Newt Gingrich told a Louisiana audience today that he understands why some Americans might think President Barack Obama is a Muslim. Complaining that Obama’s policies are too sensitive to people who are not Christians or Jews, he asked “Why does the president behave the way that people would think that [he is a Muslim]?” adding “You have to ask, why would they believe that? It’s not cause they’re stupid. It’s because they watch the kind of things I just described to you.” Ironically, Gingrich has railed against “anti-religious bigotry,” however the former House speaker did not expound upon what behaving like a Muslim means.
I suppose you really can’t blame Republicans like Gingrich. They understand that they aren’t going to beat President Obama on the issues. What’s left to them. then, is rumor, innuendo, whisper campaigns, and character assassination. It’s a pretty sorry state of affairs, but it seems to be all the loyal opposition has to offer these days.
That Gingrich sees nothing wrong with perpetuating the whisper campaign about the President’s religion is as reprehensible as it is offensive. Then again, “Gingrich” and “amoral’ go together like strippers and professional athletes. Gingrich knows full well that the President is a Christian. There’s not a shred of evidence to support the contention that Barack Obama’s a Muslim…never mind the President’s frequent confirmation of his Christian faith.
But let’s play Gingrich’s game for just a moment, shall we? What IF the President is a Muslim? How does that have any impact at all on his ability to do his job? How does that diminish his love of country? Gingrich and his fellow haters are trying to sell the canard that being a Muslim ipso facto renders one an American-hating Islamofascist who would destroy our freedoms. It’s the worst sort of hate-mongering and it shouldn’t have a place in American politics…and yet it seems to be a legitimate GOP tactic in 2012. Islam is not the enemy. Ignorance, propaganda, and character assassination, on the other hand….
As for Gingrich’s assertion that “It’s not ‘cause they’re stupid”…. If you believe that the President is a Muslim, I’d submit that “stupid” doesn’t begin to plumb the depths of your ignorance. If you, despite all evidence and the President’s assertions to the contrary, refuse to face reality and admit that the President’s a Christian…well, how ‘bout you do us all a favor and forfeit your voter registration card? If you can’t be bothered to travel in the realm of truth and reality, you have no business setting foot inside a voting booth.
