Barack Obama to the New Yorker: It's your right - but you weren't right.
In his first substantive talk about the magazine's inflammatory cartoon depicting him and his wife as fist-bumping terrorists, Obama told CNN's Larry King the image fueled misconceptions and insulted Muslim Americans.
"I know it was The New Yorker's attempt at satire. I don't think they were entirely successful with it," Obama said. "But you know what? It's a cartoon ... and that's why we've got the First Amendment."
The presumptive Democratic nominee said he wasn't personally stung by the cartoon.
"I've seen and heard worse," Obama said. "[Still], in attempting to satirize something, they probably fueled some misconceptions about me instead."
"But, you know, that was their editorial judgment," Obama added. "Ultimately, it's a cartoon, it's not where the American people are spending a lot of their time thinking about."
Obama has spent the better part of the past 18 months debunking false Internet rumors that he's Muslim and defending his patriotism. He's Christian, but Obama said he's been derelict in pointing out how hurtful these attacks are to Muslim Americans.
These fallacious e-mails and The New Yorker cartoon are "actually an insult against Muslim Americans," he said. There are "wonderful Muslim Americans" across the country, Obama said, and "for this to be used as sort of an insult, or to raise suspicions about me, I think is unfortunate."
"It's not what America's all about," he said.
Oh contraire Mr. Obama. It's EXACTLY what America's about. It's about the idea that people can say what they want, when they want. Perhaps a brush up on the US Constitution, which you seem to pick and choose which rights you want to uphold, is in order.
As Jesse Ventura would say: The First Amendment doesn't protect popular speech, it protects unpopular speech. Popular speech doesn't need protecting.
Sure, you can view it as an insult, but don't lump Muslim's in with this. You don't speak for them. You speak for yourself.
But, the hypocritical nature I'm speaking of it this:
The cover of this week's New Yorker magazine may explain why Barack Obama isn't reaching out to Michigan's Muslims.
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is shown in the Oval Office, wearing a turban and bumping fists with his wife, Michelle, who is in combat boots with a rifle slung over her shoulder. The cartoon, intended as satire, is a reminder of the dangers of any association with Muslims for Obama, who has fought false rumors that his middle name, Hussein, indicates he was born into the Islamic faith.
Muslim- and Arab-Americans represent 4 percent of the vote in Michigan, a battleground in this year's election. Yet Obama, who has held 13 events in the state during the presidential campaign, hasn't visited a mosque or met with Muslim leaders.
Bill Ballenger, editor of the nonpartisan newsletter Inside Michigan Politics, said Obama, 46, has to strike a delicate balance. The Illinois senator ``doesn't have to pander'' to such voters, who are likely to back him anyway, though he can ill- afford to ``dismiss them in an arrogant fashion.''
I guess it's ok to pander to blacks, whites, Latino's, and every other group, but Muslims are still off limits? Muslims are just as a part of America as any other group of people. MILITANT MUSLIMS aren't welcome in this country. You try to say what offends Muslims, then your staff shuffles them off stage to be out of photographs at one of your events, which you denounced, then you completely ignore them during your campaign.
Michigan has gone both ways in voting for President, and you're an idiot if you think you can ignore 4% of the voters in that state. 4% is enough in some states, especially Michigan that can cost you the election.
Travis
No comments:
Post a Comment