NPR: Right-Wing Show Host Repeats Obama Misinformation

Right-Wing Show Host Repeats Obama Misinformation

Speaking of Barack Obama, a few examples in recent days show right-wing commentators are continuing to try to link him to Muslim extremism, including reviving a widely discredited rumor that he once attended an Islamic religious school, known as a madrassa.

That claim, which first appeared on the conservative site InsightMag.com in January, has been investigated by CNN, ABC and The Associated Press and found to be baseless. While Obama was living in Indonesia from the ages of 6 to 10, he attended a public school with both Christians and Muslims for two years and went to Catholic school for two years.

But that didn't stop far-right shock jock Michael Savage from repeating the allegation on his show Monday. The liberal Media Matters posted audio in which Savage, whose Savage Nation radio show has 8 million listeners weekly, says Obama was indoctrinated by Muslims at a madrassa and highlights his middle name, Hussein.

Meanwhile Monday, another conservative pundit used Obama's middle name to insinuate potential connections to Muslim terrorists. Ann Coulter, while commenting on a speech Obama had given about religion, told Fox News' Hannity and Colmes, "I do think anyone named B. Hussein Obama should avoid using 'hijack' and 'religion' in the same sentence."

In May, when a poll showed that Obama would beat many leading GOP candidates if he were the Democratic nominee for president, Coulter said the statistic may have been made up and that it "might help al-Qaida."

12:11 PM ET | 06-28-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I am astounded, but not surprised, at this blatant example of bias and racism. Perhaps these extreme right wing pundits are actually feeling threatened by a potential successful candidacy of Mr. Obama, Ms. Clinton and Mr. Edwards. To me this is another example of the screaming heads of talk radio and television propogating mis-information in the name of patriotism and concern for the American people just so that they can boost their ratings and remain employed. If the media personalities of this ilk really looked at the big picture, they might secretly hope that the Democrats win the Presidency in 2008 for their own job security.

Sent by Sandra Bennett | 12:45 PM ET | 06-28-2007

Michael Savage's real name is Michael Weiner. There, I said it.

Can we not focus on Barrack (He should start pronouncing it Bear-Ack) Obama's name, and non-existent ties to terrorism, and focus more on the fact that so far Obama has nothing substantial to say?

Sent by Jody Sol | 1:06 PM ET | 06-28-2007

Yeah, I vote for Barry O. It's charming and brings me back to Cheerios. No one can be angry with Chereios.

Seriously though, I miss a time when political issues determined politics.

Sent by Trey George | 1:21 PM ET | 06-28-2007

Sadly, the people who listen to the likes of Savage and Coulter aren't inclined to investigate the "facts" issued in their comments. I'm afriad that this is the same reason that we have the present administration in office, using secrecy, fear, and hate to promote their positions, without reality and truth supporting them.

Sent by Norm Samuelson | 2:03 PM ET | 06-28-2007

"I do think anyone named B. Hussein Obama should avoid using 'hijack' and 'religion' in the same sentence."

The right wing commentators are smart and know their constituency. They realize their audience isn't comprised of particularly critical thinkers, and so it doesn't take much to establish a bizarre linkage such as the one above and make it stick.

I'm not sure what the answer is. Maybe there isn't a good one. How you remove prejudice and preconception? Don't say via education and information. It seems for too many people, change or change is impossible after adolescence.

Sent by Thomas Hebert | 2:12 PM ET | 06-28-2007

Sad, sickening and depressing!

Sent by Tolu Adeleye | 3:59 PM ET | 06-28-2007

Osama bin Laden attended the secular, 'elite' Al Thagher Model School in Saudi Arabia. The school offered air-conditioning, Western-leaning education and 'prep-school' uniforms.

God only knows what sort of terrorist Barack Obama would've become had he fallen prey to such a posh education!

Sent by Markie | 11:57 PM ET | 06-28-2007

All the emails are correct. The far right, neo-cons, or whatever they are called, are not interested in facts, but alas, only beliefs....thus their coziness with the Religious Right. Their mind set is the mental equivalent of Ronald Regan's decades old magazine clippings, kept in a shoebox,which supposedly told him more about communism than any factual report.

Sent by Tom Granaas | 7:32 PM ET | 06-29-2007

I don't remember Christianity being a requirement for the Presidency. What about freedom of religion and separation of state and religion? Seriously, how does it really matter that he has exposure to a Muslim way of life? If anything, in this day and age, it could be an asset to our foreign affairs.

Sent by Sophia | 1:05 PM ET | 07-02-2007

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