Anon
You want us to believe that your religion is tolerant by quoting a number of verses that included the one below
88:21 22; "And so, exhort them your task is only to exhort; you cannot compel them to believe."

How then do you reconcile the above with let us say 9:29 which was written much later than all those other verses you quoted?

"Fight those who believe not
In God nor the Last Day,
Nor hold that forbidden
Which hath been forbidden
By God and His Apostle, ====== meaning Mohammad
Nor acknowledge the Religion
Of Truth, (even if they are)====== meaning Islam
Of the people of the Book’=====meaning Christians and Jews
Until they pay the Jizya=======meaning a head tax
With willing submission
And feel themselves subdued.====meaning humiliating them."

Humiliating them they did when their second Caliph codified this sentiment with what is known as Omar Pact shown in the cite below and which is still in effect in many Muslim dominated societies.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/pact-umar.html

Anon,

You defend the Quoran well. However, it condemns Christianity and Judaism. I can and will quote passages. Also, it details the historically factual slaughter of the Quorayza Jews.

In America where Christians outnumber Muslims greatly there is less visible anit-Christianity than in Muslim countries where Christians have very few rights. In many such countries there are very few left. Three million Jews are in exile. Everywhere you look you see the worst anti-Jewish racism imaginable.

It is simply a point of fact that the world's terrorists are Muslims, that in Muslim countries there is stoning, that brothers kill sisters for the crime of being raped, that there is flogging, torture, cutting off hands, etc.

Something is wrong somewhere.

16:82 But if they turn away from you, your only duty is a clear delivery of the Message

6:107 Yet if God had so willed, they would not have ascribed Divinity to aught besides Him; hence, We have not made you their keeper, nor are you a guardian over them.

88:21 22; And so, exhort them your task is only to exhort; you cannot compel them to believe.

64:12 Obey God then and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away (no blame shall attach to our Messenger), for the duty of Our Messenger is just to deliver the message.

109.1-6 Say : O ye that reject Faith,! I worship not that which ye worship, Nor will ye worship that which I worship, And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship, Nor will ye worship that which I worship, To you be your Way, and to me mine.

Koran is freedom. Koran is peace.

Real Islam is only Koran

Urdu anonymous
Quotes lines of poetry in the Urdu language then pontificates to me:
“Your prejudice against Islam leads you to take literal words and mislead others.”

I can quote you poetry in Arabic that would make your face look like the behind of baboon, but would refrain out of respect to the sensitivity of the other readers.

Below is the example of the discrepancies and/or contradiction in the Quran that I had mentioned earlier.

“What was man created from? (*) A blood clot [96:1-2], water [21:30, 24:45, 25:54], "sounding" (i.e. burned) clay [15:26], dust [3:59, 30:20, 35:11], nothing [19:67] and this is then denied in 52:35, earth [11:61], a drop of thickened fluid [16:4, 75:37]”
http://www.islamic.org.uk/internalc.html

You mean to tell me that clay, dust , nothing, clot and semen had spiritual meanings? If so, what are they?
Many of the Arabs who originally cooked up your religion no longer believe in it and nitwits like you still do. No wonder you are anonymous.

http://www.quranmiracles.com/

Anonymous says:
“Since its founding in 1994, one of the main categories of CAIR’s work has been employment discrimination and religious accommodation issues in the workplace.”

At least here in the West there are organizations that fight for the rights of minorities. In the Muslim dominated societies , non-Muslims as well as minority Muslim sects such as Ahmadis, Alawis and Druze, have nowhere to turn. You want a glimpse on how Jews and Christians i.e. Dhimmis, are treated in Muslim societies take a peek at the policy towards them as codified by the so-called Omar Pact.
http://www.bible.ca/islam/islam-kills-pact-of-umar.htm

“Muslims abuse the non-Muslims in their countries and violate their every human right, but when they come to the West they demand, not just equal, but preferential treatment. Not only they do not abide by our rules, they make us abide by theirs. Most of the meat served in fast food restaurants, and schools in Europe is halal. Why? It’s because the non-Muslims don’t care. And because that makes Muslims win.  They win because of our indifference and inaction.  The Westerners feel obliged to comply because they are bound by their guilt. Here is where Muslims have their enemies by their collars. They know our weakness and our legal system and they take full advantage of that to strengthen their position.”
The above is an excerpt from an article called "Glimpse Into the Muslim Mind" by Ali Sina of “faith freedom.org”

Ibrahim Mahfouz:

a famous urdu poet, Ghalib wtote:

"zindagi kya hai anasir ka zahoore-tarteeb
maut kya hai inhi ajza ka pareshan hona"

translation: life is the sequence of elements arrangement
death is the dispersal of these elements.

Ghalib was a Muslim.

another place he wrote:

"sub khan kuch lalao gul mein numayan ho gain
khak mein kya surthein hongi jo pinhan ho gain"

translation:

what kind of beautiful faces those people must have been
who were buried and reappeared in the form of flowers and plants

this was written about 150+ years ago. Recycling is the 20th century ecology.

Your prejudice against Islam leads you to take literal words and mislead others.

By the way, "The earth is flat" and "the earth is at the center of the universe" can be found in the Bible.

Koranist
You dismiss the ahadith because you acknowledge the many contradictions in them. You in fact cited some of them in an earlier post. On the other hand you believe in the Quran because, according to you, has no contradictions.
Below is a sample of blatant contradictions.
Sample:
What was man created from? (*) A blood clot [96:1-2], water [21:30, 24:45, 25:54], "sounding" (i.e. burned) clay [15:26], dust [3:59, 30:20, 35:11], nothing [19:67] and this is then denied in 52:35, earth [11:61], a drop of thickened fluid [16:4, 75:37]
Conclusion; Your religion, according to your own premise, is not from Allah . Why not have the intellectual courage to admit it.
http://www.islamic.org.uk/internalc.html

THINK ABOUT IT:

This person is WP's version of Mr. Mcgoo who reads small books with big pictures in them. The only problem is that the character was blind. It is difficult to understand hate based on sweepy generalization.

"If this is not bigotry, then what is?"

It is openly acknowledging a known enemy who would like to destroy the Western world.

Who is this chanting DEATH TO AMERICA?!?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Xr37Ez888

Who are you anon to support America's enemy?

Note to Christians and Catholics. Here's a nice juicy bit from the Quoran. More to come.

5:72-73: They do blaspheme who say: "God is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship God, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with God, - God will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrongdoers be no one to help. They do blaspheme who say: God is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One God. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.

Think About it wrote:
"AND ITS THE MUSLIMS WHO KEEP BLOWING UP THEMSELVES AND AS MANY INNOCENTS AS THEY ARE ABLE TO KILL IN OBEDIENCE TO ALLAH

"On September 6, in the first week of Ramadan, two suicide bombers killed over 50 people in Peshawar, Pakistan. On September 13, five bombs killed over 30 in New Delhi, India. On September 15, a female suicide bomber blew herself up at a Ramadan fast breaking ceremony killing 22 people in Diyala, Iraq. On September 17, a truck bomb and some militants attacked the US embassy in San'a, Yemen killing 16 people. And on September 20, a massive truck bomb killed over 60 people in Islamabad, Pakistan."

***************************************************

This person is justifying discrimination against Muslims in America based on things that happened other parts of the world.

If this is not bigotry, then what is?

And on top of it, the Government of Pakistan is fighting against terror perpetrated by the extremists. Pakistan has lost hundreds of its soldiers and civilian in fighting the terrorists.

Note to Christians and Catholics. Here's a nice juicy bit from the Quoran. More to come.

5:72-73: They do blaspheme who say: "God is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship God, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with God, - God will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrongdoers be no one to help. They do blaspheme who say: God is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One God. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.

Schacht asserts that hadiths, particularly from Muhammad, did not form, together with the Qur'an, the original bases of Islamic law and jurisprudence as is traditionally assumed. Rather, hadiths were an innovation begun after some of the legal foundation had already been built. "The ancient schools of law shared the old concept of sunna or ‘living tradition’ as the ideal practice of the community, expressed in the accepted doctrine of the school." And this ideal practice was embodied in various forms, but certainly not exclusively in the hadiths from the Prophet. Schacht argues that it was not until al-Shafi`i that ‘sunna’ was exclusively identified with the contents of hadiths from the Prophet to which he gave, not for the first time, but for the first time consistently, overriding authority. Al-Shafi`i argued that even a single, isolated hadith going back to Muhammad, assuming its isnad is not suspect, takes precedence over the opinions and arguments of any and all Companions, Successors, and later authorities. Schacht notes that:

Two generations before Shafi`i reference to traditions from Companions and Successors was the rule, to traditions from the Prophet himself the exception, and it was left to Shafi`i to make the exception the principle. We shall have to conclude that, generally and broadly speaking, traditions from Companions and Successors are earlier than those from the Prophet.

Based on these conclusions, Schacht offers the following schema of the growth of legal hadiths. The ancient schools of law had a ‘living tradition’ (sunna) which was largely based on individual reasoning (ra'y). Later this sunna came to be associated with and attributed to the earlier generations of the Successors and Companions. Later still, hadiths with isnads extending back to Muhammad came into circulation by traditionists towards the middle of the second century. Finally, the efforts of al-Shafi`i and other traditionists secured for these hadiths from the Prophet supreme authority.

Goldziher maintains that, while reliance on the sunna to regulate the empire was favoured, there was still in these early years of Islam insufficient material going back to Muhammad himself. Scholars sought to fill the gaps left by the Qur'an and the sunna with material from other sources. Some borrowed from Roman law. Others attempted to fill these lacunae with their own opinions (ra'y). This latter option came under a concerted attack by those who believed that all legal and ethical questions (not addressed by the Qur'an) must be referred back to the Prophet himself, that is, must be rooted in hadiths.These supporters of hadiths (ahl al-hadith) were extremely successful in establishing hadiths as a primary source of law and in discrediting ra'y. But in many ways it was a Pyrrhic victory. The various legal madhhabs were loath to sacrifice their doctrines and so they found it more expedient to fabricate hadiths or adapt existing hadiths in their support. Even the advocates of ra'y were eventually persuaded or cajoled into accepting the authority of hadiths and so they too "found" hadiths which substantiated their doctrines that had hitherto been based upon the opinions of their schools’ founders and teachers. The insistence of the advocates of hadiths that the only opinions of any value were those which could appeal to the authority of the Prophet resulted in the situation that "where no traditional matter was to be had, men speedily began to fabricate it. The greater the demand, the busier was invention with the manufacture of apocryphal traditions in support of the respective theses."

In summary, Goldziher sees in hadiths "a battlefield of the political and dynastic conflicts of the first few centuries of Islam; it is a mirror of the aspirations of various parties, each of which wants to make the Prophet himself their witness and authority." Likewise,

Every stream and counter-stream of thought in Islam has found its expression in the form of a hadith, and there is no difference in this respect between the various contrasting opinions in whatever field. What we learnt about political parties holds true too for differences regarding religious law, dogmatic points of difference etc. Every ra'y or hawa, every sunna and bid`a has sought and found expression in the form of hadith.

And even though Muslim traditionalists developed elaborate means to scrutinize the mass of traditions that were then extant in the Muslim lands, they were "able to exclude only part of the most obvious falsifications from the hadith material." Goldziher, for all his scepticism, accepted that the practice of preserving hadiths was authentic and that some hadiths were likely to be authentic. However, having said that, Goldziher is adamant in maintaining that:

In the absence of authentic evidence it would indeed be rash to attempt to express the most tentative opinions as to which parts of the hadith are the oldest material, or even as to which of them date back to the generation immediately following the Prophet’s death. Closer acquaintance with the vast stock of hadiths induces sceptical caution rather than optimistic trust regarding the material brought together in the carefully compiled collections.

IT IS THE BIGOTS, SOME OF WHOM POST THEIR ANTI-MUSLIM DIATRIBES REGULARLY ON THIS PAGE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS INCREASE IN DISCRIMINATION.

AND ITS THE MUSLIMS WHO KEEP BLOWING UP THEMSELVES AND AS MANY INNOCENTS AS THEY ARE ABLE TO KILL IN OBEDIENCE TO ALLAH

"On September 6, in the first week of Ramadan, two suicide bombers killed over 50 people in Peshawar, Pakistan. On September 13, five bombs killed over 30 in New Delhi, India. On September 15, a female suicide bomber blew herself up at a Ramadan fast breaking ceremony killing 22 people in Diyala, Iraq. On September 17, a truck bomb and some militants attacked the US embassy in San'a, Yemen killing 16 people. And on September 20, a massive truck bomb killed over 60 people in Islamabad, Pakistan."

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2008/09/celebrating_ramadan_jihadi_sty.html

The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR) report, called “Without Fear of Discrimination,” outlines 2,652 incidents and experiences of anti-Muslim violence, discrimination and harassment in 2007.

That is the highest number of civil rights cases ever recorded in the Washington-based group’s report - the only annual study of its kind. (Note: The higher number of cases is due in part to inclusion of a new category of cases related to mailed, faxed and e-mailed hate messages. Without the inclusion of those cases, the total number of cases dipped slightly over the previous year.)

According to the study, discrimination in the workplace against those already employed increased by 18 percent, with 384 cases reported in 2006 and 452 cases reported in 2007. There was also a 34 percent increase in reports of discrimination against those seeking employment.

Cases involving denial of religious accommodation in the workplace jumped eight percent.

Since its founding in 1994, one of the main categories of CAIR’s work has been employment discrimination and religious accommodation issues in the workplace.

One of the most recent cases CAIR is dealing with involves religious accommodation for Muslim workers at JBS Swift & Co. meatpacking plants in Colorado and Nebraska. Another recent case involved allegations of a new “English-only” policy for Somali Muslim workers at a Macy’s department store in Minnesota.

IT IS THE BIGOTS, SOME OF WHOM POST THEIR ANTI-MUSLIM DIATRIBES REGULARLY ON THIS PAGE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS INCREASE IN DISCRIMINATION.

Obama's millstones:

major #1, The "Reverend" Jeremiah Wright.

major #2, His failure to immediately condemn Wright's speeches.

major #3, His disrespect for unborn children.

major #4, Not recognizing the flaws and errors of contemporary religions.

AK writes
"Blacks normally give the vast majority of their votes to the Democratic candidate. In previous Democratic primaries Blacks voted for the white candidate over the black one. You have nothing to back up your opinion."

'However, in the primaries, given a choice between two Democrats who were indistinguishable on the issues, they went for Obama in similar numbers. That proves that they voted based on race'

Not at all. As I previously stated, in other primaries black folks have not come out strongly for the 'black candidate'. Ask Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton - blacks gave their votes to white candidates, so your assertion that blacks hand out their votes based on race seems to be lacking in evidence.

WS$ writes
"And here we go, yet again. Yes, Marc, while Germany declared war on the US in WWII (not in WWI), it was after Lend Lease was signed, a clear violation of American neutrality, and German U-Boats were engaged well away from American shores by American destroyers."

Sinking ships withen site of the beach is not "well away from American shores". Heck, here in NC you can dive sunken u-boats!

"That's what brought U-boats to our shore."

What brought U-boats to the US shores were the American ships hugging US shores. Not sure where you get your information about destroyers engaging u-boats, as our anti-sub campaign began when they were sinking our ships. Been a while since I read about it but as I recall u-boats were sinking lotsa ships off our coasts in 42-43, after the USA had fully entered the war.

"Thanks for the history lesson, but stick to the present."

Well, you are the one who seemed to be claiming that we had no reason to be fighting Hitler, who had declared war on us and had already taken over more than 1/2 dozen countries.

"But, to keep with the thread, there is no anti-Obama smear campaign"

I think it's clear that FoxNews and right wing talk radio is engaging in a smear campaign, but I don't see a smear campaign coming from McCain or the MSM, so we kinda agree.

I hope you white Americans and black Americans can work out your grievances. As an American whose descendants came here around 1920, three hundred years after whites began bringing black slaves to America, and three generations after the Civil War, I see this as your problem, not mine. I hope you can figure out how to address the legacy of slavery so that we can focus on today's real problems.

I find it interesting that many can't see past Obama skin color. many don't seem to have a real reason to dislike him...they simply say, "i don't know, but it is something about him...". YES, HIS SKIN.

If he had blond hair and blue eyes and came up from poverty to earn his way and take care of family and had a wife and kids and lived half way decently, he would be the best candidate in the world. Many can't seem to get past that brown face... EVEN THOUGH THIS MOTHER IS WHITE.

The mere fact that people refuse to acknowledge and even keep that in mind is racist in itself.

However, I am not surprise, Americans tend to be superficial and visual. If you are not the right height, you are not acceptable. Wrong lenght of hair, not the right type. Right size...and so on.

Thsi man's character may not be better than most politician (although I think it is), but he is certainly not as bad as many.

HIS PROBLEM IS HIS SKIN. Too bad too many are cowards and would never say "I simply can't see myself voting for this bi-racial man."

The perils of Slavery are alive and well and most whites tell blacks to get over it, well NOW WE SEE YOU HAVE NOT, SO WHY SHOULD WE!

The Jews talk about the holocaust, well here is ours.

This is why America is hated all over the world b/c we are hypocrites.

Freedom, liberty, the pursuit of happiness was only meant for the people that looked like the founding fathers (and maybe their black mistresses when they shipped them to another country to raise their bi-racial children).

Hypocrites, who stand on the name of a vengeful God who loves war and this country.
RIDICULOUS!!!

Remember you so called Christian BIGOTRY IS A SIN, WHETHER ACKNOWLEDGED OR NOT!

"Blacks normally give the vast majority of their votes to the Democratic candidate. In previous Democratic primaries Blacks voted for the white candidate over the black one. You have nothing to back up your opinion."

True, the fact that blacks will overwhelmingly vote for Obama in the general election doesn't tell us anything about whether they're voting based on race.

However, in the primaries, given a choice between two Democrats who were indistinguishable on the issues, they went for Obama in similar numbers. That proves that they voted based on race.

"Heck.. if Patel and Kristof are so concerned why didn't they just remind Americans that Obama was a member of a Black Liberation theology (hate-whites / hate-America) Christian Church for 20 years ? His spiritual advisor who married him was the Reverand Jeremiah Wright."

Ironically, Obama's deep involvement with a Christian church is what's preventing the Muslim rumors from going away.

If Obama spent the last twenty years in a *normal* church, he and his supporters could talk proudly of his involvement with that church. But because his church is run by a racist lunatic, Obama must avoid talking about it. All Obama can do it talk in vague generalities about his Christian faith.

Oh, and gaffes like "McCain hasn't talked about my Muslim faith" haven't helped.

"[Kristof] quotes Obama expressing respect for the Muslim call to prayer, were being used as evidence of his secret Islamic beliefs."

Obama isn't a Muslim, but can you at least be honest about what Kristof wrote?

"In that interview, Mr. Obama praised the Arabic call to prayer as “one of the prettiest sounds on earth at sunset,” and he repeated the opening of it."

Repeated the opening of it! He didn't just "express respect."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/opinion/21kristof.html

And here we go, yet again. Yes, Marc, while Germany declared war on the US in WWII (not in WWI), it was after Lend Lease was signed, a clear violation of American neutrality, and German U-Boats were engaged well away from American shores by American destroyers. That's what brought U-boats to our shore. Thanks for the history lesson, but stick to the present.

But, to keep with the thread, there is no anti-Obama smear campaign.

Maryrotes
"You would be better served by condemning the Obama campaign's derision of Sarah Palin's faith and background"

Except the Obama campaign has never mocked Palin's faith and background, which makes you look like a liar.

"Americans watched him and his supporters falsely call the Clintons racists"

But Obama never called the Clintons racists.
Lie much - I think so!

Posted on September 24, 2008 08:51

WS$ writes
"Morning, folks... Marc"

Good morning!
"I'm wondering why Bert starts his timeline with post WWII, a war that at least in the European theater the US participated in without authorization from the League of Nations and without an attack on the US's sovereignty."

Quick history lesson - Germany declared war on the USA, and German u-boats were sinking US shipping withen sight of the US coast.

Peruse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Barack_Obama to educate yourself about BO before November.

Peruse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain and
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_John_McCain to educate yourself about JM before November.

And don't forget to vote !!!!

Very astute observation - I do think racism is alive and well in America and religion has given them a new tool to use instead of skin color. Ask yourself - If Barack Obama was white would any of this Muslim stuff even happend? I think not. This election should not be close as it is. We have historic and unprecidented failure on the part of the republican party. If Obama was white he'd be winning in the biggest landslide victory we have ever seen.

You would be better served by condemning the Obama campaign's derision of Sarah Palin's faith and background, and remembering his arrogant comments concerning "bitter, clingy Appalachians."

While in concept, we understand your calling for tolerance and non-judgement, but if you can't spend some journalistic time condemning Obama's supporters for their own prejudice and vitriol, then you have diminished your own right to speak of any prejudice at all.

If Obama loses, it will not be because Americans think he is a Muslim or because his skin is Black.

It will be because Americans watched him and his supporters falsely call the Clintons racists, to his advantage, because he has allowed his supporters to snidely deride his opponents, because he is resume is very very thin, and because the media has allowed him to go unvetted and powder-puffed.

Has nothing to do with Black or Muslim, sir.

You'd think you and Mr. Kristoff would understand how your own words may cause a backlash against the very candidate you purport to support.

With all due respect.

All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, something which Obama hasen't done. Obama is also pro choice which would put him at odds with islamic beliefs.

Morning, folks... Marc et al;

Bert notes that Europe is looking for Obama to bring back American respectability in their eyes...

Well, off-topic but intersting. I'm wondering why Bert starts his timeline with post WWII, a war that at least in the European theater the US participated in without authorization from the League of Nations and without an attack on the US's sovereignty. Why not start there? If you go back to WWI you'll find the same American interventionism.

Europeans 'like' Americans when it is in their best interest. Sorry, that's just the way it is. Right after the US helped France in WWII De Gaulle uninvited our participation. Was that bad? Was it because of Eisenhower's lousy adherence to the Constitution? Nope, it was because De Gaulle perceived it in his best interest.

The bottom line is that the world 'likes' us when 1) we're paying the bills, 2) we're saving them from an imminent peril, such as Naziism or 3) when it's otherwise in their best interest. As long as we understand that, we'll be fine.

I realize this has nothing to do with the non-existent smear campaign against Obama, but it piqued my interest.

In the post WWII era the U.S. used to be a world leader by example. Not only by using force (the war), but most of all by being an inspirational leader promoting modern ideas of democracy, mainly based on the U.S. constitution. (U.S. Supreme Court chief justice Robert H. Jackson, Marshall etc.)

Lately the U.S. has shown little repect for its own constitutional principles, and thus losing respect from the same western democracies which were inspired by the Americans.

That is why for many Europeans,there is one hope only that the true America will rise again. His name is Barack Obama

In 2008 we find ourselves in the middle of our country's second Revolutionary War. At this historic time in our country's history our country's Patriots are rallying behind a young man of color, a remarkable leader who represents all the high minded principles upon which our country was founded.

While our new Patriots' voices inspire us to lift ourselves up to a higher level of acceptance and social democracy, in the end it will be our young Patriots' votes, not their voices, that will determine the outcome of this historic election.

I agree that there have been smears on Obama concerning his faith. He was a member of a Christian church in which the pastor denigrated whites and demanded punishment for the US. That does not mean all members believed the same. However where is the outrage for the attacks on Sarah Palin's Christian beliefs and on the churches of which she has been part? What is there protection of Obama while at the same time open hunting season on Sarah Palin? Let's be even handed folks

An old neighbor of Mom's from Pittsburgh (Mom is nearly 100; the friend is around 60) came to stay with Mom while we went away. At the bus station, my husband said, good naturedly, "I better tell you---we have an Obama sign in our front yard."

"Oh, he's a Muslim," she said. My husband tried to convince her otherwise, but it was no go. She's going to vote for McCain, but would have voted for Clinton if she had gotten the nomination.

In the post WWII era the U.S. used to be a world leader by example. Not only by using force (the war), but most of all by being an inspirational leader promoting modern ideas of democracy, mainly based on the U.S. constitution. (U.S. Supreme Court chief justice Robert H. Jackson, Marshall etc.)

Lately the U.S. has shown little repect for its own constitutional principles, and thus losing respect from the same western democracies which were inspired by the Americans.

That is why for many Europeans,there is one hope only that the true America will rise again. His name is Barack Obama

Judging a person on his/her religious beliefs is neither bigoted nor racist. A religion is a set of beliefs that a person, one would hope, consciously accepts. Therefore we have every right to judge a person based on his/her religious belief. Race, on the other hand, is not a system of thought but a biological fact that a person has no control over and, for the most part, should have absolutely no effect on a person's ideas and thoughts.

For example, every devout Muslim would believe in the superiority of Islamic Shariah law to secular law. Therefore, when deciding whether or not I would vote for a Muslim, I would first have to consider whether or not I would want a President who believed in polygamy, amputating limbs as punishment for theft, lashing (or stoning, depending on the marital status of those involved) as a punishment for adultery, death as a punishment for apostasy, etc. Frankly, I do not accept these beliefs as valid, therefore I would not vote for a person with those beliefs since he/she could attempt to incorporate some of these thoughts into the legal system.

This is more important for Islam than any other religion, because Islam, as any self respecting Imam will tell you, is a complete system of life that governs everything from dietary and marital laws, to politics and rules of warfare. So, IT IS NOT RACIST TO REFUSE TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE BASED ON RELIGION.

As a Christian I am deeply offended by those who are either misguided or pretend to be Christians. These are same people who enabled racism in this nation. In short these faux Christians are some of the most biggoted, self-righteous idiots on the planet.

They twist the words of the Gospel in attempt to justify their pathetic hate filled lives. Judging an educated man for having an opinion. Why that black man is getting pretty uppity isn't he. "Jesus said he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Attacking everything that he says, and then putting all their faith in a known adulterous, corrupt politician such as John McCain.

Like another reader stated, "a black man must be twice as good to have even parity" with a mediocre white candidate. When will we bury rotting corpse of racism once and for all?

In this next election who will take care of the least? (Mathew 25) Who will work toward policies that protect our earth and our children? Who will throw down the swords of war and bring peace to the land? In short who will protect human life even after the womb?

How many Americans know that Islam is the ONLY religion,other than Christianity,which accepts our LORD Jesus Christ as the Holy Ghost and the Savior who,on the Day of Judgment,Will be The Judge of the World,including Muslims ?

The real truth is that Americans have a good gut sense when it comes to character. And a lot of Americans get a gut feeling that this guy is not what he pretends to be.

What leads to these suspicions? The so-called Rev. Wright's communist "church", that unrepentant bomb-throwing Ayers character, the black-talking white guy alleged Catholic priest, their knowledge of what "community organizers" really are (left wing nut cases with their hand in your wallet).

So if all these worries comes out in the form of suspecting that he's really Muslim, who can blame them? He WAS raised as a nominal Muslim in Indonesia and that's a fact.

We know what he's not... a patriotic American.

Read the Wall Street Journal's story about what Hussein Obama "organized" while in Chicago...is this what he wants in America?

Petras Vilson,

Before you mock someone else's math computations, you should be sure that your math is correct. You added 13% of those who believe he is Muslim with the 10% who think he was a Muslim to get 23%. But you forgot to add the 33% who "KNOW" he is a Muslim. That totals 56%, not 23% The groups are mutually exclusive. Also note that this approximates the percentage of Republicans in the electorate.

The article requires the reader to be apply logic and reasoning to understand the data and the numbers. In this case you mistaken the percentage of those who "KNOW" he is Muslim as the total of the other two categories, but it is actually a separate group of people. The article was very clear on that.

You didn't do well on the standardized tests did you? I'm sorry, but you did learn reeding and riting, so you should be proud of yourself.

To address your point about sources, you miss the point that Kristof was making which ties "otherizing" Obama by the Republican candidate (political ads) to subtle cloaked racism. Again, this requires the ability to apply complex analysis and an understanding of relationships. I thought the author tied the two together quite well. It seems you are making the argument, that if it is not overt racism, then it isn't racism at all.

Which brings me to your last paragraph which exposes you as a back woods ignorant racist bigot. I'm sure in your mind you are not a bigot. Nonetheless, you have my pity.

Petras wrote:"Heck.. if Patel and Kristof are so concerned why didn't they just remind Americans that Obama was a member of a Black Liberation theology (hate-whites / hate-America) Christian Church for 20 years ? His spiritual advisor who married him was the Reverand Jeremiah Wright.

Oh ya .. sorry.. thats off the table now."

I guess you didn't bother to read my post about the white reverends who have been racist and/or anti-semitic. But I guess they're ok- I mean, after all, they're white. You're white...

You're also showing your very real ignorance of Black Liberation theology- suffice it to say your oversimplification does no justice to it or to your ability to discuss it with any sort of intelligence. And need I remind you again- Wright is a Marine. He served this country. Have you? Only one of your big white preachers can say that. You know, I noticed when I posted that fact the other day, it was ignored by the bigots.

I certainly understand not wanting to vote for a Muslim "after 9/11 and all." I am having the same problem voting for a Christian after the Oklahoma City bombing and all.

I just read the NYTimes Kristof article on "Otherizing Obama"

He asserts "Almost one-third of voters “know” that Barack Obama is a Muslim or believe that he could be. "

This based on a Pew survey: 13% believing he is Muslim, and 10% who think he was. Hum... thats 23% not 33% just a small arithmetic error ?

The 10% who think he was.. no doubt have confusion about his early childhood and fathers religion (Muslim) but can they really be grouped into the mythically significant 33% ?

Strangely neither Kristof nor Patel cite any Republican leaders, campaign ads, blogs or right-wing sources for this false smear. Strange.

Heck.. if Patel and Kristof are so concerned why didn't they just remind Americans that Obama was a member of a Black Liberation theology (hate-whites / hate-America) Christian Church for 20 years ? His spiritual advisor who married him was the Reverand Jeremiah Wright.

Oh ya .. sorry.. thats off the table now.

It is highly likely that you are correct; that non-Christian religion has become a code-word for non-White race.
But why are you surprised? Every one of us who believed in & encouraged Barack to aspire to the highest office in the land knew that on many levels his race would count against him; on some number of other levels, it would count for him.
We also knew, that in America the Black man must be twice as capable as the White man to achieve parity. And we knew that Barack was twice as good.

I feel your pain Bob Miller. But I don't think David Duke will be running for president any time soon.

Actually, I don't feel your pain you bigot.

Bob Miller wrote:"Remember he is spending over 600 million of YOUR dollars to BUY each and every American Vote that he recieves. Amazing to think that you are being BOUGHT and selling out OUR Country to the RICH AND POWERFUL.'

Honestly, Bob- do you spell that with 2 "O's"?. I suppose you think McCain, king of the deregulators, pulled himself up out of poverty and has no connections to wall St., lobbyists or the biggest and richest CEOs this country has ever seen? On thop of the that, his campaign takes public funding- Obama has been fundraising from supporters who freely GIVE him donations. Bought? What do you think McCain is doing with his campaign funds? Buying you a bed in the mental hospital (you need it but he's not going to help you out with healthcare).

And just which candidate do you think has been in bed with the rich and powerful of Wall St. for years- not Obama, Bob,-John McCain.Where have you been for the last month? Oh....you've got cranio-rectal syndrome (I love you for that one, arminius! thanks)

Check out his rise to glory below:

Obama 1996 - 2000
Senator Obama: promoted to Senior Lecturer in constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School. Elected to the Illinois Senate. Sponsored more than 800 bills. In 2000, lost a Democratic primary run for the U.S. House of Representatives to four-term incumbent Bobby Rush by a margin of two to one.

What mattered was that, beginning on Jan. 2, 1996, his campaigners began challenging thousands of petition signatures the other candidates in the race had submitted in order to appear on the ballot. Thus Mr. Obama would win his state Senate seat, months before a single vote was cast. Note that when he finished he was the ONLY democrat on the ballot. Republican candidate had to step aside for political reasons.

The 800 bills he ALLEDGEDLY sponsored were actually submitted by other democrats and all OBAMA did was date and stamp. He voted present 130 times on bills that would require him to step out of the box. Gained a reputation that the ‘then’ governor would make him a United States Senator.

2001 - 2004
Obama: reelected in 2002 and became chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee.
Initially the committee was looking at Health Care for all residents of Illinois. After accepting funding from insurance lobbyists he insured that universal healthcare became merely a policy goal instead of state policy, Basically learned how to again use his power to benefit himself at the expense of doing what was right for the residents of Illinois.

Publicly spoke out against the invasion of Iraq BEFORE the congressional authorization in 2002, and then again before the actual invasion in 2003. This was a given speech that sounded great but was actually a speech that was critical of the war BECAUSE it was distracting from the real issue regarding the black community in the United States. (Note he was given ORDERS by one of his Wealthy Supporters in Chicago to SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE WAR. Being a good Chicago Politiocian, he naturally followed the orders and took credit for speaking out.. but not on his own.)

Wrote and delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
The Black Elite in the DNC decided along with the good ole boys… that to put a Democrat President in the White House in 2008 that they needed to attract the black vote… and that a Black Harvard Lawyer named Obama was the one that they needed. He was seen as an upcoming star because he won the Illinois US Senate Seat. (See the real facts of how he won by such a large number.) No one knew the Republican Candidate)

November 2004: elected to the US Senate, receiving over 3.5 million votes, more than 70% of total.

Now this is an interesting election even by Chicago standards. Seems that the front runner (Hull) mysteriously become involved in a domestic abuse trial and withdrew his name from the race. (Sounds like the Chicago Political Machine may have dropped a dime on Blair.) So Obama had a cake walk to get the democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate Seat. (Reminds me of how he won his State Senate seat by having his legal team disqualify his opponent’s signature petitions. At the same time Jack Ryan won the Republican Nomination, but announced his withdrawal from the race — four days after the Chicago Tribune succeeded in persuading a California court to release previously-sealed child custody records containing embarrassing allegations by Ryan's ex-wife. Now how is that for being one LUCKY politician. Obama walked into the US Senate Seat, when the Republicans brought in the little known Keyes to run as a Republican. Now it looks like the Chicago Political Machine along with Ayers, Jackson, Rezko Wright and the rich and wealthy Black community in Chicago loaded the deck in Obama’s favor.

Also note that for a 'white middle-class individual to be considered for entrance into Harvard' they would have to be number one in their High School class. Be the top student at Occidental just to get into COLUMBIA, and the odds of them getting into HARVARD LAW school ARE SO GREAT.. they probably would win the lottery first.

Yet Obama has us believe (on FAITH) that he performed so brilliantly that he (had a 'B' average in High School) performed so brilliantly at Occidental, that he got into Columbia, and that he EARNED a slot into Harvard Law School. Then he and HARVARD expect us to believe that he PERFORMED SO BRILLIANTLY ACADEMICALLY that he EARNED his right to be EDITOR of THE HARVARD LAW REVIEW. (Now I challenge the Obama Campaign and any supporter to valid that he was the BEST CANDIDATE excluding the fact that he was BLACK instead of BI-RACIAL.)

Amazing that there are no thesis papers, no legal briefs, no academic records, no scholarships received, no national test scores, no IQ scores, no legal briefs from his teaching in Chicago, or ANY LEGAL writings that was required of Editors of the Review... UNTIL Obama was selected.
I suspect that he received 'special' grants, scholarships, academic treatment not because he was brilliant... but because of the fact that these institutions... needed to promote black scholars at the expense of better qualified female, and white male candidates. ( I would hope that somewhere, someplace there would be documentation that would prove me wrong. )

And the amazing thing is... the MSM does not question any of this.

Shame on the MSM and shame on the Obama Supporters that BELIEVE in his Lies.

Remember he is spending over 600 million of YOUR dollars to BUY each and every American Vote that he recieves. Amazing to think that you are being BOUGHT and selling out OUR Country to the RICH AND POWERFUL.

See: WASHINGTON POST:

Muslim group seeks probe of 'radical Islam' DVD (AP, September 23, 2008; 8:18 PM)

An editorial in the Palm Beach Post outlined the apparent political motivation behind the Clarion Fund campaign:

“Distribution of the DVD…was timed with the post-Labor Day start of presidential election season. About 95 percent of the papers that contained the DVD are in Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and New Hampshire.

“Notice a pattern? Right, those are the swing states that most analysts believe will determine the election. The issue on which polls consistently show John McCain ahead of Barack Obama is national security. One way to make voters worry less about the economy and more about national security would be to send out a DVD that opens with clips of 9/11 and includes scenes of Muslims chanting ‘Death to America!’”

SEE: The Secret Cell Helping McCain (Palm Beach Post)

SEE ALSO: Anti-Islam Film Targets 'Swing State' (IPS)

Editorial and letter writers nationwide have called the film “propaganda” and even compared it to Leni Riefenstahl's 1935 pro-Nazi film "Triumph of the Will.” One writer called it “misleading and dangerous.” (Broward-Palm Beach New Times, 9/20/08)

SEE: Putting Lipstick on Propaganda Doesn’t Change It (NWF Daily News)

Jeff VanDenBerg, director of Middle East Studies at Drury University, called the film “a blatant piece of anti-Muslim propaganda.” (News-Leader, 9/17/08)

Those interviewed in “Obsession” constitute a veritable who’s who of Muslim-bashers. Speakers include Walid Shoebat, who once told a Missouri newspaper that he sees “many parallels between the Antichrist and Islam" and “Islam is not the religion of God -- Islam is the devil.” (Springfield News-Leader, 9/24/07)

Others interviewed in the film include Nonie Darwish, a self-styled “former Moslem" who wrote that "Islam is cruel, anti-women, anti-religious freedom and anti-personal freedom in general,” and Daniel Pipes, who warned a Jewish convention of the "true dangers" posed by "the presence, and increased stature, and affluence, and enfranchisement of American Muslims." (American Jewish Congress, 10/21/2001)

Another “Obsession” interviewee, Brigitte Gabriel, told the Australian Jewish News: “Every practising Muslim is a radical Muslim.” She also claimed that “Islamo-fascism is a politically-correct word...it's the vehicle for Islam...Islam is the problem.”

SEE: The World According to Brigitte Gabriel (Australian Jewish News)

When asked whether Americans should “resist Muslims who want to seek political office in this nation," Gabriel said:

"Absolutely. If a Muslim who has -- who is -- a practicing Muslim who believes the word of the Koran to be the word of Allah, who abides by Islam, who goes to mosque and prays every Friday, who prays five times a day -- this practicing Muslim, who believes in the teachings of the Koran, cannot be a loyal citizen to the United States of America."

SEE: 'Obsession' Stars Have Lectured at U.S. Military Colleges

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

DO THESE WORDS SOUND FAMILIAR TO READERS HERE? The anti-Islam venom spewed here by pseudonyms?
Those who read this site know thw names.

Mr. Patel:
As a Chicago based director, I presume that your location also has something to do with your support of Obama. Unfortunately, as you look at the smears against Obama, I prefer to look at how Obama has used his race for smears against his competition. As a woman living in a multicultural country, I have found it hard to fathom how people, such as you, can decry one smear and keep silent about others. I find any false claims against Obama abhorrent but I also find his actions just as deplorable when he allowed his supporters, and mostly other African Americans, to go out and cry false claims of racism against Senator Clinton and President Clinton. Two cases stand out in particular that being Congressman Clyburn turning Clinton's words of Obama's stance re the Iraq war a fairy tale into the fatc that Obama's run for the Presidency was the fairy tale. He repeated this often on CNN. The other case that I still can't get over was when Jesse Jackson Jr., Obama's national co-chairman went on TV and said that he could not say Senator Clinton's teary moment was not real, but why did he not see her crying for the black victims of Katrina and black voters would have to take that into consideration when they went to the polls the following week. What did Obama say to these supporters calling others racists - NOTHING! Or perhaps you can comment on black lawmakers getting emails to withdraw their support from Clinton and stay neutral or others being threatened with either start supporting Obama or face strong competition for their positions next election. Perhaps you could also explain why if it is so wrong to vote against someone because of their skin color then why is it not just as wrong for someone to vote for him strictly because of his skin color? Could those blacks be called racists then? Where I live, skin color doesn't matter in my deciding who I vote for, but I personally find it hypocritical for those who complain about smears against Obama because of his race, but then allow free reign to his supporters to use his race to smear others all the while Obama remains silent.

Simply because Obama is of African American origins doesn't mean that every attack on his faith is motivated by some form of latent racism. Your attempt is to mask what may be authentic concern by people of faith who sincerely question the character of a person who at once claims to be Christian while appearing to simultaneously hold beliefs that contradict the Bible. How many race cards can a person have in one deck? Is it possibly to criticize him as a human being without being accused of racism? As far as your commitment to interfaith cooperation is concerned, Jesus Himself said “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword." -Matthew 10:34. Only Christians truly understand this verse and in a sense it means that although Christians should strive to live in peace with people, it shouldn't come at the expense of denying the divinity of Christ. It also dictates that you can only serve one master and so there is a division where people decide which master they are going to serve. There isn't room for the acceptance of other beliefs in this regard. People yes. Faiths no. However difficult that is to explain or comprehend. To a true Christian there is no such thing as an adherence to an interfaith organization. One would have to deny the deity of Christ in order to promote such a thing. This doesn't mean that Christians consider non-Christians to be their enemies, which in itself would be a sin because of the fact that we are called to love everyone on account that some may come to know Jesus for who He is and be saved. Hope that helps and makes sense. God bless you. Peace, Brian

Hi, Sparrow,

One wonders - and I must get scatological, alas - which orifice McWorse will speak from.

As to your name, I like it - but you may be more of a sparrow hawk - quite a lovely bird.

arminius- it seems to be highly contagious! I understand that members of the treasury dept. and Wall St. are also suffering this debilitating disease and that John McCain has an extreme case, leading the press to wonder if he will be able to speak at the debate on Friday. :^)

Why thanks, Duke- as in "His eye is on"

Sparrow - the name says it all.

Sparrow:

"wow- Vince and Petras,you guys really had to bend over backwards and get your heads way up there, huh?"

Yes, indeed. That affliction is known as the cranio-rectal syndrome. There is currently an epidemic of it among republicans. Including republicans in the White House.

wow- Vince and Petras,you guys really had to bend over backwards and get your heads way up there, huh? I've gotten numerous emails from Republican friends calling Obama a Muslim. I've had republican friends tell me he is muslim and that you can't trust anyone with a name like his. You're simply repeating the whole republican m.o.- lie, slander and keep repeating until you and the rest of the world believes it.

Good luck with that-it's a sad commentary on people in this country who can be so far into denial they can't even see it. That's not the way this country should be or needs to be.

Good point, Petras,

The libs are preparing their talking points for the explanation of the coming Obama defeat. This guy, Patel, is no friend of ecumenism - he is just
stoking ethnic and religion tensions.

Its interesting that the mainstream media like the New York Times Kristoff and now the Posts Patel says this is an issue.

The "Obama is a Muslim" smear is not even heard on that hugely popular right-wing radio show; Rush Limbaugh.

I searched though numerous transcripts on Rushs site and found the following two snippets...

From a RUSH show (on his website) March 12 2008:

CALLER: I've listened to your show, because people calling in, was like, "Well, I couldn't vote for him because he's Islamic."

RUSH: We don't get calls, I don't put calls on the air that say Obama is a Muslim.

CALLER: You have had plenty. What are you talking about? I listen to you all the time, dude.

RUSH: I have not. We don't talk about it on this program. I don't go there.

CALLER: Come on, Rush, man.

RUSH: I very seldom use his middle name, Hussein.

CALLER: But you know what it means though, that's a problem, you have a problem, that's a problem.

RUSH: You're confusing me with somebody else out there, which is really offensive. I have to tell you. Because there's nobody out there worth being confused with me.

CALLER: I listened to your show all last week, and you had people call in with like, "I couldn't vote for him because he's a Muslim," and --

RUSH: Didn't happen. Didn't happen.

from another show Sept 1oth 2008:

CALLER: I don't believe for a second that he could have been elected as a US senator if his faith was that of Muslim, especially following 9/11. He may have been elected as a state senator --

RUSH: Now, wait a minute.

CALLER: Yes.

RUSH: He hasn't been spotted in a mosque. He's been going to Jeremiah Wright's little hellhole up there in Chicago where they preach a bunch of hatred and stuff, but it's not a mosque.

--------------

Who really is spinning this Obama is Muslim smear ? It seems to be a belief - an issue - being promoted by the Obama-friendly media. A sympathy smear perhaps ?

"Katrina = gov't fault...the State's gov't - idiot. You didn't see folks crying blame in the Midwest did you? They must have had a competent Mayor and Governor."

The flooding in the midwest encompassed an area of 100 square blocks. Katrina cut a swath through several states, covering thousands of square miles. the governor and the mayor told the gov't they were worried long before Katrina hit, and begged for help. the rest is on the head of FEMA- which, if you really read the accounts you would know this instead of trying to make it a racial (subtle but still obvious- I got the same email about how white folk in the midwest were so much better in a disaster- from a very racist no longer a friend).

-Bob in Western NY:
"I'm amazed at this article. I am aware that there are some false rumors on the internet, being passed by email, about Obama. I find these to be minor." oh well, of course you would. Could you be any more transparent?

What I find to be major are the smear tactics of the Washington Post in spreading false rumors, as news, about Sarah Palin. Now that's a story worth writing about. This woman has been attacked without mercy for being ... what? ... an American!"-Bob in Western NY

No- she's being attacked for being unsuitable for the office she's running for and for lying over and over again about her record, and for deciding she is so special she doesn't owe the American people any answers to tough questions. She's the one whose been hiding since she was nominated.

"You see, christians and caucasians in this country are the only ones who you can criticize, slander, smear, talk openly about prejudices against and never have anyone question or raise a major concern over (b/c they deserve it right, I mean noone else has ever made a mistake before.) "-dmacdc
Because Christianity has made it a habit to force itself on others, to insist Christian holidays and verbiage be adhered to, to demand the right to tell others how to live their lives and to believe they have the right to withhold the basic rights allowed heterosexual taxpayers, but not to homosexual ones. And while you're reading the transcripts of Rev. Wright- an honored Marine, FYI- why don't you get a gander at the words of the very white Revs.Falwell, Robertson, Hagge and Parsley. I don't suppose it ever occurred to you that perhaps Black Americans wouldn't feel like Rev.Wright does if prejudice had truly been eradicated. No....I guess it wouldn't.

" Celeste Johnson:
You and I know he wouldn't be the nominee if he were a white man with the same thin resume.
A great many people, non blacks, voted for him in the primaries out of guilt and idealism.
Now Obama has to run like any other person and prove himself.
Sadly, he is not worthy of the hopes and idealism spent on him. Instead he is a shallow, calculating, manipulating thug who doesn't know how to fight fair."

Nor would Sarah Palin been given a second thought if she had been a man. And in her case, she is further unsuitable by virtue of her education, her lack of diplomatic skills or statesmanship, her inability to work well with others and her religious extremism.

" amillionlaughs:
Sparrow,
Don't you mean that there is a RABBIT in the Obama
family?"

well, you certainly don't live up to your name. But it takes real wit and brains to be funny. Hope you didn't give up the day job.

Who let the bar-fighter in the chat?
If you seriously think 3 tours of duty...oh wait, what am I thinking. Your taunting on-line serves you well. Anger fuels your debate, your beliefs and such, your actions. No wonder you cote the way you do. I don't have to prove anything to you. My thoughts on what I believe this country stands for and the traditions it should continue won't change for your sake. You think the Repubs are guiltless? The Dems? Neither are, catch a clue to it. Savior of our nation my a**. Your naive if you think things will change...yeah, how? I affect my house. That's whats under my control. They're both scandalous. Gov't's scandalous. I wouldn't trade for killing babies for no reason = no respect for human life, unreasonable taxes to pay for all of the "new" programs + what's already been done = larger gov't, looking like cowards in this fight on terrorism (only to our gov't - the world knows), no God in America, gun-fearing and complaining whiners for anything. If the GOP doesn't know this, then they lose out on me. I vote my principles. How about you?

My Handle...represents me, DC. I've felt racism. You cry wolf. Try being the only whitey on the basketball team. Stop whining. Make things happen. I don't pledge allegiance to anyone except God and my wife, this country and eliminating hate & disdain that you obviously have. But go ahead if you want, put me into your fiery categories, makes life easy for ya.

End all wars? Talk to the people who want to kill us or take over the world. I could care less about those who vote based on race (what, all races don't do it? get outta here)...what you going to change them? They haven't learned by now? I teach...the next generation is the one we affect.

I agree with TERESAWYMORE. I'm out...PEACE!!

Peruse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Barack_Obama to educate yourself about BO before November.

Peruse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain and
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_John_McCain to educate yourself about JM before November.

And don't forget to vote !!!!

the writer writes about religion, not politics, so he can be somewhat excused for his naivete about the difference between what many americans who call themselves christians say in church and what they actually believe. they tend to be republicans, the party of "family values" and for most of them, faith does not trump racism, or sexism, and it all is coming out in this campaign thanks to the anonymity of the internet. check out www.straightrecord.com/obama and www.straightrecord.com/hillaryhate

dmacdc writes
"I'm glad you are laughing"

That's so nice of you!

"Yeah, I guess you could say Bush didn't do anything...in only eight months of presidency"

Glad we agree.

"vs. eight years of Clinton."

And Clinton did a lot. Ask Tim McVay - oh that's right, he's dead, unlike Osama Bin Laden. Oh ask the guys who carried out the first WTC attack - they are in jail. Hey, what did you think of Ashcroft diverting funds for fighting terror into his fight against internet porn? Talk about priorities!

"You can name all of things Clinton DID you want. Facts are they were reallty scared weren't they.. Must have really worked. What's happened since 9/11 - everything in other countries."

So what? Al Qaeda never attacked the mainland US when Clinton was in office - they had to wait till they had a fool like Bush who would let the country's guard down.

"Okay, now reality"

I won't hold my breath, given your record.

"isn't Congress part of the gov't?? They don't do oversight?"

And congress was controlled by which party from 1994 - 2006? Which party was passed deregulation of financial industries? Here's a hint - REPUBLICANS.

"And I guess when you're focused on keeping us safe from bombs you shouldn't have time to micromanage."

So your story is that Republicans can't chew gum and walk at the same time, backing up my assertion that Republicans are incapable of governing. Thanks for your help!
Of course the President doesn't have to 'micromanage' if he can appoint good people. Bush couldn't, and history has proven it.

"Bush was reading the book"

To himself. The teacher was reading it to the kids.

"before got the news of 9/11."

When he got the news "The USA is under attack".
And after hearing "The USA is under attack" Bush sat on his rear end for 7-8 minutes, and then went to a photo-op. Some "Commander", eh?

"Are you denying progress in Irag?"

Violence is down to 2004 levels, and that is certainly progress. Of course the success of the "surge" is judged by the benchmarks the President set for the surge, which were supposed to be met by last November. The benchmarks were not met, so by the Bush's standards the surge failed.

"Not worth it to have a major ally in the middle of the middle east."

Israel has, by far, the largest military in the Middle East (one of the most powerful in the world) and they have been our ally for 40+ years.

"Or have an enemy...your choice."

Seems to me that Saddam was 100% contained, and Saddam had no tolorance for Al Qaeda (they in tern wanted Saddam's head). A live Saddam was by far cheaper and more in our interest than a botched occupation that has made Iran stronger and made America far weaker.

"Are you denying that Obama's policies are socialistic in nature?"

I don't see how they are socialistic at all. What industries has Obama talked about the government taking over? I'm betting that, as usual, you run away from your own assertions.

"Do something yourself for once."

You made the assertion about Senator Obama. If you can't back up what you're saying, it might be because it isn't true.

"I don't need caps btw...you know who I'm talking to."

I don't care that much unless you go all e.e.cummings on us (makes it hard on the eyes, but not as hard as all caps). I was providing fair warning, as some net-newbs thrive on spelling flames.

Unbelievable that yet another story sets Senator Obama apart as if he's special or specially attacked, when the truth is quite the opposite.

Religion is a litmus test in the U.S. and has been forever, like it or not. An Atheist or, say, a Pentacostal will suffer the same bashing as a Muslim.

This isn't about Obama or his race. This is about lazy Americans wanting easy decisions, choosing who they support based on identity politics -- does he look, act, live like me?

The media is so hands-off this man, they can't even lampoon him like they do every other politician!

Quit race-baiting.

The 4:31 PM "Anonymous" posting is all you need to know about the ignorant, gutless (and I guess now, nameless), faux-macho Republicans. I do not speak for Eboo Patel but simply writing an article about the smears against Obama does not make him a Muslim. In your demented mind, anyone who has brown skin must be an Islamic terrorist. Really? Someone one should tell John Walker Lindh.

DMACDC

I had 43 jumps including 6 out of a helicopter, trained to be a ranger and advanced infantry training. I have a combat medical badge, what have you done. I think an IED went off too close to the trench you were in. The only thing tough about guys like you is distance and obscurity. Say where and when tough guy. I think your handle DM ACDC speaks volumes of your true nature. Neo-cons with their bluster and false bravado and blind non-thinking allegiance to the likes of Rush Limbaugh is what has gotten America into the mess we are in I think it is time to call you NITWITS bluff.

This party which should be renamed the NERO Party because they are fiddling while America burn is getting exactly what it deserves. I wonder how many ‘I did it my way’ Rush Limbaugh ditto heads are shaking in their financial boots. Republicans got us into this mess. It is ironic that the amount of money Paulson is requesting is the cost of Bush’s wars.

Many whites will find all kinds of reasons to vote against Obama and use religion among others reasons to justify that vote. All I can say is ‘be careful of what you wish for because you just might get it’. END ALL WARS.

Racism yet has a strong hold on this country. If King were alive, he and Obama worked side by side the dream would yet be a dream. It appears the word isn't faith rather ambition therefore a tolerance has been adapted. Should Obama not become president this race will prove we (black people) have many injustices yet to confront.The world will dislike America with a greater passion. Education or our financial status has not eradicated the stink of racism. It is ironic when Jesus was born in Bethlehem Mary and Joseph were there to pay their taxes. The only definite change is the donkey has been replaced by the automobile.

I'm glad you are laughing, of course looking at your responses, you still don't get it do you?
Yeah, I guess you could say Bush didn't do anything...in only eight months of presidency vs. eight years of Clinton. You can name all of things Clinton DID you want. Facts are they were reallty scared weren't they.. Must have really worked. What's happened since 9/11 - everything in other countries. Okay, now reality...isn't Congress part of the gov't?? They don't do oversight? And I guess when you're focused on keeping us safe from bombs you shouldn't have time to micromanage. Bush was reading the book before got the news of 9/11. Are you denying progress in Irag? Not worth it to have a major ally in the middle of the middle east. Or have an enemy...your choice. Are you denying that Obama's policies are socialistic in nature? Do something yourself for once. I don't need caps btw...you know who I'm talking to.

I think these radical conservative books are only best sellers because someone is buying a bunch of them. It's hard to believe there are that many literate racisits in the country.

JIM:

I'll take that and raise you two. I am a tough guy. Good instincts! and I don't need ten. I'll hand you your ass on a plate. IN the trenches, not flying over...satellite b*****s

well boo boy patel, apologist for islam, the cult of hate and murder, now wants to lecture America on who we should elect president. and who brings up race, racist dems and apologists for murdering islamic scum like boo boy here.

dmacdc:
"All talk, no junk I guess aren't you? "you're just admitted you're a liar"....no follow-up??? And how...no really, please do back up your statement with details"

You wrote
"He will readily admit that his policies border on socialistic ideas such as wealth distribution and government running of everything from your insurance to how you brush your teeth"

That is a lie. However feel free to back up your assertion with quotes from Obama or his campaign website. My guess is you have nothing but your own assumptions.

"Katrina = gov't fault...the State's gov't - idiot. You didn't see folks crying blame in the Midwest did you? They must have had a competent Mayor and Governor."

The Hurricane was a natural disaster of immense size. The Republican President and his administration did nothing for a week. After Russia invaded Georgia our government was claiming we could get "relief supplies into Georgia" inside 24 hours - yet somehow they couldn't get drinking water into an American city for a week? The fact is that FEMA and Homeland Security were run by hacks, picked by the the biggest hack of all President Bush.

"Iraq = dems voted for it (check the record) and look at it now - progress whether you like it/see it or not."

You make this rather easy. In 2002 Bush asked congress to give the authorization to use force, because he said that the UN would not take him seriously unless he had that authorization. Congress gave Bush that authorization, and Bush got weapon's inspectors into Iraq. I applauded Bush's leadership at the time. As it happened, there were no WMDs, so Bush ordered the inspectors out and invaded, which the Democrats did NOT support. You lose, agian!

"Let 9/11 happen = Oh, open the floodgates now"

Bush was President. Bush chose to ignore warnings about the terrorist threat from President Clinton and people inside government. AT Ashcroft cut funds for fighting terrorism in order to fight the danger of Internet Porn. Those are facts baby.

"I guess 8 years of Clinton didn't have anything to do with it did it?"

Clinton was fighting terrorism. WTC1 attack occured and all the people involved were shortly tried and jailed, where they sit rotting today. OK City bombing happened and the perp in that case was caught, tried and executed. Our embassey's were bombed and President Clinton carried out attacks against OBL and his properties (sadly didn't work). You lose, again!

"idiot again."

When calling people names you might take the time to capitalize - some people might spell flame you.

"So I guess the bombing of the USS Cole"

Thanks for reminding me that when we figured out who bombed the USS Cole (Al Qaeda) Bush refused to respond because "it wasn't on his watch". Again Bush enabled terrorists, again you lose.

"and the World Trade Center were Clinton's fault - "he let it happen." BTW..atleast Bush had enough b***ls to do something about it."

Actually Bush did nothing to prevent the 9/11 attacks, and when they occured he was frozen in panic, pretending to read 'the pet goat'. After they hauled his frozen rear end out of the school Bush contented himself to be flown about by the SS while Cheney ran the government.

"idiot again."

Wow, your flames are pretty limp.

"Economic crash = obviously you didn't pay attention in Economics class. You think the president has the most influence over that."

Total lack of government oversight led to the collapes. Guess you don't read the news.

"Oh my, get your facts right. Again, think for yourself - typical democrat, need mommy to help out?"

Thanks for making a complete fool of yourself. It's nice to have a laugh at a conservative's expense.
Again, say 'hi' to rush for me! My guess is you'll be running to freerepublic.com to get some more of your idiotic talking points!
LOL

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SUPERCAPITALISM AT ITS WORST

Executive salaries, CEO bonuses, grand robberies of the U.S. TREASURY in the $MILLIONS, $BILLIONS, and $TRILLIONS.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SUPERCAPITALISTS robbed the AMERICAN PEOPLE of a $Trillion. RULE OF LAW states that the AMERICAN PEOPLE will be protected and all private properties, money, and wealth domestic and abroad owned by GOP REPUBLICAN SUPERCAPITALISTS taking part in robbing the U.S. TREASURY (AMERICAN PEOPLE) will immediately be confiscated and returned to the U.S. TREASURY (AMERICAN PEOPLE).

REPLACE GOP REPUBLICAN CEO GOLDEN PARACHUTES WITH CRIMINAL TRIAL AND PROPERTY CONFISCATION. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL PREVAIL AND THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION WILL BE REINSTATED. LONG LIVE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE. CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WILL BE THE LAW OF THE LAND.

INSIDE JOB AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL:
GOP REPUBLICAN WHITE HOUSE ILLEGAL WARS AND
WALL STREET CRIMINAL DEREGULATED SPECULATIONS

You asked for it and you got it. GOP REPUBLICANS INSIDERS McCain, Bush, Cheney, Paulson, and Rice were hired by Super-Capitalists (Super Wealthy GOP REPUBLICANS) to start Illegal Oil Wars against Oil producing Nations and DEREGULATE (eliminate AMERICAN PEOPLE PROTECTION) the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (White House, Congress, Supreme Court), TREASURY and WALL STREET. These INSIDERS did exactly what they were paid to do. Past GOP REPUBLICANS (Nixon, Reagan, Bush I) and current GOP REPUBLICANS (Bush II, Cheney, Rice, McCain, Paulson) have a credibility factor of zero. Americans no longer believe them, the World has never believed them and now they are done. They came in with the 9/11 attack upon the AMERICAN PEOPLE and leave with the Wall Street $1Trillion attack upon the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

Wave after wave after wave the GOP REPUBLICANS attack the AMERICAN PEOPLE based on the premise of disrespect for anyone who is not a GOP RICH REPUBLICAN. Either you are in their group (GOP RICH REPUBLICAN) or out (debt ridden worker bee / victim). GOP REPUBLICANS view the AMERICAN PEOPLE as gullible sheep perpetually fattened with debt and led to the subhuman existence slaughter. When slavery (free labor) ended GOP RICH REPUBLICANS attacked and enslaved the people of the world through unbalanced trade. Now that foreign sweatshops are demanding better pay and treatment, GOP RICH REPUBLICANS are attacking the AMERICAN MIDDLE CLASS. GOP RICH REPUBLICANS are banking on the idea that the AMERICAN MIDDLE CLASS are non-thinking drones fat with artificial food, high on Wall Street sponsored imported drugs (legal / illegal), and choked with clutter, debt and noise.

Through massive GOP REPUBLICAN SPONSORED DEREGULATIONS, GOP REPUBLICAN CEOs, Treasury Secretary, Wall Street Speculators, White House Administration, Cabinet Members, and their insider friends each walked away with more than $20,000,000 annually of money stolen directly from the U.S. TREASURY (AMERICAN PEOPLE). After eight years of GRAND FRAUD AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, thousands of GOP REPUBLICANS ROBBED OUR UNITED STATES TREASURY OF $1TRILLION (ACTS OF TREASON AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE).

The AMERICAN PEOPLE will hold ALL GOP REPUBLICANS INVOLVED in these ACTS OF TREASON accountable before a TRIAL. ALL GOP REPUBLICANS INVOLVED in these ACTS OF TREASON will have ALL OF THEIR PROPERTIES (corporate and private, domestic and foreign sheltered) CONFISCATED, SOLD and RETURNED to OUR NATIONAL TREASURY (AMERICAN PEOPLE). The UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION (WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE) shall prevail, despite the criminal efforts of GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SUPER-CAPITALIST CRIMINALS.

CONGRESS WILL NOT ADJOURN UNTIL AFTER THE GOP REPUBLICAN PARTY FIX THEIR COLOSSAL MESS

GOP REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN WALL STREET DEREGULATIONS
GOP REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN ALSO WANTED TO PRIVATIZE SOCIAL SECURITY (BONEHEAD)
GOP REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN sponsored landmark legislation in 1999 that removed the walls between banks, investment firms and insurance companies. GOP REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN bill allowed a company like AIG to expand beyond its traditional insurance business (which is still profitable) into exotic new extremely high risk products that brought the company down and created this colossal mess.

WALL STREET SRO - SELF REGULATORY ORGANIZATION
THE GOP REPUBLICAN RUN Government (GOP President, GOP Congress, GOP Supreme Court) looked the other way, while GOP REPUBLICAN Super-capitalist Obscenely Rich WALL STREET SRO Speculators Robbed Our U.S. TREASURY and Forced the $Trillion Debt Upon the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

Average Americans are becoming poorer, because GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET super rich SPECULATORS and corporate CEOs are paying themselves, business partners, friends, and family members at least $10,000,000 annually from MONEY STOLEN FROM THE U.S. TREASURY. These major crimes committed by WALL STREET SPECULATORS AND CEOs have gone beyond greed and into acts of treason against the AMERICAN PEOPLE. Seize the stolen money and properties valued in the $TRILLIONS back from these super criminals for attacking America. Those stolen $MILLIONS / $BILLIONS / $TRILLIONS belong to the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

RULE OF LAW states that the People of the United States will be defended. Those who attack American Citizens will be prosecuted. WALL STREET SPECULATORS and CORPORATE CEOs dictatorship over the AMERICAN PEOPLE is over. Average Americans are not going to accept WALL STREET CORPORATE CRIMES anymore. Rights of Citizen and Average Workers of the United States will be enforced. The AMERICAN PEOPLE will always come before corporate interests, because Americans Love America more than Wall Street Speculators love greed.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET $TRILLION FRAUD AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

Direct impact of GOP McCain sponsored deregulations
Bankrupt and floundering
Failure of the investment bank
Government's takeover

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET's business model has collapsed

Greed and fear routinely govern GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET financial markets and GLOBAL CRISIS.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET (giant investment houses, brokerage firms, hedge funds, "private equity" firms) irresponsibly TRADED the savings of average Americans (placed LAS VEGAS STYLE BETS on extremely high risk stocks, bonds, and other securities).

DUBIOUS MORTGAGES were PACKAGED into BONDS and SOLD and TRADED. Investment houses had huge incentives to increase LEVERAGE (OBSCENELY HIGH BORROWING).

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET compensation is heavily skewed toward annual bonuses, reflecting the profits traders and managers earned in the tune of lavish base salaries and obscenely high annual bonuses of $20,000,000.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET relies heavily on OBSCENELY HIGH LEVERAGE (OBSCENELY HIGH BORROWING). $3 Trillion (stocks, bonds, other securities) backed by only $80 billion in shareholders' equity while the $2.8 Trillion was LEVERAGE (BORROWED).

Leverage (huge borrowing) can create huge debts (huge principal and interest obligations)

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET is a manic machine for gambling.
Traders and money managers are given huge incentives to do whatever would increase short-term profits.

For decades, GOP REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN sponsored legislation that broadly deregulated WALL STREET banking and insurance industries.

GOP REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN swept away Consumer Protection legislation and opened the way for a less restricted high risk financial marketplace.

While the GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET boom continued, government (White House, Congress, Supreme Court) looked the other way.

GOP REPUBLICAN Congress resisted tougher regulation and permitted WALL STREET to run out of control at obscenely high LEVERAGE (OBSCENELY HIGH BORROWED MONEY) RATIOS perpetrating intentional fraud against the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET leaders intentionally deceived customers and lenders into taking hazardous risks for short-term rewards regardless of the long-term dangers to the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

Mortgages went bad. The powerful high leverage went into reverse. Losses eroded firms' capital bases and raised doubts about their survival.

Financial firms took major stupid and wasteful risks that severely damaged the American Economy and impeded economic recovery.

GOP REPUBLICAN STOCK MARKET $TRILLION FRAUD has deepened consumers' pessimism, fear and reluctance to spend. There may be more failures of FINANCIAL FIRMS.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET financial crises resemble the GOP REPUBLICAN illegal miscalculated war.

How were we ever made to believe that the now-collapsing GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET model ever made sense? Common sense should have told us that making RISKY BETS with HUGE AMOUNTS of BORROWED MONEY was a DANGEROUS GAME; if the bets pay off you make money beyond your wildest dreams, but if they go bad you face utter ruin.

Common sense should have told us that betting fortunes on meaningless fluctuations in stock, bond or currency values (McCain sponsored deregulated hedge funds) was about as productive as a trip to Las Vegas. Common sense should have told us that buying and selling exotic securities based on other securities based on bundles of mortgages that were treated like mere numbers on a balance sheet (no recognition that the whole iffy construct was based on real people living in real houses that they might or might not be able to afford) was not an intelligent endeavor.

Somehow, we all forgot that "HIGHLY LEVERAGED" is just another way of saying "DEEPLY INDEBTED." Now we've had a wake-up call, and maybe the erstwhile Masters of the Universe will have to stop playing with imaginary money and go back to using the real stuff.

The View Destroyed Unprepared GOP REPUBLICAN John McCain

McCain / Palin Failin are rejected for voting against Women Rights

RUL OF LAW WILL ENFORCE CONFISCATION OF ALL GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SPECULATORS’ AND CEOS’ PERSONAL PROPERTIES RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ECONOMY’S MELTDOWN. All money and properties of the Super Rich CEOs and WALL STREET Speculators domestic and abroad will be confiscated and returned to the United States TREASURY and the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WALL STREET SRO - SELF REGULATORY ORGANIZATION
OUR GOP REPUBLICAN RUN Government (GOP President, GOP Congress, GOP Supreme Court) looked the other way, while GOP REPUBLICAN Super-capitalist Obscenely Rich WALL STREET SRO Speculators Robbed Our U.S. TREASURY and Forced the $Trillion Debt Upon the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

GOP REPUBLICAN LIARS SUPER RICH WALL STREET GET RICH QUICK GREEDY
BILLION DOLLARS RISKY UNSECURED LOANS RISKY UNSECURED LOANS RISKY UNSECURED LOANS
REPACKAGED AND SOLD TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

GOP REPUBLICAN LIARS SUPER RICH WALL STREET ROBBER BARONS
COMMIT TREASON AND GRAND FRAUD AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WALL STREET SRO - SELF REGULATORY ORGANIZATION
OUR GOP REPUBLICAN RUN Government (GOP President, GOP Congress, GOP Supreme Court) looked the other way, while GOP REPUBLICAN Super-capitalist Obscenely Rich WALL STREET SRO Speculators Robbed Our U.S. TREASURY and Forced the $Trillion Debt Upon the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON ANGERED BY SARAH PALIN’S REMARKS

Comments uttered by Sarah Palin has angered Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton who described Sarah Palin as an opportunist with no qualifications. Senator Hillary Clinton also stated that John McCain and Sarah Palin’s records on women’s rights are abominable. The country cannot withstand anymore George Bush failures cloaked in McCain/Palin. Asking Sarah Palin to become Vice President is like asking the grazing moose behind her trailer to pilot the shuttle.

National Organization of Women (NOW) Endorsed Pro-Women’s Rights ticket Obama / Biden for their outstanding works bettering the lives of women.

GOP REPUBLICANS ARE AUTHORITARIANS WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN FREE SPEECH OR DEMOCRACY. GOP REPUBLICAN ONLY INTERESTS ARE POWER AND MONEY.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SUPERCAPITALISM AT ITS WORST

Executive salaries, CEO bonuses, grand robberies of the U.S. TREASURY in the $MILLIONS, $BILLIONS, and $TRILLIONS.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SUPERCAPITALISTS robbed the AMERICAN PEOPLE of a $Trillion. RULE OF LAW states that the AMERICAN PEOPLE will be protected and all private properties, money, and wealth domestic and abroad owned by GOP REPUBLICAN SUPERCAPITALISTS taking part in robbing the U.S. TREASURY (AMERICAN PEOPLE) will immediately be confiscated and returned to the U.S. TREASURY (AMERICAN PEOPLE).

PALIN FAILIN RETURNED HOME TO 2,000 ALASKAN PROTESTERS WHO CHEERFULLY CHANTED "O-BAM-AH.

Gov. Sarah Palin returned home to 2,000 protesters outside the Anchorage library who wanted to correct the widespread impression that the Last Frontier endorses her candidacy.

"Last week a group of women were sitting around talking about this perception that all of Alaska supports Sarah Palin. We apparently hit a nerve and started a movement,"

A sense of festival obtained. There was a woman in a polar bear suit representing "Polar Bear Moms Say: No Palin Failin." Drivers on 36th Avenue saw a little girl waving a sign "Don't Ban My Books."

"My mom is from Alaska. She's a working mother. She's good looking," said Nolan. "So she seems to be qualified to be vice president."

Asking Sarah Palin to become the Vice President is like asking the grazing moose behind her trailer to pilot the shuttle.

Sarah Palin Failin Protesters Held Signs Reading:

Bush In A Skirt
Palin Be Failin
Jesus Was a Community Organizer
Palin Failin: Thanks But No Thanks
Smearing Alaska's Good Name One Scandal @ a Time
Candidate To Nowhere
Rape Kits Should Be Free
Voted For Her Once: Never Again!
Community Organizers are the Real Patriots
Barbies for War
I Shall Not Be Pandered To
Give Palin Failin Your Vote AND Your Draft Age Child
Sarah Palin Failin: So Far Right She's Wrong
Alaska Is Not Frisco
Coat Hangers for McCain
Sarah Palin Failin, Undoing 150 Years of American Feminism
Hockey Mama for Obama (on a hockey stick)

Cheerful chants of "O-bam-ah.

National Organization of Women (NOW) Endorses Obama / Biden For Their Pro-Women Rights Stance

McCain / Palin Failin are rejected for their anti-women stance and votes against Women Rights

PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE PRESIDENTIAL CHOICES

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....

If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're 'exotic, different.'

Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, and its a quintessential American story.

If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.

Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer,
become President of the Harvard Law Review,
create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters,
spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor,
spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people,
become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee,
spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13
million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign
Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees,
you don't have any real leadership experience.

If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years
on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less
than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000
people, and cook caribou/grizzly/wolf stew, then you're qualified to become the country's second
highest ranking executive.

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters,
all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress,
and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month,
you're a Christian.

If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including
the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

If , while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only,
with no other option in sex education in your state's school system
while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant , you're very responsible.

If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm
to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family,
your family's values don't represent America's.

If you're husband is nicknamed 'First Dude', with at least one DWI conviction
and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and
once was a member of a group that advocated: the secession of Alaska from the USA,
your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

National Organization of Women (NOW) Endorses Obama / Biden For Their Pro-Women Rights Stance

McCain / Palin Failin are rejected for their anti-women stance and votes against Women Rights

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BROWN SUPPORTS BARACK OBAMA

LONDON - BRITISH PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN voiced support for UNITED STATES DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BARACK OBAMA, saying he would help Americans struggling with an economic downturn.

In a move seen by some British media as a break with a political convention requiring foreign leaders to remain neutral ahead of US elections, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BROWN praised MR. OBAMA as a fellow “progressive politician” who would help ordinary Americans in tough times. With eight weeks to go before the presidential election, MR. OBAMA and his Republican rival John McCain are neck-and-neck in domestic opinion polls.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BROWN described the race for the White House as “electrifying” and said: “It is the DEMOCRATS who are generating the ideas to help people through more difficult times.”

“To help prevent people from losing their home, BARACK OBAMA has proposed a Foreclosure Prevention Fund to increase emergency pre-foreclosure counselling, and help families facing repossession,” he wrote in an article in The Monitor magazine, a monthly political publication.

2008 UNITED STATES DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL RACE

DEMOCRAT HARVARD LAW VS. GOP REPUBLICAN D STUDENTS

OBAMA OF HARVARD LAW AND PRESIDENT OF HARVARD LAW REVIEW
BIDEN OF SYRACUSE LAW

MCCAIN OF NAVY ACADEMY LAST PLACE D STUDENT
PALIN FAILIN OF MOOSE COLLEGE

GOP Republican Wall Street SRO (Self Regulatory Organization) Robber Baron Supercapitalism Is Down And Will No Longer Rob the U.S. TREASURY and AMERICAN PEOPLE

STOP DESTRUCTIVE GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SUPERCAPITALISM OIL SPECUALTARS (OIL MILLIONAIRES BUSH, CHENEY, RICE, MCCAIN, PALIN FAILIN)

NATIONALIZE U.S. OIL FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE
NATIONALIZE U.S. OIL FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE
NATIONALIZE U.S. OIL FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE

WHY A BARREL OF OIL ILLEGALLY SHOT UP FROM $24 TO $145 DURING THE GOP REPUBLICAN (MCCAIN, BUSH, CHENEY, RICE, PALIN FAILIN) ADMINISTRATION

GOP REPUBLICAN BUSH I OOOOOIIIIILLLLL MILLIONAIRE AND OIL EXECUTIVE
GOP REPUBLICAN BUSH II OOOOOIIIIILLLLL MILLIONAIRE AND OIL EXECUTIVE
GOP REPUBLICAN CHENEY OOOOOIIIIILLLLL MILLIONAIRE AND OIL EXECUTIVE
GOP REPUBLICAN RICE OOOOOIIIIILLLLL MILLIONAIRE AND OIL EXECUTIVE
GOP REPUBLICAN GUILIANI OOOOOIIIIILLLLL MILLIONAIRE AND OIL STOCKHOLDER
GOP REPUBLICAN MCCAIN OOOOOIIIIILLLLL MILLIONAIRE AND OIL STOCKHOLDER
GOP REPUBLICAN PALIN FAILIN OOOOOIIIIILLLLL COMMISSIONER AND OIL STOCKHOLDER

TOGETHER WHAT DO THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON?

THEY ARE ALL GOP REPUBLICAN OOOOOIIIIILLLLL MILLIONAIRES AND OIL STOCKHOLDERS

GOP REPUBLICAN OOOOOIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLL IS THE NEW CRACK
GOP REPUBLICAN OOOOOIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLL IS THE NEW CRACK
GOP REPUBLICAN OOOOOIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLL IS THE NEW CRACK

CAN YOU SAY GOP REPUBLICAN CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, ROB OUR U.S. TREASURY, AND SPECULATE FOR OBSCENELY HIGH PROFIT RETURNS ON WALL STREET OIL STOCKS

WAKE UP AMERICA, BECAUCE THE WORLD ALREADY KNOWS ABOUT THE CRIMINAL GOP REPUBLICAN PARTY OF CONSPIRATORS

NATIONALIZE U.S. OIL FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE AS A VITAL RESOURCE

AMERICA AND AMERICANS FIRST

NO MORE GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET OOOOOIIIIILLLLL SPECULATION AND FRAUD AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

IF YOU SAY THAT YOU LOVE AMERICA, THEN PROVE IT AND STOP THE GOP REPUBLICAN RAIDERS UPON OUR U.S. TREASURY AND OUTSOURCING OF U.S. JOBS

GOP Republican Wall Street Get Rich Quick By Robbing America TREASURY Wild Speculators Created The Enormous National Debt, So Make Them Pay For It And Balance Our Budget.
GOP Republican Wall Street Supercapitalism Speculators Have Committed Treason Against Our Country.

DMACDC
Tough guy. I think you met your match. You see I am a liberal who is not afraid to get in your aass. I will meet you and ten neo-cons like you anywhere at any time and see if your tough words match your tough aass. Airborne All the Way.

JIM:

"dimwit" - huh, didn't know you knew her that well..didn't you only meet with her a couple of times. idiot. Stop being scared of a gunloving, god-fearing, hard to intimidate, grounded and challenging the aristocracy mother of five. Guess if you had your way, we'd all hire nannies to take care of our kids for a year and a half so we could soak up the glamour of running for president instead of actually doing their job like Michelle did. Or didn't you know that? "If it falls on the other side of the aisle, then it must be wrong." Typical Democrat, stop reading the teleprompter and think for yourself.

Marc Edwards:

By the way...I WILL say hi to Rush! - for you. And how do "whackos" like him (Hannity, etc..) stay on the radio, well let's see....maybe b/c they bring in ratings?? Which means people are listening.

It's okay...Close your eyes, tap your feet and wish they would ll disappear, and throw in some disappearing of the terrorists too (oh that's right, they don't really exist - they just don't understand us) KEEP DREAMING, and let the real men handle it - the soldiers, former and present.

It is sad to think that America is going down the drain because white Americans can only vote for another white. It’s like saying only blacks commit crime and only blacks are on welfare etc. What is not sad is that McCain and that dimwit Vice President Palin will win the election because they are white and the problems that are on the verge of destroying America will fall squarely where they belong on McCain, Palin and the Republican Party.

This party which should be renamed the NERO Party because they are fiddling while America burn is getting exactly what it deserves. I wonder how many ‘I did it my way’ Rush Limbaugh ditto heads are shaking in their financial boots. Republicans got us into this mess. It is ironic that the amount of money Paulson is requesting is the cost of Bush’s wars.

Many whites will find all kinds of reasons to vote against Obama and use religion among others reasons to justify that vote. All I can say is ‘be careful of what you wish for because you just might get it’. END ALL WARS.

Marc Edwards:

All talk, no junk I guess aren't you? "you're just admitted you're a liar"....no follow-up??? And how...no really, please do back up your statement with details (______insert here_____.) And I also believe I stated that he would NOT do so b/c it would be politically foolish for him to admit what his "real" beliefs are to the public b/c he does not come close to representing the majority of Americans (and yes, we will find out very soon.)

"Can't argue with dem. policies...." That's fine, but basing your argument (with nio supporting details of course - oh yeah, didn't yo ujust talk about the Repubs again. I guess you didn't get my talking to Johnny analogy..let me clarify for you. If I'm so wrong, why aren't you dispelling the things I brought up instead of talking about things the Repubs have done. And while we are on it, Repubs have increased the debt (same as almost every president before), but the others are completly wrong...don't read the teleprompter from the DNC. It's okay to actually research and think for yourself.
Katrina = gov't fault...the State's gov't - idiot. You didn't see folks crying blame in the Midwest did you? They must have had a competent Mayor and Governor.
Iraq = dems voted for it (check the record) and look at it now - progress whether you like it/see it or not.
Let 9/11 happen = Oh, open the floodgates now, I guess 8 years of Clinton didn't have anything to do with it did it? idiot again. Let's hire a new coach, then, when they lose, we can just say that it was all his fault - oh yeah, we have a GM who picks the players, an owner who chooses to spend on free agents and of course (a dem favorite) players who are actually paid to play - don't get it (I didn't think you would) So I guess the bombing of the USS Cole and the World Trade Center were Clinton's fault - "he let it happen." BTW..atleast Bush had enough b***ls to do something about it. idiot again.
Economic crash = obviously you didn't pay attention in Economics class. You think the president has the most influence over that. Oh boy, here comes HS/college all over again. Congress (led by the dems for the past four years) has the most impact on that.

Oh my, get your facts right. Again, think for yourself - typical democrat, need mommy to help out?

Dear Mr. Patel,

I applaud you for stating the obvious. In reading all of the other blogs these past couple of months, I realize just how many people in this country are in denial about their feelings on the faith and race issue. Its amazing how so many will make a statement "How dare you pull the race card!" Its a fact, if Obama was white, this election would be no contest. By the way, I am a white Christian woman. If more people would also take a moment and realize that there are many people in the Muslim world that are in fact Christian. Obama's father was Muslim. Faith is not genetic. He was raised by his Christian mother and carries on her values today.

By the way, anyone who believes that Jesus Christ was a blond haired blue eyed white man with long straight hair is fooling themselves, and never read the bible, much less knows anything about world geography. Yet we have built a Christian Nation around Him.

Okay, I think we can put this religious challenge to rest. Obama was baptized, as an adult, prior to beginning his studies at Harvard Law School. McCain has never been baptized. If a connection to Christianity is important to you in deciding your vote this November, the clear choice is Obama.

Harrison wrote:

"Obama knows that the IT firms that gave him millions don't want tax breaks, the want visas so they can get workers doing low level work into the country.
When he tells voters he is against "outsourcing" he knows that does not hurt his corporate sponsors"
-------------------------------------------------
The last time I checked a job in the IT field was neither a low wage job nor did it involve low level work. You can't just get a job doing programming in the same way as you could at McDonald's.

WS$ writes
"If you really, truly believe that the MSM has treated Gov. Palin with kid gloves I've got some land to sell you on the Texas coast. For whatever reason, legitimate or illegitimate, the scrutiny on not only Palin but her family has been anything but soft."

Really? She has done what - 2 interviews? I won't bother to comment on Sean Hannity's, but Gibson's interview was anything but tough. Certainly Palin screwed it up, but that was because she was unprepared for questions that your average WaPo blogger could answer. I'd like to know what you consider "tough" about her treatment by the MSM.
The questions about her family were raised after she tossed her own daughter "under the bus", revealing her pregnancy to "disprove false rumors" from a blog.
Got any examples of her "tough treatment" - cause I've not seen it.

"As for the SNL sendup of Palin's family, whether it's just humor or questionable taste or a smear is again in the eye of the beholder. Few partisans are as charitable as you are on that... just ask the editors of the New Yorker."

The specific anonymous posted was SNL mocking the media. Clearly you didn't view the link

dmacdc writes "He will readily admit that his policies border on socialistic ideas such as wealth distribution and government running of everything from your insurance to how you brush your teeth"

Actually, you're just admitted you're a liar.

"b/c dems believe that me & you (& them) can't do IT without their help (government's) - no son...it's all about getting the power."

Wrong again. Project much? Unable to argue with Democratic policies, you argue with what you wish they were. The FACT is that Republicans have proven themselves incapable of governing.
- surpluses turned to deficits
- biggest national debt in world history
- unable to handle the occupation of Iraq
- let 9/11 attacks happen, as combating porn was more important than combating terrorism
- Katrina/Ner Orleans
- current crash

"Repubs core beliefs"

Only Republican belief is helping out the rich, period.

"don't majorly change and they represent the majority of americans"

Wrong again.
All you seem capable of doing is badly parroting outdated talking points.
Say 'hi' to Rush!

We all know and have heard the "N-word" used by McCain supporters at one point or another. Please, PLEASE, do not let these racist moments that show the true face of the "ReThuglican" party go un-noticed or un-challenged. If at all possible, forward every incident possible to the main-stream media where it can get the exposure it deserves!

Marc,

If you really, truly believe that the MSM has treated Gov. Palin with kid gloves I've got some land to sell you on the Texas coast. For whatever reason, legitimate or illegitimate, the scrutiny on not only Palin but her family has been anything but soft.

As for the SNL sendup of Palin's family, whether it's just humor or questionable taste or a smear is again in the eye of the beholder. Few partisans are as charitable as you are on that... just ask the editors of the New Yorker.

No, although there is a significant knucklehead fringe in the blogosphere talking smack about Obama's religion and ethnicity I'm seeing very, very little talk about anything involving Obama either as a person or even a candidate for that matter.

Again and yet once again, everyone to include BO and JM must come to grips with the falacies of religion. We simply waste too much time in useless praying and bowing. In the 21st century, it should be obvious the paranormal mumbo jumbo of religion does not compute with reality.

Late in his life, Mahatma Gandhi was accused by some Hindu extremists of taking sides with Muslims, in the madness that led to the partition of India. He replied that, yes, he was a Muslim. And a Hindu, and a Christian, and a Jew.

Does it matter? Should it matter, in a great country that many want the United States to be? Do you not have religious freedom?

CYBERFOOL:

Good description of yourself btw.

I'm sorry, is Todd running for VP? Neither is Michelle. All aspects of every candidate are analyzed. Stop pointing fingers and explain why criticism isn't warranted. It's like the kid who gets caught cheating and then says, well Johnny did it too. Really? does that somehow address why YOU cheated. Fact is...try socialism on for a try. Check YOUR history. How did/does that work out for people in history. Now go see Obama's plans and (even uglier-no pun intended)supporters. He will readily admit (although not in public b/c he knows the american public would not go for it) that his policies border on socialistic ideas such as wealth distribution and government running of everything from your insurance to how you brush your teeth - b/c dems believe that me & you (& them) can't do IT without their help (government's) - no son...it's all about getting the power.

Repubs core beliefs don't majorly change and they represent the majority of americans. Love, guns (self-defense), love families (foundation of any sound society - marriages) love free-trade and open markets and love a strong national security (or we could all be controlled by some other country/group - which I am sure some of you would love...well then MOVE if its so bad. I'll pitch in for the ticket out.)

Celeste Johnson, at best, is a huge hypocrite. At worst, she is the prototypical ignorant racist. Ms. Johnson first claims that being African-American (or even half, in Obama's case) is an advantage when the last 42 presidents (not 43, because Grover Cleveland was 22nd and 24th POTUS) have all been White (and WASPs except for one). Yes, Obama's candidacy has energized people from all walks of life but that upswell is more than countered by bigots by Celeste Johnson (a lot more of Celestes out there than people like me). When decrying the so-called racism card, she calls Obama a "thug" which anyone with an IQ above room temperature knows that is white person code for the "n-word". If Celeste does not know that, she is more ignorant than the bigots she represents. This election is not about Left or Right - It is about RIGHT and WRONG and ultimately a referendum on our nation's intelligence.

Hey! the female writer that said Obama is a thug and the male writer that said he is anti-american etc. etc. should buy the hooded white sheets I'm selling.

We can be better. But somehow ignorancy will always be around.

I find it interesting that Michele Obama's politics is fair game, but people don't seem to mind that Todd Palin was a card carrying member of a successionist party. He must not be a good student of history, because that was tried almost 150 yrs ago and it was ruinous for the people that tried it. But since they are almost as close to Russia as Georgia, if they obtained independence, I'd almost like to see them get a Putin-style "Bear Hug".

The more I read, the less faith I have in actually seeing the "visions" of most of these responders happening. The same evaluation and damnation of the techniques and strategies of the GOP that you have, are the same ones you use to justify it.

Ex.
CHUCK: innuendo & divisiveness - yeah okay...and Obama didn't use that against Hillary. Silly boy, oh that's right, it doesn't count unless its Repub's doing it. (Hypocrite)Politics is politics, good luck changing it. They almost all do it to get elected.

DRAESOP: I am sure you're not racist or religiously prejudiced the way you condemn after just one comment - yeah sure! BTW..have you checked out how many minorities BUSH has put into office in high places around the country as. Oops - Democrats, doesn't count unless they do it.

J: I didn't see anybody say muslim = terrorist. They are Radical Muslims. It just so happens they distort their own religion to fuel their desire for world-takover and an all muslim world. Don't believe me, read the Qu'ran. BTW...if you are so concerned about the way the muslim religion is portayed and viewed by Americans, where are all of the muslim leaders decrying the acts of the radicals??? You know why. And don't humor me with "oh, you must hate muslims too." You don't know me or where I've been.

JM: Typical Democrat line (don't care if you vote that way or not...you said the line) No security here at home? Huh??? You been overseas to other countries? Google the list of suspected terrorist plots that have been uncovered/prevented since 9/11. And of course, typical hypocrite...you sound like you don't trust the government, and then vote for the party whose foundation IS large government and tries everyday to gain more control (not less) over your rights and choices. How much sense does that make? (Although I will admit the Repubs have not scaled the size as of late - big contention of mine.)

I'm amazed at this article. I am aware that there are some false rumors on the internet, being passed by email, about Obama. I find these to be minor.

What I find to be major are the smear tactics of the Washington Post in spreading false rumors, as news, about Sarah Palin. Now that's a story worth writing about. This woman has been attacked without mercy for being ... what? ... an American!

You guys need to straighten out your thought process and join the 21st century.

I think the not voting for Obama because they think he is a Muslim is the belief that this bigotry is ok to say while the real reason (racism) won't be admitted by someone. It's similar to those in 1960 who claimed JFK was too young (only a few years younger than Nixon) because they didn't want to admit they would not vote for a Catholic. I also would bet that most of these folks aren't aware of the provision in the Constitution prohibiting any religious test for holding public office.

RG asks "Could McCain be a secret Muslim?" Could be. The New Yorker reported recently (in an article about his wife) that McCain has never been baptized. Doesn't that mean that he is not a Christian?

Perhaps Obama won't fail because of race or religion but his failure to have programs that are good for working families.

Item: Obama says that is against outsourcing work to India or China and will end tax breaks for firms who do that.

Reality: Obama has recently received $7.8 million from firms wanting to bring low wage workers into the USA so they can replace middle class workers (many of whom will lose their homes, along with their jobs). Obama supports this and has said he favors an increase in H-1B visas that allowed IT firms to cut wages since 2000 (adjusted for inflation).

Obama knows that the IT firms that gave him millions don't want tax breaks, the want visas so they can get workers doing low level work into the country.

When he tells voters he is against "outsourcing" he knows that does not hurt his corporate sponsors.

Maybe working families will figure that out and vote against him.

Maybe he is no better than McCain, and at least McCain has a record of working with Democrats and getting stuff done.

Densibro

Good, I hope I don't convince you, b/c it's not. I can't even tell what you were trying to say. (oh yeah, and it's b/c you are so inteligently superior...sarcasm intended.)

I want to believe that Patel is essentially correct. That is, the majority of American voters see through race and religion baiting tactics, and that therefore such tactics will ultimately backfire. When I observe how far off topic people stray here in their responses, and some of of the ill-informed opinions passed off as fact, it disturbs me. But I believe strongly in America's basic integrity and underlying goodheartedness, and I support Obama largely because he and his campaign most consistently express such confidence. For me, it's time for America to stand herself up again, and quit giving in to divisive fear and innuendo based politics to which the McCain campaign has blatantly resorted.

I am not surprised, this topic has come up quite a bit lately.I don`t care what religon you are, I`m not voting for my pastor.That being said, I am amazed at the people who claim to be christians then act as if it is ok to lie, mislead, cheat, and poison peoples minds all because this person is a diffrent race, or religon as you, Jesus did not say to "Love your brother as yourself, as long as he looks like you and thinks like you", no, Jesus was color blind,Remember that saying... What Would Jesus Do? I wonder if a person could look at Mr Obama with colorblind glasses, what he would think of Mr Obama the canadate?

Could not agree more. The use of religiosity as a proxy for 21st Century white racists. Fortunately these practitioners are becoming irrelevant and, hopefully outnumbered. The Republican Party has been a knowing haven for these sustainers of America's deadly racist foundation and are now floundering in the idiocy that they have fostered so carefully. Mr Patel's writing today should be required reading for the Editorial and OpEd writers who try hard to redefine themselves as they seek to maintain their readers. America is a changing...with reluctance.

Its a very dangerous arena for all christians to be associating the Muslim religion with terrorism. This is simple bigotry, AND racism. No question about it. Not based on skin color, but on culture. The Republicans have turned this race, once again, into a culture war. War is all they know.

There are a lot of people in America who have never had ongoing contact or close working relationships with people of other ethnicities or religions, and they will be hard-pressed to step outside that miopic comfort zone to vote for any person of color (even Colin Powell). to them, those people are NOT supposed to be running the "Big House". Then there are black Americans who will vote for Obama, even if he was found to be a serial rapists, simply because he's at least part Afro-American, which in America means you're one of "them". If Obama wins, and I believe he has a real chance, based on the number of young new voters who are unpollable (no land phoneline), it will likely be the last grotesque gasp for the country's long tradition of both blatant and latent bigotry and institutionalized racism. If that occurs, I predict the whole planet will rejoice in relief, after 8 years of serial disasters.

Its a very dangerous arena for American Christians to be associating the Muslim religion with terrorism. This is simple bigotry, AND racism. No question about it. Not based on skin color, but based on culture. The Republicans have turned this race, once again, into a culture war. War is all they know.

That's quite a belief, dreamer -- read the blogs I tour, talk to people in places like my home town, St. Pete, FL -- the level of not-so-closet racism is right up there. We discover we live in a dangerous world, where even our own government lies to us, rips us off and fails to provide any kind of security. Our tribal instincts, wired in to the limbic parts of our brains, kick in and overwhelm any empathy and understanding and desire for "better." So the Pinkish-Yellowish-Tannish People turn to the old hatred of the Brownish-Reddish-Golden-Melanized People, who return the feeling. Looks to this almost-old-timer that humanity has a built-in death wish. I thik that will easily trump any "creed" of honor, fairness and decency, let alone simple civility.

America is trying its hardest to move forward, but the GOP is trying to hold us back. We need to break those chains once and for all!

It's about time the press discussed the real problem with Democrats. They have said that Obama needs to do more to reach out to the "people". The real probem is Democrats are the ones who cannot get past race. This is and will be a major obstacle for AMERICA. For the Democrats it is SELF DESTRUCTIVE!

"DMACDC"
You will never convice me that your first and only reason for questioning Obama's background and values are because he's black...never.

I am always amazed at the truly damaged people that post on these blogs.

Eboo, don't give up. I am a white male raised as a Christian. My wife is Jewish. We have a beautiful son. His godmother is Muslim.

We represent the general feelings of more and more of Americans every day. Give us a generation and these old walls will be weakened more and more.

We are Americans first.

That a human being who is not Muslim is forced to repeatedly and publicly deny being a Muslim in order to win the trust of the American public is the underlying tragedy.

I'd be more comfortable with "so what if I was" as a response but hey, you gotta win the thing.

Thanks Eboo for a great analysis (as ever).

Could McCain be a secret Muslim?

This article was a whole lot better than Susan Jacoby's article on the same info. She just said that everyone who doesn't see the "truth" is stupid. Very deep, Susan, very deep. For me, skin color is not an issue, since I myself am not White. However, I do not know if Obama is a secret Muslim or not, the same way I am not sure if McCain is really Christian or just a Christian for campaigning purposes. I can't tell a person's true faith. I am not so sure why it is such a major part of this debate. Now of course, if someone were to say he/she was a devil-worshipper, that would be a deal-breaker. In that case, I will be very very biased.

I think the author is somewhat missing the point. Yes, there are always (yes, always...there is no realistic thing as utopia in this world, what a shocker!!!) going to be peopled with biggotry and prejudices from ALL sides, but that does not represent the majority or even close to it in America in the present tense. If you don't believe me, go ask your high schoolers what they think about race...most don't think about it like some used to(and I'm not that old.) The problem I have is that you are correct in saying that this prejudice, from citizen or politician is damning in the face of what America represents, but you conveniently leave out WHY people might be questioning what Obama's true values and beliefs are. How many times has he given very general responses to questions on issues like these, and how about his church and Reverend Wright. Now, you can sit here and tell me that does not matter, and then I'll speak the same jargon that he was only insert another race instead of (white) and all of a sudden it is outlandish. You see, christians and caucasians in this country are the only ones who you can criticize, slander, smear, talk openly about prejudices against and never have anyone question or raise a major concern over (b/c they deserve it right, I mean noone else has ever made a mistake before.) Don't believe me, I can name countless cases/examples over the past couple of years alone. Christians are presecuted all over the world (always have been) and hardly anyone (except the church's themselves) raise any awareness about. As a white person myself, reading the transcripts of what Obama's church leader had written/said about my race and America in general is quite close to what the Black Panthers used to say and do and what the muslim faith says as well. So no wonder people have to question if there are any ties??? It doesn't take a genius to figure that link out. I know some of you seem to think that every religion is the same in the way it views humans on earth...wait, another shocker, they don't! Have you read the Koran lately. Yeah, well as a Christian I think you should be very aware of what it says about you. I know, I know...Obama says he does not agree/disowned the Reverend - yeah okay, and how naive does he think we are? After a reported 20 years in that church? All of a sudden...he doesn't agree. If I had heard my pastor talking about any other race the way the Rev. was, it wouldn't take a reporter/clip/presidential campaign to get me to go straight in and question my pastor's beliefs, I would do it tomorrow and probably switch churches as well. Funny how that all happens after the fact...I guess hindsight is 20-20, and that is why people question what he actually believes. He is a walking contradiction, he knows it and thinks that enough people in this great nation either don't care or won't even know. Well, the majority of Americans are people of faith, hold conservative values and are optimistic...doesn't describe his platform, voting record or the way he lives his life.

>
--------------------------------------------------
Quite the opposite would be true, I think, Celeste. Obama had to battle blatent racism in the rust belt regions of Ohio and Pennsylvania, etc. If Obama were a white man (which I am myself) and he had the ability to move crowds in the same fashion as Obama, his resume would never have been called into the question to begin with. All of us who see through your vitriol will stop with the "racism card" when you stop with the racism. And, please don't tell me why I voted for Obama, because I clearly know it was not simply because of "white-guilt" or out of pure idealism. Saying I would vote for him for such simplistic reasons is as demeaning as me saying that perhaps you voted for Hillary (and maybe now voting for Palin) because you share similar reproductive organs. Some of you women are a sour lot, eh?

WS$ writes
"He notes no smear on Gov. Palin... just a fair reporting of her 'abuses, lies, terrible public policies'... you know, very objective standards, there."

You misunderstand. I have certainly heard radio talk show hosts make fun of Ms. Palin. I have seen SNL skits with uncharitable portrayels of Ms. Palin. However those are "entertainment" shows that hardly constitute either MSM or the Obama campaign. I'd note that the MSM has treated Ms. Palin with kid gloves, and the Obama campaign has been largly silent with regards to her. I have seen NO smears from the Obama campaign directed at Ms Palin, but feel free to point them out.
I did say that the facts that
- Palin is not only a liar, but repeats lies after admitting they are lies
- Palin has a record of abusing power
- Palin's public policies are mostly bad, when they are not terrible
Hence I ask why anyone need smear her at all?

"He also notes that the SNL skit that talked about her husband 'doing their daughters' was acceptable because it really was a rail against reports. Sure, Marc."

I didn't say it was acceptable, I said it was an attack on reporters and not the Palins, from the tiny snip Anonymous posted. Maybe you could watch it and see if the reporters were portrayed in a favorable or unfavorable light!

Yup, what's America without its long tradition of racial prejudice and discriminations.

Again and yet once again, everyone to include BO and JM must come to grips with the falacies of religion. We simply waste too much time in useless praying and bowing. In the 21st century, it should be obvious the paranormal mumbo jumbo of religion does not compute with reality.

The founding fathers discussed and disagreed about these same issues over 200 years ago.Here we are in the 21st century having the same disagreements.Some things in this country will never change!!

Where was the article when people were asking if the nation was ready for a Mormon candidate? The nation has gotten over the religious threshold, the journalists haven't.

i also beleive that america is ready for a change ,it is time for the dream.

16% is not "a third"; you misrepresented what Kristoff wrote. You shouldn't be pulling your statistics from a second-hand source, anyway.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SUPERCAPITALISM AT ITS WORST

Executive salaries, CEO bonuses, grand robberies of the U.S. TREASURY in the $MILLIONS, $BILLIONS, and $TRILLIONS.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SUPERCAPITALISTS robbed the AMERICAN PEOPLE of a $Trillion. RULE OF LAW states that the AMERICAN PEOPLE will be protected and all private properties, money, and wealth domestic and abroad owned by GOP REPUBLICAN SUPERCAPITALISTS taking part in robbing the U.S. TREASURY (AMERICAN PEOPLE) will immediately be confiscated and returned to the U.S. TREASURY (AMERICAN PEOPLE).

REPLACE GOP REPUBLICAN CEO GOLDEN PARACHUTES WITH CRIMINAL TRIAL AND PROPERTY CONFISCATION. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL PREVAIL AND THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION WILL BE REINSTATED. LONG LIVE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE. CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WILL BE THE LAW OF THE LAND.

INSIDE JOB AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL:
GOP REPUBLICAN WHITE HOUSE ILLEGAL WARS AND
WALL STREET CRIMINAL DEREGULATED SPECULATIONS

You asked for it and you got it. GOP REPUBLICANS INSIDERS McCain, Bush, Cheney, Paulson, and Rice were hired by Super-Capitalists (Super Wealthy GOP REPUBLICANS) to start Illegal Oil Wars against Oil producing Nations and DEREGULATE (eliminate AMERICAN PEOPLE PROTECTION) the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (White House, Congress, Supreme Court), TREASURY and WALL STREET. These INSIDERS did exactly what they were paid to do. Past GOP REPUBLICANS (Nixon, Reagan, Bush I) and current GOP REPUBLICANS (Bush II, Cheney, Rice, McCain, Paulson) have a credibility factor of zero. Americans no longer believe them, the World has never believed them and now they are done. They came in with the 9/11 attack upon the AMERICAN PEOPLE and leave with the Wall Street $1Trillion attack upon the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

Wave after wave after wave the GOP REPUBLICANS attack the AMERICAN PEOPLE based on the premise of disrespect for anyone who is not a GOP RICH REPUBLICAN. Either you are in their group (GOP RICH REPUBLICAN) or out (debt ridden worker bee / victim). GOP REPUBLICANS view the AMERICAN PEOPLE as gullible sheep perpetually fattened with debt and led to the subhuman existence slaughter. When slavery (free labor) ended GOP RICH REPUBLICANS attacked and enslaved the people of the world through unbalanced trade. Now that foreign sweatshops are demanding better pay and treatment, GOP RICH REPUBLICANS are attacking the AMERICAN MIDDLE CLASS. GOP RICH REPUBLICANS are banking on the idea that the AMERICAN MIDDLE CLASS are non-thinking drones fat with artificial food, high on Wall Street sponsored imported drugs (legal / illegal), and choked with clutter, debt and noise.

Through massive GOP REPUBLICAN SPONSORED DEREGULATIONS, GOP REPUBLICAN CEOs, Treasury Secretary, Wall Street Speculators, White House Administration, Cabinet Members, and their insider friends each walked away with more than $20,000,000 annually of money stolen directly from the U.S. TREASURY (AMERICAN PEOPLE). After eight years of GRAND FRAUD AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, thousands of GOP REPUBLICANS ROBBED OUR UNITED STATES TREASURY OF $1TRILLION (ACTS OF TREASON AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE).

The AMERICAN PEOPLE will hold ALL GOP REPUBLICANS INVOLVED in these ACTS OF TREASON accountable before a TRIAL. ALL GOP REPUBLICANS INVOLVED in these ACTS OF TREASON will have ALL OF THEIR PROPERTIES (corporate and private, domestic and foreign sheltered) CONFISCATED, SOLD and RETURNED to OUR NATIONAL TREASURY (AMERICAN PEOPLE). The UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION (WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE) shall prevail, despite the criminal efforts of GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SUPER-CAPITALIST CRIMINALS.

CONGRESS WILL NOT ADJOURN UNTIL AFTER THE GOP REPUBLICAN PARTY FIX THEIR COLOSSAL MESS

GOP REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN WALL STREET DEREGULATIONS
GOP REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN ALSO WANTED TO PRIVATIZE SOCIAL SECURITY (BONEHEAD)
GOP REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN sponsored landmark legislation in 1999 that removed the walls between banks, investment firms and insurance companies. GOP REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN bill allowed a company like AIG to expand beyond its traditional insurance business (which is still profitable) into exotic new extremely high risk products that brought the company down and created this colossal mess.

WALL STREET SRO - SELF REGULATORY ORGANIZATION
THE GOP REPUBLICAN RUN Government (GOP President, GOP Congress, GOP Supreme Court) looked the other way, while GOP REPUBLICAN Super-capitalist Obscenely Rich WALL STREET SRO Speculators Robbed Our U.S. TREASURY and Forced the $Trillion Debt Upon the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

Average Americans are becoming poorer, because GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET super rich SPECULATORS and corporate CEOs are paying themselves, business partners, friends, and family members at least $10,000,000 annually from MONEY STOLEN FROM THE U.S. TREASURY. These major crimes committed by WALL STREET SPECULATORS AND CEOs have gone beyond greed and into acts of treason against the AMERICAN PEOPLE. Seize the stolen money and properties valued in the $TRILLIONS back from these super criminals for attacking America. Those stolen $MILLIONS / $BILLIONS / $TRILLIONS belong to the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

RULE OF LAW states that the People of the United States will be defended. Those who attack American Citizens will be prosecuted. WALL STREET SPECULATORS and CORPORATE CEOs dictatorship over the AMERICAN PEOPLE is over. Average Americans are not going to accept WALL STREET CORPORATE CRIMES anymore. Rights of Citizen and Average Workers of the United States will be enforced. The AMERICAN PEOPLE will always come before corporate interests, because Americans Love America more than Wall Street Speculators love greed.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET $TRILLION FRAUD AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

Direct impact of GOP McCain sponsored deregulations
Bankrupt and floundering
Failure of the investment bank
Government's takeover

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET's business model has collapsed

Greed and fear routinely govern GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET financial markets and GLOBAL CRISIS.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET (giant investment houses, brokerage firms, hedge funds, "private equity" firms) irresponsibly TRADED the savings of average Americans (placed LAS VEGAS STYLE BETS on extremely high risk stocks, bonds, and other securities).

DUBIOUS MORTGAGES were PACKAGED into BONDS and SOLD and TRADED. Investment houses had huge incentives to increase LEVERAGE (OBSCENELY HIGH BORROWING).

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET compensation is heavily skewed toward annual bonuses, reflecting the profits traders and managers earned in the tune of lavish base salaries and obscenely high annual bonuses of $20,000,000.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET relies heavily on OBSCENELY HIGH LEVERAGE (OBSCENELY HIGH BORROWING). $3 Trillion (stocks, bonds, other securities) backed by only $80 billion in shareholders' equity while the $2.8 Trillion was LEVERAGE (BORROWED).

Leverage (huge borrowing) can create huge debts (huge principal and interest obligations)

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET is a manic machine for gambling.
Traders and money managers are given huge incentives to do whatever would increase short-term profits.

For decades, GOP REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN sponsored legislation that broadly deregulated WALL STREET banking and insurance industries.

GOP REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN swept away Consumer Protection legislation and opened the way for a less restricted high risk financial marketplace.

While the GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET boom continued, government (White House, Congress, Supreme Court) looked the other way.

GOP REPUBLICAN Congress resisted tougher regulation and permitted WALL STREET to run out of control at obscenely high LEVERAGE (OBSCENELY HIGH BORROWED MONEY) RATIOS perpetrating intentional fraud against the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET leaders intentionally deceived customers and lenders into taking hazardous risks for short-term rewards regardless of the long-term dangers to the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

Mortgages went bad. The powerful high leverage went into reverse. Losses eroded firms' capital bases and raised doubts about their survival.

Financial firms took major stupid and wasteful risks that severely damaged the American Economy and impeded economic recovery.

GOP REPUBLICAN STOCK MARKET $TRILLION FRAUD has deepened consumers' pessimism, fear and reluctance to spend. There may be more failures of FINANCIAL FIRMS.

GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET financial crises resemble the GOP REPUBLICAN illegal miscalculated war.

How were we ever made to believe that the now-collapsing GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET model ever made sense? Common sense should have told us that making RISKY BETS with HUGE AMOUNTS of BORROWED MONEY was a DANGEROUS GAME; if the bets pay off you make money beyond your wildest dreams, but if they go bad you face utter ruin.

Common sense should have told us that betting fortunes on meaningless fluctuations in stock, bond or currency values (McCain sponsored deregulated hedge funds) was about as productive as a trip to Las Vegas. Common sense should have told us that buying and selling exotic securities based on other securities based on bundles of mortgages that were treated like mere numbers on a balance sheet (no recognition that the whole iffy construct was based on real people living in real houses that they might or might not be able to afford) was not an intelligent endeavor.

Somehow, we all forgot that "HIGHLY LEVERAGED" is just another way of saying "DEEPLY INDEBTED." Now we've had a wake-up call, and maybe the erstwhile Masters of the Universe will have to stop playing with imaginary money and go back to using the real stuff.

The View Destroyed Unprepared GOP REPUBLICAN John McCain

McCain / Palin Failin are rejected for voting against Women Rights

RUL OF LAW WILL ENFORCE CONFISCATION OF ALL GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SPECULATORS’ AND CEOS’ PERSONAL PROPERTIES RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ECONOMY’S MELTDOWN. All money and properties of the Super Rich CEOs and WALL STREET Speculators domestic and abroad will be confiscated and returned to the United States TREASURY and the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WALL STREET SRO - SELF REGULATORY ORGANIZATION
OUR GOP REPUBLICAN RUN Government (GOP President, GOP Congress, GOP Supreme Court) looked the other way, while GOP REPUBLICAN Super-capitalist Obscenely Rich WALL STREET SRO Speculators Robbed Our U.S. TREASURY and Forced the $Trillion Debt Upon the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

GOP REPUBLICAN LIARS SUPER RICH WALL STREET GET RICH QUICK GREEDY
BILLION DOLLARS RISKY UNSECURED LOANS RISKY UNSECURED LOANS RISKY UNSECURED LOANS
REPACKAGED AND SOLD TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

GOP REPUBLICAN LIARS SUPER RICH WALL STREET ROBBER BARONS
COMMIT TREASON AND GRAND FRAUD AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WALL STREET SRO - SELF REGULATORY ORGANIZATION
OUR GOP REPUBLICAN RUN Government (GOP President, GOP Congress, GOP Supreme Court) looked the other way, while GOP REPUBLICAN Super-capitalist Obscenely Rich WALL STREET SRO Speculators Robbed Our U.S. TREASURY and Forced the $Trillion Debt Upon the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

When did prejudice of any kind become acceptable? I hear incredibly snide remarks about a religion - one that has a small group of radicals just like every other religion - and it is okay because why? If one were to make the same type of comments about fundamental Christians, they would be skewered in the media and in churches around the country. Let's forget the question of religion - does it matter? Why? I don't care what religion a politician practices - if any - I care about what they have done and what they have voted for. Do they vote for programs that protect those who cannot protect themselves (young, old and infirm) or do they cow tow to the corporate special interests and say everyman for themselves. Personally I would rather see a non-believer as president than a hypocrite.

With the size of this country and its diversity I'm sure that there are smear campaigns going on against Obama for his race and religion. Generally speaking, though, smear is in the eye of the beholder. Having looked at most large online periodicals I can't find much that could be called blatent anti-Obama smears, but then that highlights my viewpoint. I recognize that. Marc Edwards raises the bar for 'when is a smear a smear'. He notes no smear on Gov. Palin... just a fair reporting of her 'abuses, lies, terrible public policies'... you know, very objective standards, there. He also notes that the SNL skit that talked about her husband 'doing their daughters' was acceptable because it really was a rail against reports. Sure, Marc.

I give points to the Obamaites for preempting any anti-Obama sentiment on the grounds that it must be race or religion-based. Pretty slick. That part's working. The non-smear (in Marc's eyes, at least) smears that are taking place against Palin are a big screwup. Every time a public figure, entertainer, etc., demeans or ridicules Palin it becomes another notch against Obama.

With the size of this country and its diversity I'm sure that there are smear campaigns going on against Obama for his race and religion. Generally speaking, though, smear is in the eye of the beholder. Having looked at most large online periodicals I can't find much that could be called blatent anti-Obama smears, but then that highlights my viewpoint. I recognize that. Marc Edwards raises the bar for 'when is a smear a smear'. He notes no smear on Gov. Palin... just a fair reporting of her 'abuses, lies, terrible public policies'... you know, very objective standards, there. He also notes that the SNL skit that talked about her husband 'doing their daughters' was acceptable because it really was a rail against reports. Sure, Marc.

I give points to the Obamaites for preempting any anti-Obama sentiment on the grounds that it must be race or religion-based. Pretty slick. That part's working. The non-smear (in Marc's eyes, at least) smears that are taking place against Palin are a big screwup. Every time a public figure, entertainer, etc., demeans or ridicules Palin it becomes another notch against Obama.

how sad that the very smears that Patel disparages are represented here in this forum, where they are rabidly proclaimed to be "truth."

when people confuse belief with fact - whether under the guise of religion, politics, or whatever - then not only logic and good sense, but compassion and humanity have flown out the window.

some of the posters here - Jim Roberts, specifically - need to seriously consider where their hate and vitriol come from. it's certainly not from any sort of christianity, patriotism, or clear thinking.

I am Jewish. I lost much of my grandparents and other relative during the Holocaust. I even went to Israel during the Yom Kippur war to help.

Now, I also studied in Venice, Italy during my 4th YEAR of school. During that years school study, I attended both services at the local synagogue and each weekend at the church in Venice to hear Gregorian Chants. As an architectural student, I visited many churches in Europe. I also saw some of the concentration camps during my time overseas.

Then I travelled around the world for 2 1/2 years, I visited Mosques, stayed in Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples.

I still practice Judaism and wife is Roman Catholic. I love her and my children but that is not all that I am. I am a more perfect person because I learned a lot about other traditions/religions and I am American concerned that this country has gone to c**p due to those who want power and money and not a more perfect union.

We have also recently heard an all-too-ready willingness to raise objections to Catholicism and Mormanism, apparently from those who believe their belief in the right faith entitles them to hold such views and use those views to effect public discourse. We are seeing our nation moving away from the ideals of our Founders, step bt tragic step.

bd writes "What Obama does not comprehend is "he calls himself the citizen of the world""

And McCain said "we are all Georgians". So what?

Celeste Johnson writes "You keep forgetting that Obama wouldn't be the nominee if he weren't black."

I cannot imagine a more ignorant and bigoted statement. Obama would not be the nomination if he were not a great leader. He was the one who put together his team, developed a strategy to beat better known and better financed candidates. He's a leader who can put together a good plan and stick to it and win, period. If you think being black in America is an advantage, you are either really ignorant or you're just a racist - you pick!

The odd thing about Obama is that he is not totally an African American, he is half white, so at best he is only genetically half African American. Doesn't his mixed race make him an admirable choice for this country? Why do we all call him African American when that is only half the picture? Why is he not considered a white man with a partial African American heritage? I think the answer to that shames most of us.

Let me clue you in, Eboo...your writing of this blog post doesn't help Obama. It furthers the attempt to "otherize" him. His name, his color and his profound lack of appreciation and understanding for the provincial outlook of the heart of America is what makes his "otherness" a reality for those people. And someone like you proclaiming, from a religion blog of all places, that he is being demonized is going to add fuel to that already blazing fire.

And if people such as yourself think that electing him President is going to "fix" America, you are in for a very sad lesson in life.

What will help, is some kind of attempt on the part of people like you to comprehend that Obama's crowd is seen as trying to rip the soul of America to pieces and replace it with the cold belly of a Unicorn.

What Obama does not comprehend is "he calls himself the citizen of the world". He could not be more wrong. The rest of the world does not subscribe to the constitutional values of this country. He would have to insist that the rest would have to come to terms with values system.

I would put Mr. Eboo in this same circumstance. He is reaping the benefits of the document without comprehending the responsibilties. The responsibilities include the willingness to die for the words that give him the freedom that he so chooses. I don't know if anyone asked Mr. Obama this question. I know the answer from Mr. McCain because he has already done so.

im stupid

im to sexy for my shirt

Celeste Johnson -- What does "otherize" mean?

i love u so much

Hollo all
I am a man living i Sweden and have a muslim bakground. When I read those smears about Religion. It reminds when extrem religous leaders talked about Europe and N America. They used to say they will never accept you aven if you give up who you are. I hope those religous leaders was wrong and american voter will prove that this election.

Great article. The USA used to be a "leader of the West" but after all the wars it has declared on others on behalf of the "West" it has little credibility in the West.

Most democratic governments around the world abhor what the US did to the United Nations in the name of furthering democracy.

Everybody else can see this except the Americans.

You used to stand for democracy and civil liberty but now you stand for greed and big business while destroying the environment and the Earth.

It is very intersting to me, the people who believe that Obama's race is an advantage.

These are people who cannot see past race to
view Obama as an individual. They would have never believed that anyone would vote for him - because he's "Black". Now, unable to adjust - they think everyone is voting for him only because he's "Black".

Hopefully we can elect Obama and the country can move out of this dark age of racism.

You keep forgetting that Obama wouldn't be the nominee if he weren't black.

You and I know he wouldn't be the nominee if he were a white man with the same thin resume.

A great many people, non blacks, voted for him in the primaries out of guilt and idealism.

Now Obama has to run like any other person and prove himself.

Otherize my foot!!

Sadly, he is not worthy of the hopes and idealism spent on him. Instead he is a shallow, calculating, manipulating thug who doesn't know how to fight fair.

Stop with the racism card.

Patel must be deaf & blind. The vicious attacks, the slander, the sewer rat language is aimed at Gov.Palin. Obama has done nothing in the senate. He wants to talk to the terrorist regime without preconditions. Dems hate Sarah Palin more than they hate Islamo-fascists.

Robert writes "Study history. Fascism has always been a left wing ideology."

Being honest is better than being nice, and in that spirit I'll just point out that you are an ignorant, uneducated idiot. I'd sooner waste my time arguing with a Holocaust denier than spend 2 more seconds worrying about your dumb-a**, worthless opinion.

franco writes "eboo, blacks will vote en-mass for Obama!! Now, that is racist!"

Why? Blacks normally give the vast majority of their votes to the Democratic candidate. In previous Democratic primaries Blacks voted for the white candidate over the black one. You have nothing to back up your opinion.

Mike writes "if you really are so sensitive to these evils, how about an article outlining and condemning the vicious attacks on Gov. Palin?"

What attacks on Palin?
Seems to me her actual record condemns her. Her lies, her abuses of power, and her terrible public policies are all the evidence one needs to conclude she shouldn't be one 72-year-old heartbeat from the Presidency.

Anonymous writes "NBC's "Saturday Night Live" Todd Palin 'Incest' Skit Angered Most Viewers.."

If you actually view your link it's obvious it's a skit attacking the press, not the Palins. Why are you misrepresenting the truth?

Zzim writes "Senator Obama has opposed theiraq War since the very beginning. I think the Iraq War was a good idea at thetime and I still think so"

Pretty much means that you are probably wrong about everything you think. The reasons for the invasion were lies. The invasion was uncalled for, as weapon's inspectors were in country. The occupation was badly bungled. The war itself was against the US interest for many reasons, including
-we lost the counterbalence to Iran
- our military has been greatly weakened
- the US military looks like a paper tiger
- we have lost hundreds of billions of dollars, while containing Saddam was much cheaper
- we have no credibility in the world, making any foreign policy harder to achieve
- if you place any value on human life at all, the war is a misreble failure. Up to 1,000,000 Iraqi civilians dead, 2-4 million Iraqis displaced

If you think the Iraq war was in our interest, I'd be happy to hear the argument, but one guesses it will be totally irrational - just like your reasons for opposing Obama.

No one worth taking seriously believes that Obama is a closet Muslim.

But speaking of smear jobs, if you really are so sensitive to these evils, how about an article outlining and condemning the vicious attacks on Gov. Palin?

We won't hold our breath.

it's sad that on faith would lend itself to fear mongering in a Presidential election...

This article is just another attempt to label anyone that views Obama as the empty suit and elitist that he is as racist. One of the tenets of liberal fascism is that we must all agree. If we do not we must be demonized as racists or some other leftist boogey man. It is also a way to set the dialogue up if BHO loses. If he loses we will get the articles about the dark soul of America and the racism lurking there. He will not lose because he is an empty, leftist suit spouting endless platitudes and rewarmed New Deal ideas while looking down his nose at America. Ask the Pritzkers and Crowns and the other Chicago, Lake Shore Drive, limousine liberals who are his true sponsors.

"Even when (Clinton's) daughter was maligned on MSNBC, one heard a resounding silence elsewhere. Although we may delude ourselves that sexism is somehow less exclusionary than racism, less barbaric, much of history would dispute that."

Although "On Faith" founder Sally Quinn may have found it hilariously not worthy of comment-

NBC's "Saturday Night Live" Todd Palin 'Incest' Skit Angered Most Viewers..

"What about the husband? You know he's doing those daughters. I mean, come on. It's Alaska."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRXQ2ZueP5c

All this racial/religious prejudice is, of course, disgusting, disgraceful. However, once one -ism is given free play, then one should assume that the door to one less acceptible to some is sure to open soon. Throughout her campaign, Hillary Clinton was villified for her ankles, breasts, thighs, butt, and pant suits, in other words, her female body. While she was raped by the media, one heard very little in the way of criticism, from any public figure.

Even when her daughter was maligned on MSNBC, one heard a resounding silence elsewhere. Although we may delude ourselves that sexism is somehow less exclusionary than racism, less barbaric, much of history would dispute that. And, truly, this country did know better. Again and again, Obama supporters protested the barbaric behavior of the media toward Clinton.

Bottom line: First, coverage of the Democratic Primary created a climate giving religionism and sexism free play, lamenting the fact that racial and religious prejudice were barking at the heals of said -isms.

So, the "press" hears that barking louder now, does it? If "journalists," a term I use loosely, don't want elections to be zoos, then "journalists" ought not to build the cages.

"Religious prejudice is becoming a proxy for racial prejudice"

Done deal. What they *fear* out of Obama looks like Sunday school compared to what Palin openly espouses.

Forget about it.

Anonymous addresses Arif thus:
“People who claim to be ex-Muslims have sold their souls to the highest bidder. I wonder if they are supported financially by Islamophobes”

The above mindset is explained by Ali Sina of faithfreedom.org in his article titled “ A Glimpse into the Muslim Mind”’
“This explains why Muslims accuse the apostates of not having been true Muslims in the first place. They are actually right. Those who are devout Muslims are so brainwashed that they can’t rid themselves of it. The pain of awakening and the pang of humiliation for realizing that one has been duped all his life are so intense that one resists seeing the truth, wants to fight it and even kill those who try to burst his bubble. It is much more comfortable, easier and safer to enter into denial than face the harsh and cold truth that one has been coned. The bigger is the deception, the greater is the pain of awakening and the fiercer the believer will fight to keep his belief intact. This explains why it is easier for people of other religions to leave their faith than it is for Muslims. It also explains why Muslims are so offended if their faith is criticized and why they are so violent towards those who carp their faith.”

These are the comments of white voters that don't want to vote for Obama: "He is not trustworthy enough", "I can't put my finger on it, but I can't rust him", "He is too preachy", "he might be a muslim",' he was born in Kenya', "he is a socialist', he is an "uppity elitist". All of this is nothing more than a mask to conceal racial prejudice that lurks in these people's hearts and minds. There is no doubt in my mind that given the sorry state of this nation, a white candidate with the same abilities experience and educational credentials as Mr. Obama would have a double digit lead since the nomination. The so called Hillary voters that say they won't vote for him because of sexism, voted for Hillary because she is white and a female. Now, women face an election where the opposite party is willing to further erode their reproductive rights and could care less about equal pay, etc, but their racism and the x chromosome is getting in the way of their brains. White men, uff, for every white men that supports Obama, there are 4 that go for McCain even though Mr. McCain could give a rats a$$ about the middle class. But racism and blind right wing ideology is getting in the way of their brains. Obama made the worst mistake of his life by not picking Hillary. Biden does not provide him with any constituency at all. But then again , he chose a partner whom he could trust and move this Nation forward towards bipartisanship, something he could never achieve with the very polarizing figure of Hillary. He put his country first. By selecting Palin, McCain put winning ahead of his country. Unfortunately, his followers will put race and ideology ahead of their country as well. When McCain wins we all loose, Republican, Democrat, and Independents. The only winners will be the rich, special interests, and his campaign manager who copied the fear tactics right out of Karl Rove book on how to fool the working white voter into voting against his or her own self interest through plain fear.

I think the purpose of this article as well as similar ones are no different than Zawahiri and Bin Laden’s efforts to drive a wedge between the races in this country. They are all fishing in murky waters. The only difference is those others openly and frankly call on Blacks to desert the US army and tell them they have no stake in fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan because they are "oppressed by the same people that oppress" the Muslims.

Hitchens says:

"..the most widely canvassed (reason for Obama's failure), is that he is too nice, too innocent, too honest, and too decent to get down in the arena and trade bloody thrusts with the right-wing enemy. (This is rapidly becoming the story line that will achieve mythic status, along with allegations of RACIAL and RELIGIOUS rumor-mongering, if he actually loses in November.)

We are told by outraged Democrats that many voters still believe, thanks to some smear job, that Sen. Obama is a Muslim. Yet who is the most famous source of this supposedly appalling libel (as if an American candidate cannot be of any religion or none)? Absent any anonymous whispering campaign, the person who did most to insinuate the idea in public—"There is nothing to base that on. As far as I know"—was Obama's fellow Democrat and the junior senator from New York."

Hey Patel- you'ved got those democratic talking points covered in your "religious" contributions here.

Sparrow,

Don't you mean that there is a RABBIT in the Obama
family?

I think this election is a perfect storm of race and religion. Every doubt, every fear we have of one another is being used against us by the McCain campaign, which is simply playing on the culture wars of the Bush administration. It has nothing to do with G-d and everything to do with us being human.

That said, it's easy to see from convention footage which party believes in the American dream- the democrats. while the republicans care only for the conservatives and the religious right, and the rich, it isn't the old white man who symbolizes us best. It's a young Black man of mixed racial heritage, a rabbi in the family and a Muslim name.

It really comes down to what you think the American dream is. If you're afraid of it, you'll vote McCain and Palin.

Robert:
If it weren't for racism, BHO would get 100% of the vote! Racism is the only possible reason for anything less
========================================
Not true Robert. Your post suggests that there are no issues on which Obama has taken a public standthat anyone can legitimately disagree with. This is false. Senator Obama has opposed theiraq War since the very beginning. I think the Iraq War was a good idea at thetime and I still think so. This is a legitimate opinion. On this basis alone I am prepared to cast my vote against him. He also folishly opposed the surge, which he now admits was "wildy successful". On this position alone we should oppose his candidacy. He voted against the babies born alive act. On this vote alone we should oppose him. He opposes free trade with our neighboring countries. On this stance alone we should oppose him.

These are all legitimate positions on his part, and legitimate differences I have with his policies.

Remember, there is only one race, the Human race. A vote for racism is a vote against oneself.

RE: Just Ask, "Its not Obama's race or his religion (black liberation theology) or even his father's religion (islam) that is causing him to lose votes. Its because he is so vapid, hesitant and gutless. Just ask Christopher Hitchens: Is Obama Another Dukakis?"

Why do I get the feeling that if Obama was more decisive and emotional, he would be labeled as an "angry Black man" and, of course, disqualified on that basis?

We just went through eight years of unreflective, unthoughtful and - to be blunt - stupid leadership.

I'll take anyone's thoughtful analysis that looks at all sides, uses logic and sometimes appears hesitant to make a decision (which could be wrong and have disastrous consequences, ie. the Iraq occupation) over the stupidity of the last eight years.

"Are anti-Obama Smears About Religion or Race?"

Puhleeze Ebrahim Patel.

Its not Obama's race or his religion (black liberation theology) or even his father's religion (islam) that is causing him to lose votes.

Its because he is so vapid, hesitant and gutless.

Just ask Christopher Hitchens:

Is Obama Another Dukakis?

http://www.slate.com/id/2200587/?from=rss

ANGELA

You wrote, "“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword."

And just what is that sword? It is not a sword made out of material, but is a Sword of Truth to check out the hearts and minds, as I have said: God is a searcher of hearts and minds, not of religious affiliations or lack thereof and that it is important what one does and WHY one does it and what one knows.

It is also a Sword for the wiping out of all evil as in we will ALL be judged and that which is 'not good', so to speak, will be wacked.

Jesus did not come to bring peace just like He said, He came to bring about His Kingdom, God's Kingdom, which will come on the seventh day, the new heavens and the new earth, even tho the night of the sixth day will come first.

Did He not say, "All Power and Authority has been given unto Me"? Thank God that God is Love because if He was anything less than PURE LOVE then I sure wouldn't want to have anything to do with Him.

Jesus was serious when He said: "Judge not, lest ye be judged", "The measure that you measure with will be used to measure you", "Stop condemning, so that you will not be condemned", don't you think so?

The GOOD NEWS is just that, Good News for ALL, not the 'good enough news' which is actually horrible news.

It is simple, Jesus asked us to DIE for others just like He did, we are called to be "Good Friday People". There are more ways to die than just physical death, but that could be one of the ways. "Father forgive them", there is no asterick after them, as in except for.

As you know, Easter Sunday came after Good Friday and Jesus did invite us to: "Come follow Me", did He not?

Jesus asked us to be active participants in God's Plan for the salvation of all of humanity, I have been given a speaking part, so to speak, and I have said YES.

I cannot live anyone else's life and I don't even wish to try, whatever anyone else does is up to them and the circumstances that their life presents to them.

As I have said before and I say again: God wins, satan loses, a tie is unacceptable.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Jim Roberts, Jr. said "Study history. Fascism has always been a left wing ideology."

Huh???

I have studied history and, apparently, I was asleep in class when this connection was made. I better call my undergrad professor and get my money back.

Up is down, and black is white. Thanks for opening my eyes!

ARMINIUS

On another site that got kind of clogged up, you asked me a question, I am going to reprint my reply here.

You wrote, "My reply, and only asking for a clarification:
Did God become part of Creation, or is Creation a part of God?"

God became a part of creation, in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, don't forget God is a Trinity.

Not only is God a part of creation but God is also uncreated as in outside of creation.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Why dont you write about the caste system in India
which has to be the most brutal form of bigotry in the world?

Angela,

I must agree with Thomas Baum - God is love. I believe that there must be other ways to look at the 'I come with a sword' thing.

ANGELA

You wrote, "One last thought to Coronado: Jesus defintely did not come preaching peace."

Jesus became One of us to teach us about LOVE, GOD, firsthand, since Jesus is God-Incarnate and since God is a Being of Pure Love.

Jesus also came when He did because this is part of God's Plan which is unfolding before our very eyes.

As it says in the bible, "The Word became Flesh and dwelled among us", if you notice the bible did not become flesh but the "Word became Flesh", so the bible is about the "Word of God", it is not the "Word of God", nobody should worship a "holy book" and no one should put any book above God or equal to God, including the bible.

If someone does something for LOVE then they are doing it for God whether they know it or not, just because the word "LOVE" has been twisted by some does not take away from the TRUTH of it.

Just as it says, many will be saying LORD, LORD, in those days.

People can try to hide behind the bible, other 'holy' books or their religion or whatever but God is a searcher of hearts and minds, not of religious affiliations or lack thereof, it is important what one does and why one does it and what one knows, see above sentence.

God's Plan is for ALL to be with Him in His Kingdom, the new heavens and the new earth, and His Plan will come to Fruition on the seventh day even tho the night of the sixth day is coming, just like Jesus told us.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Arif:

Haven't you heard the phrases like: African Americans, Irish Americans, Italian Americans, and yes, in the context of election the usage of the "Catholic factor", the Jewish lobby,"the Evangelical being excited about Sarah Palin?"

People who claim to be ex-Muslims have sold their souls to the highest bidder. I wonder if they are supported financially by Islamophobes.

GOP DIRTY TRICKS IN THE SWING STATES

Republican operatives are using an anti-Muslim film and push polling to raise fears of terrorism and smear Barack Obama

Richard Silverstein, Guardian, 9/22/08

We are now entering the closing weeks of what promises to be yet another close and contentious presidential election contest. As each side seeks to maximise its advantages and minimise its weaknesses, the Republican party has chosen the lowest of low roads, engaging in two sleazy political marketing campaigns over the past week.

First, DVDs of an anti-Muslim documentary film are being distributed to 28 million voters in swing states like Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Colorado and Wisconsin. Second, Republican telemarketers have begun push polling aimed at scaring Jewish voters in swing states from voting for Barack Obama…

The mass distribution of Obsession is an obvious Republican scare-tactic, right out of the Rovian playbook. Party operatives believe that scaring Americans into believing there's a jihadist under every bed will play to Republican strengths and Democratic weaknesses on national security. They swiftboated John Kerry in 2004. Now they're jihadising Barack Obama.

Mussolini, the founder of fascism, said that fascism is properly understood as the union of the state and big business.

Fits the Bush regime and the modern conservative movement like a glove. That's why McSame selected Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lobbyist Rick Davis to run his campaign. They paid him $30,000 a month for one reason: He was close to McSame.

Charles Keating must be proud of his boy John.

"Robert" wrote: "If you look at the policies of the Nazis under Hitler or Mussolini you will see that it is very progressive and 'liberal'. As a recent book said, if you are a leftist/Democrat except for the genocide thing what is not to like?"

Trying to take Europe by force; blowing up civilian ships with U-boats; believing in a "master race"; forming treaties under false pretenses and then defying them; liking the operas of Wagner; having you as an apologist. [Sorry for the stuff I didn't list, but you can Google them if you like...]

I'm genuinely please that you think we Americans are too smart to fall for this AGAIN, but have you read the comments at today’s Secularist's Corner? If these reeking falsehoods are what our relatively informed sample believes [or is willing to try to convince others of], then I fear I may have to leave this wasteland to the shrieking idiots and await the destruction of our planet in solitude.

Oh Bobby-poo, you know you've never picked up a book in your life.

I find it truly amazing how ignorant a large portion of our population could be? A THIRD of people?? Really?? That's a joke right?

You do know that most of our elected presidents/candidates simply pretend to be Christian out of necessity, just so they have a chance of being elected right? ... See: Bill Clinton

"how can Obama possibly be 'facist and liberal, ..."

Study history. Fascism has always been a left wing ideology. The Nazis and fascists in Italy were just the logical result of progressive socialist ideologies. If you look at the policies of the Nazis under Hitler or Mussolini you will see that it is very progressive and 'liberal'. As a recent book said, if you are a leftist/Democrat except for the genocide thing what is not to like?"

If it weren't for racism, BHO would get 100% of the vote! Racism is the only possible reason for anything less.

Re: Jim Roberts, Jr post - "Communist, Socialist, Fascist, Liberal, Leftist, Marxist, Pagan, Elitist, Anti-Life, Pro-Muslim, Anti-Western, Pro-Feminist...etc"

This is the one of the more laughable posts I've seen. Maybe some clarification would help - how can Obama possibly be 'facist and liberal, pro-Muslim and pro-feminist' all at the same time???

Do you see any inconsistencies here?

If you have a beef, at least be logically coherent. No one person can possibly hold all of these views without his head exploding.

It's a simple matter of numbers. When we have enough intelligent, educated people, we can take back our country. Or not.

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA = Communist, Socialist, Fascist, Liberal, Leftist, Marxist, Pagan, Elitist, Anti-Life, Pro-Muslim, Anti-Western, Pro-Feminist, Pro-Terrorist, Anti-Israel, Anti-Offshore Drilling, Anti-White, Anti-Military, Pro-Homosexual, Anti-Family, "Modernist", "Progressive", "Social Justice"-promoting, Wealth Redistributing, Anti-Capitalist, Anti-AMERICAN SCUM!!!!! Vote McCain/Palin in 2008!!!

Again and yet once again, everyone to include BO and JM must come to grips with the falacies of religion. We simply waste too much time in useless praying and bowing. In the 21st century, it should be obvious the paranormal mumbo jumbo of religion does not compute with reality.

To repeat is to educate so once again especially for the benefit of BO and JM:

1. Abraham founder/father of three major religions was either the embellishment of the lives of three different men or a
mythical character as was mythical Moses, the "Tablet-Man" who talked to burning bushes and made much magic in Egypt.

Many of the 1.5 million Conservative Jews and many of their rabbis have relegated Abraham to the myth pile along with most if not all the OT.

Current crisis:

Realization that the Jews are not god's not chosen people.
simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm

2. Jesus was an illiterate Jewish peasant/carpenter/simple preacher man who suffered from hallucinations and who has been characterized anywhere from the Messiah from Nazareth to a mythical character from mythical Nazareth to a mamzer from Nazareth (Professor Bruce Chilton, in his book Rabbi Jesus). Analyses of Jesus’ life by many contemporary NT scholars (e.g. Professors Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen, On Faith panelists) via the NT and related documents have concluded that only about 30% of Jesus' sayings and ways noted in the NT were authentic. The rest being embellishments (e.g. miracles)/hallucinations made/had by the NT authors to impress various Christian, Jewish and Pagan sects.

And Matt 10:34-38 is a passage that shows JC was a bit unbalanced since it is such a contradiction to the commandment, Thou shalt love thy neighbor/family as Thyself!!!!!

The 30% of the NT that is "authentic Jesus" like everything in life was borrowed/plagiarized and/or improved from those who came before. In Jesus' case, it was the ways and sayings of the Babylonians, Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, Hittites, Canaanites, OT, John the Baptizer and possibly the ways and sayings of traveling Greek Cynics. www. earlychristianwritings.com/theories.html

For added "pizzazz", Catholic/Christian theologians divided god the singularity into three persons and invented atonement as an added guilt trip for the "pew people" to go along with this trinity of overseers. By doing so, they made god the padre into god the "filicider".

Current crises:

Pedophiliac priests, atonement theology and original sin!!!!

3. Luther, Calvin, Smith, Henry VIII, Wesley et al, founders of Christian-based religions, also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingie thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immaculate conceptions).

Current crises:

Adulterous preachers, "propheteering/ profiteering" evangelicals and atonement theology. .

4. Mohammed was an illiterate, womanizing, lust and greed-driven, warmongering, hallucinating Arab, who also had embellishing/hallucinating/plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.

This agenda continues as shown by the assassination of Bhutto, the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the Islamic bombers of the trains in the UK and Spain, the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani “koranics”, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases, the Taliban nut jobs, and the Filipino “koranics”.

And who funds this muck and stench of terror? The warmongering, Islamic, Shiite terror and torture theocracy of Iran aka the Third Axis of Evil and also the Sunni "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.

Current crises:

The Sunni-Shiite blood feud and the warmongering, womanizing (11 wives), hallucinating founder.

5. Hinduism (from an online Hindu site) - "Hinduism cannot be described as an organized religion. It is not founded by any individual. Hinduism is God centered and therefore one can call Hinduism as founded by God, because the answer to the question ‘Who is behind the eternal principles and who makes them work?’ will have to be ‘Cosmic power, Divine power, God’."
The caste/laborer system and cow worship/reverence are problems when saying a fair and rational God founded Hinduism."

Current crises:

The caste system and cow worship/reverence.

6. Buddhism- "Buddhism began in India about 500 years before the birth of Christ. The people living at that time had become disillusioned with certain beliefs of Hinduism including the caste system, which had grown extremely complex. The number of outcasts (those who did not belong to any particular caste) was continuing to grow."
"However, in Buddhism, like so many other religions, fanciful stories arose concerning events in the life of the founder, Siddhartha Gautama (fifth century B.C.):"

Archaeological discoveries have proved, beyond a doubt, his historical character, but apart from the legends we know very little about the circumstances of his life. e.g. Buddha by one legend was supposedly talking when he came out of his mother's womb.

Bottom line: There are many good ways of living but be aware of the hallucinations, embellishments, lies, and myths surrounding the founders and foundations of said rules of life.

It’s mainly religion and not race. Generally Americans don't care anymore about ones race than they do about a NAScar race. A person's religion and especially when one is to take charge of the most powerful nation of the world is a genuine concern. Religion does not matter to Americans but if one is Muslims then it sure does. Muslims themselves say Muslim American, British Muslim, German Muslim...I'm a Muslim first. In Nebraska they had to get rid of 115 Muslims because they left work to pray, the Mexican workers protested.

So, Yes Americans are concerned about Obama's religion, after all his brother is a practicing Muslim, his father whom he sought out who abandoned him and his mother for his religion, is a Muslim. Americans you correctly point out are concerned of an Islamic jubilation if he gets elected. Muslims boast of 1 billion plus faithful, yet they tell us when questioned that Muslims of Saudi/Pakistan/Afghanistan ... don't completely "understand" Islam. It us upon American Muslims to make the other non-Muslim Americans to understand "peaceful" Islam. We know why you blow yourselves up, Pakistan just had its 9/11 at the Marriott in Islamabad. No word from our peaceful Muslim Americans yet about their extremist Pakistani Muslim brothers; perhaps its the Americans who are at fault for the bombings in Islamabad? Its Bush and McCain’s fault and now the beautiful and charismatic Sarah's fault.

Arif (pbuh)

Thank-A-Shame!

AMAZiNG () NO GRACE!

Here goes them desperate wannabe god (not Our) players who hath nothing esle better to do after their organized 'Club' meetings, on Sundays/Sabaths... and invite & self Serve themselves, in SEcular & Science, not Church, Biz as usual!

-The Federal [SECULAR] Government, aka 'S T A T E' should have a Federal Rule, Code or Regulation; Forbidding ALL Agency's thereof & thereform, From recognizing, as Academic any 'C H U R C H' based issued , so called "DiViNiTY-Degrees" Thus turning them Satans in religio places , a/k/a "Licensed Jealousy For Hirings" into Professional 'Liers', not 'Lawyers' or D & D'r's [Do It & then Deny It'er's]!

Note: A while ago, "i" wrote , exclusively on WAPO, about "HOW TO LEGALLY GET RID OF GOVERNMENT CHAPLAiNS" whom built a Church [illegally] inside the Federal Bureau Of Prison Ministries et al illegally. And

"i"also hath wrote extensively on how 'Organized Religion(s) (who compete for a Name, For their man-made god(s), instead of our G-D() innate Hol{i} System) THAT

They are ripe for 'RElIGiOUS-MAFiOSO-ACTiViTies" , Domestically & Abroad, using Church's as Embassy's, and that "WE The People" should throw the Book at them [i.e, Rick Warren; CNN , ARMAGEDON & rabbi Jesus loving John Hagge , Robertson (said to Assasinate Prez Chavez) for being an Accomplis's in a Conspiracy or attempt to stage a 'Coup D' Atat' of our (not their) Federal Officials [Secularist] via their swear by Rabbi JESUS storys & songs,. not ours]

Note Again: Remember: It was These 'Pre-Apocalyptic Attorneys/Lawyers, aka Liers via Rabbi JESUS Lovers, whom 'LiED, Lyed, with Straight Faces and attempted to sneakaroo, their 'iNTELLIgent Design Flaw, as if genuine Science, to a 'Secular' Federal Juge, in a secular Federal Court. Thank Goodness, that the Judgeships saw through them a Ruled that "I.D. (un-intell designed & Creationist Companions & payees) is Not Predicatable", thus can never be a Science! So for another reason, Vote:

Remove All Their [Pulpit Legislating Leaderships], not our, I.R.S., 501c3 'Tax-Free/Exempt Status" a Privilige & not a right here. And

Reverse, Usurping, Nepotistic Bush's so called 'Executive Orders', i.e., his "Church Based Initiative " Hand-Outs, (not Our) should be abolished forever!!!! THiS

is Payback, like to Rick Warren & Co.'s attempt To corrupt or defile & Hijack, via JESUS, Our U.S. Government Employees while politiking via PULPiT Legislation.

iMPORTANT: The Evangelicals & the Catholics are the Investors & Contributers to UNCLE SAM & AUNT LIBERTY financial woes today or Cycles!.

They all made money investing their "TAX-FREE" money in Church Based PORFOLiO's! Remember the Savings & Loan Evangelical Scandal? The ENRON Evangelical Scandal? The Derivatives Scandal? And Now the Privat Home Owners & KOREAN Mortgage Scandal!????

Please see 'John McCain & "FRiEND's" caught wqith their Hand in Uncle Sams & Aunt Liberties Purse (cookie Jar, not theirs!). ScHAME! ScHAME McCain!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_Five

Wow! Quick-Draw John McCain , Born in Pannama, unlike Obama in Awaii, is BLAME BLAMiNG, and using Omissions about HiS iNVOLVEMENT (not by Borack nor Bidens) by Distraction-tactics & the infamous Thomas-Promises so called, "Tell a Big Lie" stratagy [by Protecting/isolating, his partners Bush, Chaney & Co. of Culprits, but hoping Stupid Voters will absorb it] and in vain, using Carrots & Pork against Obam et al! [A Republican Victim, or Holding their Bag, so to spaketh in sHAME!

Wherefore: VOTE: To Make it Mandatory, via Federal + States Regulations, That

ALL, Every & Any [no Exceptions] Church-Based & Registered Organization, or Institution {as Business's] Must make their {To the U.S.Public at large + their Congregents} their 'F i N A N C i A L S', i.e. Balance Sheet, Consolidated Income Stateme, Assets, Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds , Commodoties, Cash [tax free Tithes] on hand and or Loans etc...

QUESTiON: i.E., What is the honest? 'Net-Worth' of say the AMERiCAN Evangelicals {Eposcopelian]?? Or U.S. Vatican Banks Chgurches, here?? The Mormons? etc.. TiMe for a honost Accounting & Awareness! No more god-Dilusion! NO MORE, Mr. Nice Guys n Gals!

VOTE:
A M N E S T Y" to 1st time Private HOME, Co-Op & Condo Buyers, but only for those who hathProblems Today! Hence Cold Turkey America! A Once in a Life-Tome AMNESTY (Domestic, not international!)

Not/NO/Zero/NADDA, any more illegal Aliens Amnesty anymore! WE, The People need an accounting! Time to add-up all the Heads, so to spaketh! Hence there is a Tool: FormW-7 (D.O.T. & I.R.S.) that All Police Pecents should Promote & Enforce on All Business's!

Note: It was the Usurping & Testy/Flouting Wordmerchants, Mr. [dis]Honorable Chaney & Nepostistic BUSH(s), and partners in crime McCAiNS, Palins et al whom exacerbated, or condoned or Multiplied [not Money Multiplier] Or Made Worse for 'The-Comon-People"!

Vote: Throw the Book At ALL the "U.S. based CHURCH's recieving I.R.S. relief/Priviliges: Hence Use this RICO ACT against their 'Organized Religio Mafiosos Leaderships"!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Corrupt_Organizations_Act

PS: Help Re-enforce the "Visa Waiver" Program. [involving 27 Nations & +/- 14-Million Visitors, passed 1986 to increase tourism; more Money than Drugs; hence the U.S. Dollar's cheap now] But All [Waiverers + Illegals should file as well] must file a "U.S. Treasury & IRS" FORM-W-27.

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"WE are US!"

Ps: 'C N N' should Loose their 'F.C.C.' Priviliges (not a Right also) for Devilishly taking a charirable , church based Tax Deduction, via Rich Warren et al, for being one of the 'KiNg PiN(s)' in Forwarding their JESUS (nbot our) in our SECULAR-Government (not their) BiZ!

Remember & Never Forget: Secular-Morality, is superior to any Biblical-Morality (if Any)!

And "The People" Hath Prophetically Spoken!

One last thought to Coronado: Jesus defintely did not come preaching peace. People should stop making Jesus to be what they want Him to be: Matthew 10:34-40; 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’[a] 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW CHRIST; THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE...!

RE the comment "Where were you when Clinton was in the White House and couldn't keep his pants up? Or Jesse Jackson and his love child? or John Edwards and his mistress? or Barney Frank and his house of prostitution? Give me a break.

Ever notice how conservatives almost always focus exclusively on sex when they start preaching about the moral failings of others?

War, poverty, famine, injustice - who cares about stuff like that when there's a juicy bit of salacious gossip to have wet dreams about? LOL

I'm not so sure a new day is dawning in America.

I think the blacks are being taken advantage of during this election. I know - allot are thinking that they have the first Afro American running for President. His skin might be a darker color but his life experiences are white. I think there's a big difference no one is addressing. All people are looking at is the color of his skin.

I too look forward to the day when race and religion mean nothing in our elections; but that won't happen until the candidates and the American public give it up.

Dear Coronada_XV:

Please define what the evangelical right is? I'm an evangelical but I'm not a republican nor a democrat. Also what did Jesus say to the women caught in adultery when those religious people wanted to stone her: Jesus said: does anyone condemn you: then neither do I; GO AND SIN NO MORE. Lying, stealing, committing fornication (which if you read Matthew is the same as adultery). Most tend to pick and choose what they find more offensive. Also, at least Sarah Palin walks the walk and not just talk the talk. Just because a candidate is married doesn't mean they don't speak lies like any other candidate. Read Matthew 5 (namely verse 27 and 28) 27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'[a] 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart; HAVE U NEVER LOOKED WITH LUST. Also, it's amazing: how the liberal left now wants to be moral and talk about Bristol Palin: how many of you know of someone who's been pregnant; maybe not that many; maybe you know several who've had abortions. HYPOCRITES....

coronada_xv:

The evangelical right is blood thirsty. They never see a war that they don’t like. They will vote for McCain who is an admitted serial adulterer. I haven’t heard them condemn the pregnancy of unmarried, 17 year old Bristol Palin.

How they distort the Christian message! Jesus was a peace maker and cautioned repeatedly about the sins of fornication and adultery.
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Where were you when Clinton was in the White House and couldn't keep his pants up? Or Jesse Jackson and his love child? or John Edwards and his mistress? or Barney Frank and his house of prostitution? Give me a break.

What about Obama's play of the pre-emptive race card - "those nasty Reps are going to tell you that I don't look like the other Presidents on the dollar bill". Obama is as racist as anyone in America.

Why is the question of race being raised now against the Reps when there was plenty of it among the Democrats during the primaries? If Corsi's book is the only example the author can find, he does not give a convincing argument for his conclusions. This is either wishful thinking or else more liberal guilt.

No need for despair if McCain squeaks out a win, even if some knuckleheads choose to believe lies.

Obama's nomination is cause enough for celebration.

Kevin,

The figures quoted by Kristof are accurate and come from here:

http://pewresearch.org/databank/dailynumber/?NumberID=509

How come no word on Islamic terrorism during the month of Ramazan? Muslims are blowing up humans every where but you are quiet! Why?

"Kristof was shocked to discover that almost one-third of Americans either "know" Obama is a Muslim, or believe he could be."

If you think Kristof was shocked imagine how puzzling it must be over at at FOX news learning that ONLY one-third of Americans believe he could be a muslim.

I guess this means that Hannity has been slacking off and it must be time for him to loop over and over again the Jeremiah Wright sermon and a few more accidentally-on-purpose slip of the tongue mistakes by FOX by referring to Obama as Osama, oh and lest we forget let's remind everyone his middle name is Hussien. Did I mention he was black?

How about Barack and Bill ayers sharing a terrorist fist bump?

"Nick Kristof stated that almost one-third of Americans either "know" Obama is a Muslim..."

Where did Nick Kristof get those numbers? From the Department of Pulling Things Out Of Thin Air?

If those numbers are false-which I believe them to be-then the rest of this article has no point.

Except the very important point that when Barack Obama was born, black men were murdered for trying to vote, and today, a black man could very well be President.

eboo, blacks will vote en-mass for Obama!! Now, that is racist!

Nick Kristoff has got this right (as he does on most issues). Obama's religion has become a surrogate for his race for a lot of the hicks in this country.

I actually have a problem with labelling him black, since he is as white as he is black!

The evangelical right is blood thirsty. They never see a war that they don’t like. They will vote for McCain who is an admitted serial adulterer. I haven’t heard them condemn the pregnancy of unmarried, 17 year old Bristol Palin.

How they distort the Christian message! Jesus was a peace maker and cautioned repeatedly about the sins of fornication and adultery.

And the “faith”based initiative--giving our taxes to preachers--isn’t that unconstitutional?

The evangelical right is blood thirsty. They never see a war that they don’t like. They will vote for McCain who is an admitted serial adulterer. I haven’t heard them condemn the pregnancy of unmarried, 17 year old Bristol Palin.

How they distort the Christian message! Jesus was a peace maker and cautioned repeatedly about the sins of fornication and adultery.

And the “faith”based initiative--giving our taxes to preachers--isn’t that unconstitutional?

It appears that many white Christians (or Christian whites) think that this country belongs to them. Some call this a Christian nation, and others believe it to be a white nation. Either way, Obama's candidacy demonstrates further to white Christians that the tide is turning, or has turned, against them. As America becomes more meritocratic, we see more non-white, non-Christian, people reach positions of power and influence. A new day is dawning in America, and some are having difficulty accepting it. I look forward to the day when race and religion become irrelevant to our elections.

What do we expect when McCain hires lobbyists and Bush's Rovian thugs to run his campaign?

More of the same - fear, racism and religious intolerance as political wedge issues. It worked for Hitler once and Bush twice.

The question is will Americans buy it a third time this century?

I agree with Eboo, that this tactic feuled by fear and ignorance may backfire on the GOP. Obama has pronounced his faith as being a christian yet sites continue to pop up every day trying to indicate that he is a muslim. Sites like the obama plan http://www.TheObamaPlan.com which they claim is the Plan america cannot afford. Then their are the sites that make the most absurd claim that Obama is the anti christ, Its unfortunate but people may believe this stuff.

-Voto Se! Yea! Yes!

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THANK YOU ALL!

Gracia! Shookron! Shookria! Todar, CzeeZcee...

Peace, Paz, Shalom, Salaam, Mir, Ahimsa, Zinghu...

Please help US Celebrate “PEACE-DAY“ Week. And U.N.'s UNESCO sponsored http://iya2009.org/

Be sure to visit the Authors of "THE BiBLE OF THE FUTURE". A Prophecy whose TiME is Cometh!

By: http:////.......({..J..}).......({..O..}).......({..Z..}).......({...E.}).......({..V..}).......({..Z..})........dot...... US

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Mr. Eboo Patel,

This election is smeared by race bias on both sides. However, I don't believe that religious bias is as fervent in this election as you paint it. I do believe moral beliefs play a major part in this election, at least from the standpoint of bible believing Christians.

Thank you.