|
Funny thing. Ever since the Obama campaign took flight in the snows of Iowa, I could pretty much rely on having one or two 'Barack Obama-is Koran-quoting, Imam- praising, rug- kneeling closet Muslim' emails in my queue every morning. (Like many of you, I've gone to some pains to stay in contact with several rightwing quasi-friends who are tapped in to the putrid sewer that is the rightwing internet community and they are oh so happy to forward their latest offerings to me in their mis-guided effort to enlighten me). One had a nice photo-shopped picture of the future Obama White House with a onion dome on it. (Get it? He'd erect a dome because he's a Muslim--Oh, the hilarity!). Another explained how gas prices under a President Obama would be $17 per gallon, because, you see, he's a Muslim and they're in control of all of the oil, and...I'm ROFL here! But for the past three days...I've got nothing.
Now three days does not a trend make. It could be that the RNC sludge-server is down for more hard drive scrubs, or perhaps the NSA is executing a huge data dump for the oppo-research folks at the McCain campaign. Whatever the reason, those 'Obama-is-a-Muslim' hit pieces have trailed off appreciably, which is remarkable considering that such a huge web-based industry had grown up around that one irrepressible, oft-repeated lie. Need I remind you that the lie was hastened on its way in large part by the HRC campaign which sent Bob Kerry to the microphone in December to "praise" Obama for attending a "moderate" Madras during his school days in Indonesia. And no less than the Hillary herself threw some gasoline on those then-smoldering embers during her March 2nd appearance on 60 Minutes when she layed to rest any rumors of Obama's Muslim religiosity by stating unequivocally on National TV that he was NOT a Muslim "...as far as I know."
Now, it seems, this lie has run out of steam.
Because, you see, Barack Obama has a loud-mouthed PASTOR problem.
Not an Imam problem, but a "PASTOR"-- as in PREACHER,CLERGYMAN,PARSON,MINISTER,REVEREND -- problem.
In other words, he's a CHRISTIAN.
Ergo, not a Muslim.
And with the Corporate Media in a good ole- fashion feeding frenzy mode over the story, even Redneck America is beginning to get the picture: Obama is a Christian ... he's one of US...and not one of THEM!
Thus far, Obama's response to this flap has been nothing short of brilliant. First, he DID RESPOND (See E.g: August 2004 SwiftBoat Ads). Second, while distancing himself from the remarks, he used his response to underscore the New Testament-Sermon-on-the-Mound religiosity of his UCC Congregation.
And eventually, even the snarkiest of MSM reporters is going to start comparing Wright's remarks with the oddball rhetoric of Hague, Parsley, Perkins and many of the other downright goofy self-styled preachers with whom Mr McCain seeks to align himself. I suspect Bill and Hillary have sat through some raucous sermons as well.
So to those who who are presently pouring over the past twenty years of video footage of Pastor Wright, hoping against hope to find an attentive Barack Obama sitting in the front row giving the Black Power salute-- bring it on! It will only serve to underscore in the fevered minds of Redneck America, that Barack Obama Loves Jesus.
|