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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Mike Viqueira, who is traveling with the president in Martha's Vineyard, reports that on the heels of polls showing a substantial number of Americans either don't know what religion President Obama is, or think -- falsely -- that he's a Muslim, the White House is out with a statement on the president's Christian faith and what it means to him.
Attributed to Jen Psaki, White House deputy communications director:
President Obama is a committed Christian, and his faith is an important part of his daily life. He prays every day, he seeks a small circle of Christian pastors to give him spiritual advice and counseling, he even receives a daily devotional that he uses each morning. The President's Christian faith is a part of who he is, but not a part of what the public or the media is focused on everyday.
The poll's findings are not surprising given the scope of the issues we are focused on-a recovering economy, bringing troops home from Iraq, putting healthcare and financial reform implementation in place. The President's strong Christian faith is what guides him through these challenges but he doesn't wear it on his sleeve.
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I see a lot of people yelling about Republican nut jobs thinking the President is a Muslim. But need I point out to some that if you look at the two polls in depth, you see that less than 50% of Democrats say that the President is a Christian. So evidently his problem is not just with Republicans and Independents. So there is a problem in his own house.
True... but these people who think he is a Muslim, regardless of political leanings, are nut jobs. They're lost touch with reality.
I would say the republicans have done a good job of directing all attention to stupid issues and the American public is buying it, instead of focusing on what the republicans have not done for the people. The jerks who have been bought by the corporations are still in D.C and the news media are no different, they also have been bought. The news reporters, analysts etc draw their pay from the companies they work for and their comments and polls don't' mean a didly to me. When the analysts say"I think" , I am warned that their opinion is not worth one iota. I will have my say at the ballot box along with the memories of what the politicians have done to this country and to the people during the past 12 years.
a noted authority on islam recently stated that the first muslim mosque was built in our country in 1934 and they have had a relationship with our government dating back to an iftar dinner hosted by president thomas jefferson over 200 years ago. in the interim, they have maintained a minimal, and hardly ecumenical profile in our country. within the last 15 years they have become more demanding, and anything but flexible in their approach. there is no question that they can build the mosque! can't they, at the same time, express some empathy for american citizens and find another location?
it would be extremely helpful if american muslims would state their absolute acceptance of our constitution over sharia law, and their unqualified rejection of radical islamists. do they have a "collective voice" in this country?
Many Muslims also died on 9/11. One number I read was around 300. Out of respect for those Muslims that died on 9/11 the mosque should not be moved to please people that can't separate Al Qaeda and the other 99.9999999% of Muslims.
It is just as ridiculous to expect American Muslims to publicly state that they reject sharia law as it is to expect Jews and Christians to publicly reject all of the rules laid out in the Old Testament. Things like that a man can rape a woman but he has to then marry her and such. Do some reading on the Secular Republic of Turkey if you are so worried that all Muslims want sharia law.
You can not expect all Muslims to have an "unqualified rejection of radical islamists" if you include groups like Hamas in that category. Although I reject Hamas, it is reasonable for someone to have some understanding of Hamas's position given the situation in Palestine. It's very complicated so the rejection may have to be qualified for some people and that would be reasonable.
Curious, I don't remember NBC working this hard to debunk the "Trig is not Sarah Palin's child" lie.
I don't remember 20% of Americans believing that lie.