Why I’m Beginning to Lose Respect for the Religious Right

Here at work, we’re occasionally sent e-mails from religious organizations. I found an e-mail from the Traditional Values Coalition in my Junk E-mail Box (it must be really smart to realize I don’t want anything from them!). Here’s what the article said:

It’s Now Okay To Use Barack Hussein’s Islamic Middle Name

December 11, 2008 – Before the election of Barack Hussein Obama to the presidency, any reporter, politician or TV personality who mentioned Obama’s Islamic middle name, was considered guilty of anti-Islamic, or racist bigotry.

When talk show host Bill Cunningham used Barack’s middle name in a rally for John McCain, McCain later apologized for Cunningham’s use of Hussein.

A Lee County, Florida sheriff Mike Scott came under attack during the election because he used Barack’s middle name in a Republican rally. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel launched an investigation against Scott for allegedly violating the Hatch Act.

The leftist Media Matters (a George Soros) front group kept tabs on conservative talk show hosts who dared use “Hussein” in describing Obama.

But now, Obama says he’s going to use his full name, Barack Hussein Obama, when sworn in as President of the United States – and he’s going to try to “reboot America’s image” among Muslims by giving a major foreign policy speech in a currently unnamed Islamic nation.

According to Obama, “It’s something I intend to follow through on. We’ve got a unique opportunity to reboot America’s image around the world and also in the Muslim world in particular. So we need to take advantage of that.”

“What hypocrisy,” said Traditional Values Coalition Executive Director Andrea Lafferty. “Before the election, Obama’s cheerleaders relentlessly attacked anyone who was caught using Obama’s middle name, Hussein. Now, after he’s been safely elected to the most powerful post in the world, it’s politically correct to use his Islamic middle name – apparently to help ‘reboot’ America’s image among Islamists.”

I’m sorry, but what a bunch of idiots. Come on people. The reason the Obama campaign called the McCain campaign racist bigotry is because it was racist bigotry. The Republicans were playing on voters fears that Barack might be a Muslim (it’s been clarified that he’s not a Muslim). And even if Barack was Muslim, does that mean that a Muslim-American can’t be president?

I mean seriously, did we see Barack Obama going around talking about “John SIDNEY McCain?” No! And do you know why? Because there was no reason to use his middle name, just like there was no reason for John McCain to use Barack’s middle name.

Every presidential inauguration typically uses the President-elect’s full name (first middle and last). So to the Traditional Values Coalition, I say, GET REAL. If you had any traditional values you would use logic before making such irrational statements. Traditional Values Coalition, you are part of the problem as to why this country is so divided. Your motto is, “Empowering People of Faith Through Knowledge,” your real motto should be “Crippling People of Faith Through Ignorance.” When will people stop being so partisan? Oh well… there’s my rant for the day.