Stop Calling Him a Muslim and Saying He’s Not a Citizen and Call Him a Nigger

by ShaunKing on September 1, 2010 · 90 comments

(I wrote this post originally in September of 2010.  Nearly two years later, thanks to the foolishness of Donald Trump and many others, my thoughts on this still stand.  Before you label me as an extreme liberal, I want you to know that I am as non-partisan and moderate as it gets.)

Over a year ago (in 2009), I made a public pledge to stay out of politics on this blog- with the exception of standing against racism or discrimination.  Generally speaking, I have kept that pledge and haven’t regretted it one bit.

However, I refuse to bite my tongue on this issue - particularly since a good percentage of my blog readers, Twitter followers, and Facebook friends either believe (or are very close to many people that believe) that President Obama is a Muslim or deny his American citizenship.

President Obama is an American born Christian. Period. He has always been an American citizen and has been a baptized, church attending Christian for almost his entire adult life.

However, a strangely growing percentage of (white conservative) Americans continue to express that they believe President Obama is a Muslim and that he is lying about his American citizenship (and his faith).  Most very mainstream surveys now find that anywhere between 20%-30% of all Americans now think this way. We’re talking about 50 million + people here.

I am offended, but not surprised.  What we are seeing here, at its core, is a very volatile mix of racism, white fear of dwindling power and population majority and politics at work.

His citizenship has been proven over and over and over again.  Here is a copy of his birth certificate. The Republican governor of Hawaii has confirmed it.  John McCain’s team confirmed it.  Hillary Clinton’s team confirmed it.  Trust me – if they could prove otherwise they would have.

He was baptized.  He was married in church.  His children were baptized.  He has spoken more extensively about his church history and faith than almost anybody in politics.  It declares his Christian faith regularly and publicly and he lives this faith out in so many ways.  How ONE SINGLE PERSON could believe that he is a Muslim makes no sense to me at all.  He has no affinity for Islam and never has.

I honestly believe what I am about to say.

Because it would be far too crass and publicly unacceptable to call President Obama a NIGGER, people have found another offensive way to degrade him and make him seem like 3/5ths of a person.

I am not at all willing to say that this is purely political and dismiss it.  Political would be to say you hate his health care plan, to say that he is leading the country in the wrong direction, to call him weak on a particular issue, but this is racial/ethnic/religious in tone, it’s ugly and dangerous and it is so fundamentally degrading that it warrants a real response.

Because the hard facts of Obama’s faith and citizenship are so obvious and proven, I recently tweeted that I believed anybody that believed otherwise must be unintelligent and drew a fairly critical response from some of my conservative friends that said it had nothing to do with intelligence, but emotion.  Here’s the thing though – I think the same reason NYPD police officers that saw upstanding citizen Amadou Diallo with his wallet and “thought” it was gun and proceeded to shoot him 41 times is the same reason 50 million people don’t like President Obama’s politics and proceed to conclude he is a non-American Muslim.

The same spirit feeds both conclusions.  An upstanding black man with a wallet is thought to be a dangerous criminal with a gun.  A very intelligent American Christian black man that is president is not really as he appears – his wallet is a gun – it must be.

While watching CNN last night, I saw something that further illustrated how far many white people are from understanding just how offensive this behavior is and where people of color believe it comes from.

Anderson Cooper asked his panel (white moderate Democrat David Gergen, white conservative Republican Ari Fleischer, and moderate non-partisan Indian-American Dr. Fareed Zakaria) where they thought this widespread belief that President Obama is a non-American Muslim is coming from.

  • Fleischer said it was no different than people that said President Bush was dumb and is simply political.
  • Gergen, who would normally disagree with Fleischer on politics, agreed that it was simply politics.
  • However, Zakaria, the only person of color on the panel, got more upset than I have ever seen him in my life.  Notoriously calm, Zakaria vehemently disagreed with Gergen & Fleischer and said that the attacks on President Obama are categorically different in their tone, content, and nature in that they suggest that he is not a bad guy or a bad president, but something other than an American altogether.

Gergen & Fleischer just didn’t see what Zakaria saw.  To both of them (whom I respect…Gergen serves on a board at my alma mater Morehouse College) these attacks were no big deal, but to Zakaria (and to me) they are the biggest deal and represent a troubling setback (or suggest little progress was ever made) with race relations in our country.

I think I would rather hear you call him a nigger again.  At least then we didn’t all have to front like racism had disappeared from the planet after the President was elected.

(NEW ADDITION written on 5/29/2012)

Just today, Donald Trump, on CNN, doubled down on President Obama not being born in the United States.  While  it may be easy for some to dismiss The Donald for being ridiculous, he has been openly and publicly courted by Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee for President, and many other leading Republican figures.  This birther movement is not a fringe movement, but is as mainstream as it gets.

  • http://www.andydarnell.com Andy Darnell

    Wow. Good post. I share the feelings. If it could be proven, there are enough people in this country that could uncover it. While I admit, I question his motives at times, he is still President. God is still sovereign.

    The man had huge obstacles that he was going to face to bring about the change that he wanted. I never believed that he would be able to do accomplish what he wanted to. I do think that history will show that Obama was unsuccessful in those regards. I DO think that what will be the greatest takeaway from this is that it will open the door for other leaders of other color to step up to the challenge.

    Changing 50million people over night is not going to happen. But, we must remember that we're two – three elections away from our children being a part of the process. I believe our children will be the ones who will push a lot of the remaining racism out.

    My two cents.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=813285045 Olu Sanya

    Shaun u r so on point. White America is really handling this one very badly. The Arizona law situation is another example of the hypocrisy of America & those who swear & uphold the constitution until the constitution gives everyone equal rights no matter the color of your skin, while they (white America) becomes a minority.

  • passionburnswithin

    I am positive that some of the people who have jumped on the citizenship and religious belief bandwagon are undoubtedly racist. I would not say they all are. Many are just unhappy with the progress but naive enough to believe whatever is put in front of them. Others are just desperate to stir the pot and find anyway to bring them down but not smart enough to research their position. I am a white american. I don't like Obama as President. But it is solely based agenda and principle. I am glad and take pride that we crossed the racial divide and are able to have a black president. I wish to see more minorities embrace conservatism. But I agree with you that enough is enough and that we need to put these silly offensive accusations to bed. Thanks for the thoughts

  • http://www.crucialencounter.com Andy

    I like Obama. I like at the Saddle back Forum with Rick Warren, he said the most important verse to him was, "What you've done to the least of these, you've done to me."

    I like what he's doing, mostly.

    IF this was strictly politics, we could go a step further and ask, where was the outrage when Clinton was sitting on his hands during the Rwanda incident. No one said anything about it.

    However, now, there is a black man in office, doing, what I believe he feels is RIGHT for this country.

    All of a sudden, he's catching hell for *GASP* trying to provide healthcare to everyone!
    He's catching hell for *GASP* trying to make it harder for credit card companies and banks to screw YOU!.
    He's catching hell for *GASP* making sure there is more funding for psychologist and psychiatrists for soldiers returning from war!

    This guy CLEARLY is of the DEVIL because he wants to HELP THE LEAST OF THESE… and I'm certain that's what the Bible says….

    I think.

  • Della

    Well, I just have to respond here; although, this is totally out of character for me. I am a lily white female, listed as a republican voter. I voted for Obama & it had nothing to do with the color of his skin but that I believed him to be the best man for the job. I do believe some do not see the full ramifications of his views because they do not want to be bothered to take the time to research these issues for themselves. These same people (with various color of skin BTW) get caught up in emotional propaganda. Nothing new under the sun. People need to take time to research for themselves and until they do, keep their mouths shut because that's when their ignorance is obvious. Prejudice lives in hearts and minds until Jesus is allowed to root it out…no man has the power to do that! See John 17…the color of skin is not mentioned.

  • Georgge

    Fan Freakin Tastic Man!

  • Chase

    It's a sad day when people can no longer be objective and look at whats at hand and what they want to see.

    I could not agree more with your post about this situation. If I am going to be completely honest, I am not a fan of his approach to subjects and his stands on certain issues, he is still President. I would shake his hand, call him Mr. President and show him the respect he deserves, regardless if we agree on a point or not.

    The fact the white America, being Caucasian and of Swedish/Anglo descent myself, simply wants to resort to 3rd grade mentality and embrace the media outlet of choice to form their opinions and not think, think THINK for themselves is a sad state of affairs.

    Am I disappointed that a Christian took of his shoes and said a muslim prayer? Yes. However, it made me go to scripture to see if there was something he was doing, I referred to 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 and couldn't see where as a believer in Christ I am supposed to think thats ok, but I am not degrading him. I don't start hate speeches or diatribe over it. I am disappointed.

    I wish the people of this nation would learn to think for themselves and develop a backbone and stop letting the media decide things for them.

  • Adam_S

    I have almost stopped reading Christianity Today's website. Not because of their articles, but because of the comments section. There have been some of the most vile and hate-filled comments I have ever seen. One guy actually accused Obama of threatening to have Franklin Graham assassinated if Franklin had not said that Obama was a Christian (that was his way of reconciling Franklin Graham saying that Obama was a Christian). I am not sure there is any way, short of long term conversations, prayer and relationship that will ever convince a person like that man.

  • http://themadpoliticalscientist.blogspot.com Denise

    Thank you for your honest, Shaun.
    But I'd expect nothing less from a Morehouse man.
    (And what's with the Corn Pops?)

  • Ebony

    Agreed Shaun. I appreciate you writing this. Much of what you said are the same arguments I present to my Republican and/or conservative friends. All of it is maddening. Simply maddening.

  • http://nerditry.com Evan D.

    Shaun, I agree with a majority of your points and believe that many people have racist feelings and are using the President as a sounding board for them.

    Secondarily, the polls that have been mentioned are often a bit biased when the person responding to the poll questions are given a set of specific answers to pick from. On that, I think many of those people 'think' that the President may not be an American and a Christian, but if you ask if they truly believe it, their answer would not be so firm.

    At the end, race is still a major concern for an unfathomable number of people who are simply uninformed about others and let what they read or hear secondhand (or farther down the chain) determine their opinions. Remember many people are sheep in the negative sense. (@nerditry)

  • missaimstar

    awesome post Shaun, on the money.

  • maryloveslife

    I don't think he's a muslim or not a US citizen. I have however been concerned about his influence in the area of Christianity. I'm not saying he's not one, as only God knows that for sure. But this interveiw from 2004 indicates to me that we need to pray for him. His views of Christianity in this interveiw resemble those of Oprah… "there are many ways to God"… "as long as you're a good person"… "what I believe is not the ONLY truth"… etc. I'm not addressing anything in this post other than his views of Christianity (I'm not commenting on whether he should be president or not, etc.) So dont read more into it. Just sharing this interview that I read….
    http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2008/11/o…

    Blessings.

  • http://twitter.com/carlthomas @carlthomas

    I think this is the culmination of the political agenda taking over much of the church.

    The President is declared not saved and should be disregarded as a man because of his liberal politics. Some ministers have even stated that Christians should rally for his demise.

    A politically conservative Mormon holds a political rally at the nation's capital and the Christians line up to "reclaim America."

    Because so much of the church is power hungry they are being manipulated. I think racism is the vehicle, not the cause of the attack but that's just splitting hairs.

  • bposman

    Will repeat my respect for you and what you do, Shawn. I completely appreciate what you're saying, and yet I have to disagree.

    I think you're in some ways doing exactly what you're accusing others of doing by adding to the us vs. them spirit. "…a strangely growing percentage of (white conservative) Americans". The media mantra of white conservatives as racists who dislike Obama because he's black is tired.

    Faith is personal. The only way I can know that someone is or isn't a Christian is what they claim to believe/how they act and how they treat others, and yet still, we have no idea what someone's true relationship with God is(this goes both ways). So to personally vouch for someone else's faith and say that if another person doubts it that has something to do with skin color seems baseless and provocative.

    The citizenship question is conspiratorial ignorance, but again I try not to confuse a person's ignorance with the act of disparaging a person of color, let alone blatant racism.

    Are some of the people who spread this racist? yes. All of them? I don't think it's fair to say that.
    Are some just so stuck in their ideology & Polotics that they fear the worst? Even more so, yes.
    It's ugly, it's ignorant, it's embarrassing… but I can't claim it's inherently racist, much less equate it to calling him that. Broad generalizations are dangerous no matter which way they go.

  • Aaron Blevins

    First of all, let me say that I respect Obama as our president and the leader that God has ordained for our country at such a time as this.

    However, (correct me if I've misunderstood) Shaun, are you suggesting that him being baptized and attending a Christian church makes him a Christian, or Christ follower?

    In this interview with Cathline Falsani on March 27th, 2004, then Senator Obama discusses his faith and religious beliefs. A transcript of the entire interview can be found here – http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2008/11/o…

    Near the beginning of the interview, Obama is describing his "Deep" Christian faith, as well as the religious background he grew up in and experienced with his parents. Here is a direct quote from then Senator Obama in this interview – "So, I'm rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people. That there are values that transcend race or culture, that move us forward, and there's an obligation for all of us individually as well as collectively to take responsibility to make those values lived."

    This is disturbing to me. Simply because this belief conflicts directly with John 14:6 where Jesus claims that he is the only way, or "path" to the "same place" to which Obama is referring.

    I do not make the uneducated and ridiculous claim that Obama is a Muslim, but after reading through the entire interview, it is apparent to me that Obama isn't trusting in the Jesus that I have come to know and believe. The Jesus who claims to be the only life-giving savior of the world. It seems to me that Obama's "Christian" faith is very superficial and isn't actually "rooted" in the beliefs and values that are demanded from our jealous Lord.

    I am open to any and all thoughts/discussion.

  • http://twitter.com/ShaunKing @ShaunKing

    President Obama, as recently as yesterday on NBC news w/ Brian Williams, publicly declared that he is a Christian. He has done so on record, some say, over 300 times – more than any president in the same period of time.

    The President is not a theologian and many politicians (and regular people) often say goofy stuff about their faith. I fully trust that he is a Christian – the thing is, though, people are claiming, in VERY LARGE NUMBERS, that he is a Muslim and NO EVIDENCE exists to support this.

  • http://twitter.com/ShaunKing @ShaunKing

    President Obama, as recently as yesterday on NBC news w/ Brian Williams, publicly declared that he is a Christian. He has done so on record, some say, over 300 times – more than any president in the same period of time.

    The President is not a theologian and many politicians (and regular people) often say goofy stuff about their faith. I fully trust that he is a Christian – the thing is, though, people are claiming, in VERY LARGE NUMBERS, that he is a Muslim and NO EVIDENCE exists to support this.

    In my pastoral opinion, the President lives like a Christian, claims to be a Christian, was baptized as a Christian – he is a Christian. Debating otherwise is futile. One could have done the same with Bill Clinton because of his affair or President Bush because of his insistence on war, but that would be silly.

  • bposman

    Maybe we're mixing our discussions… 2 issues I see here>
    1. This may prove fear of Islam, but racism? Still don't thing so. Flip the tables… Take Joe Lieberman for example. LIkely unelectable in a national election because of anti-semitic sentiment that is still pervasive in America. Has nothing to do with race issues, but a religion issues.

    2. You can claim whatever faith you want, all day long, on every talk show, but (to people who are opposed to Obama) this has always been an issue because it's never been cut and dried >>The church he was raised in was mixed with reverse racist controversy, then he gets to the White House, doesn't join a church in D.C., goes on vacation, plays golf on Sundays, etc. I'm not defending people judging him for how he acts out his faith, but I am defending their right to question whether he does indeed have faith in God that directs him, or simply a savvy political advisory committee that encourages him to mention his Christian Faith to offset negative political press about people thinking he is a Muslim. And not to get political, but his liberal social policy views don't help his case with the "angry white Conservatives."

    People make judgments about our faith every day. They make decisions about us based on our judgment, based on what we say we believe vs. what we do, the issues we support, and the consistency of our message.

  • Kristi

    I agree… but I wish everyone would stop saying "White America." There are black conservatives and white democrats. Its Conservative America that is doing this. Racism could be fueling this whole debate, but saying that "white america" is causing this issue is just as racist as the debate itself.

  • http://twitter.com/jaycaruso @jaycaruso

    Shaun, as a brother in Christ, I love what you do, but on this one, I am going to say that for the most part, you are so way off base on this it is absurd. Sorry, but the easy way out of discussions like this, is to blame racism.

    First of all, you're conflating two separate issues into one. The birther nonsense has been debunked and denounced by most Republicans and mainstream conservatives for some time now. The only people who still believe this tripe are the ones who adhere to the drivel being published in World Net Daily. And yes, I suppose some of this could be attributed to racism, but again, these people are such a small minority of the US population that it's almost insignificant.

    Second, your categorization that the growing percentage of people who think Obama is Muslim is limited to white conservatives is just flat out wrong. The percentage has grown amongst Democrats and Independents as well and I'm sure there are some people of color mixed in amongst those numbers.

    Third, with regard to the Muslim issue, that's a broader topic and one that cannot be written off merely as being racist. Are people stupid for believing he is Muslim? Not necessarily. Misinformed? Sure. Racist? In some cases. But remember, these polls show that a good percentage of people (43%) have no clue what his religion is. 18% of independents think he is Muslim as do 10% of Democrats and I am certain some of those very people voted for the man. Are they too, people that just want to call him a ni**er but are afraid to?

  • Debbie

    Shaun, I am again amazed at your insight and abliity to get your message out so clearly and honestly ( and did I mention directly) I agree with you 100%. I am disgusted by what I see and hear on the news everyday. I really feel we are going backwards. I was so hopeful that we had finally taken the leap over the great divide. I guess I was naive to think that we as a country could finally move forward,clearly I was wrong, but it will not change ME. I will continue to live my life the way I was raised to be and that was to be fair and just to every person ,whether they were black, white ,green or purple (Those were my Dads exact words that I will never forget)

  • http://twitter.com/ShaunKing @ShaunKing

    Standing for truth and justice never violates my faith. Quote scripture all you want my friend. People have quoted scripture to justify nearly every action (or total inaction) throughout modern history.

  • http://twitter.com/ShaunKing @ShaunKing

    Here's the thing T. Moore – Christianity has a great deal of diversity and everybody does not quite believe the exact same thing. Have you traveled the world and met Christians around the world? Greatly different than American Christians…

    Nonetheless – I am assuming you are getting your Collective Salvation stance from Glenn Beck…a devout Mormon? What is your logic for supporting Beck (who's faith is greatly different than yours) but not Obama?

    At the very best it is faulty logic – at its very worst – racism.

  • Cynthia Hansen

    You have made your bed and now you must lie in it. Christians should not enter into controversial political debate. Yours is clouded by your Morehouse background. Pity… I expected more of you than this.

    All the President needed to do to end this debate was to publish a certified birth certificate. Then he should have publicly declared his faith in Jesus Christ. Very simple, two sentences. A prime example is how Franklin Graham and Samaritans Purse stands tall for Jesus Christ and the Christian Faith every time that they provide aid throughout the world. It is clear, concise, and without compromise.

    The President has had ample time to communicate effectively and end any gray areas regarding his beliefs. As a leader it was important to do so … he chose not to.

  • http://twitter.com/ShaunKing @ShaunKing

    I agree Kristi. Did I do this somehow?

  • http://twitter.com/ShaunKing @ShaunKing

    What? The President published a certified copy of his birth certificate in 2008.

    Period. Click on the official link in my blog. Furthermore, it has been seen (hundreds of times) and certified by a Republican governor.

    Finally – the president has declared that he is a Christian over 300 times since being in office -including on national television yesterday. He was baptized. He declares his faith boldly in two award-winning books. He was married in church. His children were baptized.

  • Cynthia Hansen

    Agree with you solidly on this one. The Tea Party divides and does not unify, so does continuing the Civil Rights movement. What we need is UNITY and desegregation, one person, one church and one family at a time. We can't be one nation under God, indivisible unless WE choose not to be divided. I do not argue with hot heads, I ignore them. Glenn Beck and Palin are dividers – we would be wise to hear the arguments and documentary of Alex Jones… who is warning of far more serious issues than "one" person. Obama is a target just like George Bush was – neither is at fault – we are at fault for electing politicians and not LEADERS.

  • T Moore

    Debbie, I do agree with your fathers words here but for a minister to get involved like this he is way off.

  • http://twitter.com/KatMcKinley @KatMcKinley

    Shaun,

    I don't disagree with you on this, but don't paint with a big brush. I am a conservative Republican. I've been active in politics for many many years. I too have seen what you have seen on twitter and facebook. I think we see a great deal of the underbelly of society there we might not otherwise hear from. But in all these many years working in Texas and D.C. I've never met or known someone who thinks Obama is a Muslim or that he isn't the Christian he claims to be. Not one. All I'm asking is to not judge on the basis on politics. These people are not political. They are just…nuts.

  • http://twitter.com/ShaunKing @ShaunKing

    You first accuse me of conflating 2 issues, but now you have done just that.

    You have conflated the widespread belief that President Obama is a Muslim with you not quite approving of his Christianity. 2 different things.

  • http://mrshields.com Adam Shields

    So what would be good enough. Dozens of public well respected Christians have said they believe he is a Christian. Franklin Graham, Joel Hunger, Richard Hamm, William Shaw, Richard Sterns, etc.

    Obama was my state rep and state senator and lived just a few blocks from me. His church is certainly not conservative, but there would be very few that would call it racist (or not Christian) in our area. He was speaking about faith in his first book well over a decade before running for president.

    Shaun's point, that I agree with, is that if he was not African American, it is unlikely that people would think he is muslim. I agree with that. Yes people questioned Clinton's faith but it was not anywhere close to the questioning of Obama's faith.

    What I don't get is that people did not complain that Bush (Jr or Sr) or Reagan did not regularly attend church. But with Obama it is proof that he is not a Christian. Carter (and to a lesser extent Ford) is the only modern president in the last 40 years that regularly attended church.

  • http://twitter.com/ShaunKing @ShaunKing

    Hey Kat!

    You know I respect you a great deal. Most of my closest friends and mentors in ministry are conservatives. I do not in any way believe that all conservatives think this way. Where did I do that and I will address it?

    Also, though – these polls, conducted over and over and over again by the best in the business show that tens of millions of people (when interviewed in private) believe that President Obama is lying about his citizenship and is a Muslim. You probably have met many of them and just didn't know it.

  • http://twitter.com/jaycaruso @jaycaruso

    I didn't say I didn't "approve of his Christianity." I said that his viewpoint that there are many paths to Heaven is false.

  • Debbie

    Why not a minister?

  • T Moore

    Aaron Blevens said it plan and clear 3 hrs ago. Stand on TRUTH.

  • T Moore

    This is such a disappointment that you Shaun are diving into this argument like it is going somewhere or really going to make a difference. I think your stepping out where no minister should go. Scripture or not.

  • Debbie

    T Moore , dont you think that the only way things can change is by intelligent discussion? It seems to me that you are not willing to discuss/debate such a topic as this. The disappointment you say you feel, is self imposed. I think Shaun and all others posting are doing their best to respond fairly to the comments. You however are coming acrossed as 1 sided and mostly closed minded. There is no one answer or right way to fix this, all we can do is open our minds and TRY

  • Amara

    Oprah believes there are many paths to the same place, but I've never heard anyone accuse her of being Muslim. My issue with this whole debate/sentiment is that so many people use "he must be Muslim" as a SCARE TACTIC. Yes, he says he's Christian. Yes, there are things he does/says that cause some to question his level of faith. How is this any different than Christians who believe there's nothing wrong with homosexuality? Premarital sex? Any of the other issues the bible is very clear about that people/Christians tend to blur/confuse? Personally, I have a problem with the "he says he's not Muslim but I don't believe him" debate. If you don't believe he's at a level he should be at as a Christian, that's one thing. But for people to say he's not Christian, that's just ridiculous.

  • http://twitter.com/ShaunKing @ShaunKing

    The thing is though, Bposman, you use a devout Jewish leader as an example to suggest that President Obama is actually a devout Muslim. He isn't.

    Could you imagine how weird it would be if we all were saying that Joseph Biden was a devout Jew. That would just be silly.

  • http://mrshields.com Adam Shields

    According to Barna about 45% of self described Evangelicals agreed or agreed somewhat with "If a person is sincerely seeking God, he or she can obtain eternal life through religions other than Christianity."

    It may be bad theology, but it is not unusual. When I have heard him talking about it, he usually includes as part of that discussion the fact that neither his mother or father were Christians and is concerned about spending eternity apart from them. I know many people that are in similar positions. Even CS Lewis hinted around at a 'light universalism'.

    I think one of the issues that has nothing really to do with this particular issue, is our lack of ability to disagree about theology without disputing one another Christianity. Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo, etc are routinely call non-Christian for there liberal involvement in social action. (Which probably counters some of Shaun's original claim). But having read many social justice figures pretty widely, many them are very Christocentric. We may disagree on the working out of our theology, but that does not mean that we are not still brothers in Christ. I think that is what saddens me most about all of this. Those that I know that have been most vile about Obama are other Christians.

  • http://twitter.com/jaycaruso @jaycaruso

    Adam I don't disagree with you and believe me, I have had to caution people I know personally that are good Christian people about their vitriol towards the President (which is largely political more than anything else).

    I was responding specifically to the point about "multiple paths" and there was a poll worse than the one you cited which stated 57% of evangelical Christians believed the same thing. It's one thing for me to say something like, "Obama is not a REAL Christian because of his beliefs." Like I said above, I don't know the man's heart so I will take him at his word. But I won't sit back and allow serious biblical truth to be distorted.

  • T Moore

    Debbie, Have you ever said or wrote something you wish you could erase. I am wishing that right now. I want to apoligize to Shaun for following his heart. I am a person that doesn't see color & i love all people. I do wish that racism could be healed and we could all move on to the most important things in life and that is loving this great country we live in and unite in strength. A divided house will eventually fall. I would like to help build it up. I think my comments brought division and that im sorry. Thanks Debbie

  • Jonathan

    Usually I’d agree with you, but you don’t even come close to answering her question.

  • T Moore

    sorry jay i really ment to give thumbs up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • http://twitter.com/KatMcKinley @KatMcKinley

    You didn't say it, but many others do and I just wanted to make sure you weren't thinking that way. I feel that a lot of this stuff gets thrown our way when it's just non political weirdos.

    When i ask people on the net about why they believe he is muslim or not a citizen they tell me these things and honestly, I can't address them because I don't know.

    1) They say he has spent millions fighting to not have his originial birth certificate released. Is this true? I can't find out. If I could prove that wasn't true, I might could convince them. Then there is this guy who claims to have talked to Obama;s grandmother who said that people celebrate where Obama was born in Kenya.

    2) They believe he is Muslim because of him saying the call to prayer is the most beautiful sound he has ever heard (in his book) and when he accidently said "My Muslim faith" to ABC news that time. They tell me he doesn't go to church (is that true? I don't know) and that he didn't host the prayer breakfast this year (is that true? I don't know) but he did host the Ramadan dinner. I don't know how to argue these things except to say the things you did in the post, but it doesn't seem to help. I noticed that even the tabloids are on it. The Globe had a story on the front this week of Obama in Arab attire (from when he visited Kenya as a Senator) with a pic of his high school transcript where "Muslim" is written in the religion box! My son just freaked. (we were at the grocery store) He said, "Is that true?" I said, "no, it's just a tabloid." He said, "But it shows the transcript right there!" I told him what I've told him a million times that tabloids print lies all the time. But then he said "Weren't they right about John Edwards?" Umm… yes. So you see why people are believing this? I can understand why you feel the way you do, but I hope it really isn't because of the color of his skin.

  • Rodney Gehman

    Going to church, married in church, kids baptized in church WHO CARES!? Pharisees did all kinds of stuff in church, but Jesus blasted them for wasted religion, and defiling the house of prayer. I'm not saying Obama isn't a Christian, but I'm saying your argument for him being a Christian has serious holes.

    Fine, Obama goes (went) to church (he doesn't anymore). You're a pastor, Shaun. You know there are people who say they're Christians that aren't going to heaven… unfortunately, there's probably some of them in your/my church. I'm not saying that Obama is one of them, I'm just saying that you make a strong point that he goes to church and was baptized, therefore he is a Christian. I don't buy it. Demons believe in God, just sayin.

    Point two: if you, a pastor, are saying "God damn America" to your congregation, and that the USA "deserved" Sept 11, then why should I be excited about having one of your 20+ year parishioners as President? Why should I assume that for 20+ years, Obama didn't hear a word Rev Wright said, and that he believes otherwise? I'm not even saying Rev Wright isn't a Christian, but I'm saying as the political leader of a country, you should not feel towards it the way Rev Wright feels, and I think Obama does. Sadly, your argument validates Rev Wright and his opinion of the USA.

    I'm okay with Christians being politically liberal, but it's time to wake up and see the destruction taking place in America today, stemming straight from the White House by way of terrible politics, out of control spending, and over taxing.

    Unfortunately though, if I disagree with the President, or question his politics, then I'm considered a white Christian racist.

    To me, that's racist.

  • http://mrshields.com Adam Shields

    It is fairly easy to prove those things are not true. There are lots of places like snopes.com that are urban legend research sites. There are others that are politically focused and news based.

    Here is one on the birth certificate. http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertifi…
    A good site should be well cited.

    I watched the interview with Stephanopolous and it was very clear in context what he was saying. Unfortunate that you can take two seconds out of context, but clearly he was not saying he was a Muslim.

    Obama went to high school in Hawaii and his transcript would not have religion marked on it, so I think it is pretty clear that would not be truthful.

    The issue I have is when people refuse documentation. When a woman on a Christian website stated that Obama had never spoken of his conversion before he ran for president, I pointed out that Obama had spoken quite openly in his first book, more than a decade before he ran for Senate, about his conversion to Christianity the woman replied quite nastily that she was not going to support the president by reading one of his books. She had no desire to seek the truth of the matter. She was gossiping based on lies that she had heard. If there is truth available then we should take people at their word and not repeat distortions.

  • Chris

    It is simple ignorance of the masses. It's too bad but, the majority is NOT always right. Spreading ignorant rumors is the worst kind of disease! This is why more people aren't Christians, because someone stupid is in enough of a position of influence and they spew their drivel and get other people all fired up with out consideration of the facts.

    People love a train wreck or any type of attack. They flock like rabid dogs to the scene of a fight and begin shouting, "Fight! Fight! Get him! Kick his butt!" without even knowing who the people fighting are or what they're fighting about! No one wants to be educated anymore; they're lazy. They just think it's easier to follow the majority because they figure "They must be right."

    I'm in an industry where I see this misguided prejudice every day. – Network Marketing. No matter how much money I make doing it or how many other lives I help change for the better, people still cry "Pyramid!" Even though the company I'm with actually has a product and service EVERYONE already uses and needs, and who's MAIN goal is to make life easier and more fun for people, when people hear that you can also make money doing it (even though it just happens to be a by-product of how the company markets itself) they freak out! They have blindly followed the masses and subscribed to decades of wrong-teaching and so they believe that you MUST go to college, get a good job, and work your fingers to the bone for someone else until you can "hope" to retire and live a fraction of the life you were used to. This is just the nature of people when they are in a society.

    When we can get with people one-on-one we can open their eyes to any truths. The problem is, we can't hold them hostage until the correct belief becomes second nature to them. We have to let them go back out into the world where their own spouse, parents, friends or even strangers can so quickly undo any truths or right-behavior you have shared with them. The terms "society" and "civilization" do not at all mean the same things. Civilization can be a very good thing, while Society is usually a cancer of the worst kind.

    Collectively, People don't "Get it". People are ASLEEP!

  • Harriet

    Shaun,__I really appreciate your honesty! The Lord shared with me when President Obama came into office that the enemy is "within." That enemy is a "spirit of prejudice." It is very subtle. I heard President Obama share how he became a Christian. He talked about because of his father he learned about the Muslim faith but when he was a Community Organizer working with the churches in Chicago, that is when he learned more extensively about the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.__What I enjoy about President Obama is that he just keeps doing what he feels is right for the country and ignore the silly controversaries the press loves to keep going!

  • http://www.ShaunInTheCity.com Shaun King

    Rodney,

    When I posted this blog, I knew I was venturing into heated territory, but because I am friends with all types of people I felt it was worth it. Still do.

    However, you created points that have nothing to do with my blog. First – I stated that it is NORMAL and expected for people to have criticisms of policy and even perspective, but that what is happening with President Obama is that MILLIONS of people are claiming that he is a Muslim pretending to be an American.

    You did not address either of these VERY PREVALENT thoughts. You critiqued his Christianity and my thoughts on it, but still didn't deal with my 2 primary points.

    Will you take a moment to address why you or those close to you think he is a Muslim pretending to be an American?

  • Rodney Gehman

    Sure… thanks for the reply.

    I think one of the main reasons is his endorsement of the Ground Zero Mosque. He should have had nothing to do with it (by that I mean he should have left well enough alone, not that he should have rejected it), but he volunteered his support. If he would have supported a Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall, I think we'd be suspecting him of being JW too.

    The second reason is that Obama has recited the following Muslim Prayer and said that it's "the prettiest sound on Earth", which includes:

    Allah is Supreme! Allah is Supreme!
    Allah is Supreme! Allah is Supreme!
    I witness that there is no god but Allah
    I witness that there is no god but Allah
    I witness that Muhammad is his prophet.

    Now, if one of your church members leads out with that prayer in Sunday School and says its the most beautiful thing he/she's ever heard, what conclusion do you draw? Even if they are just doing for some other reason, wouldn't it still raise suspicions? As a Christian, if my kid starts saying there is no other god but Allah… he and I have a heart to heart with the Bible to set him straight.

    Thirdly, in an interview with George Stephanopolous, Obama talked about his "Muslim faith" until the interviewer corrected him and said "you mean Christian faith". For someone who chooses every word carefully…. just sayin.

    Lastly, a small reason people think he's Muslim is that he was born Muslim. Raised Muslim. Schooled Muslim. Immediate family is all Muslim, some converted from Christianity and are considered "devout". Also, in his books, he affirms Malcolm X, and his church praised Louis Farrakhan, both prominent Muslims. He mocks conservative Christians like James Dobson, and has basically said Christianity is great as a personal belief, but has no place in politics.

    Why have 50 million people have raised suspicions over his religion? Well, the evidence against it are: his word. That's it.

  • http://twitter.com/KatMcKinley @KatMcKinley

    Oh wow Shaun, have you seen this!!!??? Your post couldn't be more timely. This is incredible. A serious General behind asking for Obama's original birth certificate. This is pretty big. Not some kook:
    http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/weigel/archive/2…

    You want to know what I honestly think? I think that he was of course born in Hawaii. I just think there must be something else on the certificate that says something we don't know. Who knows? A different father? I don't know, but I do know if it were me, I'd march down to Hawaii, get the birth certificate and pass it around to the press and stick on a CNN camera lens and say "SEEE????". Just sayin

  • http://www.ShaunInTheCity.com Shaun King

    Rodney,

    Most of these polls were out before the ground zero statement. Nobody has endorsed the mosque stronger than (Jewish) NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and no such rumors exist.

  • http://www.ShaunInTheCity.com Shaun King

    Yes Kat. I have been seeing this. The Obama campaign released the official certified copy over 2 years ago. I have a link to it in this blog post.

    The Republican Governor of Hawaii has certified that it is authentic. A link to that in my post as well.

    What else could be done?

  • http://twitter.com/KatMcKinley @KatMcKinley

    Ok, I'm just giving you what others are saying, NOT what I am saying. The certificate that was shown was the short form. The original is the long form and it is tucked safely away in Hawaii and has not been seen. These people say that on the long form at that time in all cases of birth in the United States the religion of the parents is printed under the father's name. Some say that what Obama really fears is the it says, "Muslim" under his father's name. OR that another man is the father. That would make his life story false and not only that, but Muslims say that if a Father is Muslim, the son is Muslim. Obama has always said his father was an atheist. Muslims would see him as Muslim now and then as a apostate for being a Christian and that would be very very bad.

    Basically, people don't want to see a certified copy of the short form. they want to see the ORIGINAL long form, not a copy.

    Now, no one ever has to show their original BC, but given the whole mess, I would think Obama would want to. I still can't find out if it's true that he has spent millions fighting this, but if it is, I find that crazy. Why fight it?

    Personally I don't care and think it's a silly issue, but I'm just telling where other people are coming from.

  • Amara

    @Kat: Their argument confuses me for two reasons: 1) whether it's a short form or a long form, it proves his citizenship; and 2) regardless of whether or not his father is Muslim, how can the religion he was "born" into definitively determine his religion decades later? It proves nothing.

  • Rodney Gehman

    Haha :) Well, I don't know what rumors you're referring to, but what does it matter if the Pres is a Muslim? What diff does it make?

  • Debbie

    T, I think Shaun's post did succeed in making us all think , agree and disagree. Its all good .!
    Discussions like the one here , where we are honest and open, will lead us all to the change for the better I think we all want to see. Peace.

  • Michele

    You are no better then those you criticize by stating “However, a strangely growing percentage of (white conservative) Americans”. Some of the very people that like him and voted for him believe the stories. I am tired of being called a racist because I don’t like him or his politics. Am I a feminist because I don’t like Palouse???? It needs to stop on both sides. We have a half Black president that now allows those who oppose him to be called racist. It is a means to divide… And does our country a disservice .

  • http://GlorytoGlory.org John Blackshear

    Citizenship, not the important issue ….. Stating he’s Christian is offensive to me; he does not take a Christian’s stance. A servant of my God, and my Lord would not support/sanction gay marriage or any type of homosexual lifestyle. He/She would not support the funding for the killing of unborn children (abortion), and would definitely be able to espouse a position which declares Jesus, the Christ, as Lord. President Barack Hussein Obama has failed terribly at representing the Kingdom of God.

    If my people, who are called by My Name, would humble themselves, pray, seek My face and turn from their ways, then will they hear from heaven & I will heal their land……. We don’t have long to act, if there’s no major change America will suffer the consequences of saying no to God.

    Shaun, you’ve had many campaigns to help the needy in your area. How about start a campaign for the people of God to embrace God’s Word, forget being politically correct and take a stance to uphold the standards of the Kingdom of God.

    Like many in the “body” of Christ, there are those who’ve become disillusioned and have been blinded by the enemies tactics! Wake-up people, hear the voice of the Lord, America is headed for trouble. The people of God need to take a stand!

    We should also continue to pray for the President as well as all of our nation’s leaders and pastors.

  • Carol K

    Fear is a terrible thing. If I had one prayer for the world, it would be that we all had just a 50% decrease in fear and a 100% increase in the profound understanding that everything we see and touch was created by a God of infinite love. Furthermore, if one believes that then one is compelled to at least acknowledge that we are all connected by that unfathomable love. When we begin to do that, then fear naturally begins to drop away.

    Through God's love and grace, we are all works in progress. What we are today is not what we will be tomorrow. We can make mistakes. We can disagree with each other. We can have different priorities. Dare I say it, we can even not believe in a God. All that is the noise of living. Just like the sounds of the garbage truck on a summer morning, it only drowns out the the joyful music of the birds, crickets and the dawning of a new day. They are still there, we just can't hear it.

  • Elijah Moses

    I am black also and am not saying some people that make these comments aint racist but majority are just critical of every president.people realy hated Bush and made very nasty jokes at him. I dont see how his is reall dffferent from that. i voted for Obama, but sometimes i fear that he is not well suited as president for 2day America. Maybe if he were president in the 90s’or even early 2ooo and somthing’ but sure not 2day. he turned the other cheek to them building a mosque on ground zero which could very well be the beginnig of the taliban take over.to me that is weak. he could have protected this nation from her enemies, even at the expense of those he might offend

  • http://mrshields.com Adam Shields

    Who cares. No one debates his mom was a US citizen and according to US law, that makes Obama an automatic citizen. He was not born in Kenya, every single relevant official has certified to that. But even if he was, because his mom was a citizen he is a citizen.

    McCain was born outside the US. No one seriously questioned his right to run for the President.

  • Kristi

    Not you… but most people. The second comment says something about how "white america" is handling this badly and I see that phrase all over the place. And I just think that people who are saying that its a racism issue are actually being racist themselves by using that phrase. I know a lot of white people that like Obama (including myself). SUPER Conservatives are doing this… not white people. Just my opinion. =)

  • Makya Pryor

    How is NOT being racist considered weak? Every ethnic/religious group has its set of extremist. If the Black Panthers were to blow up a building and the NAACP wanted to build an office near that location, would you have a problem with that? Although they share the same skin color, that doesn't mean they think (or behave) the same. All Muslim-Americans are not terrorists, all African-Americans aren't ghetto, all Hispanic-Americans are not illegal immigrants; and to assume any of these to be true is ignorant. Don't hate on a man with an open mind just because yours is not.

  • http://chuckwarnock.com Chuck Warnock

    Shaun, your post is exactly on target and something that I wrote in EthicsDaily.com (http://www.ethicsdaily.com/news.php?viewStory=15974) a couple of months ago. I, too, got pilloried over my characterizing the Tea Party as tinged with racism. I would point all your readers to Jose Bonilla Silva's book, Racism Without Racists, where he writes about the new racism. EthicsDaily.com also published my article on the "new racism" (http://www.ethicsdaily.com/news.php?viewStory=16229) but I also got a lot of pushback on that.

    Whites (I am one, so this is really okay for me to say) are culturally tone-deaf to the voices of people of color who are the targets of insidious racism everyday of their lives. Racism exists, not in the snarling contorted visions of the civil rights struggle, but in the smiling "I'm-not-a-racist-but…" rhetoric of primarily whites (middle age, conservative, Tea Party-types) who want to paint President Obama with a brush of "otherness" and must do so by demonizing him in anyway possible.

    My friend, you continue to speak the truth. I for one agree with you.

  • Amara

    Hi Michele:

    Which post were you responding to? Your comment comes under mine, but it's responding to words I never used. Just trying to seek clarity…

  • Amara

    Clarification: he doesn't support/sanction gay marriage. He doesn't support funding abortions.

    But while we're at it, McCain left his crippled wife after a horrific accident and married another woman a month after the divorce was finalized. Isn't divorce wrong according to the bible?

    We can all play these games. The reality is if we're going by biblical standards, Obama, McCain, Bush, Clinton, etc. would never have even set foot in the White House.

    This has nothing, however, to do with the issue that was initially brought up – why people insist that he's a Muslim and why people insist he's a non-citizen.

  • Amara

    Oh, and King David? Wouldn't have made it either. Moses? A leader? Are you kidding?? Peter? Not him either.

    And let's bring it to modern times – Joel Osteen? Remember the whole "I'm not saying Jesus is the only way" comment in that interview? Since we're holding people accountable for every statement they make, let's start with the religious leaders who literally make a living off of the Word of God.

    I'm just saying…

  • http://chuckwarnock.com Chuck Warnock

    Correction: that should be Eduardo Bonilla Silva and his book, Racism Without Racists.

  • http://twitter.com/billjaimez @billjaimez

    Let me start off by saying that I am a conservative white christian male. It would probably not shock you that I do not agree with The President's politics and believe that as a country we are going the wrong direction on many fronts. I was very proud of our country when Obama was elected President, felt like we could finally get past the race issue and have real dialogue on issues. I fear not, I could not agree more with your statement that these attacks are racist and that they should use the N word instead. As you have pointed out he faith has been documented ad nausium as well as his citizenship. I may not agree with his theology, or his politics but he is our President, he deserves our respect and our prayers.

  • Jason

    I agree with the fact that the rumor mill is ridiculous and unnecessary. But then again, that is politics. No matter what the race or platform, politicians will have things said about them and lots of accusations. This has gone on as long as I have lived and will continue as long as Man has an opinion.

    So for you to come to Obama's rescue seems unbalanced and may reveal your own prejudices.

  • http://theobsidianfiles.wordpress.com Obsidian

    Hello Shaun,

    Just wanted to say that I got turned on to your blog through the grapevine, and I am very happy to say that I got the word! Great job you’re doing here, by all means, keep it up.

    Inspired by your post here, I wrote one of the my own, as well as linking back to yours here. By all means check it out, would love to hear what you think!

    http://theobsidianfiles.wordpress.com/2010/09/03/…

    Holla back

    The Obsidian

  • imre

    Shaun if he wasn't a black President you would not be trying to convince everyone that he is a Christian; you need to study your Bible that is if you believe it is the word of God. Jesus said that you will know them by their fruit, Obama's tree is bare. You may want to study the truth of the Bible before you continue to preach. I not telling you this to be mean but because I care about your soul and also Obama's. You may want to study 1 and 2 Timothy again and be sure you qualify to be a pastor and pay special attention to 2Tim 3 I will be praying for you that the Holy Spirit will teach you the truth

  • shaunking

    Jason – I have as a life goal standing against racism and discrimination. Which politicians do you know that have been accused of lying about their American citizenship or being a secret Muslim?

  • shaunking

    Love it man. This is what I am talking about. Go against every policy, campaign against him, do all of that, but leave the silly attacks out of it. Makes everybody involved look bad.

  • shaunking

    Thanks a ton Chuck. Loved your thoughts and insights man.

  • Bob

    Raised by an atheist, actually. Then by liberal Protestants. Get your sh*t right. Ignorance makes me mad.
    And read Malcolm X's autobiography and see if you can't gain some respect for the man. This cracker (referring to myself, in case you missed that) did.

    And theology aside, if you don't think a Muslim prayer call (or an Episcopal choir for that matter) sounds pretty, you have a tin ear.

  • Jason

    Shaun,

    First let me just say that I think you have a wonderful ministry and think you are doing a great work for God's Kingdom.

    To answer your question though, I do not know of anyone accused of THOSE things. But if it is not that, it is something else. You said that you "made a pledge that you would stay out of politics …but you could not bite your tongue." You have also shown in this blog and your newest blog that part of your issue is people denying Obama's Christianity.

    But there have been plenty of people who have questioned G.W. Bush's faith and even accusing him of being involved in secret societies. People questioned Bill Clinton's faith over and over again, and there have been numerous bashings pointed towards Sarah Palin.

    But now all of a sudden because there are some things said against Obama, it must be race driven.

    God bless you man and I mean no harm with my comments and only wish you the best.

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  • http://twitter.com/DemetriusDavis @DemetriusDavis

    Great post Shaun! Very bold. We shouldn't be surprised at the racist undertones coming from within the church. Racism has been plaguing the church in America for centuries and is more anti-Christian than protecting the rights of a religious group (Muslims) to build a religious facility wherever they choose. For the record, I pastor a Christian Church and hate abortion. I wish we could overturn this decision made by the courts nearly 40 years ago. However, as a Christian I recognize that being pro-life should not stop at birth. We should also be pro-equality so that the child has an equal opportunity at attaining success. We should be pro gun-control so that the child can play in his front yard without fear of being shot by automatic gunfire. Lastly, let us not forget all of the innocent Iraqi's who have been aborted by a war that we began unjustly.

  • Rodney

    Bob,

    The question was "why do people around me think he's a muslim". I answered the question. Never said any of it was my opinion. Never said I don't respect Malcolm X. Never said the prayer doesn't sound pretty… i've never heard it.

    My opinion is this: I do think Obama has Muslim roots, and it plays a part of who he is. But if he says he's a Christian, who am I to say he's not? I disagree with everything he politically says/does/stands for, but that has nothing to do with him being or not being Muslim. He's a terrible President, and possesses the worst politics known to mankind. But that doesn't mean I won't see him in heaven.

    In fact, for his sake, I hope he is a Christian. :)

    Love, The Ignorant Tin Ear. :)

  • RachelC

    Kat, Hawaii does not release the long forms of birth certificates. Ever. To anyone.

    If you lose your original "long-form" certificate, you're out of luck. That's it. Plus, it doesn't matter. Everything you need to know about his live birth is included on the Birth Certificate Shaun linked to in his article. Who cares what religion his Father self-identified by at the moment of his birth? We know Obama's family on his father's side is Muslim. So what?

  • Becky

    I have not done intensive research, I am not going back and referencing every single point to the article and comments. I'm not writing an essay, contrary to this comments length, and I am horrible at spelling. This is just my gut reaction, as a white WOMEN (if that somehow adds validity to my response). My friends don't believe the Muslim crap and the two acquaintances that do are the same ones that forward those ridiculous chain emails. I assume the minority guys' response in the show was similar to my absolute disgust with some of the vile t-shirts targeting Palin (calling her a sexual organ). The sight of a women wearing this shirt was like a slap on the face. I want to throw up. The anti-Pelosi wear is almost as bad. Though I am not in the tea party, I understand the taxation frustration, and the slur, that I don't know the meaning of, that is hurled upon the group is still hurtful. Back in the day I found it absolutely shocking that anyone would think our President orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. Wasn't that just as un-Americanizing as saying Obama isn't an American? Is it racism, sexisms or anti-southern "redneckism" beneath all this hate? And is one more wrong that the other? Everyone bleeds when you prick them. I feel like yelling out a window, "I'm as mad as heck and I'm not gonna take it anymore."

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  • tazzy

    …deep and true, true and deep…and I so enjoy David Gergens' intellectually stimulating commentary on CNN – who knew he was a coward…for Ari on the other hand, par for the course…

  • Daniel

    I think your comments are essential to this post. We are being played by the media, allowing them to tell us that there are only two sides in this affair, and we must align ourselves to one or the other. Why can we not respect the man and his position without questioning the wisdom of his decisions. People may argue that we do not have the right to judge. But I am accountable to you (that is the body), public servants are as well.

  • Jon

    Just for the record, not all white conservatives who don’t like him are concerned with his race. Best I can tell he is 1/4 Middle Eastern, 1/4 African, and 1/2 white. I love that ‘melting pot’ mix. I wish we could consider all people on their merits, not the color of their skin.

    The reason I don’t like him is because his view of where America should be is different than my view. We are so far apart that it is painful when I think about it.

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