An “Oops” Or Obama Outing Himself As Muslim?
We all know what a Freudian slip is. All of us except Barack Obama, that is. His slip in an interview with George Stephanopolous yesterday involved a huge slip – one that ought to land him a lot of hot water because it sure seems like he just admitted to being a Muslim.
In an interview Sunday with ABC’s “This Week” host George Stephanopoulos, Obama tried to suggest that FOX News and others “closely allied” to Republicans are promulgating the notion that the Illinois senator is Muslim.
Asked about whether McCain himself has done anything to suggest he’s Muslim, Obama said, “Let’s not play games. What I was suggesting — you’re absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith. And you’re absolutely right that that has not come…”
“Christian faith,” Stephanopoulos interrupted, correcting Obama.
“… my Christian faith. Well, what I’m saying is that he hasn’t suggested that I’m a Muslim. And I think that his campaign’s upper echelons have not, either. What I think is fair to say is that, coming out of the Republican camp, there have been efforts to suggest that perhaps I’m not who I say I am when it comes to my faith, something which I find deeply offensive, and that has been going on for a pretty long time,” Obama said.
Sure, when reading it things sound like he might (just might, mind you) have accidentally misspoken. But when you listen to him talking, it’s the “my Christian faith” part that sounds like the part he was trying not to say.
Naturally, Obama says it’s a gaffe and has called news outlets printing the story “irresponsible”. But really, Senator Barack, who is the irresponsible one, here: the media, for letting the American public know that a presidential candidate can’t seem to keep the facts about himself straight, or the presidential candidate who keeps doing it?
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In all seriousness, I think it was a slip of the tongue. What concerns me about it is that it means either Obama is exhausted by the campaign or that he has trouble stringing together a number of words that say what he means to say, or clearly knowing what he means when he starts speaking.
Is he going to get that much rest as president than he gets as candidate? Probably not. I’d imagine less.
Is he going to be able to keep his thoughts and words strung together verbally talking to Putin? Or, Ahmadinejad (however that’s spelled!)
Donna B.s last blog post..Hummer, Chick Magnet or Not
I’m inclined to agree with you that it was a slip, Donna. And I’m equally concerned that if campaigning is proving to be so taxing (heh) on him, how would he handle the presidency?
Still, there is a strong suspicion on my part that Obama has been - due to his race and just how drastically he DOES go against stereotype - a much pampered and praised individual who has built his ego on the mistaken assumption that sycophants throughout his life have told him the truth.
But it’s not “P.C.” to entertain such concerns, and so I’ve kept silent.
Honestly, after watching it twice, I think what he was trying to say was referencing the accusations of him being a Muslim, and trying to say that that wasn’t coming from the McCain camp. It’s the sort of thing anybody might do, really - how often have we heard Bush trip over what he’s trying to say?
Tempest in a teapot. I don’t give a flying s**t if he’s Muslim - what I care about is his politics, lack of experience, and friendship with some very bad people. The flavor of his religious faith doesn’t even register next to those.
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His religion becomes important when it is a religion that teaches that we are the infidel and should be put to death. If he is a Muslim, that would be a huge conflict of interest in becoming the president of the United States. Would we want a president who may belong to a religion who wants us dead? Is it possible that he is a plant, intended to bring us down from the inside?
As I recall, people said much the same thing of Kennedy being Catholic (owing allegiance to the Pope, rather than the US Constitution) nearly fifty years ago. I don’t subscribe to the belief that all Muslims are hate-filled fanatics, and I reject your last sentence as being both completely irrational and highly offensive.
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Eh, it’s the whole “Manchurian Candidate” mindset. First-time visitor and all.
Some people (and I include myself at times) are just incredibly freaking gaffe-prone.
But I think you’re right about the Barackolytes in his entourage: you get your keister smooched often enough, pretty soon you think it’s deserved.
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I think that nobody, including Obama, really knows what he is for or against… what he supports or believes. And I think that he is trying a little too hard to sound like he is smarter than he is.
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It was a slip. And I know very few people (if any) who’d care if he’s Muslim or not. Heck, I don’t even think experience is all it’s cracked up to be.
Good judgment, however, counts for a lot. And that is what seems to be sorely missing on his part in a multitude of areas.
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If he’s a Muslim, would he be putting lipstick on a pig?
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I don’t think it was a slip of the tongue, I think he was making a point. He was saying that McCain hadn’t called him a muslim - “McCain has not talked about my muslim faith.” - meaning McCain has not insinuated that he’s a muslim. I think Stefanopolous was the one who goofed, by correcting him.
But in the day and age of sound bites and youtube, who knows what will be done with this. I recently had a person point this incident out to me as the reason he could never vote for Obama.
I like the rationality of all the commenters here. It’s refreshing. Rational political discussion - I thought it was dead as chivalry.
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It’s not dead. Even though we’re primarily conservatives, the Venomites love rational discussion more than anything else. That’s why I like ‘em!