Tuesday, October 21, 2008

"I heard that Obama is a Hair-ab"

When I saw the McCain rally where ole Gayle Quinnell appeared in her red tshirt, asking if Obama was 'a hair-ab,' I laughed out of sheer disbelief. First because it shouldn't matter either way, and second because he isn't--anyone who reads/watches the NEWS knows this. McCain had a tolerable response to this ridiculous question:

"No ma'am, he's a decent family man, a citizen, who I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues."

It was only tolerable because he failed to highlight that race or religion shouldn't (constitutionally cannot!) exclude a person from executive office in the United States. I don't suspect that McCain purposely avoided addressing the fact that 'decent family men' who are citizens of this country can also be Arab and/or Muslim (because not all Arabs are Muslim and vice versa) and exercise their right to run for the presidency if they so choose. Former secretary of state Colin Powell made this point yesterday during the same announcement on Meet the Press as he endorsed Obama.

"What if he is (Muslim)? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some 7 year old Muslim American kid beliving that he or she could be president?"

Is there, America? And if there is, why exactly? I would love for someone to explain this to me.

Al Jazeera included these quotes:

"I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion that he [Obama] is a Muslim and he might be associated with terrorists. This is not the way we should be doing it in America," he said.

"Those images going out on Al Jazeera are killing us around the world. And we have got to say to the world, it doesn't make any difference who you are or what you are, if you're an American, you're an American."

Additionally--there is nothing wrong with being Muslim or Arab!!! Good grief America. But then again, those who have issue with either group won't be swayed by my opinion.

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