More media outlets quoted Indiana man saying Obama is "a Muslim" without noting the assertion is false
SUMMARY: In addition to a May 7 Washington Times article previously identified by Media Matters, May 6 reports in the Los Angeles Times and on washingtonpost.com and The Baltimore Sun's website quoted an Indiana man saying that Sen. Barack Obama is "a Muslim" without noting that the assertion was false.
As Media Matters for America noted, a May 7 Washington Times article quoted an Indiana man saying that Sen. Barack Obama is "a Muslim" without noting that the assertion was false. As the blog Media Bloodhound noted, on May 6, the day of the Indiana and North Carolina primaries, reports in the Los Angeles Times and on washingtonpost.com and The Baltimore Sun's website contained the same quote without noting that it was false.
By contrast, in a May 7 article, the Chicago Sun-Times wrote:
Though Obama outspent Clinton 2-to-1 in Indiana, there was just no reaching some people. At a restaurant outside Indianapolis Tuesday morning, one man waved Obama away when the senator approached him to shake his hand. The man told a reporter, "I can't stand him. He's a Muslim. He's not even pro-American as far as I'm concerned."
Obama has never been a Muslim, but bogus e-mails accuse him of being a Muslim who put his hand on a copy of the Quran to be sworn into the U.S. Senate and refusing to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
As Media Matters has repeatedly documented, Obama is, in fact, not a Muslim.
From the Los Angles Time article:
At the restaurant, about 50 people were eating breakfast when Obama walked in at 7:40 a.m. He went from table to table, chatting briefly with patrons about the economy and gas prices before sitting down to breakfast.
One of his first encounters went poorly. He approached a man sitting alone at a table and was waved away. The man told me afterward he had no interest in meeting Obama.
"I can't stand him," he said. "He's a Muslim. He's not even pro-American as far as I'm concerned."
Obama seemed unfazed. He had better luck at a round table where several men were eating.
From the washingtonpost.com article:
Obama arrived at the Greenwood restaurant about 7:40 a.m. and received a mixed response. One man waved the senator away from his table, later telling the pool reporter on the scene that "I can't stand him. He's a Muslim. He's not even pro-American as far as I'm concerned."
At another table, a group of regulars dubbed the "Johnson County Roundtable" greeted Obama warmly.
From the Baltimore Sun online article:
One of his first table stops did not go well. As he approached a man sitting alone at a table, Obama was waved away. The man later told a Los Angeles Times reporter that he was not interested in meeting Obama.
"I can't stand him,'' he said. "He's a Muslim. He's not even pro-American as far as I'm concerned."
Obama got another surprise at another table. While talking to a trio of men eating breakfast, one handed him the bill. "This will seal the thing,'' the man said. The somewhat tightwad senator accepted the check and later took it to the cashier and paid it.
What's troubling is not so much the fact that the media will not correct this lie in print (it's an obvious falsehood, that's why they don't) but that the interviewers of these people let it pass without comment when they are talking to them personally.
Even Jay Leno corrects his subjects when he is interviewing them. So why not the news media?
It's fascinating. MMFA reports that the WASHINGTON TIMES has corrected this story, but these others have not.
You know what this means? That the Times reads MMFA religiously and have been tweaked by them, enough to respond, but the others do not take MMFA as seriously.
Interesting.
How dumb do people have to be to still beleive this meme that Obama is a Muslim?
They'd have to be so dumb....................fill in the blank.
That they'd vote for W, TWICE!
That they'd consider the choice of cheese on a steak sandwich an important factor in deciding who to elect President.
That they'd believe that tax cuts to the wealthiest 2% in this country will somehow benefit them at the median or lower economic levels.
This could go on for days....
I think I might be confusing correlation with causation here...
No sure how dumb, but I do wonder just how willful an omission of truth this was on the part of Washington Times, the Los Angeles Times and The Baltimore Sun.
You have to wonder, too, why these outlets would highlight such a crank opinion as somehow being meaningful.
I mean, that's like letting people who believe in alien-abductions talk about the latest scientific discovery.
Which-- if TV gets any worse-- will probably end up happening.
I suspect it all has less to do with bias than a preoccupation with sensationalism, stupidity, and the clear fact that younger people in the biz lack any sense of the possibilities of life and what intelligent journalism is all about. They never read books, they know nothing about the past, and they could care less.
This is the reason why so much is awful these days-- not some conspiracy.
They'd have to be so dumb that they would vote Republican.
How dumb do people have to be to still beleive this meme that Obama is a Muslim?
Julia, my wife was at the hairdressers yesterday & reported the following to me last night at dinner.
1) Her hairdresser, a seemingly intelligent young lady [I've met her, she seems bright enough to me] said: If we elect Obama it won't be long before we are all forced to pray to Allah.
2) Her hairdresser, the other two hairdressers and the 4 other patrons all said they were Hillary supporters but would vote for McCain if Hillary didn't miraculously pull the nomination off.
3) They all agreed [my wife being the exception] that when push came to shove most White folks won't vote for an African-American
4) There was a copy of this week's Enquirer there that had a huge photo of Obama & Michelle on it's cover with a headline that said something along the lines of Michelle Obama demands Barack come clean about any past sexual dalliances he's had--- my wife skimmed the story & it was basically all unsubstantiated B.S. & innuendo--- however look for this sex angle to rear it's ugly head down the road.
Well that's my report from the northeast corner of Massachusetts....Back to the lovely Julia who will tell us what's going on somewhere in Texas ;-)
I hear ya August.
I think it's Boston rather than most of Massachusetts that has had a bad reputation when it comes to race relations. It's improved somewhat over the years.
It does seem odd because Massachusetts is one of the most Liberal, if not the most Liberal, states in the nation. I call it Moonbat Central ;-)
"Her hairdresser, the other two hairdressers and the 4 other patrons all said they were Hillary supporters but would vote for McCain if Hillary didn't miraculously pull the nomination off."
This is something I don't understand, but I suspect it is not about racism. That's a too-easy answer.
As a lukewarm Hillary supporter, I've been appalled at the arrogance of so many Obama fans. They marginalize Hillary Clinton with hate, talk about her like she's George Bush, demonize Bill Clinton, call him a 'racist,' and then have this wierd idolatrous love affair with Barack.
It makes no sense-- it's offputting-- and it's going to doom, I think, his chances in November. It comes across as all about ego and phony, hipper-than-thou self-righteousness.
As a lukewarm Hillary supporter, I've been appalled at the arrogance of so many Obama fans. They marginalize Hillary Clinton with hate, talk about her like she's George Bush, demonize Bill Clinton, call him a 'racist,' and then have this wierd idolatrous love affair with Barack.
It makes no sense-- it's offputting-- and it's going to doom, I think, his chances in November. It comes across as all about ego and phony, hipper-than-thou self-righteousness.
Carlileb, I've never thought of you as a "lukewarm" Hillary supporter. From your previous posts you felt the Democratic party would be doomed forever is they choose Obama. Somehow that does not sound like a "lukewarm" Hillary supporter.
Let me explain again why I would NEVER vote for Hillary. Bill's subtle racist comments about Obama and Jessie Jackson. And he says Jessie wasn't offended. Did Bill ask Obama IF he was offended? DID Bill forget Obama is the candidate NOT Jackson? The tacky habit of sending surrogate Bob Johnson out to explain "back folks" as if we're a tribe and he's our leader. Geraldine Ferro, Obama is an AA candidate. WHO would ever believe that being Black is an advantage in running for President needs mental help. Carville claims that Hillary had three balls, she could lend Obama one. WHAT? Even Karl Rove didn't stoop THAT low! Hillary's continuous habit of complimenting McCain while dismissing her fellow Democrat. Hillary's willingness to do ANYTHING to win, even agreeing with Republican McCain on his phony "gas holiday" crap.
As an African American you don't treat me like trash just because you don't need me. I was never a Regan Democratic, I was loyal to my party. I showed up each and every freaking election and voted straight 'D'. I was the percentage you could count on in every election. So now that you don't need me you treat me like trash? Why don't you imagine what Hillary's chances will be if African American don't show up.
THAT is some of the problems I have with the Clinton's. They assume that I would forget the primary, and support Hillary because of those evil Republicans. That evil Republican Hillary and Bill continue to compliment. That Republican network that you and your supporters continued to compliment, and call fair, totally forgetting how FOX has treated Democrats for years. Bill appearing on Limbo's show. Did they forget what Limbo has said about them?
And somehow I'm phony, ego driven and self-righteousness because I choose NOT to support Hillary.
" Carville claims that Hillary had three balls, she could lend Obama one.
Pearlene, this is an obvious joke. It's nothing to get upset about or use against anyone.
And I have to question this idea of "she'll do anything to win." Have you ever seen a candidate who will do anything? It's not Hillary-- her campaign has been pretty meek about things.
I think a lot of Obama supporters need to lighten up. He's not all that. What he's faced from Hillary is nothing like what he will face later on-- if he is the nominee, which isn't so certain yet (Remember-- he doesn't have enough votes, either.)
Carville claims that Hillary had three balls, she could lend Obama one. Pearlene, this is an obvious joke. It's nothing to get upset about or use against anyone.
Of course I should have laughed. I guess you should have laughed when that reporter said Hillary was like Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. Can't you see Hillary boiling that pretty white rabbit? Or Hillary in the tub, pretending to be dead, rising up again and again. Ha ha ha ha, THAT is funny, right?
And I have to question this idea of "she'll do anything to win." Have you ever seen a candidate who will do anything? It's not Hillary-- her campaign has been pretty meek about things.
If Obama was Hillary, not enough votes or delegates and Hilary was Obama, more votes, states won, delegates, would you sit by and meekly let Obama continue his campaign? I don’t thing so! You’d be running and screaming that he should get out, he can’t win so why doesn’t he quite, he‘ll ruin the party by continuing. Yet Obama is allowing Hillary to continue, never once complaining about Hillary.
Jim Clyburn warned the Clinton’s in March about their conduct and he’s warned them again in May, yet the keep on with the same crap. When a party has a base the have guaranteed voters, like the evangelicals and Republicans. When that base doesn’t turn out they have problems. African American voter are not like Regan Democrats, they show up on election day and they vote 'D'. Obama can’t win without the white vote but Hillary can’t win without the black voters. I’ve been told that this is a primary race, they are fighting for the nomination, but if McCain uses Hillary’s voice in a ad saying she is ready for the WH and McCain is ready for the WH but Obama has a speech? THAT will be Hillary’s fault.
I think a lot of Obama supporters need to lighten up. He's not all that. What he's faced from Hillary is nothing like what he will face later on-- if he is the nominee, which isn't so certain yet (Remember-- he doesn't have enough votes, either.)
LOL There are more Obama supporters (not including myself) willing to vote for Hillary than there are Hillary supporters willing to vote for Obama. Now who should lighten up? Face facts, Hillary assumed she would not have to work for this nomination, she was queen and it was hers. Unfortunately someone else wanted it bad enough to work for it and now he‘s much closer to the nomination than she. This has not been a good time for this country, Bushes vs. Clintons is way OLD. CHANGE.
Carl,
I'm also a lukewarm Hillary supporter. She simply seemed, IMO, to be the best of the 3 to handle the job from day one.
I keep wondering if I'll eventually catch Obama Fever. No burn so far. I can't even figure it out to be honest. Hey the guy is a charismatic candidate & an eloquent speaker, but I'm just not convinced he's ready for the Oval Office. Maybe they should just hand him a guitar & let him finally be the rock star most of his fans treat him as already ;-)
I gotta agree with you about some of his supporters. There is a certain angry arrogance that is a huge turn off.
I'm not sure how I'd call the general election. I have a feeling it'll be close, but McCain will prevail.
Can you support that allegation about Obama supporters or are you just repeating a talking point? I have seen some passionate supporters become angry when Hillary runs the GOP playbook and her supporters turn a deaf ear but I don't think anything is wrong with that kind of anger.
As for experience what exactly makes the other two senators more eligible other than time? And does time always make things better? To that point I present Cheney as Captain Washington experience.
Now that Hillary has been defeated utterly what exactly is my response supposed to be when she goes on TV and says whites won't vote for Obama???? Please, anyone
"I have seen some passionate supporters become angry when Hillary runs the GOP playbook"
This is exactly what I'm talking about. Do you guys even know what the GOP playbook is?
To claim that Hillary is Karl Rovian or engaging in 'scorched earth tactics' is just lunacy. She's campaigning against her opponent. That's all. But you Obama-ites are so thin-skinned that you truck no opposition. You get outraged and start demonizing the Clintons, comparing them to Nixon or whomever, and it's maddening, because it is such a lie.
Even worse, it's ignorant.
And this is where your mask gets taken off...
You sir are not a lukewarm Hillary supporter, nor are you a Democratic voter, you are an Operation Chaos operative and your a$$ is showing.
The GOP playbook involves beating an oppponent by using race, religion, nationality, patriotism and scandal. It means ignoring the issues and finding a wedge to drive into the opponent's campaign.
Hillary has used Osama and Obama in the same commercial, she argues that white people won't vote for Obama, shes's made the case twice now that John McCain is the better option than Obama, and she has in 3am ads and stump speeches made reference to the world being less safe if Obama wins, that the turrists are watching.
People at this site have condemned the Bush administration for years on these very tactics, its too bad a few of them still have the its ok if its Hillary doing it blinders on. You however are just a plant, I'd say you needed water, but you're all wet.
The GOP playbook involves beating an oppponent by using race, religion, nationality, patriotism and scandal. It means ignoring the issues and finding a wedge to drive into the opponent's campaign.
Wedge issues.. like calling your opponent a racist on a daily basis??
They'd have to be so dumb....................fill in the blank.
They'd have to be so dumb that they still think the Republican Party is looking out for the middle class....
If Obama is not a Muslim, then what religion is he? Seems to me the options are somewhat limited by Obama's history. Obama was raised as a Muslim in Indonesia. As an adult, Obama has affiliated himself for many years with Reverand Wright's version of the United Church of Christ. this leaves us with a short list of options. Obama is:
The man on the Street in Indiana thinks he's #1. I can guarantee you Wahhabist Muslims think he is #2 and believe Obama should as a consequence be put to death. That racist, Jeremiah Wright, thinks Obama is his bigotted flavor of UCC. There are political pundits in the Media who believe Obama joined Rev. Wright's congregation to gain political advantage early in his political carer, which would make him #4.
Which of these things do you believe?
This is amazing.
Who'd ever have imagined that some unidentified (and uninformed) shmuck in an Indiana restaurant has a voice so loud, and an opinion (however uninformed) so important, that he'd get quoted by so many separate media outlet things...
You know, campaign and media consultants are wasting an awful lot of time and money, trying to spin the media, and airing expensive television commercials... the real power of getting the message out, is apparently as simple as just being an unidentified uninformed shmuck in a restaurant...
Once those many media and campaign consultants see this light, they'll probably start sitting around restaurants, laying in wait for Sen. Obama's expected arrival... so that they in turn can get quoted (and quote each other), saying something that isn't true.
Maybe even that's what actually happened... who can say, since the shmuck is unidentified.
And as far as "getting the message out", Sen. Obama and his many supporters can take this particular thing as being very signal, that those who now stand to oppose him being President of the United States, will use this lie in their effort:
He is a Muslim.
Mark it down, and get to work on it... because if one person can believe it, then so can 20 million...
...although I'm doubtful now as to the authenticity of the shmuck's opinion in that restaurant in Indiana, now that I see that he is both unidentified, and a source of repeated quotations... where was karl rove at the time, he wasn't in Indiana was he?
How do we know John McCain is not a Muslim? I mean, he's switched religions before, how do we know he hasn't converted to Islamofascism??
Oh, right... his skin is white.
Republicans never apologize for anything, that is until they get caught...
That's still averaging one a week from the ethically challenged claimers of moral superiority team!
Manchurian Muslim?
What...is Obama a Chinese Muslim or something? That bastard! What else has he lied about? ;>)
"if Obama was a Muslim and he's been worshiping at a Christian church for 20 years wouldn't that make him an infidel?"
Even though you are being sarcastic and making fun of this notion, it is 100% correct. Obama was raised muslim, and it is confirmed through eyewitness accounts that he infrequently went to the mosque to worship with his father. A radical muslim terrorist sees Obama's official conversion to christianity as unacceptable. So yes, radical muslims have plenty of justification in their own heads for killing him. And he wants to sit down and be diplomatic with the throat-cutters, haha.
Just a side note - his decision to join a christian church (if you can call that pit of racism and hate that he attends a church) was primarily for political purposes to get ahead in Chicago. He found the most radical black-power pastor on the South Side, and bought into the propaganda just to get votes and political clout. The norm for Chicago politics. Any sane/non-hateful person (like Oprah) would leave that disgusting church quickly. Hopefully more of his dirt is turned up.
Well John as usual you gave us a rerun of what the Limborg is telling their gullible idiot what to believe. Reality on the other hand is in very short supply in your posts
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp
You are basically full of it. Your posts are long on brainwashed lunacy and short on reality
This was a re-print from the LA Times article:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.obama16mar16,0,1634059,print.story?coll=bal_news_nation_promo
By deductive reasoning and logic, this article admits Hussein was an irregular practitioner of the muslim faith:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0703250340mar25,1,4542399.story
Summarized wonderfully here:
http://www.danielpipes.org/article/5354
"Obama was an irregularly practicing Muslim who rarely or occasionally prayed with his step-father in a mosque." <---That is all I claim, and all that I know to be true about his past. Nothing more, nothing less. If you want to argue this, prove that conclusion to be incorrect. Since MMFA failed to even attempt at debunking that claim, I don't see how you can.
Shaggles,
I agree. The subsequent news reports look to me like they copied the original. It is journalism at it's sloppiest.
I applaud MMFA for pointing this out this ridiculous in irresponsible reporting. I hope each newspaper will run a clarification but I won't hold my breath.
So Obama is a Muslim who has been a member of the same Christian church in Chicago for 20 years and hates America because he won't salute the flag or wear a piece of flag-shaped jewelry? Got it. Excuse me, I have to return to the clinic and sell blood to pay my bills because I was downsized by a rich company whose CEO makes a thousand times what I did, and my subprime mortgage went up ten points, and I have no health insurance coverage to pay for my wife's expensive medication she needs to live, and the courts won't let us declare bankruptcy because my wife irresponsibly consumed life saving medicine.
GOP in 2008!
Brother can, you spare some common sense?
Randy
After all, every great world power in history has eventually crumbled... why should we be any different?
Brother can, you spare some common sense?
Liberals always looking for a free handout, huh? ;>)
As of late, an effort has been made to confuse Obama with Keith Ellison.
Claims are being made that Obama was sworn into office using a Koran.
Members of congress are sworn in en masse in the chamber without the
use of any of books. Ellison drew the ire of the Christian right for wanting
to use a Koran in the "ceremonial" swearing in with the House speaker.
Since the "ceremonial" swearing in is just that, the nature of the book being
is academic, you could be "sworn in" using a VHS copy of "Debbie does Dallas," although I doubt any new member would choose that. But apparently some righties think they can create this Obama-Ellison confusion and use it to their advantage.