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Jed Babbin, the editor of Human Events, for which I write a weekly column, contacted me yesterday evening to tell me he had received a call from a Washington Post reporter, Perry Bacon, asking him about a column I wrote eight months ago entitled "Our First Muslim President?” -- about, of course, Barack Obama.
Apparently the Post is reacting to a recent Robert Novak column in which Novak said this:
WASHINGTON -- Agents of Sen. Hillary Clinton are spreading the word in Democratic circles that she has scandalous information about her principal opponent for the party's presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama, but has decided not to use it. The nature of the alleged scandal was not disclosed.
What could it be? Well, there are some signs that at least some people think it has something to do with Obama's Muslim upbringing. This week also Doonesbury's Garry Trudeau has been editorializing about a viral email that has been going around claiming that Obama is still a Muslim, and now the Post's Perry Bacon is digging into eight-month-old articles. Bacon asked Babbin, "The article’s entitled 'Our First Muslim President.' Do you think that’s reasonable?"
Of course, the article is actually entitled "Our First Muslim President?," with the question mark, and it debunks those viral emails by making it clear that Obama has left Islam. It suggests that Obama's Muslim past may actually make him a more attractive candidate in many circles, allowing him to present himself as the one candidate who really understands the Islamic world, and thus the only one who can make peace with it. In fact, it was so neutrally written that some people took it as my endorsement of Obama's candidacy. That it certainly wasn't, but it wasn't remotely the kind of dirty-trick attack that Perry Bacon seems to be assuming it was. I guess now I'm working for Hillary, or maybe that Bacon was hoping to hang on me what Hillary's people are doing: Jed tells me that Bacon's questions represent "an apparent effort by the Washington Post to defend Hillary Clinton and protect her from the backwash of the tricks she’s trying to pull."
We'll see what kind of story he produces, but I suspect already that Perry Bacon of the Washington Post, who made no attempt to contact me while asking about a column that I wrote, is set to join the illustrious S. I. Rosenbaum of the St. Petersburg Times, Eric Gorski of Associated Press, and Elizabeth Holmes of the Wall Street Journal in the Jihad Watch Journalism Hall of Fame. If you're looking for a sly ideologue trying to masquerade as an objective observer, just call a reporter.
Posted by Robert at November 21, 2007 2:20 PM
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"If you're looking for a sly ideologue trying to masquerade as an objective observer, just call a reporter."
We'll see if Perry Bacon may be one day turns up as Perry Mutton.
Posted by: Osmund Bindalen![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 21, 2007 3:17 PM
Robert said
[Robert's article entitled 'Our First Muslim President?'] suggests that Obama's Muslim past may actually make him a more attractive candidate in many circles, allowing him to present himself as the one candidate who really understands the Islamic world, and thus the only one who can make peace with it.
That's a bit of a stretch, innit? I haven't heard Obama say even one carefully-couched word about the danger of Islam and jihad. But I guess anything's theoretically possible.
Posted by: special_guest at November 21, 2007 3:20 PM
It's unfortunate that we can't trust the perceptions of media people. Am not a Hillary fan, but was interested in what that bruhaha about her "flip-flop" on licenses for illegals. When I watched the clip, three times, I saw a bit of murky talk, but not the terrible performance that some were claiming.
Posted by: StillBreathing at November 21, 2007 3:22 PM
Special Guest
You're reading too much into what I said. I said that people will THINK he is the only candidate who really understands the Islamic world. I didn't say he really was the only candidate who understood the Islamic world. In fact, it is likely that if he did ever become President, he'd pursue a straight appeasement line.
Cordially
Robert Spencer
at November 21, 2007 3:23 PM
Dear Mr. Spencer:
In the name of The American Front for the Struggle Against Domineering Women, I protest your grotesque propagandizing at the behest of that emasclating harridan, and DEMAND you desist forthwith; additionally, that you issue Mr. Obama a letter of apology, expressing remorse for being, hitherto, a tool and shill of the aforementioned shewish man-eating black widow, coupled with amends made payable to our Egyptian parent organization.
Misogynisticly yours,
Just Another Pathetic Jihadist Wannabe
Posted by: John C at November 21, 2007 3:24 PM
My point (and I do have one) is that you really need to rely on your own perceptions... which is a problem, since you can't take in all the information in the world. You have to trust some people.
Many of us have come to trust the folks at jihadwatch to tell us the details on Islam. Seems to match what we see in Islamic practice, and it makes the babblings of bin Laden, Hooper, and others more understandable.
(Yes, I am glad to have written a sentence that included two people who want to set the stage for Islamic resurgence. May each get what he deserves.)
Posted by: StillBreathing at November 21, 2007 3:27 PM
Oops, that should read "sh[r]ewish man-eating black widow."
Posted by: John C at November 21, 2007 3:28 PM
Re: What could it be? Well, there are some signs that at least some people think it has something to do with Obama's Muslim upbringing.
I doubt that it has anything to do with I-slam. However, the Clinton smear machine will destroy him when it suits them. They pulled this tactic on Monica Lewinsky (Stalker, promiscuous, etc-they even had some prof of hers at a college say she had an affair with him) by leaking her past to reporters. However, Monica screwed them with the blue dress. Maybe Obama has a blue dress.
at November 21, 2007 3:29 PM
Noted CIA aficionado Robert Novak said:
Agents of Sen. Hillary Clinton are spreading the word in Democratic circles that she has scandalous information about her principal opponent for the party's presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama
If I believed half the stories about how unrelenting and underhanded and brutal Hillary Clinton is, I'd vote for her.
Posted by: special_guest at November 21, 2007 3:35 PM
special_guest,
Shame, shame! Such musings place your good standing within the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy in jeopardy!
Posted by: John C at November 21, 2007 3:42 PM
Obama was indeed born into a muslim family and that means he is one - he is not one now.
None of that is a secret.
What could have been a secret was his recently admitting he was a druggie. He opened up in front of children about it.
I have mixed feelings about. On one hand we had a lying President who 'didn't inhale' (yeah, right), and now Obama admitting he drugged himself up in high school.
But, back to him being a muslim. He belongs to a Christian, black church that is just as prejudiced as muslims about others. But, at least they don't kill people for not being black. But, this is not a guy who I want running my government - he is a lamo. He is dull witted. He mouths the same left wing garbage, no new ideas, votes all the time against our military and intelligence agencies, and basically is just a talker - who couldn't even talk himself out of the question of whether or not he is for illegals getting licenses or not. And then he is noted for slithering out if there is a controversial vote up in the Senate.
Posted by: R_not at November 21, 2007 3:45 PM
Robert, I have written postings where the replies seem to indicate that certain words do not register with the reader. The modifiers such as "could be" "maybe" or "possibly" are somehow missed. If you were to write that it is possible that Barack Obama would be considered an apostate by some Muslims, there would be a large number of people who would say flatly that you wrote that Obama was considered an apostate by all Muslims.
I'm no psychologist, but perhaps people are translating things to fit their own opinions.
Posted by: Pelayo at November 21, 2007 3:45 PM
If I believed half the stories about how unrelenting and underhanded and brutal Hillary Clinton is, I'd vote for her.
Posted by: special_guest at November 21, 2007 3:35 PM
They are that bad. This is a tag team when it comes to smears. (They make Fibrahim Hooper look like Saint Francis.) They used FBI files (which they were not supposed to have) to intimidate opposition. The real reasons why Clinton should have been impeached were not the reasons given when he was impeached. The impeachment was driven by personal resentments re Clinton tactics. That's my hunch.
The truth is I would vote for Obama over them. They are that bad. These are vicious power seekers and they will destrouy anone who gets in their way.
Posted by: Frank at November 21, 2007 3:50 PM
Frank, for me it all depends on who the Republicans nominate. If I don't like the Republican, I'll stay home.
Posted by: Pelayo at November 21, 2007 3:58 PM
The Pelayo axiom: A candidate who tries to be all things to all people is nothing to anybody.
Posted by: Pelayo at November 21, 2007 4:08 PM
The reaction of Obama (admitting drug taking, etc.) indicates to me that he knows that what they have on him has to do with his personal behavior-his personal life. He may feel deep resentment against them and may rip out at them before he sinks. In spite of what poop-heads such as Fibrahim Hooper think, all hate (and love) is personal. Only crazy people take personal hate and project it out on groups. They have something personal on Obama. I doubt it's about I-slam.
Posted by: Frank at November 21, 2007 4:11 PM
His father was a muslim and his book is called dreams of my father.
I dont trust his bonifides as anything but a muslim.
at November 21, 2007 4:14 PM
It is my understanding that if one wants to find the real Obama, just make a comment about his ears.
Posted by: Pelayo at November 21, 2007 4:16 PM
I don't trust him either. I don't trust his current religious choice and the fact he could still be a muslim under the skin. 'A wolf in sheep's clothing' sort of analogy except the Christian religion he chose is not a sheep.
And I trust the Clintons even less.
I will go out to vote - and the only Republican that I would stay home for would be Ron Paul.
Posted by: R_not at November 21, 2007 4:20 PM
... a column I wrote eight months ago entitled "Our First Muslim President?” -- about, of course, Barack Obama.
Oh, go ahead and indulge yourself, Robert. It's Barack Hussein Obama.
* 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 *
Given that the media refuses even to expose Mr. Hussein's current church, a racist hate-cult, it's unsurprising that no enterprising reporter will dig into Mr. Hussein's madrassas education taken deep inside the dark jungles of that hell-hole that calls itself Indonesia.
Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at November 21, 2007 4:21 PM
The Pelayo axiom: A candidate who tries to be all things to all people is nothing to anybody.
Posted by: Pelayo at November 21, 2007 4:08 PM
Pelayo-They are all chameleons. There are only a few Lincoln or Barry Goldwater types that make it in politics. They are almost all phonies. However, I would vote for Fibrahim Hooper over the Clintons as the lesser of two evils. The Clintons are smart.
at November 21, 2007 4:23 PM
If Obama is a muslim under the skin - all we would be is one big dhimmi, jizya paying people. Oh, it seems we might be that already. Our STOOOOOPID politicians fall for all the muslim's 'turnspeak', taqiyya, etc.
Posted by: R_not at November 21, 2007 4:31 PM
He doesn't even have to formally be a moslem, his church is an "afro-centric" church, you know, the kind that would invite a moslem like Farakhan to speak. Look up his church, see if that is not the truth.
Posted by: interestinconundrum at November 21, 2007 5:56 PM
What a sad choice Ms Clinton or Obama, either one will destroy the US
Posted by: hemoglobin at November 21, 2007 7:41 PM
osgood,
Though I may think that a certain candidate IS a shrewish harpy, and that there IS an "Egyptian Front for the Struggle against Domineering Women (only REFORMED masochists need apply), the above is just a silly joke, not an ultimatum. However, I am still pleased to be a fundraiser for the Front--large cash donations prefered. Have to remain competitive with THAT WOMAN, you understand.
Posted by: John C at November 22, 2007 1:15 AM
oh, ya mean the caesar wannabe?
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20071102/i/r1034243795.jpg?x=345&y=345&sig=35SbvHnAWRMoiD1Kq_.OaA--
Don'tcha just love staged photo ops...like staged questions...lol
God, what a megalomaniac!
LMAO
at November 22, 2007 11:21 AM
Obama was,is and always will be a muslim. You just cant shake islam like a dog coming out of the water. You heard of apostasy? in islamic worlds is a bit more serious offence than a parking ticket
Posted by: hemoglobin at November 22, 2007 9:46 PM
Yeah, that one. What presumptious SHIRK. Strictly HARAM.
Posted by: John C at November 22, 2007 10:32 PM
R_not wrote:
But, back to him being a muslim. He belongs to a Christian, black church that is just as prejudiced as muslims about others.
================================================
I don't know about the specific parish, to which Obama belongs. I can tell you that the United Church of Christ is a mostly white, middle-class, blue-state liberal church. In Massachusetts and Connecticut, they are called Congregationalists.
What is most striking about the UCC is that they were the first Protestant denomination to ordain openly gay ministers. I think they were the first to hold same-sex marriage ceremonies, as soon as it was legal in Massachusetts (at the stroke of midnight).
The "Liberation Theology" of the UCC has always had a Socialist streak to it. Now, the UCC is clearly anti-Israel and pro-PLO. I attended my girlfriend's UCC church in Connecticut for Thanksgiving Sunday. The sermon referred to Israel as an occupying power in "Palestine". I was reminded of why I left the UCC years ago.
at November 23, 2007 3:58 PM
Making peace with a Muslim is akin to having a pet alligator......
Posted by: Six at November 24, 2007 8:48 AM
I suppose the poor creature is given enough to eat...
at November 24, 2007 8:14 PM
What a poor choice Obama or Hillary, history will judge it akin to the fall of the Roman Empire
Posted by: hemoglobin at November 25, 2007 5:57 AM
They have to win first...in election cycles, a year is an eternity...and election "combat" hasn't even commenced yet.
Posted by: jcom972 at November 25, 2007 11:35 AM
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