Misleading Letter Campaign Targets Obama in CenLa
Even though the story was thoroughly discredited over a year ago, the mainstream media has continued to suggest (and to allow others to make the suggestion) that Senator Barack Obama is actually, secretly a Muslim. Gasp!
I bring this up for a reason: Despite the thorough debunking of this story and despite Barack Obama’s own unequivocal statements, the media continues to give the story room at the table of public discourse.
The good folks at The Town Talk have published numerous letters framed around this debunked story. Today, they published another one. Although The Town Talk serves Central Louisiana and is the official paper of record for the City of Alexandria, they published a letter from a “reader” named Harold Blackburn in Alabama. Incidentally, this letter was also printed today in an Alabama newspaper. No doubt, he was going for broke and sent the letter to every newspaper he could. And today, his words reached an audience in Central Louisiana. He writes:
During the present presidential campaign, criticism has been leveled against certain candidates concerning their faith. A case in point is Mike Huckabee, a Baptist. There is fear that his religious connections will unduly hinder him from making proper decisions. Another case is Mitt Romney, a Mormon. Some believe his denomination is not main-line Christian and that Salt Lake City would exert undue pressure on his decisions. This brings to mind Barack Obama, brought up in a Muslim home and presently a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ, a church which permits only black members. Facts concerning Obama’s beliefs are revealed in the church’s Web page www.tucc.org/about.htm. During his appearance on Oprah’s program, Obama indicated his membership in the aforementioned church, which according to the Web site has “a non-negotiable commitment to Africa.” It is difficult to realize that the above facts have not been dealt with during this presidential campaign. In my initial statement it is evident that I have no qualms concerning a black candidate, but a Muslim dedicated to Black Africa is quite troubling indeed.
I’m not sure what value this letter possesses for the people of Central Louisiana. It relies on blatant lies in an attempt to incite religious and racial divisiveness. It plays to ignorant fear– and ignorance in general.
And the church claim: Completely false.
