Comments on: One in five Americans think Obama is a Muslim http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 13:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: hassenpfeffer http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863744 hassenpfeffer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863744 What invictus said. I refuse to vote for any future candidates who aren't FSM and/or Tarvuists. What invictus said. I refuse to vote for any future candidates who aren’t FSM and/or Tarvuists.

]]> By: Kurt E. http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-864000 Kurt E. Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-864000 Like Hitler thought Roosevelt was a jew, listent to his war declaration to the United States. The same paranoia that led to made Americans believe Saddam and Ussama were in kahoots. The jewish world conspiracy is replaced by an islamic one. Just listen to persons like Col. West who reminds Americans of 9/11 1697. The Communists are gone, you don't believe in UFO invasion but the muslim believers are bent to invade the U.S. and introduce their sharia law. U.S. citizens have to get used to fear and accept internet surveillance. Like Hitler thought Roosevelt was a jew, listent to his war declaration to the United States. The same paranoia that led to made Americans believe Saddam and Ussama were in kahoots. The jewish world conspiracy is replaced by an islamic one. Just listen to persons like Col. West who reminds Americans of 9/11 1697. The Communists are gone, you don’t believe in UFO invasion but the muslim believers are bent to invade the U.S. and introduce their sharia law. U.S. citizens have to get used to fear and accept internet surveillance.

]]> By: grimc http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-864512 grimc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-864512 What a fantastic source you've found: <blockquote>Israel Today is a Jerusalem-based news agency providing a <b>biblical and objective perspective on local news.</b></blockquote> Yes, the Bible: The very definition of objectivity. Keep looking, though. Wanna borrow my dowsing rod? What a fantastic source you’ve found:

Israel Today is a Jerusalem-based news agency providing a biblical and objective perspective on local news.

Yes, the Bible: The very definition of objectivity. Keep looking, though. Wanna borrow my dowsing rod?

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-864003 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-864003 Trinity United Church of Christ? Sounds like a front for <em>even more secret Muslims</em> to me! Trinity United Church of Christ? Sounds like a front for even more secret Muslims to me!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-864771 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-864771 It's really close to 18 in 100. It’s really close to 18 in 100.

]]> By: ROSSINDETROIT http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863748 ROSSINDETROIT Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863748 It doesn't surprise me that a wrong, stupid idea has become ingrained in the consciousness of a significant number of people. Two reasons: 1) Conflict drives volume, so conventional commercial media have little motivation to correct misunderstandings about issues that make people upset. 2) The concept of credible news media is breaking down. Plenty of people don't go to the trouble to verify the honesty of their 'news' sources, so the likes of Drudge can get away with the most audacious lies. It doesn’t surprise me that a wrong, stupid idea has become ingrained in the consciousness of a significant number of people. Two reasons: 1) Conflict drives volume, so conventional commercial media have little motivation to correct misunderstandings about issues that make people upset. 2) The concept of credible news media is breaking down. Plenty of people don’t go to the trouble to verify the honesty of their ‘news’ sources, so the likes of Drudge can get away with the most audacious lies.

]]> By: mdh http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-864004 mdh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-864004 Personally, I look at his POLICIES. I could care if he thinks we're all aliens, or believes in the divinity of christ, or prays to an meteorite 5 times a day, or meditates, or loves cows, or whatever. drawing lines about where you disagree with someone beyond their job description is purest ad hominem. Taking the fight "to the man" is whay you do when you can't really argue with the actions the man takes. POLICIES. His are good. Bigotry, yours is bad. Personally, I look at his POLICIES.

I could care if he thinks we’re all aliens, or believes in the divinity of christ, or prays to an meteorite 5 times a day, or meditates, or loves cows, or whatever.

drawing lines about where you disagree with someone beyond their job description is purest ad hominem.

Taking the fight “to the man” is whay you do when you can’t really argue with the actions the man takes.

POLICIES. His are good.

Bigotry, yours is bad.

]]> By: ROSSINDETROIT http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-864005 ROSSINDETROIT Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-864005 G. W. Bush, to his credit, actually resisted painting all Muslims as enemies and Islam as responsible for 9/11. The Imam involved in the 51 Park project was actually consulted by the White House under Bush because he's considered an enlightened moderate Muslim. It's only since the 2008 election that the GOP has gone out of its way to frighten its base by showing them enemies everywhere. Unfortunately, for a lot of people this works. G. W. Bush, to his credit, actually resisted painting all Muslims as enemies and Islam as responsible for 9/11. The Imam involved in the 51 Park project was actually consulted by the White House under Bush because he’s considered an enlightened moderate Muslim. It’s only since the 2008 election that the GOP has gone out of its way to frighten its base by showing them enemies everywhere. Unfortunately, for a lot of people this works.

]]> By: Sergio http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863750 Sergio Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863750 We shouldn't watch Fox News any more We shouldn’t watch Fox News any more

]]> By: Talia http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863751 Talia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863751 I am vaguely curious how many of the respondents said "muslim" just to be sarcastic/smartasses. Cause you know some did. I am vaguely curious how many of the respondents said “muslim” just to be sarcastic/smartasses.

Cause you know some did.

]]> By: Sergio http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863753 Sergio Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863753 US is frightening. US is frightening.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-864521 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-864521 Even if we accept your assertions at face value why should we be concerned if the President of the United States (be he Democrat or Republican) can't make time to hang out with a bunch of Boy Scouts? I was in 4-H but it never bothered me that I didn't get to meet the Secretary of Agriculture. Even if we accept your assertions at face value why should we be concerned if the President of the United States (be he Democrat or Republican) can’t make time to hang out with a bunch of Boy Scouts?

I was in 4-H but it never bothered me that I didn’t get to meet the Secretary of Agriculture.

]]> By: classic01 http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863754 classic01 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863754 From these 18%, all of them only watch FoxNews and think that main stream media (which is mostly owned by republican supporters) is left biased or isn't conservative enough. No big surprise here. From these 18%, all of them only watch FoxNews and think that main stream media (which is mostly owned by republican supporters) is left biased or isn’t conservative enough. No big surprise here.

]]> By: aileinduinn http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-864778 aileinduinn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-864778 I find all of the wild assumptions that the believers like to propagate hilarious. I recently asked such an individual, a FoxFanboy coworker, "So what you're telling me is that your guys misrepresented the country, mishandled the economy, and sucked so hard at governance, that the American people saw a black power, racist, Muslim, socialist, of questionable birth as a more appealing option? Well then well done. That's on you." I find all of the wild assumptions that the believers like to propagate hilarious.

I recently asked such an individual, a FoxFanboy coworker, “So what you’re telling me is that your guys misrepresented the country, mishandled the economy, and sucked so hard at governance, that the American people saw a black power, racist, Muslim, socialist, of questionable birth as a more appealing option? Well then well done. That’s on you.”

]]> By: Charlotte Corday http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863755 Charlotte Corday Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863755 If he WAS a Muslim, would anyone here think the less of him? I would not. If he WAS a Muslim, would anyone here think the less of him? I would not.

]]> By: Phlip http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-864011 Phlip Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-864011 The book Mein Kampf covers this, under "The Big Lie". You pick a lie that works like the "viral media" post here recently. A lie that's easy to remember, hard to refute logically, and appeals to stupidity and fear. Done right, anyone attempting to contradict the lie simply reinforces the beliefs of the True Believers. Like the "denialists" posts here, the True Believers feel they are heroically opposing a corrupt elite. That stimulates a dopamine response in their brains. You repeat the Big Lie until even your opposition repeats it back to you. CNN, this morning, has stories about the Ground Zero Mosque. The stories were about "whether the mosque should be built". The were NOT about "who is telling everyone that our Muslim president is trying to build a Victory Mosque ON Ground Zero?" That's the real story, but of course CNN simply maintains the Big Lie, along with the rest of the media. And, ultimately, you cannot use logic to talk someone out of a position they did not use logic to adopt. The book Mein Kampf covers this, under “The Big Lie”. You pick a lie that works like the “viral media” post here recently. A lie that’s easy to remember, hard to refute logically, and appeals to stupidity and fear.

Done right, anyone attempting to contradict the lie simply reinforces the beliefs of the True Believers. Like the “denialists” posts here, the True Believers feel they are heroically opposing a corrupt elite. That stimulates a dopamine response in their brains.

You repeat the Big Lie until even your opposition repeats it back to you. CNN, this morning, has stories about the Ground Zero Mosque. The stories were about “whether the mosque should be built”. The were NOT about “who is telling everyone that our Muslim president is trying to build a Victory Mosque ON Ground Zero?” That’s the real story, but of course CNN simply maintains the Big Lie, along with the rest of the media.

And, ultimately, you cannot use logic to talk someone out of a position they did not use logic to adopt.

]]> By: Felton http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863758 Felton Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863758 Hear, hear! I'd like to think the poll had a "don't care" option, and that's why only 1 in 3 said they believed he was Christian, but "don't know" isn't the same thing. Hear, hear! I’d like to think the poll had a “don’t care” option, and that’s why only 1 in 3 said they believed he was Christian, but “don’t know” isn’t the same thing.

]]> By: Rob Beschizza http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863759 Rob Beschizza Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863759 That headline was too long. That headline was too long.

]]> By: starfish and coffee http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863760 starfish and coffee Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863760 Question from a European; can this be understood as an indicator that many of the respondents are unsure of what a Muslim really is? Unless he attends Mosque in secret, only pretends to eat during ramadan etc, he doesn't seem like a very devout Muslim anyhow. I am just wondering if the respondents understand Muslim to be an ethnicity or political orientation or something. Question from a European; can this be understood as an indicator that many of the respondents are unsure of what a Muslim really is?
Unless he attends Mosque in secret, only pretends to eat during ramadan etc, he doesn’t seem like a very devout Muslim anyhow.
I am just wondering if the respondents understand Muslim to be an ethnicity or political orientation or something.

]]> By: Felton http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863761 Felton Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863761 Me neither. I'd actually be happy that we finally broke the "Christians only" presidential club. Me neither. I’d actually be happy that we finally broke the “Christians only” presidential club.

]]> By: Marshall http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863763 Marshall Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863763 Based on the "just us guys" conversations that I hear in my gym's locker room, every male over 60 believes that Obama is a Muslim who is systematically dismantling America one right at a time. I heard a lot of crazy talk from my "I believe anything I read in an Email" lefty friends about George Bush, but it pales in comparison to the insane banter that I hear about Obama. Based on the “just us guys” conversations that I hear in my gym’s locker room, every male over 60 believes that Obama is a Muslim who is systematically dismantling America one right at a time. I heard a lot of crazy talk from my “I believe anything I read in an Email” lefty friends about George Bush, but it pales in comparison to the insane banter that I hear about Obama.

]]> By: millrick http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863765 millrick Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863765 the ability of the american electorate to delude themselves never ceases to amaze me... JFK had a similar problem convincing voters that he wasn't a pawn of the pope http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkhoustonministers.html Obama isn't facing a unique situation.... no wait, he is. it's unique because Obama's the first black president ...the ability of the american electorate to despise anything unfamiliar never ceases to amaze me... the ability of the american electorate to delude themselves never ceases to amaze me…

JFK had a similar problem convincing voters that he wasn’t a pawn of the pope
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkhoustonministers.html

Obama isn’t facing a unique situation….
no wait, he is. it’s unique because Obama’s the first black president

…the ability of the american electorate to despise anything unfamiliar never ceases to amaze me…

]]> By: Phlip http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-864022 Phlip Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-864022 That is the GOP (and their Saudi puppeteers). They are magnanimous in victory and vicious in defeat. That is the GOP (and their Saudi puppeteers). They are magnanimous in victory and vicious in defeat.

]]> By: millrick http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863769 millrick Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863769 * ...the ability of the american electorate to despise anything or anyone unfamiliar to them never ceases to amaze me... * there. i fixed it * …the ability of the american electorate to despise anything or anyone unfamiliar to them never ceases to amaze me… *

there. i fixed it

]]> By: Thac0 http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863770 Thac0 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863770 Exactly! Its shouldn't even matter. I;d be more than fine if he was. Exactly! Its shouldn’t even matter. I;d be more than fine if he was.

]]> By: ToMajorTom http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863772 ToMajorTom Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863772 Right-wing tactic, used with pretty good success for a couple of decades: repeat a lie until it becomes the truth for a percentage of voters. Not to imply that the left-wing doesn't occasionally do the same thing, but the right-wing has perfected this method to the point where it has become their only campaign strategy. Right-wing tactic, used with pretty good success for a couple of decades: repeat a lie until it becomes the truth for a percentage of voters.

Not to imply that the left-wing doesn’t occasionally do the same thing, but the right-wing has perfected this method to the point where it has become their only campaign strategy.

]]> By: mindysan33 http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863773 mindysan33 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863773 Dwindling -- I think it's 2 things - his name, and the fact that his father was from a Muslim family/community in Kenya (though I think BO Sr. was himself an atheist). Add to that that Obama spent time in a Muslim majority country as a kid, too. Charlotte Corday @ 13 -- I doesn't matter much to me either, but as you can tell from some of the recent rhetoric about the Cordoba cultural center, some do care because (thanks to Bernard Lewis and Samuel P Huntington) they think we are in a "clash of civilizations" with the "Islamic world." Lack of knowledge about the religion and those who practice it, along with Fox News and conservative talk radio hasn't been helping. Dwindling — I think it’s 2 things – his name, and the fact that his father was from a Muslim family/community in Kenya (though I think BO Sr. was himself an atheist). Add to that that Obama spent time in a Muslim majority country as a kid, too.

Charlotte Corday @ 13 — I doesn’t matter much to me either, but as you can tell from some of the recent rhetoric about the Cordoba cultural center, some do care because (thanks to Bernard Lewis and Samuel P Huntington) they think we are in a “clash of civilizations” with the “Islamic world.” Lack of knowledge about the religion and those who practice it, along with Fox News and conservative talk radio hasn’t been helping.

]]> By: skysky http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-863774 skysky Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-863774 I'm kind of surprised that the "Obama is a secret atheist" never really picked up steam; it was sort-of news around the time Obama was inaugurated because he chose not to say a prayer once or something. Never heard about it after that. I guess being a Muslim is more sinister to these people? Kind of hard to believe. I think it would be kind of awesome if like in 20 years he comes out as an atheist but I won't be holding my breath. I’m kind of surprised that the “Obama is a secret atheist” never really picked up steam; it was sort-of news around the time Obama was inaugurated because he chose not to say a prayer once or something. Never heard about it after that. I guess being a Muslim is more sinister to these people? Kind of hard to believe.

I think it would be kind of awesome if like in 20 years he comes out as an atheist but I won’t be holding my breath.

]]> By: beerose http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-864544 beerose Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-864544 Yup. That was a crappy, not credible, source. Out. Yup. That was a crappy, not credible, source.
Out.

]]> By: beerose http://boingboing.net/2010/08/19/one-in-five-american.html#comment-864290 beerose Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-864290 So according to islamic law or thought, he was born a muslim and is now an apostate. Got it. So according to islamic law or thought, he was born a muslim and is now an apostate. Got it.

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