Sunday, October 19, 2008

Colin Powell: "[So] what if he [Obama] is Muslim?"

Colin Powell, on Meet the Press today, has the courage to say what someone of his stature should have said ages ago. He says, of course the answer to the claim that Obama is a Muslim, that he's a Christian. But he goes on to say:

The really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being Muslim in America? The answer is no, that's not America. Is there anything wrong with some seven year old Muslim American kid thinking that he or she could be president? Yet I have heard senior members of my own party drop this suggestion, he might be a Muslim and he might be associated with terrorists. This is not the way we should be doing it in America. (My transcription.)

Then he goes on to talk about a soldier killed in Iraq, US Muslim, buried at Arlington National Cemetery, with star and crescent on his tombstone. Watch it here.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree with him 100%.

Anonymous said...

Dear Professor,

I can't think of more discredited leader than Colin Powell. He lied to the official representatives of the entire world at the UN, he lavished praised about Bush and Cheney and he knew the war was wrong, but remained silent. Obama would have benefited from Colin's endorsement during the nomination fight. Now, it is totally irrelevant. Colin is part of the Bush legacy, he could more than anyone could have stopped the slaughtered of thousands and save our nation had he spoken up!

Ted Swedenburg said...

I agree with you absolutely. But I give him credit nonetheless for speaking up on this issue.

Anonymous said...

Who has seen proof positive that he{OBama}is U.S. citizen? Clear, legible and tested, there have been questions about this. I just keep hearing pundents and his supporters denying he is Muslim, he is a Christian, but what is the 100% proof. If there was any, they would have put it out there from the git go and it certainly would not be an issue this close to the election. I'm not from Missouri, but someone has got to "show me", present credible evidence.

Field Notes said...

I thought it was great to hear him say it shouldn't matter even if Obama was Muslim. It ought to be a non-issue what religion (or lack thereof) an elected official practices.

Powell's story about the young American Muslim who died in Iraq while fighting for his country (the U.S.) was moving.

Ted Swedenburg said...

Questions about whether Obama is a citizen?

To get a passport, you must be a citizen. Usually you present your birth certificate. If you were born in the USA, you qualify.

And you have to be a citizen to become a US Senator. "According to Article I, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, a senator must be 30 years of age, a citizen of the United States for 9 years, and must reside in the state he or she represents at the time of election." This is from the website of the US Senate: http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Constitutional_Qualifications_Senators.htm.

So there is absolutely no reason why "clear proof" of Obama's citizenship needs to be presented. He has already done so.

Anonymous said...

so the only good muslim is a dead muslim. nice.