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Was Barack Obama a Muslim?
NewsMax ^ | January 13, 2008

Posted on 01/14/2008 9:11:02 AM PST by processing please hold

1. Was Barack Obama a Muslim?

The issue of Barack Obama's possible Muslim past has re-emerged with conflicting reports about the presidential candidate's childhood in Islamic Indonesia.

The controversy was initially touched off in early 2007 when several media outlets reported that Obama had attended a radical madrasa, or Islamic school, when he lived in Indonesia.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs quickly countered with a statement: "Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim, and is a committed Christian."

The reports about the radical madrasa turned out to be false. But in March 2007, Gibbs amended his previous statement, telling the Los Angeles Times: "Obama has never been a practicing Muslim," the key word being "practicing."

Obama, his Kansas-born mother and Muslim stepfather moved to Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, in 1967, and Obama lived there from ages 6 to 10.

The Times sent a reporter to Jakarta to investigate Obama's childhood years there, and published an article on March 16 that included these details:

* A close boyhood friend of Obama, Zulfin Adi, said Barack "was a Muslim. He went to the mosque." * Obama's first-grade teacher at a Catholic school, Israella Dharmawan, said: "Barry (Barack's nickname) was Muslim. He was registered as a Muslim because his father was Muslim."

* In the third grade, Obama transferred to a public school, where he was also registered as a Muslim. At the school, Muslim students attended weekly religion lessons about Islam.

* In his autobiography, "Dreams From My Father," Obama mentions studying the Koran and describes the public school as "a Muslim school."

More recently, Middle East Forum director Daniel Pipes wrote on FrontPageMag.com that his research led him to conclude that "Obama was born a Muslim to a non-practicing Muslim father and for some years had a reasonably Muslim upbringing under the auspices of his Indonesian stepfather."

But on Jan. 2, the liberal organization Media Matters for America (MMfA) took issue with Pipes' report, criticized him for relying too heavily on the Times article, which it claimed was "disputed," in an effort to "revive Obama-Muslim falsehood."

Media Matters cited a March 25 article by Kim Baker in the Chicago Tribune that challenged several assertions in the Times story. Barker wrote that boyhood friend Adi "was not certain" about his statements regarding Obama's childhood and that he "only knew Obama for a few months."

The Media Matters Web posting stated: "Additionally, the Tribune reported that 'interviews with dozens of former classmates, teachers, neighbors and friends show that Obama was not a regular practicing Muslim when he was in Indonesia.'"

Media Matters also said that "Pipes did not note that Obama's Indonesian stepfather, Lolo Soetoro, has been described in the Tribune as 'much more of a free spirit than a devout Muslim.'"

Pipes fired back with a FrontPageMag.com article on Jan. 7, titled "Confirmed: Barack Obama Practiced Islam."

Pipes asked if any of the information from the Chicago Tribune article refutes "my analysis, as MMfA contends. It raises questions about two details in the Los Angeles Times account — the accuracy of the Catholic school's registration form and the reliability of Zulfin Adi as a source on Obama. But on the larger issue of Obama's religious practices during his Jakarta years, it confirms the Times account."

Pipes concludes: "Therefore, what MMfA calls the 'Obama-Muslim' falsehood' is in fact confirmed by both articles as truthful and accurate."

And he adds: "All this matters, for if Obama once was a Muslim, he is now what Islamic law calls a murtadd (apostate), an ex-Muslim converted to another religion who must be executed. Were he elected president of the Untied States, this status, clearly, would have large potential implications for his relationship with the Muslim world."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: caphilatebystealth; husseinobama; muslim; muslims; obama
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To: AppyPappy
farrakhan received a "lifetime achievement award" from obama's afrocentric church.........I say this church is some kind of cover for islam and militant blacks.....
201 posted on 01/14/2008 1:20:27 PM PST by tioga
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To: Jeff Head
At the same time, holding out an olive branch to those who adopt republican-principled constitutional republics that wish to become our true partners and allies.

If Muslim and Radical Islam are synonymous in your eyes then how can you extend an olive branch to those who are determined to destroy us?

202 posted on 01/14/2008 1:30:15 PM PST by Non-Sequitur (Save Fredericksburg. Support CVBT.)
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To: Dukes Travels

Because of the way you posed your questions and your entry date to FR.

You surely realize we are at war with some Islams who are Muslums. This is important and there is nothing secret about Obama being a Muslum. That is pretty much out in the open.

Your comparison doesn’t come close to electing a POTUS who is a Muslum.


203 posted on 01/14/2008 1:30:34 PM PST by freekitty ((May the eagles long fly our beautiful and free American sky.))
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To: El Cid
I agree with you there. Irrespective of what Mr. Hussein Barack calls himself, that 'church' (tucc.org) is an abomination if they claim to be preaching Christ. They write that they are 'unashamedly Christian', yet their website just includes a focus on Africa, and white=bad/black=good, diatribes.

Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners (of whom I am chief). Preach that, not race politics.

When listening to BHO it is useful to keep in mind this scripture:

1 John
Chapter 4

1 Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh be longs to God,

3 and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world.

4 You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

5 They belong to the world; accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world, and the world listens to them.

6 We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.

204 posted on 01/14/2008 1:30:46 PM PST by mc5cents (Show me just what Mohammd brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman)
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Can anyone give me the name of the first man on the left?

Photobucket

205 posted on 01/14/2008 1:32:27 PM PST by processing please hold (Duncan Hunter '08) (ROP and Open Borders-a terrorist marriage and hell's coming with them)
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To: processing please hold; Fred Mertz
I think you will have to ask Fred Mertz. I don't have the skilz.

However, this is the usual sign he uses.

Notice the lack of flag pin, here as well.

206 posted on 01/14/2008 1:33:53 PM PST by NathanR ( Duncan Hunter for SecDef)
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To: Constantine XIII
The Obama File

Read it all. Then you'll have something to be mad about.

207 posted on 01/14/2008 1:34:27 PM PST by Beckwith (Dhimmicrats and the liberal media have chosen sides -- Islamofascism)
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To: Beckwith

KOOKS

Dammit, did you even bother to read what I wrote?


208 posted on 01/14/2008 1:36:11 PM PST by Constantine XIII
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To: NathanR

Thank you. I’ve been searching images for the sign but I’m on dial up and that’s like molasses in January. I noticed no pin.


209 posted on 01/14/2008 1:37:28 PM PST by processing please hold (Duncan Hunter '08) (ROP and Open Borders-a terrorist marriage and hell's coming with them)
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To: Beckwith

Because if it’s on the Internet it MUST BE TRUE!


210 posted on 01/14/2008 1:38:01 PM PST by Constantine XIII
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To: processing please hold
Obama's picture is currently displayed on the page banner of Project Islamic H.O.P.E.

Project Islamic H.O.P.E.is a national civil rights organization that advocates for the human rights of oppressed people regardless of race, gender or religion.

Project Islamic H.O.P.E. follows the teachings of the Holy Quran and the example of Prophet Muhammad. (Peace Be Upon Him)

Project Islamic H.O.P.E. supports and follows the leadership of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, one of the world’s foremost Islamic leaders.

The Obama File
211 posted on 01/14/2008 1:38:06 PM PST by Beckwith (Dhimmicrats and the liberal media have chosen sides -- Islamofascism)
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To: Beckwith

From what I can find out, he’s a member of that group. I could be wrong though.


212 posted on 01/14/2008 1:41:06 PM PST by processing please hold (Duncan Hunter '08) (ROP and Open Borders-a terrorist marriage and hell's coming with them)
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To: potlatch

.

Good graphix potlatch!

Durante sounds terrific!


213 posted on 01/14/2008 1:45:23 PM PST by devolve (---- - Hey Boone! - My bonus check is late again! -)
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To: processing please hold

Try Dr. Cornell West - - college professor and loasy rapper.


214 posted on 01/14/2008 1:49:28 PM PST by Beckwith (Dhimmicrats and the liberal media have chosen sides -- Islamofascism)
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To: NathanR; Beckwith; Candor7
I've got a better one than that:

And please allow me to tell you something, I have studied islam for five years now - I understand completely how muslims may use a 'christian church' (Wright's 'church' is a cult,) as a cover.

Islam claims the Old Testament prophets as their own, Abraham was really a muslim, and Jesus was just another prophet, the koran accepts him as such. The islamic standpoint is that at the end of time, their madhi (a ripoff from the Hebrew Messiah) will return and claim the entire world for islam.

And when the mahdi returns, Jesus will also come, and sit down with the mahdi and rule with him for a time, then hand the world over to the mahdi...because Jesus will admit that the world rightfully belongs to islam.

Got it?

215 posted on 01/14/2008 1:50:10 PM PST by Fred Nerks (FAIR DINKUM!)
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To: Constantine XIII

Did you read what I compiled?

http://www.freedomsenemies.com/_more/obama.htm


216 posted on 01/14/2008 1:50:19 PM PST by Beckwith (Dhimmicrats and the liberal media have chosen sides -- Islamofascism)
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To: devolve

Yes, his version is much better than Sinatra or Crosby


217 posted on 01/14/2008 1:50:32 PM PST by potlatch
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To: Fred Nerks
I wish people would stop it with that madrassa crap!

You can have 50 pages of real stuff and as soon as the madrassa word shows up, all of it is discredited.

218 posted on 01/14/2008 1:52:39 PM PST by Beckwith (Dhimmicrats and the liberal media have chosen sides -- Islamofascism)
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To: Beckwith

Thank you. Not who I thought it was though.


219 posted on 01/14/2008 1:54:08 PM PST by processing please hold (Duncan Hunter '08) (ROP and Open Borders-a terrorist marriage and hell's coming with them)
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To: Fred Nerks

Is that photo shopped or for real?


220 posted on 01/14/2008 1:56:05 PM PST by processing please hold (Duncan Hunter '08) (ROP and Open Borders-a terrorist marriage and hell's coming with them)
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