How many Americans still think Obama is a Muslim? 10%? 20% I don’t know. But that view is well-entrenched in the tea party crowd. The whispers continue: “He was born in Kenya;” “He’s a Muslim;” “He’s not Christian.” It is all made to sound as if he is some sort of mole, planted in our midst, and ready to turn the US into a caliphate at the first opportunity.
The great irony here is, of course, that Obama also got punched in the face repeatedly for his long-standing association with the United Church of Christ parish pastored by Jeremiah Wright. Politics is not a fair environment, but to be blasted simultaneously for being a Muslim and a member of Jeremiah Wright’s church, well, that’s pretty tough luck, that is.
None of that commentary so far represents any new thoughts, of course. Here’s what’s new in my mind. Two of the most prominent and influential conservatives are Mitt Romney and Glenn Beck. Both Mormons. Poor Obama has to fend off patently false rumors of being un-Christian and Muslim; but somehow the religion these guys truly do practice isn’t given a passing thought. Where is the outrage? Where is the suspicion? Where is the vehement “You’re not a Christian” denunciation of these two?
Please don’t think I hate Mormons. I think neither Romney nor Beck should have to listen to a single word against them for their chosen faith. I just have to observe the bitter irony that Obama continues to have to deal with this false issue, while not a peep is made about the very real religious affiliations of Beck and Romney.
How can this not be a double-standard? And how can this hypocrisy be explained? Strange times.
From the Center Square 
September 22, 2009 at 6:14 am
Frankly this seems absurd. You say, “Please don’t think I hate Mormons.” Your entire last paragraph mitigates against that paragraph’s opening sentence. Because there’s a band of idiots jumping all over perceived issues with Obama’s religious views, you think it’s hypocrisy that there’s not another band of idiots to jump all over Romney and Beck? Perhaps it simply isn’t hypocrisy, perhaps it’s because there isn’t an equally idotic band of chuckleheads willing to debase themselves in similar fashion.
But, in the interest of fairness, the media did jump all over Romney concerning his Mormonism during his Presidential bid in the primaries.
Cheers,
Steven
September 22, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I suppose my sarcasm doesn’t always come through well in print.
My real point was that the absence of religious attacks on Romney and Beck is the way things should be. Even during the campaign, Romney’s faith was, appropriately, a non-issue.
But suppose the left had two thought leaders with the slightly off-mainstream, slightly off-Judeo Christian, sometimes misunderstood faith that is Mormonism. I have no doubt there would be a veritable howl of attacks and innuendo and virulent aspersions from some on the far-right.
You are right that there isn’t a comparable idiotic band of chuckleheads on the left. But there IS a double-standard on the right.
September 22, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I think there is a segment of the republican party-the evangelical side- that would become very vocal if it ever looked like Romney was close to getting the nomination. I really don’t think that part of the republican party would support him. Rigt now they don’t really need to say anything because he doesn’t appear to be the front runner. The Christian Huckabee seems to be winning frontrunner polls at the moment, ergo “the scary mormon” (sacrcasm- the pained Obama as a scary muslim) is not a threat. Good Post.
http://www.whatwouldjaneaddamsdo.wordpress.com
September 22, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I’m stunned you think Romney hasn’t had to deal with people questioning his religion. Throughout his career he’s been bashed on it by those on the left such as Ted K and on the right Huckabee & co. I will give you this, Romney takes hits on his religion more from the same side Obama does-the right.
September 22, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I don’t really get your point in this one. First of all, I really don’t think there are that many people who still think he’s a Muslim. I don’t hear that or read it on the blogs, etc. all that often. Perhaps the fascination with the Muslim possibility stems from the current war on terrorism, who knows, but I don’t get your connection with the Mormon thought leaders. Any lack of criticism of their religion doesn’t add or detract merit from the (very small) group who suspects that Obama is Muslim. Also, note that Harry Reid is Mormon too and there isn’t a significant “howl of attacks and innuendo and virulent aspersions” so I don’t think your accusation of a double standard is correct.
September 22, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Actually, I would argue that there are chuckleheads on both the left and the right. While Bush was president the right chuckleheads called the left unAmerican and unpatriotic for thier dissent concerning the war. Only a small minority on the right stuck up for the left during these cheap shots. Today, you have people like Pelosi calling those on the right unAmerican for thier dissent concerning healthcare – and nary a peep from those on the left who where so incensed for PRECISELY the same sort of nonsense.
I would also contend that perhaps president Obama may have had it right – that the most strident on both sides are getting way too much attention, and that it may in fact be “our” fault for giving them so many lines of print and air play.
There’s plenty of blame to go around for being foolish in any debate, and being either too blindly loyal to notice or so outrageously disingenuous to mislead…
Sometimes even the chuckleheads have something worthwhile to say – why, I even listen to MSNBC’s prime time chucklehead Keith Olberman on occassion 😉
Thanks very much for engaging in the conversation! Stay well, and the best of dreams.
Cheers,
Steven
September 22, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Well, you’ve all got me thinking. Maybe I have not thought through this well enough to express it.
I still kind of think there have been a virulence and a savageness — not to mention the blithe willingness to believe in a falsehood — on the part of the “Obama is a Muslim” attacks that were absent in whatever hits Romney took in the 2008 campaign.
And, regarding those who will lay down their heads tonight, convinced to their core that Obama is a Muslim ready to betray this country: I can’t help but wonder why they would pathologically misappropriate religion regarding Obama, but not do so with their own thought leaders.
I need to think more on this one. Thanks to you all for the thought-provoking discussion.
September 22, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Oh I agree Obama was painted as a Muslim to try to paint him as somewhere as “other” or a closet terrorist. I remember that picture that was going around with Obama at a Muslim school (madrassa? cant remember if that what it is called) and McCain in his flight uniform with the caption “this is what they were doing when they were young”. So yes I do think advesaries used religion to scare people about Obama. But-I think the same would’ve and will happen to Romney IF it looks like he could win the nomination. ESPECIALLY, if its between him and Huckabee or Romney vs. Palin-then I think you will see Romney’s religion used against him like Obama. Sad really because it shouldn’t matter what someone’s religious beliefs are.
Take care
http://www.whatwouldjaneaddamsdo.wordpress.com
September 22, 2009 at 10:36 pm
That’s an interesting take on it, ‘Jane Addams.’ Maybe there’s no outcry because Romney didn’t progress far enough in the campaign. And Beck is just a talk show host. Good thought.
September 24, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Maybe it’s like this, if Obama were a Muslim and was hiding it then it becomes a fascinating conspiracy. Couple this with the stereotype that Muslim = terrorist and it just makes it that much more interesting and worth spreading. On the other hand, Romney is openly Mormon, there’s no question about it so the conspiracy element isn’t there. While some consider Mormons weird or whatever it isn’t perceived as being as frightening as a Muslim/terrorist (please note that I don’t consider those synonymous, I’m just identifying a common, albeit wrong, stereotype).
Also, I think Romney got his fair share of prejudice while he was really in the running. Now though, Romney and Beck aren’t that big of a threat to the left so we don’t hear a ton of criticism (I know, this is arguable but my point is that they are not anywhere near being president or even having real political power). Lastly, most people are not fair and logical. Neither those on the right or left are balanced and objective in their critique and analysis of those they support and those they don’t. Sadly, such is life.
October 9, 2009 at 4:30 am
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June 1, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Beck is not just a hypocrite. Doubt that? Check out The Glenn Beck Review today.