NPR: Obama "Muslim" Rumors Spread to Delaware Class

Obama "Muslim" Rumors Spread to Delaware Class

You would think that with all the attention that's been paid to the relationship between Barack Obama and his controversial pastor, Jeremiah Wright, that most people would realize that the rumors circulating on the Internet that he's a Muslim aren't true.

Apparently not. Even worse, it appears to be a teacher spreading the smears this time.

DelawareOnline reports that a Delaware state human relations commission is investigating allegations that a fifth-grade teacher at Lord Baltimore Elementary School in Indian River told her class she wouldn't vote for Barack Obama because he is a Muslim and "that she is a Republican and that Obama 'believes in different things and is scary.' "

The teacher also allegedly said that Obama "does not swear on the Bible or pledge allegiance to the flag."

Fifth grade, yet.

Obama has had to fight these rumors, usually circulated by far-right-wing web sites, that he is a Muslim "bent on destroying the United States."

The mother of one of the students, who was a Muslim, said after the teacher made the comments, her older daughters looked at Obama's web site and saw the statements were not true. When the mother called the teacher she said the teacher refused to apologize. That's when she contacted the school board.

"The comments supposedly came just weeks before Indian River reached a settlement in the case of two families who challenged the district for allowing, among other things, a Christian prayer at a high school graduation. The district admitted no wrongdoing, but the settlement addressed."

District spokesman David Maull released a statement from Assistant Superintendent Gary Brittingham: "The Indian River School District has conducted a thorough investigation of the recent concerns raised by a fifth-grade student at Lord Baltimore Elementary School. After conducting meetings with the parent, teacher and school administrators, district officials believe the issue has been resolved. Furthermore, the district is complying with all provisions of the recent settlement of the school prayer lawsuit. This includes the training of staff on the district's religion and prayer at graduation ceremonies policies."

The human rights commission, however, is continuing its investigation.

6:10 PM ET | 03-26-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

There are a lot of scary ignorant people out there, teachers of fifth graders should not be among them.

Sent by cindy | 6:32 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Speaking of scary, this woman is educating children, and is probably going to vote.

Sent by Sallie | 6:49 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Playing absurd devil's advocate, since Fred hasn't weighed in yet: What if Obama really IS Muslim and has lied to the public, and then unleashes his dastardly Muslimishness on an unsuspecting public once he (undoubtedly) wins the presidency?

Sent by Wolf | 7:25 PM ET | 03-26-2008

It is sad that a teacher, of all people, can be so ill informed with all the information outlets at our disposal, and share her bigoted views with children who can't even vote, but is not surprising. She is, after all, a republican and scare tactics have been taught and used well. I'm glad she's not affecting the vote (unless the children's parents are as closed minded as she is), but she is teaching that the Muslims are 'scary' and pretty much synonomous with terrorists. Even sadder, she's not the only one.

Sent by Shaunda | 8:00 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Some readers need to understand the difference between using good judgment when forming opinions and allegiances to candidates and paranoia. There are meds for the later.

Sent by Patricia | 8:43 PM ET | 03-26-2008

This degree of ignorance doesn't belong in the classroom or the voting booth. I surely hope this woman was fired on the spot. She is flawed on so many levels. Even she isn't smarter than a fifth grader.

Sent by Patricia | 8:55 PM ET | 03-26-2008

To wolf:What if Obama Really is a muslim and has lied to the american public. then he would probably be impeached. the thing that separates this country from most others is that bad leadership can be undone if the people want it bad enough. and that is one thing that i don't think the people would stand for furthermore the biggest scandal associated with his campaign has been his relationship with his CRISTIAN pastor. You know, i always tell people that the word ignorance gets missaplied way too many times. the root word is ignor. which means to disregard or to pretend it isn't there. stupid can be fixed with education but when someone has chosen to be ignorant it goes beyond the realm of my personal patience. I mean there is no reason for her to say this and to tell you the truth if you don't know you should not say anything especailly to a bunch of kids who may not not anything but to repaet the garbage you spew to them.

Sent by J.A.WILSON | 11:26 PM ET | 03-26-2008

I'm a college professor, and huge Obama supporter, but I NEVER let my students know (or even hint) at my political preferences.

We always engage in healthy open debate and I never give an opinion on any students' opinions. I simply moderate the discussion and encourage students to use logical reasoning to arrive at their conclusions.

And believe me, the campus I teach at is overwhelming pro-Obama, so I could voice my support and feel no backlash.

But I never would because it is WRONG.

Sent by FB | 2:27 AM ET | 03-27-2008

My girlfriend's 8 year old niece recently commented to us that one of her friends believes that if Obama is elected President, he will "turn all the white people into slaves", something this friend had been told by her mother as her reason for supporting Hillary. Now my girlfriend's niece is too intelligent to have believed this, and being multiracial herself (caucasion, puerto rican, black), she was satisfied with my explanation of Obama's lineage. I explained to her that Barack couldn't turn white people into slaves, because Barack is as white as he is black.

Some people and their ridiculous indoctrination of children . . .

Sent by Chuck | 8:27 AM ET | 03-27-2008

Obviously, teaching personal political choices to a 5th grade class is wrong, especially if it is based on bigoted hateful nonsense.

But, Wolf, above, may be on to something here. Without comments from fred and deek, somebody has to suggest that Obama is really just running for president so he can sneak a Nuk-U-ler bomb into the White House. That makes perfect sense for a Muslim Liberal Utopian who hates America like everybody who doesn't love Dub-Ya. Right?

Sent by Gary | 8:43 AM ET | 03-27-2008

It seems that if this information is true, that someone (Supt. of District) or other in authority ought to publically admonish said teacher and carefully review as to whether this person is fit to teach 10 year old children.

I belong to the United Church of CHRIST also. I am not now nor have I ever been a Muslim. What is up with all this?

I have sat in front of three different ministers in my UCC church experience and I agreed mostly with number one, not at all with number two and almost everything with number three.

If someone held me responsible for my ministers views or actions, I think I might say something very un-Christian- like.

What a bunch of lame brains!

Sent by Dave Rosen | 9:33 AM ET | 03-27-2008

LOL, leftist teachers have been teaching all sorts of garbage to our kids for decades, and NOW we complain?

Sent by deek | 9:35 AM ET | 03-27-2008

It doesn't make it right however IF true. That's a big IF. We have heard many of these fake "bigotry" stories to know that you can't make a judgement until all the facts are known. Remember the fake "hate crimes" in colleges?

Sent by deek | 9:49 AM ET | 03-27-2008

There is nothing technically/leagally preventing an American born Muslim from running for president. We will hear these same scare tactics for ANY other nationality or minority including the most affluent including Jews, Latin, Asian, Gay, American Indian ect. I am sure that NYC mayor would have never won the election because of his sight, and FDR with his polio would now be excluded however the zealots have elected draft dodgers who turn out to be war happy because he seem like a nice guy to have a beer with or invites msm to bbq.

Sent by Daly | 4:56 AM ET | 04-20-2008

Like FB I am a college professor but I do not think it is wrong to mention or discuss one's political views in the presence of college students who are adults and know that their professors have views on all manner of things.
In fact they are often interested in those views and why we hold them.

What would be wrong is to attempt to compel students to think likewise or to discriminate in any fashion against students who hold different views. I think students benefit from free, open discussion of all ideas in a university setting, indeed that is part of the purpose of a university.

However, 5th grade students being subjected to the sheer ignorance and plain prejudice of one of their teachers is clearly wrong and that needs no argument.

When students ask me who I preferred in the Democratic primaries and why I didn't vote and won't vote for Obama I give them reasons that they, as free, rational adults, are free to reflect upon. He is wholly lacking in the requisite experience for the office and his close friendship with the ghastly Reverend Wright is very significant and unforgivable. And I have yet to hear an adequate response to either charge.

However,

Sent by David | 12:39 PM ET | 04-20-2008

I would ask Deek to provide a shred of social scientific evidence from reliable and credible sources for his sweeping (and false) claim that "leftist teachers have been teaching all sorts of garbage to our kids." Are you up to the challenge or do you like to just spout off like the right does so often through its talk show and scream television program?

Fox doesn't count as a reliable source by the way.

Sent by David | 1:29 PM ET | 04-20-2008

"There are a lot of scary ignorant people out there.."
Even more scary because we hold it to be true that we are the greatest democracy on earth whose bedrock and sentinels are the well-informed populace steeped in tenets as grand as "we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are ... pursuit of liberty and happiness".

And THAT teacher is big on patriotism and good citizenship from her students. Does 'good citizenship' include tolerance and accommodation of all who are American? Does being American (or a 'good' American) mean being a non-Muslim?

Even for a union that is not perfect - yet - it is but SCARY.

Sent by chokora | 4:16 PM ET | 04-20-2008

David said:
'"I would ask Deek to provide a shred of social scientific evidence from reliable and credible sources for his sweeping (and false) claim .."
He may not have any. Or whatever there is may be tenuous at best. But that does not stop him.
An angry conservative trash is caught 'teaching' falsehoods and hate to our kids and this bitter 'deek' turns around and blames the 'leftists' for it.

Mendacity is staple of the conservative liberals and their angry media cheerleaders. It has worked well for them - especially with regard to the Iraq War.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/20/barackobama.hillaryclinton

A good defense is a good offense, so it is said.
Hopefully this is the year democrats fight fire with fire. And there is plenty of dry wood in the GOP's McCain shed.

Rev Hagee / McCain '08 WRONG for America

Sent by chokora | 4:43 PM ET | 04-20-2008

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