Obama’s Muslim Spark
First, it is interesting to think about candidate reactions to news items. The following news item would be a case in point for Barack Obama. If the author, an academic writing in or for a paper apparently in Lebanon, did not run this idea by John McCain, also in the article, or Barack Obama before publication, knowing their reaction would be fun.
No matter the intention or the state of controversy attached to all things Muslim these days, you have to wonder what was on this author’s mind while working on this article. That said, the real point here of course is what effect if any will this have on Obama’s campaign? Will this be a recurring theme in the 2008 race or simply fall by the wayside?
The author begins with expressing continued support for John McCain for President even though he states McCain’s bid has lost momentum and he believes McCain lost it as long as eight years ago. He wonders if Obama can defeat Clinton. He makes the assertion that Obama’s Muslim roots may provide the ’spark’ needed to thrust his campaign to victory. He claims the world needs to know that US democracy is capable of electing a President who is both black and Muslim. Whether the question is valid or not, what the hell is this guy thinking in a post 9-11 world with all the Jihadi’s running around spewing ‘death to America’?
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Obama’s spark may be embracing his Muslim heritage
By Chibli Mallat
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
I was, and remain, a supporter of Republican Senator John McCain’s presidential bid.John McCain seems to have lost his presidential spark.
In reality, he probably lost it almost eight years ago - to be specific in January-February 2000. I knew McCain from our joint work on Iraq throughout the 1990s….
Any country would be lucky to have as president someone with Obama’s sensitivity and his sort of reflective leadership. Here is my unsolicited advice to him for keeping the spark alive: Remember that you’re called Barack Obama; that your father was a Muslim. Do not turn your back on this heritage; instead use it as the spark that might push your campaign ahead.
Chibli Mallat is a lawyer and the EU Jean Monnet Chair at St. Joseph’s University in Beirut and S.J. Quinney Chair of Middle Eastern Politics and Law at the University of Utah. His latest book, “Presidential Talk,” a collection of speeches on his Lebanese presidential campaign trail, is being published. He wrote this commentary for THE DAILY STAR.
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July 10th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
[…] White House Link to Article iraq Obama’s Muslim Spark » Posted at Blog @ MoreWhat.com on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Obama’s Muslim Spark July 10th, 2007 [ Sen Barack Obama]First, it is interesting to think about candidate reactions to news items … - to be specific in January-February 2000. I knew McCain from our joint work on Iraq throughout the 1990s…. Any View Entire Article » […]
July 10th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
[…] Wesley Clark Link to Article barack obama Obama’s Muslim Spark » Posted at Blog @ MoreWhat.com on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Obama’s Muslim Spark July 10th, 2007 Sen Barack Obama First, it is interesting to think about candidate reactions to news items. The following news item would be a case in point for Barack Obama. If the author, an academic … in the article, or Barack Obama before publication, knowing their reaction would be fun. No matter View Entire Article » […]
July 10th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
I’m not too sure of the credibility of the article author, he’s an admitted supporter of John McCain, that’s an untenable position in MY opinion…
July 10th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Perhaps during WWII we should have elected Tokyo Rose as President to show the world that we held no grudges for Pearl Harbor. I’m sure the world needed to know that the US democracy was capable of electing a President who is both Japanese and a woman.
July 11th, 2007 at 5:12 am
And he is running for President…. in Lebanon
www.mallatforpresident dot com
July 11th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Barack Obama may be against the war, but at the same time, he supports creating a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants as do most 2008 Presidential Candidates. Is that fair? Is that safe? Is that good for the economy? Apart from Mitt Romney almost all candidates are supporting creating a path for citizenship for illegal immigrants. My question is what happens to the legal foreigners here on different visas? They are applying for a green card and have to wait 8-10 years before they get it while they could quite simply cross the border and cross back illegally and get citizenship if this bill is passed. Are these politicians crazy? What’s wrong with the 2008 Presidential Candidates? Can’t they hear the voice of the people any more? I looked and researched and did a 2008 Presidential Candidates comparison and to tell you the truth, I don’t know who to vote for. While Barack Obama is the most charismatic, Hillary Clinton seems to be the stronger of the two. Then there are the Republicans who have simply lost my faith after Bush. So in the end, we are stuck. No matter what happens, the American public is going to be in trouble one way or another.