one horn.

I had a very interesting conversation with a friend last night—and I’m not going to name any names, since that’s besides the point; but I wished to debunk a few rumors surrounding President Barack Obama’s religion and citizenship.  Several of you (yes, several) still, to this day, seem to think that our President is both a Muslim and from Kenya.  I can personally assure you that it’s untrue; and I completely blame the United States media; fueled by several Republican senators for doubting the legitimacy of his documented United States Birth Certificate; and for falsely claiming that he is not Christian and a Muslim—which was nothing more but a ridiculous attempt to demonize the Muslim faith by, yes, Republicans.  (pardon me for making this partisan; but it absolutely is.)

Normally, I let stupid claims like this go; especially when they’re not backed up by any facts—and usually the result of some right-wing blogger’s mouth, or y’know…an idiot reporter that’s reading a teleprompter, but I felt a little compelled to speak up.  So here goes nothing—excuse my sloppiness, I’m in between classes and I’m typing a mile a minute.  I did do a few hours of research and carefully read each and every source…I encourage some of you to do the same, if need be.

First let’s go over some statistics.

• Newsweek found that the majority (52%) of GOP believes that the President “sympathizes with the goals of Islamic fundamentalists who want to impose Islamic law around the world”; with 14% of Republicans saying that it was “definitely true” that Obama sympathized with the fundamentalists and wanted to impose Islamic law across the globe.  (source)
• FOXNews (via the pewforum) found that 18% of Americans believe that our President is Muslim.  There are ~310,132,396 people in the USA, that equates to over 55,000,000 Americans and counting. (source)
• Even more Americans (roughly 25%) believe that our President isn’t American; with 16% saying he ‘probably’ wasn’t born in this country and another 11% saying he was ‘definitely’ not. (source)

This was an e-mail from one of the culprits that led to various rumors in the blogosphere.  It even attracted—you guessed it, media coverage:

Who is Barack Obama?

Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHEIST from Wichita, Kansas. Obama’s parents met at the University of Hawaii.

When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya. His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia. When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia. Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta. He also spent two years in a Catholic school.

Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, “He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school.” Obama’s political handlers are attempting to make it appear that he is not a radical.

Obama’s introduction to Islam came via his father, and this influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son’s education.

Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama’s mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta. Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world. Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran.

Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegiance nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches.

Let us all remain alert concerning Obama’s expected presidential candidacy.

The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States, one of their own!!!!

• I’m not going to even begin to respond to that; because…well, read it.  C’mon now.  If you believe any of this stuff, I am convinced that you’re not only unintelligent, but that you may also share a brain with other like-minded morons.

• Also; various sources (and my friends) also make claim that he [Obama] is concealing is ‘Muslim faith’ and has previously claimed to be Muslim, only before denying it before his candidacy.  Or that his ‘mother even said he was Muslim’.  Yeah; that’s a lie, too.  There is no verifiable or even a legit source of Barack Obama’s mother making any claims that he’s a Muslim.

• Some have also claimed that the picture of Obama’s birth certificate circulating the internet is unverified, and a fake.  It was verified to be real.  And it was not digitally altered; or photoshopped:  (picture 1 | picture 2 | picture 3)  (source)

Full source list:

1. http://nw-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/pdf/1004-ftop.pdf
2. http://pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/Growing-Number-of-Americans-Say-Obama-is-a-Muslim.aspx
3. http://pewforum.org/uploadedFiles/Topics/Issues/Politics_and_Elections/growingnumber-full-report.pdf
4. Goldenberg, Suzzane.  “Candidate Obama Attacks Madrasa Smear”  | The Guardian.  26 January 2007
5. http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html
6. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/04/cnn-poll-quarter-doubt-president-was-born-in-u-s/
7. Savage, David G. (2008-12-08). “Fast facts on Barack Obama citizenship lawsuits”
8. United States Department of State. “Application for a U.S. Passport.” Accessed 20 Aug. 2008.
9. State of Hawaii Department of Health. Request for Certified Copy of Birth Record.” Accessed 20 Aug. 2008.
10. The Associated Press. State declares Obama birth certificate genuine” 31 Oct 2008.