Da Tech Guy‘s habit of watching Morning Joe on MSNBC, to get a daily read on what liberals are thinking, is a habit I’ve started to adopt. It’s interesting to watch the Obama-centric worldview in action.
Today, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinsksi spent a full ten minutes discussing with Savannah Guthrie and Evan Wolfson this Pew Poll that shows 18% of Americans think Obama is a Muslim. This evidently loomed large in their minds, and at one point Scarborough made reference to the president’s “critics,” as if these unnamed critics were somehow responsible for this perception.
My Republican consultant friend Ali Akbar — who is, in fact, a Southern Baptist from Texas — could probably explain to Joe and Mika that a certain percentage of the public automatically thinks “Muslim” when it hears a name like Barack Hussein Obama. One need not conjure up “critics” to make this phenomenon understandable.
The MSNBC crew, however, evidently consider it their job to superintend Obama’s public image, and so a thick slice of their morning was spent obsessing over this Pew Poll result. And when we learn that this pushback against the Pew Poll is being orchestrated by the White House press shop, we see how Joe and Mika are required to function as administration mouthpieces.
If all you knew about this poll was what you saw on MSNBC, however, you might have missed other results of the Pew Poll. Fortunately, we have Yid With Lid to point out this important finding:
[T]here is widespread agreement that politicians should be religious. Fully 61% say that is important that members of Congress have strong religious beliefs; just 34% disagree.
Majorities across all major religious groups – with the exception of the religiously unaffiliated – agree it is important for members of Congress to have strong religious beliefs. More than eight-in-ten white evangelical Protestants (83%) express this view, as do roughly two-thirds of white non-Hispanic Catholics (66%) and white mainline Protestants (64%). And about seven-in-ten black Protestants (71%) say it is important that lawmakers have strong religious beliefs.
While Joe and Mika were obsessing over Obama’s image problems, they neglected to discuss this: For most Americans, religion is not about identity politics, it’s about having a firm system of morality — a bedrock sense of right and wrong, good and evil. People quite naturally want their political leaders to possess the kind of deep faith that inspires virtue.
Outside the secularized world of the media elite, religion is still viewed as a good thing, and the people want their leaders to be religious.
In other words: Good news!
Too bad Joe and Mika missed that.
UPDATE: Citing a Byron York column, Professor Glenn Reynolds observes: “Obama famously described himself as a blank screen onto which others projected their impressions. This worked for him for a long time. Now, it’s working against him.”
UPDATE II: Brandon Kiser on the “guilty pleasure” of watching Morning Joe:
The liberal talking heads get under my skin, but at least they’re not like Fox and Friends and talking about koalas in Nantucket or something.
Yeah, it’s pretty much all-politics, all-the-time at MSNBC, whereas Fox and Friends mixes in more general-interest news.
Funny how this poll came hot on the heels of this poll..
http://ace.mu.nu/archives/304798.php#304798
Almost as if it’s to distract the public from something.
Funny how this poll came hot on the heels of this poll..
http://ace.mu.nu/archives/304798.php#304798
Almost as if it’s to distract the public from something.
Screen save everything these ‘tards say now about “the Constitution!” and “Freedom of Religion!” And shove it right in their face when they want protesters arrested because they planted in front of some Planned Parenthood abortion mill.
Screen save everything these ‘tards say now about “the Constitution!” and “Freedom of Religion!” And shove it right in their face when they want protesters arrested because they planted in front of some Planned Parenthood abortion mill.
I think it would be interesting to know how many of those who think BO is muslim think it’s a bad thing. I think most MSM wags are assuming it’s to BO’s detriment. This assumption implicitly convicts all muslims as bad and all who think so as non-muslim bigots.
What about muslims who think BO is a fellow muslim and think that’s just peachy? What about non-muslims who think BO is muslim but don’t care if he is? I’m not hearing any results that go into this.
As a non-believer I think competence and comportment are more important than a President’s personal faith. If his/her faith improves those traits, neat.
I think it would be interesting to know how many of those who think BO is muslim think it’s a bad thing. I think most MSM wags are assuming it’s to BO’s detriment. This assumption implicitly convicts all muslims as bad and all who think so as non-muslim bigots.
What about muslims who think BO is a fellow muslim and think that’s just peachy? What about non-muslims who think BO is muslim but don’t care if he is? I’m not hearing any results that go into this.
As a non-believer I think competence and comportment are more important than a President’s personal faith. If his/her faith improves those traits, neat.
@Dave: That’s typical in many administrations, but more-so with this one: when something comes out that the sitting administration doesn’t like (or approve of), they make a distraction of something else.
I think Stacy hit the nail right on the head with the comment about religious beliefs being a moral basis, and this is why WHICH religion Obama adheres to is important. What is acceptable with one faith may be abhorrent to another, and the habit of people to categorize can make or break a polititian’s standing on the political theatre. If Obama’s muslim leanings are true, he will inescapably be associated with Islamic terrorists.
Obama CLAIMS to be Christian, but hasn’t been to a worship service since taking office. His speeches favor Islamic groups, he is openly anti-Israel… If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck….
The White House spokesman says Obama is Christian because “he prays every day”. Praying daily makes one Christian? Muslims should LOVE that line of reasoning!
@Dave: That’s typical in many administrations, but more-so with this one: when something comes out that the sitting administration doesn’t like (or approve of), they make a distraction of something else.
I think Stacy hit the nail right on the head with the comment about religious beliefs being a moral basis, and this is why WHICH religion Obama adheres to is important. What is acceptable with one faith may be abhorrent to another, and the habit of people to categorize can make or break a polititian’s standing on the political theatre. If Obama’s muslim leanings are true, he will inescapably be associated with Islamic terrorists.
Obama CLAIMS to be Christian, but hasn’t been to a worship service since taking office. His speeches favor Islamic groups, he is openly anti-Israel… If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck….
The White House spokesman says Obama is Christian because “he prays every day”. Praying daily makes one Christian? Muslims should LOVE that line of reasoning!
After years of hearing jokes about people having a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” we are now told that we should believe that Obama has an unseen “personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” What a joke.
Frankly, this man wears religion like a suit, different religions for different occasions. Sort of a “religious camelion.” Quite cynical, if you ask me. The man is an agnostic.
After years of hearing jokes about people having a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” we are now told that we should believe that Obama has an unseen “personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” What a joke.
Frankly, this man wears religion like a suit, different religions for different occasions. Sort of a “religious camelion.” Quite cynical, if you ask me. The man is an agnostic.
I don’t think the president is a Muslim. Muslims worship Allah. Barack Obama worships…himself.
I don’t think the president is a Muslim. Muslims worship Allah. Barack Obama worships…himself.
I don’t believe that Barack Hussien Obama is in fact a Muslim. However he does play one on the television, i.e. Cairo. BHO does play the part of a Muslim well, quoting the Koran and bowing down to every Muslim ruler he meets.
Whereas BHO plays a good Muslim, he does not play a Christain. For example, he attended Jermiah Wright’s church for twenty years, but apparently slept through every sermon.
The public does not see BHO as a Christian, because he does not act like a Chrisian. Obama is fervidly pro-abortion and anti-Isael. Whereas a Christian is modest. Obama is arrogant.
I fail to see how a Christian president, with faith in God, would see the need to have his White House push back against the idea that he not a Christian. Christians don’t need to have there press aides try to convince the putlic that they are Christian. They show it, Obama does not.
We can’t determine the extent of Obama’s faith – his words & actions offer up clues, but only God knows his heart.
At the same time, we can say this: from what he has said about his faith, he’s either ignorant of or simply rejects a lot of basic Christian theology.
I don’t believe that Barack Hussien Obama is in fact a Muslim. However he does play one on the television, i.e. Cairo. BHO does play the part of a Muslim well, quoting the Koran and bowing down to every Muslim ruler he meets.
Whereas BHO plays a good Muslim, he does not play a Christain. For example, he attended Jermiah Wright’s church for twenty years, but apparently slept through every sermon.
The public does not see BHO as a Christian, because he does not act like a Chrisian. Obama is fervidly pro-abortion and anti-Isael. Whereas a Christian is modest. Obama is arrogant.
I fail to see how a Christian president, with faith in God, would see the need to have his White House push back against the idea that he not a Christian. Christians don’t need to have there press aides try to convince the putlic that they are Christian. They show it, Obama does not.
We can’t determine the extent of Obama’s faith – his words & actions offer up clues, but only God knows his heart.
At the same time, we can say this: from what he has said about his faith, he’s either ignorant of or simply rejects a lot of basic Christian theology.
pathetique anyways why didn’t the lamestream media call theguy who went on that mass-murderous spree against african americans an arab muslim oh wait it would not conform to their Anti-jewish agenda
pathetique anyways why didn’t the lamestream media call theguy who went on that mass-murderous spree against african americans an arab muslim oh wait it would not conform to their Anti-jewish agenda
@Bill S.: “Obama CLAIMS to be Christian, but hasn’t been to a worship service since taking office.” Being an athiest myself I could be wrong, but didn’t Jesus say something to the effect that where one or more congregate to worship, that is where His house is?
I could care less about the religiosity of any politician unless they openly support violent terrorists. I do however care that Obama is a pathological liar and the most horribleist president ever and I hope he stays on his current vacation for another two years.
Brian
@Bill S.: “Obama CLAIMS to be Christian, but hasn’t been to a worship service since taking office.” Being an athiest myself I could be wrong, but didn’t Jesus say something to the effect that where one or more congregate to worship, that is where His house is?
I could care less about the religiosity of any politician unless they openly support violent terrorists. I do however care that Obama is a pathological liar and the most horribleist president ever and I hope he stays on his current vacation for another two years.
Brian
As someone on another website commented, Obama’s theology is certainly no brand of Orthodox Christianity, but then how would it be since he attended Wright’s church for 20 years? Obama sees sin as “being out of alignment with my values” (What about Jesus’ values and and the values of the 10 commandments?) He also said that “being aligned spiritually is when “I’m being true to myself”. Obama is the ultimate narcissist looking to himself for the source of what is good. As another poster commented on “Ace of Spades”, Obama appears to be a “cultural Muslim (or maybe a Black Muslim), a pretend Christian, a self worshipping demigod,a barely concealed
Marxist and a dangerous SOB.”
In addition, while some conservative Christians do not celebrate Christmas, they don’t do it in order to “set some limits.” They do it for religious reasons.
I expect more talk of Obama’s Christian faith in the next few weeks. We may even get some shots of him attending church which he says he doesn’t so because it would be disruptive, yet he can tie up traffic in LA for hours for campaign appearance?
He referred to Christians as “bitter clingers”. He has mocked the Old Testament. I think Obama is a religious poseur. The only god he has is Obama. If he’s a Christian I am actually Fenelon. ;^)
As someone on another website commented, Obama’s theology is certainly no brand of Orthodox Christianity, but then how would it be since he attended Wright’s church for 20 years? Obama sees sin as “being out of alignment with my values” (What about Jesus’ values and and the values of the 10 commandments?) He also said that “being aligned spiritually is when “I’m being true to myself”. Obama is the ultimate narcissist looking to himself for the source of what is good. As another poster commented on “Ace of Spades”, Obama appears to be a “cultural Muslim (or maybe a Black Muslim), a pretend Christian, a self worshipping demigod,a barely concealed
Marxist and a dangerous SOB.”
In addition, while some conservative Christians do not celebrate Christmas, they don’t do it in order to “set some limits.” They do it for religious reasons.
I expect more talk of Obama’s Christian faith in the next few weeks. We may even get some shots of him attending church which he says he doesn’t so because it would be disruptive, yet he can tie up traffic in LA for hours for campaign appearance?
He referred to Christians as “bitter clingers”. He has mocked the Old Testament. I think Obama is a religious poseur. The only god he has is Obama. If he’s a Christian I am actually Fenelon. ;^)
Stacy, your analysis of this top is pathetic in its attempt to spin what is an indictment against Conservitards and the people who cater to the stupidity on the Right. As most of the posts here prove, Conservatardism runs rampant. Your post is nothing more than an attempt to whitewash that.
“a certain percentage of the public automatically thinks “Muslim” when it hears a name like Barack Hussein Obama. ”
Makes sense if it was the first time they heard of the guy. What is faulty with that line of logic,of course, is that this is POTUS Barack Obama.No, the 18% who believe that he is Muslim CHOSE to do so. No need to mention what political affiliation these 18% suscribe to…
“The MSNBC crew, however, evidently consider it their job to superintendent Obama’s public image”
Haha, WRONG! What you like to pathetically spin as “obsession” is what in the real world is considered ‘righting a wrong’.I know, this is not good for you and to the idiots you cater to.Only you guys could get your panties in a wad about taking the Right’s stupidity to task.
“religion is still viewed as a good thing, and the people want their leaders to be religious.”
WRONG! again…The “people” want their leaders to be religious as long as they are Christians.Why beat around the bush?
What interests me is the pushback on this issue when the WH seeks to correct this misinformation. I’ve read things about how he doesn’t go to church. Well, Reagan was notorious for not attending church due to the assassination attempt, or se he said.Yet he is given the benefit of the doubt. Then again Reagan wasn’t as “tan” as BO.
As your sad sack readers show in their posts above, this really has nothing to do with beliefs or knowledge or proof of anything: Conservatives have decided to turn religious discussion to name-calling because as you have pointed out before, Conservatives are not interested in policy or fact-based discussions. They want WWF wrestling style entertainment.
Well, you have to own and live with this one.And yes, the “unnamed” critics of the President are to blame. Throw Fox News and all the other RightWing outlets into the mix. This is “good politics” for them because like Goebbels they believe that an uninformed constituency works to their benefit…
Stacy, your analysis of this top is pathetic in its attempt to spin what is an indictment against Conservitards and the people who cater to the stupidity on the Right. As most of the posts here prove, Conservatardism runs rampant. Your post is nothing more than an attempt to whitewash that.
“a certain percentage of the public automatically thinks “Muslim” when it hears a name like Barack Hussein Obama. ”
Makes sense if it was the first time they heard of the guy. What is faulty with that line of logic,of course, is that this is POTUS Barack Obama.No, the 18% who believe that he is Muslim CHOSE to do so. No need to mention what political affiliation these 18% suscribe to…
“The MSNBC crew, however, evidently consider it their job to superintendent Obama’s public image”
Haha, WRONG! What you like to pathetically spin as “obsession” is what in the real world is considered ‘righting a wrong’.I know, this is not good for you and to the idiots you cater to.Only you guys could get your panties in a wad about taking the Right’s stupidity to task.
“religion is still viewed as a good thing, and the people want their leaders to be religious.”
WRONG! again…The “people” want their leaders to be religious as long as they are Christians.Why beat around the bush?
What interests me is the pushback on this issue when the WH seeks to correct this misinformation. I’ve read things about how he doesn’t go to church. Well, Reagan was notorious for not attending church due to the assassination attempt, or se he said.Yet he is given the benefit of the doubt. Then again Reagan wasn’t as “tan” as BO.
As your sad sack readers show in their posts above, this really has nothing to do with beliefs or knowledge or proof of anything: Conservatives have decided to turn religious discussion to name-calling because as you have pointed out before, Conservatives are not interested in policy or fact-based discussions. They want WWF wrestling style entertainment.
Well, you have to own and live with this one.And yes, the “unnamed” critics of the President are to blame. Throw Fox News and all the other RightWing outlets into the mix. This is “good politics” for them because like Goebbels they believe that an uninformed constituency works to their benefit…
“He referred to Christians as “bitter clingers”.
Ah, more misinformation from the uninformed. He didn’t refer to Christians as “bitter clingers”.Why don’t you go back and read the transcript, genius!
“He has mocked the Old Testament.”
Citation please, or are you just concerned with making sure that 100% of Conservitards believe he is Muslim?
This is great! You guys want to run with this, don’t you?
Awesome! Seeing how that birther thing worked so well for you, this will be a boon for us. Only Conservitards would think that this kind of misinformation helps their cause, not seeing that this makes asses out of your side.
Really, thanks for keeping on with the giving.
You’re too kind!
“He referred to Christians as “bitter clingers”.
Ah, more misinformation from the uninformed. He didn’t refer to Christians as “bitter clingers”.Why don’t you go back and read the transcript, genius!
“He has mocked the Old Testament.”
Citation please, or are you just concerned with making sure that 100% of Conservitards believe he is Muslim?
This is great! You guys want to run with this, don’t you?
Awesome! Seeing how that birther thing worked so well for you, this will be a boon for us. Only Conservitards would think that this kind of misinformation helps their cause, not seeing that this makes asses out of your side.
Really, thanks for keeping on with the giving.
You’re too kind!
I posted this over at Goldstein’s place:
Maybe they suspect that he’s a Muslim because the MSM has put such great effort into not reporting facts about him that they believe would cause that same 24[18]% not to vote for him – for what the MSM considers illegitimate reasons? If the loudest voices saying “he’s not a Muslim” are the same ones devoted to concealing what they consider facts that cast him in a negative light, maybe it’s the MSM’s own damned fault that so many believe that he is?
I posted this over at Goldstein’s place:
Maybe they suspect that he’s a Muslim because the MSM has put such great effort into not reporting facts about him that they believe would cause that same 24[18]% not to vote for him – for what the MSM considers illegitimate reasons? If the loudest voices saying “he’s not a Muslim” are the same ones devoted to concealing what they consider facts that cast him in a negative light, maybe it’s the MSM’s own damned fault that so many believe that he is?
[…] 20, 2010 by jadedlibertarian| Leave a comment Over at The Other McCain I came across this posting and couldn’t help notice the polls indicating the importance of a politician’s religion… I have to ask myself why? As the polls state, people assume that religion makes one more […]
Obama still tingles my leg.
Obama still tingles my leg.
Young Four Eyes sound amazingly like gigi. I think I’ll scroll over his posts from now on too.
Young Four Eyes sound amazingly like gigi. I think I’ll scroll over his posts from now on too.
“I think I’ll scroll over his posts from now on too.”
Ah, classic Conservatism.
Avoid anything contrary to your a priori beliefs.
Worse yet, avoid answering the questions asked.
I don’t blame you. You spend so much time talking out of your ass that you couldn’t ask your anus to back it all up.
“I think I’ll scroll over his posts from now on too.”
Ah, classic Conservatism.
Avoid anything contrary to your a priori beliefs.
Worse yet, avoid answering the questions asked.
I don’t blame you. You spend so much time talking out of your ass that you couldn’t ask your anus to back it all up.
4eyes … so your response to someone saying they will scroll past you is an ad hom attack …
wow, kind of touchy … and it really makes people want to “answer your questions” …
oh, he did say that folks will cling to their religion and their guns … and he wasn’t talking about Muslims … and you know it …
so am I talking out my ass ?
4eyes … so your response to someone saying they will scroll past you is an ad hom attack …
wow, kind of touchy … and it really makes people want to “answer your questions” …
oh, he did say that folks will cling to their religion and their guns … and he wasn’t talking about Muslims … and you know it …
so am I talking out my ass ?
heh 4eyes …
how about one comment from you without using the “conservatard” label or an ad hom attack …
one logical response with citations (i.e links) to bolster your point …
come on, YES YOU CAN …
heh 4eyes …
how about one comment from you without using the “conservatard” label or an ad hom attack …
one logical response with citations (i.e links) to bolster your point …
come on, YES YOU CAN …
Accomplished as Mr. 4eyes’ anus may be relative to those who agree with Stacy and regularly comment, I must take issue with his, er, “position.”
I put it to you Mr. 4eyes, Sir – has your Golden Urkel ever stated exactly when he ceased being a secret Muslim?
Accomplished as Mr. 4eyes’ anus may be relative to those who agree with Stacy and regularly comment, I must take issue with his, er, “position.”
I put it to you Mr. 4eyes, Sir – has your Golden Urkel ever stated exactly when he ceased being a secret Muslim?
[…] Well, kinda. Da Tech Guy’s habit of watching Morning Joe on MSNBC, to get a daily read on what liberals are thinking, is a habit I’ve started to adopt. It’s interesting to watch the Obama-centric worldview in action. […]
[…] a firm system of morality — a bedrock sense of right and wrong … Read this article: The Obama Obsession : The Other McCain Comments […]
“oh, he did say that folks will cling to their religion and their guns … and he wasn’t talking about Muslims … and you know it …”
Yes, folks will cling to their religions, NOT “Christians” will cling to their religions.But forgive me for asking for some accuracy.
Speaking of touchy, funny how you bitter clingers took this comment as a personal attack against you. I can’t help but think that folks clinging to their religion and their guns could apply to any religious group.
And yes, you are talking out of your ass.Again. But what should I expect from Conservitards?
“I put it to you Mr. 4eyes, Sir – has your Golden Urkel ever stated exactly when he ceased being a secret Muslim?”
Alec Lameass, I put it to you, madam: When was he ever a secret Muslim in the first place?
It’s great to see how ignorant you people are of your own insanity…
“oh, he did say that folks will cling to their religion and their guns … and he wasn’t talking about Muslims … and you know it …”
Yes, folks will cling to their religions, NOT “Christians” will cling to their religions.But forgive me for asking for some accuracy.
Speaking of touchy, funny how you bitter clingers took this comment as a personal attack against you. I can’t help but think that folks clinging to their religion and their guns could apply to any religious group.
And yes, you are talking out of your ass.Again. But what should I expect from Conservitards?
“I put it to you Mr. 4eyes, Sir – has your Golden Urkel ever stated exactly when he ceased being a secret Muslim?”
Alec Lameass, I put it to you, madam: When was he ever a secret Muslim in the first place?
It’s great to see how ignorant you people are of your own insanity…
One would suspect that he first became a secret Muslim the moment he began concealing his adherence to Islam, rather than practicing openly. Can you think of any other time when this could have been so?
One would suspect that he first became a secret Muslim the moment he began concealing his adherence to Islam, rather than practicing openly. Can you think of any other time when this could have been so?
Alec, seriously. You should go get that congenital stupidity checked out before you hurt yourself. Are you allowed to drive?
Let’s pick apart your half-brained response:
“One would suspect that he first became a secret Muslim the moment he began concealing his adherence to Islam”
Yes, one would suspect if one chose to be suspicious,meaning that your belief system is predicated on your suspicions instead of your findings. You’ve chosen to suspect that he’s a secret Muslim because, well, it makes you feel better at night. Your line of reasoning is as crooked as Nixon.
That you insist that he began concealing his adherence to Islam is a sad example of your ideological enslavement, as you’ve chosen to make a point based on a myth rather than a fact.
I ask you, can you practice openly something that you are not?
Of course not.It would be like asking you to practice some intellectual honesty when you are neither honest nor intellectual…
But hey, if you want your political philosophy to revolve around rumors and innuendo, well that just makes it easier for us to slice and dice you…
Alec, seriously. You should go get that congenital stupidity checked out before you hurt yourself. Are you allowed to drive?
Let’s pick apart your half-brained response:
“One would suspect that he first became a secret Muslim the moment he began concealing his adherence to Islam”
Yes, one would suspect if one chose to be suspicious,meaning that your belief system is predicated on your suspicions instead of your findings. You’ve chosen to suspect that he’s a secret Muslim because, well, it makes you feel better at night. Your line of reasoning is as crooked as Nixon.
That you insist that he began concealing his adherence to Islam is a sad example of your ideological enslavement, as you’ve chosen to make a point based on a myth rather than a fact.
I ask you, can you practice openly something that you are not?
Of course not.It would be like asking you to practice some intellectual honesty when you are neither honest nor intellectual…
But hey, if you want your political philosophy to revolve around rumors and innuendo, well that just makes it easier for us to slice and dice you…
Only stupid people waste their breath over such things.
For instance, roughly 30% of Americans believe in astrology or ESP or that space aliens visit the Earth. An even higher percentage is convinced there was a government conspiracy and cover-up of the JFK assassination.
35% of Democrats in 2004 were “unsure” whether or not Bush knew in advance of the 9/11 attacks.
Idiots.