| FrontPageMag.com | By Robert Spencer | By Hugh Fitzgerald | Books | Dhimmi Watch | Robert Spencer | Islam 101 | Qur'an Blog |  |
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
As predicted here last week, Perry Bacon, Jr., a reporter for the Washington Post, has demonstrated what passes for journalistic integrity these days by taking an eight-month-old column of mine in which I discuss the implications of Barack Obama's not being a Muslim as evidence that I'm involved in spreading rumors that he is a Muslim.
In "Foes Use Obama's Muslim Ties to Fuel Rumors About Him" in yesterday's Post, Bacon says this:
Robert Spencer, a conservative activist, wrote in Human Events that "given Obama's politics, it will not be hard to present him internationally as someone who understands Islam and Muslims, and thus will be able to smooth over the hostility between the Islamic world and the West -- our first Muslim President."
Was I saying in this that Obama would, if elected, be our first Muslim President in a literal sense? Clearly not. I was saying he could be our first Muslim President the way Bill Clinton was our first black President. The whole first part of the column is about his not being a Muslim, and what the implications of that were in light of revelations in a Los Angeles Times piece that I linked at the beginning of the column. Although the link is now broken, the LA Times article can be found here. It says:
"To be clear, Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim, and is a committed Christian who attends the United Church of Christ in Chicago," Gibbs' Jan. 24 statement said. In a statement to The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, the campaign offered slightly different wording, saying: "Obama has never been a practicing Muslim." The statement added that as a child, Obama had spent time in the neighborhood's Islamic center.His former Roman Catholic and Muslim teachers, along with two people who were identified by Obama's grade-school teacher as childhood friends, say Obama was registered by his family as a Muslim at both of the schools he attended.
So in my column I discussed what the reaction in the Islamic world might be to Obama's being, at least in the sense involved in his school registration, an ex-Muslim. Perry Bacon, however, makes no mention of that part of my column, or of the LA Times article from which I drew my information. He also, as I noted last week, made no attempt to contact me, although he did manage to get through to Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR, who of course told him that these horrible rumors I'm allegedly feeding were all part of our society's lamentable Islamophobia:
"The underlying point is that if you can somehow pin Islam on him, that would be a fatal blow," Hooper said. "It's offensive. It speaks to the rising level of anti-Muslim feeling in our society."
Ibrahim, I'll tell you what's offensive: pseudo-journalists like Perry Bacon who write agenda-driven articles like this one, and the facts be damned. But you wouldn't know anything about speaking out with no regard for the facts, now, would you?
Posted by Robert at November 30, 2007 9:54 AM
Print this entry
| Email this entry
| Digg this
| del.icio.us
Swinging that Bette-Davis handbag again: "What a dope!"
I can't keep this up. The neighbors are beginning to talk.
Posted by: Hugh![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 30, 2007 11:48 AM
Robert-
You have a logical mind because truth matters to you. This is in contrast to Fibrahim Hooper, Post reporter types.
I think deception alters brain patterns and damages the ability to think logically. It also makes the deciever prone to self-deception and vulnerable to deception by others.
People like Fibrahim Hooper and the Washington Post reporter are handicapped when it comes to logical thinking since they do not have minds that habitually separate fact from fantasy-desire. In the worst case such types become Reverend Jim Nutters. In any case, Fibrahim, Rev. Nutter, the Washington Post reporter etc., are handicapped by choice. They have chosen a kind of mental retardation in matters of logic.
I do think deception alters brain patterns and damages the ability of the deciever to think logically. Deception alters perception.
Posted by: Frank at November 30, 2007 11:48 AM
Well, at least this fraud didn't write "Robert Spencer, fascist Islamophobic activist" (yet). Pathetcally this has to count as a good thing for that rag because so little good can be said of it or the article.
And newspapers wonder why they're struggling to stay in business.
Posted by: ISLAMSFORLOSERS at November 30, 2007 11:49 AM
Imbecile Perry Bacon.
Wonder how Doug Hooper felt talking to someone with the last name "Bacon."
LOL
Posted by: darcy at November 30, 2007 11:49 AM
Robert Spencer has never written anything saying Barak Hussein Obama is a moslem.....
that would be us the posters, you aren't raised in a household with two moslem fathers without at least some moslem influence.
His name is moslem, for God's sake.
"Obama has never been a practicing Muslim." The statement added that as a child, Obama had spent time in the neighborhood's Islamic center.
I believe that qualifies as influence in a child's life.
He claims to be a Christian, good for him. All I have read about his church doesn't make me feel any better about his type of "christianity". You know the kind...Jesus has to be black ( never mind the glaring historical evidence that Jesus is Jewish)
The church is "afro-centric".
Finally, Hooper is a victim, again.
If the followers of mo would stop killing, raping, destroying for a century or two, maybe islam wouldn't make our kufr hearts beat a little faster by the mere mention of your religion's name.
Posted by: interestinconundrum
at November 30, 2007 11:51 AM
Robert Spencer, a conservative activist?
I don't remember much that would lead me to make a claim that Robert can be labeled anything politically.
I don't remember if Robert joined Hugh in supporting higher fuel taxes. Using taxes as a tool for manipulating social and economic direction is not part of conservatism.
Why is that anybody who comes out and speaks the truth about Islam is immediately labeled conservative?
Posted by: Pelayo at November 30, 2007 11:56 AM
"Ibrahim, I'll tell you what's offensive: pseudo-journalists like Perry Bacon who write agenda-driven articles like this one, and the facts be damned. But you wouldn't know anything about speaking out with no regard for the facts, now, would you"?-Robert
Fibrahim has changed his brain patterns and has become retarded in matters of logic and truth. He can qualify for a handicapped parking space because of the damage he has done to himself by his lies. He's severely crippled. Demented thinking is now a habit with Fibrahim. He can't accept facts or think logically. He's retarded by choice. The Post guy and the Reverend Jim Nutter are in the same Truth-Challenged support group.
Posted by: Frank at November 30, 2007 12:19 PM
What else is new, considering it's WaPo?
Just more islamicommie alliance infestations proving their militancy (and our point), and hoping the public doesn't notice it...but they do.
(WaPo is also a huge ratings/circulation loser like the NYSlimes, badly, and they don't want to admit why)
At least Jayson Blair formerly from the NYSlimes simply made his bogus news stories up out of thin air...
Typical...so typical...
at November 30, 2007 12:25 PM
"The underlying point is that if you can somehow pin Islam on him, that would be a fatal blow," Hooper said
Robert
At least the reporter didn't single you out as the only one whose statements he didn't read carefully.
This one is a potential Killer.
Thank you Hooper for the first good deed of your life.
Please Sheik-yer-mama and Foehammer Put It In a Headline! That way it will show up all over the internet.
I repeat what I have said earlier. Obama needs to ask that woman in jail in Egypt or the Islamic court that put her there if he is still a Muslim. If the school has records that have him registered as a Muslim then someone needs to address the concept of apostacy and the Islam world including CAIR needs to explain that he not a Muslim.
Of course, after the election... he could have an epiphany and hear the call to prayer.
Posted by: Aunt Bea at November 30, 2007 12:54 PM
"The underlying point is that if you can somehow pin Islam on him, that would be a fatal blow," Hooper said
I agree Aunt Bea. This is an odd statement coming from Hooper.
Posted by: awake at November 30, 2007 12:59 PM
I got a better idea.
Hannity & Colmes, get this guy Hooper on your show and ask him WHY it would be a fatal blow. You know something we don't? About Islam of course.
Posted by: Aunt Bea at November 30, 2007 1:08 PM
An ethical or thoughtful journalist, besides accurately representing Robert's essay, might also have included a some current news from Egypt to help the average, uninformed reader peer through the cultural lense of the Muslim world.
See the November 23 article on Dhimmiwatch.org that explains the dilemma of the Egyptian woman sentenced to 3-years in prison. Her crime? Declaring herself Christian on her identity papers. Why does the modern-day, secular government of Egypt believe should she instead have declared herself Muslim? Because her father, 45 years prior, had briefly committed himself to Islam when he wasn't even living with his daughter.
A thoughtful journalist (and a useful American) would point out this surreal piece of news from modern-day Egypt. An energetic journalist would go a step further and interview the Egyptian "man-on-the-street" about how he views the American Obama, born into Islam and now preferring Christianity. Wouldn't that make for fascinating reading?
Posted by: former liberal WF at November 30, 2007 1:29 PM
The spirit of Gavin King journalism is everywhere:
Posted by: sheik yer'mami at November 30, 2007 2:36 PM
Obama:
A man who came out of nowhere, who runs for the highest public office in the United States, a man who mysteriously gets 20 million dollars to back his campaign, a man who doesn't salute the flag, such a man is highly suspect.
Who pulls the strings behind this scam?
Posted by: sheik yer'mami at November 30, 2007 2:41 PM
Heard recently that the NYT is cutting back on its staff. Or would the be moving forward to better serve their subscribers? Anyho, also it was stated that the next cut would be in management. So it begs the question, is this a testament to a change in the political leaning of the country that such liberal publications are seeing a downward trend in subscription/purchases? Also what about their online portion. I could be wrong, but I thought the NYT required paid membership for online access to full articles. If so, is that membership also in decline. Because while it seems like the liberal media is in decline, it doesn't feel like it.
To the hack at the Washington Post, try getting ON the clue bus before it runs over you. Oops, too late.
Posted by: Kevin at November 30, 2007 2:43 PM
Here's the link and the pic:
Posted by: sheik yer'mami at November 30, 2007 3:00 PM
With his background, do the jihadi consider Obama an Apostate? He might want to stay away from the Middle East if so.
Posted by: metalhead at November 30, 2007 3:16 PM
Obama:
A man who came out of nowhere, who runs for the highest public office in the United States, a man who mysteriously gets 20 million dollars to back his campaign, a man who doesn't salute the flag, such a man is highly suspect.
Who pulls the strings behind this scam?
Posted by: sheik yer'mami at November 30, 2007 2:41 PM
Hussein doesn't "salute the flag?"
at November 30, 2007 9:40 PM
interestinconundrum wrote:
"He claims to be a Christian, good for him. All I have read about his church doesn't make me feel any better about his type of "christianity". You know the kind...Jesus has to be black ( never mind the glaring historical evidence that Jesus is Jewish) The church is "afro-centric".
I have tried to explain the United Church of Christ on this blog, as I am a former member. It is not an afro-centric church; most members are white middle-class bleeding heart liberals. They actually claim to be the direct decendants of the Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock. Some are decendants of Pilgrims by blood but certainly not by theology.
UCC members are more offended by the idea that God and Jesus are male. They have purged their hymnal (which replaced the Pilgrim Hymnal) of all male pronouns, including He, Lord, King, etc. They are obsessed with "Feminist Theology", "Liberation Theology", "Social Justice" and "Economic Justice" (another word for communism).
Read the article "Obama and the United Church of Christ" at the blog of UCC critics at:
http://ucctruths.blogspot.com/
I could go on about another member of the UCC, Barry Lynn, director of "Americans United for Separation of Church and State". He has no problem with the Obama campaign presence at the UCC General Synod in Hartford, CT (my home town).
--
CT Yank
at November 30, 2007 9:57 PM
http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/03/columnist_says_obamas_church_h.php
Posted by: interestinconundrum at December 1, 2007 12:20 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aj9Avr3ivc
Posted by: interestinconundrum at December 1, 2007 12:22 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfNEfEBYIZs&feature=related
Posted by: interestinconundrum at December 1, 2007 12:23 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNTGRL0OJWQ&feature=related
Posted by: interestinconundrum at December 1, 2007 12:25 AM
at December 1, 2007 12:30 AM
interestinconundrum:
Thank you for posting information on Trinity United, B. Obama's congregation in Chicago. I was not familiar with Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermons and I understand your point about "Afro-centric". I have heard that he is very controversial, even within the UCC. This is one congregation in the UCC denomination and we agree that the UCC is anti-Israel, pro-PLO. In the Hannity and Colms interview, the Rev. Wright repeatedly mentioned "Liberation Theology". I have heard that term at the UCC more in the context of radical feminism and legalizing gay marriage. The following quote is from a sermon by John Thomas, President of the UCC denomination, delivered in Boston, Mass.:
http://www.oldsouth.org/sermons/jht21oct07.htm
==============================================
"To listen to, and learn about the painful narrative of Palestinian Christians enduring Occupation is difficult but critical if we are to be faithful ecumenical partners and responsible citizens. This is a tiny community that is shrinking every year, offering the very real possibility that the day will come when there are no Christians living in the land of Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection. Such a reality would be tragic for the church, for the wider Palestinian community, and I believe for the prospects of peace. Palestinian Christians need our prayers, our visits, our solidarity in their own struggle for a viable future along side of, and at peace with Israel."
=================================================
His conclusion is that the plight of the Palestinian Christian Arabs is Israel's fault!
at December 1, 2007 8:58 AM
From Bishop Tutu's speech, hosted by UCC Old South Church in Boston, October 26-27, 2007:
http://www.sabeel.org/pdfs/Tutu,_D_-_Palestine_&_Apartheid_-_Sabeel,_Boston,_Oct_2007[1].doc
"A recent report by a clinical psychologist Nufan Yishai Katrim at the Hebrew University speaks of how Israeli soldiers were gratuitously cruel and carried out acts of brutality to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. When you uphold an unjust dispensation it corrodes your humanity. In South Africa a former Cabinet Minister showed this. When told of the death of Steve Biko in detention, he said it left him cold."
--
former member of Old South, 20 years ago.
at December 1, 2007 9:04 AM
From another thread
http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/018974.php#c479218
at December 1, 2007 4:03 PM
Comments are turned off and archived for this entry.
(Note: Comments on articles are unmoderated, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jihad Watch or Robert Spencer. Comments that are off-topic, offensive, slanderous, or otherwise annoying may be summarily deleted. However, the fact that particular comments remain on the site IN NO WAY constitutes an endorsement by Robert Spencer of the views expressed therein.)