Video: Michelle critiques Obama’s Messiah act on The Big Story
posted at 5:43 pm on December 17, 2007 by Bryan
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
I linked this story in headlines earlier today to highlight the spin that the AP was putting on it. The story itself is fairly unremarkable, though it might inspire second looks from the IRS if a Republican were at the center of it: Barack Obama goes to church. But the AP packed a whole lot of back story into that.
Democrat Barack Obama on Sunday confronted one of the persistent falsehoods circulating about him on the Internet.
He went to church.
His attendance here at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, with the news media in tow, was as much an observation of faith as it was a rejoinder to baseless e-mailed rumors that he is a Muslim and poses a threat to the security of the United States.
Obama did not address the rumors, but described how he joined Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago two decades ago while working as a community organizer…
The Illinois Democrat — whose middle name is “Hussein” — was born in Hawaii and moved to Indonesia at age 6 to live with his mother and stepfather, who was Muslim. He left Indonesia when he was 10 and returned to Hawaii to live with his mother’s parents.
Obama’s background re-emerged Sunday when former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey, who had just endorsed Clinton, referred to Obama’s Muslim side of the family in an interview with The Washington Post. The remarks were part of a generally complimentary assessment of Obama.
“It’s probably not something that appeals to him, but I like the fact that his name is Barack Hussein Obama, and that his father was a Muslim and that his paternal grandmother is a Muslim. There’s a billion people on the planet that are Muslims and I think that experience is a big deal.” Kerrey added, “He’s got a whale of a lot more intellectual talent than I’ve got as well.”
Heh. It looks like the AP has been talking back-channel to the Clinton machine. The problem with stories like this one, though, is that they give cover to a story about Obama’s church that does deserve scrutiny but isn’t getting enough of it, and that’s the racial beliefs of Obama’s pastor. Michelle hits that issue and several more in this clip.
If it’s fair to ask Mitt Romney about the LDS church’s racial attitudes up to 1978, why isn’t it fair to ask about Obama’s current pastor’s current racial attitudes?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages:
Oh it’s fair alright. Dam fair. Thanks Michelle.
Griz on December 17, 2007 at 5:55 PM
how can he pretend to be religious when his ilk constantly criticizes the Right for invoking religion?
well, coming from a party which had to hire religious consultants to campaign in the South, i’m really not surprised.
madmonkphotog on December 17, 2007 at 5:57 PM
How about it is not. Just because the first was done, doesn’t make the second appropriate. When do we started judging men as men instead of assuming guilt by association?
My question is why can’t a candidate take a reporter to church? Might do them some good – don’t tell me the answer is that it is good if they are a republican because they mean it, and it’s bad if it’s a democrat because it’s pandering. Doesn’t like 90 some-odd percent believe in a God in a America?
Spirit of 1776 on December 17, 2007 at 5:57 PM
OK, so how about some more details about how his pastor’s “current racist sttitudes”!….
El Guapo on December 17, 2007 at 6:05 PM
I wrote a post about them a few months back. The MSM hasn’t gone there yet afaik.
Bryan on December 17, 2007 at 6:07 PM
How about the fact of alleged racism on the part of Obama’s pastor.
Byran or HotAir staff, you got more details on that?
El Guapo on December 17, 2007 at 6:07 PM
Spirit if 1776:
I think it is very appropriate if those racist allegations are true. I would like to hear Obama publicly denounce and condemn his pastor for being racists.
Thanks Bryan, I was deployed then, that why i never saw it before.
El Guapo on December 17, 2007 at 6:10 PM
I want to settle this issue right now.
MM for President!!!
Gotta love the democratic nominees taking the media to church, yet Republican nominees get raked over the coals by the media everytime religion or moral values are brought up to them.
The hypocrisy from the dominant, liberal, mass media is so thick, I could cut it with a knife.
Planet Boulder on December 17, 2007 at 6:12 PM
Bryan for Veep, Robert Spencer for DHS, Allah for Secretary of Technology with special initiatives on Robots, iPhones, and Fembots.
- The Cat
MirCat on December 17, 2007 at 6:18 PM
Okay. I don’t believe in guilt by association. Quite frequently we see things in those nearest to us the we react the strongest to, both good and ill. I think everyman should be judged on his own merit and his fruit.
I do reject the creeping assertion that just because Drudge bannered it and a post went up here yesterday that we should be digging around for racism in people’s histories, ie if what I did yesterday is fair, then this must be. Just because it was done doesn’t make it fair or right. I don’t see how we ever get past racism in this country is we always trying to dig it up for a blunt instrument like AS and JJ.
Having said that, if you feel it helps you be informed and will inform your vote, more power to you – I say that with all sincerity.
Spirit of 1776 on December 17, 2007 at 6:20 PM
Answer: It is fair. Obama’s religious associations are just as open to discussion as Mitt’s or Huck’s. Although, I do think it would be a shame if any candidate were panned because of the church to which they belong, I think these discussions give valuable insight into the true nature of the man or woman.
Barack should be willing to speak frankly about his church’s doctrines and practices, especially any controversial ideals.
The Race Card on December 17, 2007 at 6:21 PM
Asking him about allegations about his pastor is not necessarily guilt by association. It is simply asking him about his pastor and some oh his pastor’s quotes and whether or not he agree with them. Only when he refuses to answer or refuses to denounce those controversial statements does he become guilty. Guilt by association is labeling guilt from the get-go. Asking him, is giving him a chance to get the facts strait or at least to prove him case/stance. That is not guilt by association. It is just an honest question.
El Guapo on December 17, 2007 at 6:29 PM
I’ll second that….;-)
Planet Boulder on December 17, 2007 at 6:30 PM
Just as if someone was a member of the KKK (Robert Byrd (D) WVa, or the Black Panther Party, I think it is a legit question to target. A person’s past is a reflection of his/her character.
El Guapo on December 17, 2007 at 6:31 PM
Not a Muslim? Isn’t that a kaffiyeh-covered stroller behind Obama in the opening shot?
eeyore on December 17, 2007 at 6:33 PM
Seems to me that Obama has quite the background and family ties to Islam….father, paternal grandmother, and step-father (provided I read the family geneology by Bob Kerrey correctly). Is his mother a practicing Muslim or his maternal grandparents? How a woman finds that many muslim men to marry is hard for me to understand. And, Obama’s book demonstrated his loyalty to his father’s side of the family didn’t it? Hmmm?
Was glad to see Michelle eloquently point out the negative message of the “christian” church Obama belongs. Getting into their website when Obama first started his campaing was sure an eyeopener. I could not believe any church calling itself christian would advocate such bias and racism in their mission statement.
As usual, Ms. MM did a wonderful job on Fox News and I hope they use her more often on John Gibson’s show. Her clarity and fast recall of facts are amazing.
24K lady on December 17, 2007 at 6:35 PM
You are right. That’s a honest question. But I will say even more then Mitt, because you can make an institutional argument there, this seems kind of pointless to me. Barack are you racist? If so who do you hate: your mother or your father?
Spirit of 1776 on December 17, 2007 at 6:37 PM
It is fair to ask and should be asked, sooner rather than later.
I think Michelle should run for governor of Maryland first, then go for the White House. I would support both campaigns with my time and treasure.
Zorro on December 17, 2007 at 6:38 PM
Mircat@6:18PM – and Ann Coulter for Press Secretary!
24K lady on December 17, 2007 at 6:39 PM
eeyore
I dont think it will matter. The muslim electin in canada included in his victory speach “this is a victory for Islam..” (not a victory for democracy or Canada), and the one elected in Wisconsin was part of the Nation of Islam, had ties to protesting the arrest of a convicted cop killer (he was using the race card of course, forget the fact the gang leader killed a cop among other people), and he had a restraiing order against him for assualting a woman
http://powerlineblog.com/archives/015484.php
http://powerlineblog.com/archives/015415.php
All of thius stuff was brought up by little guys but the big media there refused to cover it.
I wont matter. Obama would get a pass.
El Guapo on December 17, 2007 at 6:43 PM
Spirit of 1776
I agree on questioning Mitt also. He owes the public, statements such as he denounces the old ways of his church (polygamy, arranged marraiges, etc). Avoiding the topic is admitting guilt.
El Guapo on December 17, 2007 at 6:49 PM
It’s fair because we have freedom of religion. We are free to go to church or not to go to church. Generally you spend money at a church because you want to support their causes. I think if Obama has gone to church regularly, this event is OK, but if he’s only responding to people saying he’s Muslim, well then he’s dishonest (no change there).
It’s good to see MM on the Tee Vee. The Obama is Muslim line of questioning is actually appropriate because (and I could be wrong) Muslims believe that the child is the religion of the father.
So while Christians and other non-Muslims might not consider him to be Muslim, Muslims consider him to be Muslim. That might be important for the Secret Service to know because Muslims also believe that apostates are subject to death. If Obama is not now considered to be a Muslim, he may be under bigger threat than a non-Muslim might due to his father’s religion. It isn’t what we think, it is what Muslims think.
Sort of like ‘religion of peace’. . . it doesn’t matter if non-muslims think it is, it matters what Muslims think. If they think jihad is a requirement, no matter how much non-muslims say it isn’t a part of the religion.
Megyn interviewed a CAIR person about the honor killing this morning. She called him on it when he tried to say that it is just like any other domestic violence. The difference is that other domestic violence isn’t considered by the perpetrator to be condoned by the church.
Good to see you on TV again MM. I’d like to see more of you.
ThackerAgency on December 17, 2007 at 6:54 PM
Why not? I heard the clips from him on Hannity and it doesn’t seem to do anything to engender better relations between races. It could hurt.
Captain Scarlet on December 17, 2007 at 6:56 PM
I don’t believe that. Avoiding the topic means you are uncomfortable with it. There are tons of possible reasons for discomfort.
I believe all citizens are innocent until proven guilty.
Spirit of 1776 on December 17, 2007 at 6:58 PM
Personally neither is fair, but when did that stop anyone.
MarkB on December 17, 2007 at 6:58 PM
Spirit of 1776
It is a simple question: do you or do you not believe in those remarks that your pastor made. Yes or no answer, what discomfort is there to that unless you are afraid that answering “yes” would alienate you from your church, and answering “no” would reveal that you are a racist.
El Guapo on December 17, 2007 at 7:14 PM
El Guapo, see you didn’t even need me to come with an example!:) He might not want to answer the question so as not to alienate himself from his church. Maybe he likes their play-room for the kids, I don’t know. Send him an email, ask him. If you get an answer, post it.
Spirit of 1776 on December 17, 2007 at 7:20 PM
Shhhh, lets hold off on this stuff until Barry O eliminates Clinton. Lets take out Barry now before the next time around when he’s perceived as having experience. Right now he has a huge achilles heel.
Go Barak!!
Zetterson on December 17, 2007 at 7:32 PM
Hahaha. I’m not sure why that struck me so funny. Its just so… right.
Zetterson on December 17, 2007 at 7:33 PM
Good to see MM on FNC!
petefrt on December 17, 2007 at 11:41 PM
Michelle is right. Why isn’t the press checking into the United Church of Christ, the church Obama joined in the mid-80’s. Isn’t this the same church the “good” Reverend Barry Lynn attends? If you go to the United Church of Christ website and click on its “Change the World” tab you can decide for yourself if Obama is a “scriptural” Christian or not.
sinsing on December 18, 2007 at 8:05 AM
Why the charade of appearing to have more religion than the other candidate.
I always thought the left was for separation of Church and State. Separating the Church from the lexicon that is this country.
MSGTAS on December 18, 2007 at 9:20 AM
“rain of error and terror”
beautiful Michelle!
oh, nice phrase too… :)
max1 on December 18, 2007 at 9:59 AM
Comment pages: