January 24, 2007
Obama Versus Fox News
As Mark Mellman would say, there are three ways to interpret a memo distributed to reporters this a.m. from Sen. Barack Obama's staff about the libelous claim that he attended a madrassa as a young man.
1. The story still has legs, and Obama's staff is concerned that the madrassa rumor will never be fully put to bed unless it's tucked under the covers by Obama himself. Obama, we're told, was asked about the madrassa story at least six times yesterday. One reporter wasn't aware that CNN had proven the rumor false.
2. They're angling for a hit off the Obama versus Fox News match-up. The memo takes Steve Doocy and John Gibson to task for repeating the charges and documents how CNN (Fox competitor!) thoroughly debunked the story. Bashing Fox -- and in this case, Fox warrants a bit of bashing -- is like throwing a log in a heated fire. Compare this to Sen. John McCain's embrace of MoveOn.org's ads against him. The more liberals attack McCain, the more conservative he seems.
3. Obama will not be swiftboated. Period.
Explanations 1 and 3 are more convincing to us than explanation 2, but the side effects will be fun to watch.
From the memo:
To be clear, Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim, and is a committed Christian who attends the United Church of Christ in Chicago. Furthermore, the Indonesian school Obama attended in Jakarta is a public school that is not and never has been a Madrassa. These malicious, irresponsible charges are precisely the kind of politics the American people have grown tired of, and that Senator Obama is trying to change by focusing on bringing people together to solve our common problems.
Attached to the memo was a letter signed by prominent progressive clerics to congregations across the country. "We are writing to deplore this despicable tactic and set the record straight. We have had enough of the slash and burn politics calculated to divide us as children of God," the letter states. It's signed by the presidents of the United Church of Christ, the Interfaith Alliance, the exec. dir of the Muslim Public Affairs council, and several prominent liberal rabbis.
The full memo can be read after the jump.
In the past week, many of you have read a now thoroughly-debunked story by Insight Magazine, owned by the Washington Times, which cites unnamed sources close to a political campaign that claim Senator Obama was enrolled for “at least four years” in an Indonesian “Madrassa”. The article says the “sources” believe the Madrassa was “espousing Wahhabism,” a form of radical Islam.
Insight Magazine published these allegations without a single named source, and without doing any independent reporting to confirm or deny the allegations. Fox News quickly parroted the charges, and Fox and Friends host Steve Doocy went so far as to ask, “Why didn’t anybody ever mention that that man right there was raised — spent the first decade of his life, raised by his Muslim father — as a Muslim and was educated in a Madrassa?”
All of the claims about Senator Obama raised in the Insight Magazine piece were thoroughly debunked by CNN, which, instead of relying on unnamed sources, sent a reporter to Obama’s former school in Jakarta to check the facts. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/22/obama.madrassa/
Video: http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/22/cnn-obama-debunk/
If Doocy or the staff at Fox and Friends had taken to check their facts, or simply made a call to his office, they would have learned that Senator Obama was not educated in a Madrassa, was not raised as a Muslim, and was not raised by his father – an atheist Obama met once in his life before he died.
Later in the day, Fox News host John Gibson again discussed the Insight Magazine story without any attempt to independently confirm the charges.
All of the claims about Senator Obama’s faith and education raised in the Insight Magazine story and repeated on Fox News are false. Senator Obama was raised in a secular household in Indonesia by his stepfather and mother. Obama’s stepfather worked for a U.S. oil company, and sent his stepson to two years of Catholic school, as well as two years of public school. As Obama described it, “Without the money to go to the international school that most expatriate children attended, I went to local Indonesian schools and ran the streets with the children of farmers, servants, tailors, and clerks.” [The Audacity of Hope, p. 274]
To be clear, Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim, and is a committed Christian who attends the United Church of Christ in Chicago. Furthermore, the Indonesian school Obama attended in Jakarta is a public school that is not and never has been a Madrassa.
These malicious, irresponsible charges are precisely the kind of politics the American people have grown tired of, and that Senator Obama is trying to change by focusing on bringing people together to solve our common problems.
Below please find facts and citations rebutting the claims in the Insight Magazine story to help inform your editorial discussions about this issue. Attached also please find a letter from an ecumenical coalition of religious leaders denouncing this brand of negative politics.
CNN Reporter: I've Been to Madrassas in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Obama's Indonesian Elementary School Is Nothing Like That. On January 22, CNN Reporter John Vause reported, "I came here to Barack Obama's elementary school in Jakarta, looking for what some are calling an Islamic Madrassa, like the ones that teach hate and violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan.. I've been to those Madrassas in Pakistan and Wolf, this school is nothing like that." [CNN, Situation Room, 1/22/07]
CNN: Former Students Said It Was A Mixed Public School That Did Not Focus On Religion. CNN's Vause reported, "There are religion classes once a week - most of the 450 students are Muslim, and are taught about Islam…the handful who are Christians, learn that Jesus is the Son of God. The deputy headmaster tells me he's unaware that his school has been labeled an Islamic Madrassa by some in United States, and bristles at the thought." Hardi Priyono, the school's Deputy Headmaster, said, "This is a public school we don't focus on religion…In our daily lives, we try to respect religion but we don't give preferential treatment to." Bandung Winadijanto, a classmate of Obama's, said, "It's not Islamic School, it's general, there is a lot of Christian, Buddhist also Confucian . . . so that's a mixed school." [CNN, Situation Room, 1/22/07]
Indonesian Embassy: Besuki School Attended by Barack Obama "Has Never Been an Islamic Madrasah Type of School." In an informal communication, the Indonesian Embassy stated that "Sekolah Dasar Negeri 04 Besuki in Menteng, Jakarta, Indonesia has always been a public school. It has never been an Islamic madrasah type of school." [Email From Indonesian Embassy, 1/19/07]
CNN Reporter: Obama's School Taught A National Curriculum of Science and Math, Students Were "Neatly Dressed In Uniform," and Teachers Wore Western Style Dress. In front of boys and girls playing in the quad of the school, Vause reported, "In the quadrangle of this elementary school - boys and girls, aged from 6 to 12, neatly dressed in uniform - playing together, just as a young Barack Obama would have done almost 40 years ago." In front of a science class, "Here they're taught science and maths." Vause said, the school, "'Besuki' elementary follows a national curriculum, just like it did in the sixties and seventies…take a close look at Obama's teachers, women and men, all in western style dress." [CNN, Situation Room, 1/22/07]
CNN Reporter: Obama's School Was One of the Wealthiest In Jakarta, Down the Road From the US Ambassador. CNN reporter Vause said, "Basuki is typical of almost all Indonesian public schools - except this is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Jakarta, the US Ambassador lives up the road...and this school is probably better off than most." [CNN, Situation Room, 1/22/07]
Time's Joe Klein: Attacks On Obama's Elementary School Are "Laughable" Given the Moderate Form of Islam Practiced in Indonesia, Especially in Those Days." Time's Joe Klein wrote, "The effort to slime Barack Obama has begun in the slimiest possible way." Describing attacks on Obama's elementary school, Klein wrote, "Now, this is nonsense of course. Obama's stepfather was not a Muslim extremist (among other things, he worked for Shell Oil). Obama attended public school for two years in Indonesia, in addition to the two years he spent in catholic schools--although, as Obama's staff points out, Indonesia is a Muslim country, so the public schools undoubtedly reflect the dominant relgious culture. The notion that the Obama's school was a Wahabi madrasa is laughable, given the moderate form of Islam practiced in Indonesia, especially in those days." [Time Blog, 1/22/07 , http://time-blog.com/swampland/2007/01/disgusting.html]
Main Radical Islamic Movement in Indonesia Crushed in 1962; Obama Attended School There Beginning in 1967. Indonesia's indigenous radical Islamic movement, Darul Islam, was crushed in 1962 by Soeharto's army and because they "failed to gain support from mainstream Muslims." The vast majority of Indonesian Muslims remain tolerant and inclusive, as they have been traditionally described." Barack Obama attended school in Indonesia beginning in 1967. [US-INDO Conference, 2/7/02 ; "Dreams from My Father," 1995]
Militant Madrassas Linked to Taliban Did Not Emerge Until Late 1970s, Early 1980s. Madrasah is the term used to describe an Islamic religious school. However, the type of madrasahs linked to the Taliban did not emerge until the Afghan war against the Soviets. During that war (1979-1989), a new kind of madrasah emerged in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region -- not so much concerned about scholarship as making war on infidels, and financed by Saudi wealth. [PBS Frontline, 10/25/01 ]
Indonesian Islam is "Tolerant, Inclusive, [and] Compatible With Democracy." "Azyumardi Azra, Director of the State Institute for Islamic Studies (IAIN), said it is 'simplistic' to think of Indonesian Islam as the same as Islam in the Middle East. Because of its slow, peaceful penetration over centuries, accommodating to and integrating with local beliefs and customs. The conventional wisdom of Indonesian Islam as tolerant, inclusive and inherently compatible with democracy is valid." [US-INDO Conference, 2/7/02 ]
Posted at 11:05 AM
Comments
Christians must be more careful than anyone else to check and double check accuracy of resource material before passing it on as truth. Thank you for your information that questions the accuracy of a report from "Insight Magazine" that was also broadcast by Fox. Fox should also be more careful.
Don Secrist | 01.15.08 08:59 AM
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If obama is a CHRISTIAN like he wants us to believe he would have changed his name to a typical american name before he got into politics. He didn't so he con plead that he's CHRISTIAN but because he kept his muslim name to keep them on his back cause he's still muslim. You CAN NOT HAVE PEACE with muslims they can't even have amongst themselves proven over their history. If we show yellow buy pulling out you will bring this holy war upon us here in the US with a move toward lots of suicide bombers because we showed fear of muslims which they thrive on.
Kelly O'Neill | 01.17.08 06:31 AM
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Any comment on the statement by MRS OBAMA before the So Carolina Vote..who stated that "Any Black Woman in America that would vote for Hillary Clinton is delusional" I see that as a personally charged racial slur in every sense of the word discrimination. Some how tho, the
press has chosen not to comment on her statement,
yet it picks up every nano bit of what MR CLINTON
has stated , which is politically directed and not personally connected to racism.
Brenda | 01.28.08 03:02 PM
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CONFLICT IN ABOVE ARTICLE:
"AS OBAMA DESCRIBED IT, "WITHOUT THE MONEY TO GO TO THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL THAT MOST EXPATRIATE CHILDREN ATTENDED, I WENT TO LOCAL INDONESIAN SCHOOLS AND RAN THE STREETS WITH CHILDREN OF FARMERS, SERVANTS, TAILORS AND CLERKS.:
READING FURTHER:CNN REPORTER VAUSE:
"OBAMA'S SCHOOL WAS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST IN JAKARTA, DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE U.S. AMBASSADOR"
WHAT'S THE TRUTH. PEOPLE?
DOT | 02.05.08 09:23 AM
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I must agree on the Muslim comments. We are talking about the highest office in the country when running for The White House and anyone even raised close to Muslims or in "their ways" to be in the oval office after 911 is a slap in the face to those who died that day!!! Now of course people are people and it is not personal belief that is bad but people can be bad in general, but remember 911.
JV | 02.11.08 04:32 PM
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I am concerned about any connection with the muslim factor. Now I understand when he makes statement about people referring to his kindegarden - thereby attemting to brush it off. Why, not only a black man, but a black muslin background. It appears that he became a Christian after the slum lord discovered him - I wish someone would follow that money and mentorship. His church by it's own web sight appears to be black radical first with and an African focus and black dominance washed in black pride. Why isn't he under a magnifying glass so we know everything about him the good, the bad, the ugly - and then let the people deside. This feeding the questions to him and his wife by the media - to make him appear - to be the next great hope only feeds the fear(what is the real story behind Obama). We are ready for a black president but not a black muslin background that isn't talked about. He says, everyone saying, it's not about race. He is all about advancement of blacks which brings me full circle back to his church.
Kathy Koontz | 02.12.08 05:36 PM
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I am concerned about any connection with the muslim factor. Now I understand when he makes statement about people referring to his kindegarden - thereby attemting to brush it off. Why, not only a black man, but a black muslin background. It appears that he became a Christian after the slum lord discovered him - I wish someone would follow that money and mentorship. His church by it's own web sight appears to be black radical first with and an African focus and black dominance washed in black pride. Why isn't he under a magnifying glass so we know everything about him the good, the bad, the ugly - and then let the people deside. This feeding the questions to him and his wife by the media - to make him appear - to be the next great hope only feeds the fear(what is the real story behind Obama). We are ready for a black president but not a black muslin background that isn't talked about. He says, everyone saying, it's not about race. He is all about advancement of blacks which brings me full circle back to his church.
Kathy Koontz | 02.12.08 05:36 PM
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I am concerned about any connection with the muslim factor. Now I understand when he makes statement about people referring to his kindegarden - thereby attemting to brush it off. Why, not only a black man, but a black muslin background. It appears that he became a Christian after the slum lord discovered him - I wish someone would follow that money and mentorship. His church by it's own web sight appears to be black radical first with and an African focus and black dominance washed in black pride. Why isn't he under a magnifying glass so we know everything about him the good, the bad, the ugly - and then let the people deside. This feeding the questions to him and his wife by the media - to make him appear - to be the next great hope only feeds the fear(what is the real story behind Obama). We are ready for a black president but not a black muslin background that isn't talked about. He says, everyone saying, it's not about race. He is all about advancement of blacks which brings me full circle back to his church.
Kathy Koontz | 02.12.08 05:36 PM
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I think everyone is blowing this out of proportion. Barach shouldn't have to change his name because a few people are ignorant. His name is an AFRICAN name not Muslim. the Word Barach is also a Jewish and means the same thing "blessing" GET OVER IT , this 2008 not 1808. I'm still voting for him in Nov
Rene Margulis | 02.13.08 01:55 AM
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I think everyone is blowing this out of proportion. Barach shouldn't have to change his name because a few people are ignorant. His name is an AFRICAN name not Muslim. the Word Barach is also a Jewish and means the same thing "blessing" GET OVER IT , this 2008 not 1808. I'm still voting for him in Nov
Rene Margulis | 02.13.08 01:56 AM
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Rene Margulis wrote:
"I think everyone is blowing this out of proportion. Barach shouldn't have to change his name because a few people are ignorant. His name is an AFRICAN name not Muslim. the Word Barach is also a Jewish and means the same thing "blessing" GET OVER IT , this 2008 not 1808. I'm still voting for him in Nov"
Barak is an ARAB name, NOT African, and "Jewish" isn't a language. Jewish people speak Hebrew.
Why are you voting for him? What experience does he have to warrant your support? What has he DONE to warrant the highest office in the United States? WHAT DOES HE STAND FOR??? "Change" is meaningless without defining what the "change" is.
His cousin, Obinga, is trying to overthrow the elected government in Kenya. He is a major player in Arab/Muslim agression (slaughter?) towards African/Christian/Animists in Kenya.
His pastor is very close to Louis Farrakan.
From what I see, Obama doesn't represent the 'change' this country needs. I understand those who are disillusioned by our 'politics as usual', but that is no reason to support someone with his lack of experience for the Presidency, and it is no reason to ignore the questionable background of this candidate.
Michael Schmidtman | 02.14.08 01:46 AM
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I can not believe this - 60 Minutes did a story in 2.2007 and B. Obama said the works himself "Yes, I am a practicing Muslim". The transcript was published on the 60 Minutes website after the broadcast. Now that Obama is running for the presidential nomination - this specific portion from the 60 Minutes story has been "omitted" not only from online but any purchased copies of the story from the 60 Minutes archive. This smacks of a cover-up and bad journalism. How I wish I would have recorded the broadcast myself that day. This is a HUGE cover-up and the guy isn't even in office yet!!
D.Carlo | 02.14.08 05:27 PM
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"AS OBAMA DESCRIBED IT, "WITHOUT THE MONEY TO GO TO THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL THAT MOST EXPATRIATE CHILDREN ATTENDED, I WENT TO LOCAL INDONESIAN SCHOOLS AND RAN THE STREETS WITH CHILDREN OF FARMERS, SERVANTS, TAILORS AND CLERKS.:
READING FURTHER:CNN REPORTER VAUSE:
"OBAMA'S SCHOOL WAS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST IN JAKARTA, DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE U.S. AMBASSADOR"
WHAT'S THE TRUTH. PEOPLE?
I grew up in Jakarta, I knew well the area. The affluent homeowners would send their children to expensive private school; however, their live-in servants, drivers or gardeners would send their children to the nearest free public school. Even though one is living in this elite neighborhood, the public school is not necessarily attended by local affluent children.
Leo | 02.18.08 12:48 AM
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You are lying, Leo ...
I, too, grew up in Jakarta. I, too, knew the area very well. Obama's former school, the Besuki school, is NOW an elite school attended by affluent homeowners, although not as prestigious as the nearby Al Azhar school financed by radical Wahabists from Saudi Arabia (which is truly a breeding ground for Islamic terrorists, as recently admitted by Gus Dur, Chairman of a moderate Islamic Party). However, back then in 1967, the quality of Besuki school was much below the Catholic school firstly attended by Obama. Therefore, it would not make any sense to move young Obama from a good Catholic school to the lower-ranking Besuki school, EXCEPT for getting an education in Islamic religion and so becoming a true Muslim. Thus, the move must have been well-thought and well-planned by the parents. In fact, it does not matter too much for the American people, whether or not Obama is a Muslim. What really matters is the fact that Obama is blatantly LYING about his Muslim past, claiming that "he has been always a Christian and has never practised Islam." This is a strong indication, he is a Muslim practising al-Taqiya (lying to Non-Muslims in order to secretly prepare a treason).
barry o'bama | 03.10.08 06:53 PM
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Brothers, Obama was born of a Muslim man, he is therefore a Muslim. The bloodline goes through the father. Allah be blessed!
Jamal Omar Qathani | 03.15.08 11:35 PM
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I THINK FOX NEWS WITH OREILLY , HANNITY AND COHEN ARE THE WORST DIRT DIGGERS IN THE COUNTRY. OBAMA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS PASTOR'S SPEECH. THE QUESTION HOW LONG LONG HAS THIS RANTING MINISTER BEEN MAKING THIS SPEECH, WHY HAVEN'T SOMEONE SAID SOMETHING BEFORE, HE COULD HAVE BEEN CALM AND COOL WITH OBAMA. HE DIDN'T LIE WHEN HE SAID THE GOVENMENT CONDONED SUCH HORRIBLE PRACTICES LOOK AT WHAT HAPPEN WITH THE 200 BLK MEN AND THE SYPHILIS TESTING I WONDER HOW MR O'REILLY AND HANNITY WOULD WHITE WASH THIS.
peggy | 03.16.08 05:30 PM
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This is a reply to Jamal: Yes Obama was born by a muslim man and why can't you say he was born and raised by a white lady. Some of you guys are so cutup with hate that you can't even entertain some reasonable truth about obama.
Also what kind of message are you sending to muslim armies serving us in Iraq, are you saying they are design to be ourslaves and don't fit the model of a ruler.
precious | 03.17.08 01:29 AM
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When we came to America we felt that the americans were the least racist people. I am not so sure now. I am hearing a lot racist remarks from educated people. This should be embarrassing to us as a nation. Iraq war has already demolished our reputation in the eyes of the world. If we continue this racist behavior we will be worse off than we have already been under Bush Presidency.
mg | 04.26.08 07:32 AM
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