What all this boils down to, really is this.

The US government and media has spoon fed the general populace so much anti-muslim propaganda that a large section of society over there now appears to be incapable of differentiating between normal everday people and homicidal maniacs.

Muslim has become the new "scare" word - much like communism was in the 50's. Its a new McCarthy era. People have fallen for it hook line and sinker.

And those that oppose Obama as a candidate appear to be so scared that he's going to win, or so desperate to smear the guy in whatever way they can that they are milking that paranoia for all its worth.

You can make a fairly good case to say that the Bush administration lied through its teeth to justify the invasion of Iraq. Because of that 5,000 US service personnel are dead, hundreds of "coalition" troops are dead and the civilian death toll may well be in the hundreds of thousands. And yet people would rather make an issue out of someones supposed religion, and ask if they are fit to run a country because of it.

Thats crass hypocrisy.

Oh im sorry the last time checked it was the individuals choice as to what he/she chooses to be, not a group of conservatives. Barack Obama was not raised as a muslim and CHOSE not to become one. He CHOSE to become a christian and attended church for 20years.

We dont choose as to what family we are born to but we CAN CHOOSE what religion we wish to follow, get it right. I dont think we need people telling what we are and what we have to be, this is a free country.

Obama says his not muslim, thats his choice. If your going to label an individual against his choice simply because of what environment he was brought up in you better start reading up on what the US was founded upon. You dont have a say in what religion Obama follows, only he does and only him. Get your facts straight.

[edit on 15-6-2008 by southern_Guardian]

Why does anyone believe this Malik character when their father LEFT Barack Obama when he was TWO YEARS OLD? How could Malik know anything about how Obama was raised?

From the OP source:

Malik holds a photo of Obama and him in Muslim dress, reportedly when the two first met in 1985

They FIRST met when Barack was 24 years old. If their father left Barack when he was TWO, How does Malik know HOW obama was raised during the intervening 22 years??

I did notice that the source for the OP is quite unbiased.

It is not clear whether Barack Obama will now disown his half-brother Malik, or throw him under the campaign bus, for acknowledging that shared family background.

Shared? What's shared? I'm sorry, if anyone believes this crap, they're just looking for another reason to hate Obama. He didn't lie. This Malik dude is making stuff up.

I thought that once you are a Muslim that you cannot convert to another religion. If you did then they have the right to kill you.

I'm not buying the CT that Obama is a "Manchurian Candidate" of sorts, nor do I buy into the Muslim arguement, terrorist or otherwise.

C'mon guys...he's a black Christian, running for President, and stands a pretty decent shot of winning it. He won't be getting my vote, but not because I believe any of the rumors being spread about him, it's simply a matter of my idealogical disagreement with the man.

Sure, he has family that are Muslims, but that does NOT automatically insinuate that he has terrorist ties to Muslim extremists.

Besides, you all want "change" from the current administration, right? Well, it's coming in spades people.

This has gone way beyond ridiculous. If your brother says you're a muslim, that automatically makes you a muslim? I'm pretty sure Barack has a will of his own.

I dunno ... as much as Barack Obama is trying to distance himself from his ties to Islam it seems he can't. He's already been caught in one lie about the whole Rev. Wright mess and now this. Each day I trust Obama less and less and grow more fearful for the future of this country.

Originally posted by sos37
I dunno ... as much as Barack Obama is trying to distance himself from his ties to Islam

What has he done to try to distance himself from these alleged "ties" to Islam? And what ARE these ties to Islam? Exactly.

So his family were muslim when he was 2 and he's not now, and he's a politician who (allegedly) has told a lie. So what. Bigger lies have (allegedly) been told by the Bush's, Clinton's, Blair and probably 100's of other politiciancs round the world. Get over it.

He's gonna pull us out of the Middle East and put us in Africa, starting with Kenya, to supposedly protect the Christians and Western Investments. But he won't do much about any Muslim faction, one way or the other. He will be stuttering and nebulous, reaching for heights hoped for but unattainable, and crashing down when he doesn't get his way. His presidency will promise much, deliver as little as McCain's, and disillusion both Red and Blue America.

Originally posted by sos37

Wow, maybe YOU should take the time to research what you criticize others for and confirm you have any ground to stand on before you go accusing someone else of ignorance and spreading "rumors".

Oh get off it sos. What he said is a rumor and nothing more if he has nothing to back it up. I never said he was wrong I am saying that he should have provided evidence to support what he is saying especially this. I didn't bring it up so why the hell should I be the one to find the evidence?

Anyway thank you for sharing those passages, now we know it not just rumor.

I'm not saying that Obama is or is not Muslim, or that he did or did not lie about having been one. I will say this, though:

I was raised as a Catholic. I attended Catholic studies as a child. I'm certain childhood friends from that era of my life would remember me as having been Catholic in faith. Family members might call me Catholic.

As far as I'm concerned, I am not Catholic and never considered myself to be Catholic.

So, am I lying?

[edit on 6/15/2008 by AceWombat04]