Ryan ChartrandIn response to Patrick Molnar’s sarcasm regarding conservatives “educating” us about Barack Obama – I somehow don’t think that scrutinizing a candidate of an opposing party is an activity exclusive to conservatives.
Furthermore, Sen. Clinton’s campaign doesn’t seem too eager to brush off religious implications of Obama’s past. The “biographical” piece on Fox News was not instigated by Fox, but rather by an investigation of Obama by political opponents within the Democratic Party – their background check showed that he was raised as a Muslim by his stepfather in Indonesia and that he spent at least four years in a Madrassa. It was Clinton’s camp that first brought the question to the table: Are the American people ready for an elected president who was educated in a Madrassa as a young boy and has not been forthcoming about his Muslim heritage?
Obama is self-described as down-to-earth and sincere – perhaps his pleasant persona has allowed him to escape much inquiry regarding his political beliefs and (mostly far left) voting record thus far. Strangely enough, considering their likeability factors, Clinton is still shown as way ahead in several recent polls amongst Democrats.
Perhaps “ignorant” Americans should begin ignoring daily headlines and let go of fears concerning Muslims. But if so, should they also just stop caring about what a particular candidate will actually DO as the president and just focus on how down-to-earth and understanding they are? Perhaps Americans are not ignorant enough to support a candidate who hasn’t actually claimed a political platform.
Christina Chiappe
Social sciences junior