There are people who are going to keep believing that Barack is Muslim. That is how they cope with his presence."
That's how they 'cope'? Wow... didn't think it was THAT distressing for them!
Here's a much better way to 'cope' - accept the fact that Obama is not a Muslim and carry on. Purge all stupid and false thoughts from your brain and you will be better off. So will the country.
It's obvious that this media campaign is looking for any excuse to oust Obama as a candidate. So what if it was a Madrassa?? He attended the school from ages 6-10! What did you learn in school during that age besides how to read, write, and basic math?!?! Do you think a Muslim fundamentalist school is any different?? NO IT'S NOT! Does the media REALLY think that the American People are DUMB enough to believe that because Baracks middle name is Hussein, that he will have the same ideologies of Saddam Hussein?? or because Obama sounds like Osama, that he has has the same behaviours?? This is definitely a ploy to sway peoples vote!! Next thing you know they'll exploit the fact that Obama Sr., was a deadbeat dad, and adulterer, so that means Junior must be the same way. It's ridiculous. The media is treating politicians the same way as Britney Spears looking for every little faulted detail of peoples lives.
Well let me tell you that people are no where near perfect, and we all have made mistakes in life especially at younger ages. So maybe they'll also exploit how Barack Smoked marijuana, and sniffed the white stuff. Unbelievable how media works.
Does the media REALLY think that the American People are DUMB enough to believe that because Baracks middle name is Hussein, that he will have the same ideologies of Saddam Hussein?
Yes
Ponte's work is like a postcard from bizarro world. One of the truly shameless and soulless idiots out there.