Naomi Klein in The Nation argues that Barack Obama must refute the racist implication that being a Muslim, which he is not, is a source of shame
Hillary Clinton denied leaking the photo of Barack Obama wearing a turban, but her campaign manager says that even if she had, it would be no big deal. “Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely.”
Sure she did. And George W. Bush put on a fetching Chamato poncho in Santiago, while Paul Wolfowitz burned up YouTube with his antimalarial African dance routines when he was World Bank prez. The obvious difference is this: when white politicians go ethnic, they just look funny. When a black presidential contender does it, he looks foreign. And when the ethnic apparel in question is vaguely reminiscent of the clothing worn by Iraqi and Afghan fighters (at least to many Fox viewers, who think any headdress other than a baseball cap is a declaration of war on America), the image is downright frightening.
It is my opinion that if there is any “smear” it is not on Obama. Being a Muslim is a good thing. The smear is to Muslims, that an unbeliever who calls himself a lifelong Christian, who is unwilling to say aloud, “There is nothing wrong with being a Muslim.” should be associated with us. We are the ones being smeared, if anyone.
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