Presidential leadership extends far beyond honesty alone. All societies, in fact, expect their leaders to embody certain virtues like honesty, courage, justice, compassion, and wisdom.

As an American, I look to our rich history of virtuous leadership: George Washington, Susan B. Anthony, Woodrow Wilson, and Martin Luther King Jr., just to name a few. Within the Muslim tradition, we define the virtue of leaders – and humans in general – according to a code of honorable conduct of chivalry known as the futuwwah, which includes such characteristics as mercy, generosity, fairness, knowledge, humility, loyalty, and bravery.

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Numerous pundits have attempted to scare Americans away from Barack Obama’s candidacy by refusing to recognize his belief in Christianity, instead “revealing” his Muslim identity. It follows, then, that because of the presumed dramatic policy implications of this ostensibly negative affiliation, Americans should vote for John McCain or Hillary Clinton.

In his New York Times May 12 op-ed “President Apostate,” Edward Luttwak correctly repudiates this notion. Nevertheless, he takes this alarmism and fear-mongering another direction, contending that while Obama certainly is a Christian, Muslims will not – no, cannot – accept this faith choice. “In Muslim eyes,” Obama committed apostasy. This crime will cause the average Muslim to hold him in contempt, thereby rendering improved relations between the U.S. and Islamic world impossible, and some radicals may even attempt to take his life.

Luttwak’s false logic must be rejected for a number of reasons.

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