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Is the feeling of betrayal justified ?

NY TIMES atricle: Muslims in the U.S. feel “betrayed” by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who spent his childhood years in Muslim Indonesia and is still thought by some Americans to be a Muslim himself. Obama has visited churches and synagogues during his campaign, but has not yet appeared at a single mosque, according to The New York Times. Muslim and Arab-American groups have repeatedly tried to arrange meetings with the candidate, but those invitations have been spurned — while Obama has met with their Christian and Jewish counterparts. “In interviews, Muslim political and civic leaders said they understood that their support for Mr. Obama could be a problem for him at a time when some Americans are deeply suspicious of Muslims,” The Times reports. “Yet those leaders nonetheless expressed disappointment and even anger at the distance that Mr. Obama has kept from them.” Two Muslim women wearing head scarves were barred by Obama campaign volunteers from appearing behind the candidate at a recent rally in Detroit. Obama later phoned the women to apologize. “The community feels betrayed,” declared Safiya Ghori, government relations director in the Washington office of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Some Muslims are reportedly dismayed by Obama’s forceful denials of rumors that he is secretly a Muslim. On his Web site he calls the claim that he is a Muslim a “smear.” Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the country’s first Muslim congressman and an early Obama supporter, told The Times: “A lot of us are waiting for him to say that there’s nothing wrong with being a Muslim.” Obama’s alienation from the Muslim community could cost him in key states where there are sizable populations of Muslims, including Florida, Ohio, and Michigan - Is the feeling of betrayal justified ?

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Answer #1

Oh amblessed the article might be from the NY Times… but we all know you like to plant little seeds…

Answer #2

How can it be called a betrayal when Obama has never claimed he was the “best choice for Muslim America” in the first place?

Answer #3

no not really… I wouldnt call it betrayal… he was being careful. the US has made muslims look like monsters and terrorists so he being a muslim has to be careful. he wants to be president after all… and I wouldnt want to loose votes because some rednecks and hillbillies dont like muslims… all in all his supporters should support him to the end, muslim or not he still is a human being…

Answer #4

What business does any presidential candidate have addressing religious groups?

The hypocricy is less that he’s singled out Muslims because they are a political liability, and more that he’s pandering to religious groups at all, while running for an office in which he will have to swear to uphold the 1st Amendment.

Answer #5

I hate this business of only being able to rate one answer. I liked the answers from both toadaly and mjax…

Answer #6

The louder the howl, the closer to the bullseye.

Answer #7

Yes, they are justified in feeling betrayed. Obama is caught between a rock and a hard place. And the media only reinforces it with articles like this. The conservatives are waiting with baited breath to get those pictures of him at a mosque. Unfortunately the anti-muslim sentiment in this country is being fanned by conservatives for their political purposes. And amblessed has no problem doing his own fanning of those hate filled flames.

I think he should go to a mosque, regardless of the political implications.

Answer #8

Again, is it me or the NY TIMES that planted this little seed of truth/untruth in the public arena - believe me, I have no influence, nor would I desire to have any influence there - it’s a legitimate question posted in the correct ‘politics’ category.

Answer #9

If you’ll take a moment to notice, it’s a NY TIMES article - any problems wth it should be addressed to them…Take care !!

Answer #10

He’s not even Muslim, people. Jeez, amblessed, how brainwashed can you get?

“In Indonesia, I’d spent 2 years at a Muslim school, 2 years at a Catholic school. “ -Barack Obama

So does that mean he’s Muslim or Christian?

You choose to say he’s Muslim. A Muslim might choose to say he’s Christian.

Why not listen to what HE says?