Campbell Brown Commentary: So what if Obama were a Muslim or an Arab?

[Lannie]

Source

Author: By Campbell Brown
CNN

NEW YORK (CNN) -- You may find it hard to believe that this remains an issue in this campaign, but it does.

The candidates, both candidates, are still getting questions about Barack Obama''s ethnicity and religion. If you are even semi-informed, then by now you already know that of course, Barack Obama is an American.

Of course, Barack Obama is a Christian. Yet just a few days ago, there was a woman at a rally for John McCain incorrectly calling Obama an Arab:

Woman at rally: I don''t trust Obama. I have read about him and he''s an Arab.

Sen. John McCain: No ma''am, no ma''am. He''s a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That''s what this campaign is all about. He''s not, thank you.

Now, I commend Sen. McCain for correcting that woman, for setting the record straight. But I do have one question -- so what if he was?

So what if Obama was Arab or Muslim? So what if John McCain was Arab or Muslim? Would it matter?

When did that become a disqualifier for higher office in our country? When did Arab and Muslim become dirty words? The equivalent of dishonorable or radical?

Whenever this gets raised, the implication is that there is something wrong with being an Arab-American or a Muslim. And the media is complicit here, too.

We''ve all been too quick to accept the idea that calling someone Muslim is a slur. I feel like I am stating the obvious here, but apparently it needs to be said: There is a difference between radical Muslims who support jihad against America and Muslims who want to practice their religion freely and have normal lives like anyone else.

There are more than 1.2 million Arab-Americans and about 7 million Muslim-Americans, former Cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, successful business people, normal average Americans from all walks of life.

These are the people being maligned here, and we can only imagine how this conversation plays in the Muslim world. We can''t tolerate this ignorance -- not in the media, not on the campaign trail.

Of course, he''s not an Arab. Of course, he''s not a Muslim. But honestly, it shouldn''t matter.

I''m REALLY glad that someone in the media, especially a respected person in the media, said this. It was making me really angry.

 

[MoonWater]

Kudos Campbell!!

 

[Anna0499]

I agree it doesn''t matter if he is a Muslim...that is, the kind of Muslim that most Muslims are (non-radical, non-violent). I do, however, wonder if his campaign got this memo when they wouldn''t allow Muslims to sit behind his podium to avoid being in pictures.

 

[goobear78]

Date: 10/14/2008 6:37:06 PM
Author: IndyGirl22
I agree it doesn''t matter if he is a Muslim...that is, the kind of Muslim that most Muslims are (non-radical, non-violent). I do, however, wonder if his campaign got this memo when they wouldn''t allow Muslims to sit behind his podium to avoid being in pictures.

Guess McCain must have gotten that memo too since I''ve never seen a single person of color standing behind his podium. LOL.

Kudos to Cambell. A sane voice in a sea of political crazy right now. I was actually really surprised McCain didn''t say that when asked.

 

[beebrisk]

Date: 10/14/2008 8:25:03 PM
Author: goobear78

Date: 10/14/2008 6:37:06 PM

Author: IndyGirl22

I agree it doesn''t matter if he is a Muslim...that is, the kind of Muslim that most Muslims are (non-radical, non-violent). I do, however, wonder if his campaign got this memo when they wouldn''t allow Muslims to sit behind his podium to avoid being in pictures.

Guess McCain must have gotten that memo too since I''ve never seen a single person of color standing behind his podium. LOL.

That may or may not be true Goobear, I don''t know. But the point Indy was making was that the Muslim woman standing by the podium at the Obama rally was asked to move out of the picture.

 

[iheartscience]

I love Campbell Brown! I completely agree with her and I''m pretty sure I said the same thing here on PS a while ago.

 

[vespergirl]

I am so glad that Campbell Brown said this also - as the proud friend of many Muslim-Americans, it was always offensive to me that people assume that all Muslims are terrorists (which they are totally not). Maybe it''s because I grew up in New York, but the people in my neighborhood were Jewish, Catholic, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, agnostic, and we even had a couple of Protestants

I think that when people get to meet people from other faiths, they realize that we all actually have more in common than not. And whenever people say, "well, Muslim terrorists caused 9/11," I am always quick to remind them that American Evangelical terrorists were the ones that caused the bombings in Oklahoma City, the Olympics in Georgia, and at Birmingham, Boston & Buffalo women''s health centers. So, it seems that extremism can occur within any religion, but should not be permitted or encouraged by any.

 

[vespergirl]

Oh, and one more thing - not all Arabs are Muslims, just as not all Americans are Christians. My ex-husband was Lebanese Christian, and you will find Christians and Jews in the Arab world, as well as Muslims.

 

[trillionaire]

Date: 10/14/2008 8:57:43 PM
Author: beebrisk

Date: 10/14/2008 8:25:03 PM

Author: goobear78

Date: 10/14/2008 6:37:06 PM


Author: IndyGirl22


I agree it doesn't matter if he is a Muslim...that is, the kind of Muslim that most Muslims are (non-radical, non-violent). I do, however, wonder if his campaign got this memo when they wouldn't allow Muslims to sit behind his podium to avoid being in pictures.

Guess McCain must have gotten that memo too since I've never seen a single person of color standing behind his podium. LOL.

That may or may not be true Goobear, I don't know. But the point Indy was making was that the Muslim woman standing by the podium at the Obama rally was asked to move out of the picture.

Reference: http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/muslim-women-rejected-at-obama-rally/20080618155909990001

The follow-up

Detractors can say what the will, but I have a very hard time believing that the Obama campaign would have found it useful at all to bar Muslims in traditional dress from photo ops at rallies. I seems to me that there was some misunderstanding, but regardless, I applaud his ability to own the situation and to make the necessary steps to correct it. That, to me, is presidential.

 

[trillionaire]

Given this topic, I thought this was interesting as well. Thread lightly, as we are not supposed to discuss ''race'' here, so I guess focus on the issue

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/15/us/politics/15nevada.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin

 

[beebrisk]

Date: 10/15/2008 2:52:37 PM
Author: trillionaire

Date: 10/14/2008 8:57:43 PM

Author: beebrisk

Date: 10/14/2008 8:25:03 PM


Author: goobear78

Date: 10/14/2008 6:37:06 PM



Author: IndyGirl22



I agree it doesn''t matter if he is a Muslim...that is, the kind of Muslim that most Muslims are (non-radical, non-violent). I do, however, wonder if his campaign got this memo when they wouldn''t allow Muslims to sit behind his podium to avoid being in pictures.

Guess McCain must have gotten that memo too since I''ve never seen a single person of color standing behind his podium. LOL.

That may or may not be true Goobear, I don''t know. But the point Indy was making was that the Muslim woman standing by the podium at the Obama rally was asked to move out of the picture.

Reference: http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/muslim-women-rejected-at-obama-rally/20080618155909990001


The follow-up


Detractors can say what the will, but I have a very hard time believing that the Obama campaign would have found it useful at all to bar Muslims in traditional dress from photo ops at rallies. I seems to me that there was some misunderstanding, but regardless, I applaud his ability to own the situation and to make the necessary steps to correct it. That, to me, is presidential.

Someone must have dipped Senator Obama in Teflon at some point in his life...There''s pretty much NOTHING he can say or do that "sticks". Clearly he''s the worlds most perfect human. Clearly he doesn''t have a divisive bone in his perfect, altruistic body. Well, at least in the eyes of his devoted followers who have all but deified him.

Give me a break...

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 10/15/2008 4:32:59 PM
Author: beebrisk

Date: 10/15/2008 2:52:37 PM
Author: trillionaire

Date: 10/14/2008 8:57:43 PM

Author: beebrisk

Date: 10/14/2008 8:25:03 PM


Author: goobear78

Date: 10/14/2008 6:37:06 PM



Author: IndyGirl22



I agree it doesn''t matter if he is a Muslim...that is, the kind of Muslim that most Muslims are (non-radical, non-violent). I do, however, wonder if his campaign got this memo when they wouldn''t allow Muslims to sit behind his podium to avoid being in pictures.

Guess McCain must have gotten that memo too since I''ve never seen a single person of color standing behind his podium. LOL.

That may or may not be true Goobear, I don''t know. But the point Indy was making was that the Muslim woman standing by the podium at the Obama rally was asked to move out of the picture.

Reference: http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/muslim-women-rejected-at-obama-rally/20080618155909990001


The follow-up


Detractors can say what the will, but I have a very hard time believing that the Obama campaign would have found it useful at all to bar Muslims in traditional dress from photo ops at rallies. I seems to me that there was some misunderstanding, but regardless, I applaud his ability to own the situation and to make the necessary steps to correct it. That, to me, is presidential.

Someone must have dipped Senator Obama in Teflon at some point in his life...There''s pretty much NOTHING he can say or do that ''sticks''. Clearly he''s the worlds most perfect human. Clearly he doesn''t have a divisive bone in his perfect, altruistic body. Well, at least in the eyes of his devoted followers who have all but deified him.

Give me a break...

I think the same could be said for McCain . . .

 

[MaggieB]

Date: 10/15/2008 4:32:59 PM
Author: beebrisk

Date: 10/15/2008 2:52:37 PM
Author: trillionaire

Date: 10/14/2008 8:57:43 PM

Author: beebrisk

Date: 10/14/2008 8:25:03 PM


Author: goobear78

Date: 10/14/2008 6:37:06 PM



Author: IndyGirl22



I agree it doesn''t matter if he is a Muslim...that is, the kind of Muslim that most Muslims are (non-radical, non-violent). I do, however, wonder if his campaign got this memo when they wouldn''t allow Muslims to sit behind his podium to avoid being in pictures.

Guess McCain must have gotten that memo too since I''ve never seen a single person of color standing behind his podium. LOL.

That may or may not be true Goobear, I don''t know. But the point Indy was making was that the Muslim woman standing by the podium at the Obama rally was asked to move out of the picture.

Reference: http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/muslim-women-rejected-at-obama-rally/20080618155909990001


The follow-up


Detractors can say what the will, but I have a very hard time believing that the Obama campaign would have found it useful at all to bar Muslims in traditional dress from photo ops at rallies. I seems to me that there was some misunderstanding, but regardless, I applaud his ability to own the situation and to make the necessary steps to correct it. That, to me, is presidential.

Someone must have dipped Senator Obama in Teflon at some point in his life...There''s pretty much NOTHING he can say or do that ''sticks''. Clearly he''s the worlds most perfect human. Clearly he doesn''t have a divisive bone in his perfect, altruistic body. Well, at least in the eyes of his devoted followers who have all but deified him.

Give me a break...

This happened when I was in school over the summer. By coincidence, I was taking Communication Campaigns, so we talked about it in class. What I remember most about the whole episode is that two people in my class, at an expensive liberal arts school, argued that Obama was IN FACT, an ARAB MUSLIM, and that they had found out in an email. So while we discussed the wrongness of the actions of the volunteers, we also discussed what might have compelled them, as the Obama campaign was in the midst of fighting against a stealth email smear campaign. Not defending the actions, just trying to understand the motivation. So let''s review this scandal. The action was by his volunteers, not himself, and he immediately repudiated their actions and apologized to the individuals. It''s a nonstory.

 

[MaggieB]

Oh, and as far as "NOTHING he can say or do that ''sticks''" . . . read The Audacity of Hope. Those words stick.

 

[Anna0499]

Right, it was his CAMPAIGN workers that told the Muslims to move out of the picture, not him - I''m glad he admitted the wrongness of the situation and apologized. My post was in reference to the OP that religion/ethicity/namesake shouldn''t matter and that Obama''s CAMPAIGN has actually acknowledged that it *does indeed* matter by its actions.

As for "never" seeing a "person of color" behind McCain''s podium...LOL...a quick google search with prove otherwise.

 

[beebrisk]

Date: 10/15/2008 4:56:23 PM
Author: MaggieB
read The Audacity of Hope. Those words stick.

To what?

Oh, never mind. You missed the point.

 

[starsapphire]

I think that a Muslim being elected to the Presidency this soon after 911 would be um, tacky. It would raise a whole lot of issues of say, tearing us down from within, so to speak. I mean think about it, if "they" the terrorists, could get one of "theirs" in our political system, that would just beat all for them. What a victory for them. They could not destroy us after 911, but, have you noticed, people seem to be falling all over themselves to make Muslims and Arabs "feel ok"?

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

Date: 10/15/2008 9:50:41 PM
Author: starsapphire
I think that a Muslim being elected to the Presidency this soon after 911 would be um, tacky. It would raise a whole lot of issues of say, tearing us down from within, so to speak. I mean think about it, if ''they'' the terrorists, could get one of ''theirs'' in our political system, that would just beat all for them. What a victory for them. They could not destroy us after 911, but, have you noticed, people seem to be falling all over themselves to make Muslims and Arabs ''feel ok''?

They should feel ok. Most Nazis were christians, but most christians are not nazis, same logic for arabs. They did not do anything wrong, they did not condone anything wrong being done and they were horrified at what happened like the rest of us.

Did you think it was tacky to elect a christian president after the Oklahoma City Bombing? McVeigh was christian.

 

[starsapphire]

Date: 10/15/2008 10:36:52 PM
Author: brazen_irish_hussy

Date: 10/15/2008 9:50:41 PM
Author: starsapphire
I think that a Muslim being elected to the Presidency this soon after 911 would be um, tacky. It would raise a whole lot of issues of say, tearing us down from within, so to speak. I mean think about it, if ''they'' the terrorists, could get one of ''theirs'' in our political system, that would just beat all for them. What a victory for them. They could not destroy us after 911, but, have you noticed, people seem to be falling all over themselves to make Muslims and Arabs ''feel ok''?

They should feel ok. Most Nazis were christians, but most christians are not nazis, same logic for arabs. They did not do anything wrong, they did not condone anything wrong being done and they were horrified at what happened like the rest of us.

Did you think it was tacky to elect a christian president after the Oklahoma City Bombing? McVeigh was christian.

After his parents'' divorce, McVeigh lived with his father; his sisters moved to Florida with their mother. He and his father were devout Roman Catholics who often attended daily Mass. In a recorded interview with Time Magazine[12] McVeigh professed his belief in "a God", although he said he had "sort of lost touch with" Catholicism and "never really picked it [back] up". The Guardian reported that McVeigh wrote a letter claiming to be an agnostic.[13] He was given the Catholic sacrament of Viaticum before his execution. McVeigh believed the universe was guided by natural law, energized by some universal higher power that showed each person right from wrong if they paid attention to what was going on inside them. He said, "Science is my religion."[14]

 

[starsapphire]

If an out and out Muslim ran for President of this country, people would crap their pants. I don''t think this country is as "enlightened" as some people want it to be.