CNN ‘Fact-Checks’ Franklin Graham’s Controversial Remarks About Obama And Islam

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by Glynnis MacNicol | 6:30 pm, August 22nd, 2010

» 63 comments

Evangelist Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, opted to jump directly into the conversation about President Obama‘s religion following this week’s Pew poll that revealed the country is increasingly confused about whether Obama is a Muslim. Graham, possibly taking some cues from Jerry Falwell in the inflammatory department, told CNN’s John King on Friday that he believes Obama, who only met his father once (who was a “confirmed atheist” at the time of his birth), was in fact born a Muslim:

“I think the president’s problem is that he was born a Muslim, his father was a Muslim. The seed of Islam is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim, his father gave him an Islamic name.”

King followed this tenuous declaration up yesterday by inviting Stephen Prother, a Professor of Religion at Boston University (who, I have to say, was not the most inspiring person I’ve ever heard speak on this topic) on the show to explain whether there was any truth to this theory.

Said Prothero: “This is part of why Americans are confused about the situation here is because we have people who are supposed to be responsible public leaders like Franklin Graham who are spreading what seems to me like a sort of disinformation campaign.” Additionally, why are people listening to an explanation of Islam from Christian evangelist Franklin Graham: “These are simplistic soundbites.” Prothero went on to say Americans are functionally illiterate about most religions including Christianity….and the conversation about Islam that is happening now is “at below a kindergarten level.” And doesn’t look to be elevated anytime soon. You can watch below.

barack obama, Billy Graham, CNN, Franklin Graham, John King, Pew

shootfromthehip

Leave it to CNN to fall right into the misinfo traps laid out by the right wing.

There is no “debate” about Obama’s religion. He is a Christian, not a Muslim.

END OF STORY.

But I applaud them for at least booking a real guest like Stephen Prother, Professor of Religion at Boston University.
Moderate

What happens if you are born into Islam, Muslim scholars are divided on this. Some madhabs say it’s ok to leave as you’re not a murtad because you’re not a muslim until you say the shahada; others say they’re an apostate as they already grew up knowing Allah is god and thus deserve the shariah punishment of apostasy which is death.
TCinAZ

Is CNN gonna Fact Check Ruh’thell Simmons claim that the 1993 World Trade Center Attack was Executed by Christians? Or that he was Obviously talking about the Oklahoma City Bombing and McVeigh, but that Timmy didn’t blow UP the Murrah Federal Building in the name God OR Christianity EITHER – and that Larry was trying like Hell to Interrupt You from making an Ass Of Yourthelf AGAIN, Ruh’thell?

WTH IS a Muthlim Anyway? I mean Besides Obama.
Moderate

Some prominent recent examples of writers and activists killed because of apostasy claims include Mahmoud Mohammed Taha, Faraj Foda, Rashad Khalifa, Ghorban Tourani, Necati Aydin, Uğur Yüksel, and the Egyptian Noble prize winner Najib Mahfouz has been injured in an attempted assassination.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostasy_in_Islam
felixw

I can hardly wait to see CNN do fact checking on Obama’s claim that taxes won’t go up for people making less than $250K. Or his promise to eliminate earmarks and pork barrel spending in his bills. Or his promise to put all bills on the Internet for at least five days before he signs them, so voters can look them over. Or his promise to broadcast health care debates on TV. Or to introduce a comprehensive immigration bill in his first year in office. Or to secure our borders. Etc. etc. etc.

This is the kind of stuff that makes CNN look absurd. I have no problem with them “fact-checking” Franklin Graham. But they look biased and corrupt when they never apply even the slightest scrutiny to all the deliberate deceptions and broken promises coming out of the Oval Office. This is exactly why viewers have switched to Fox.
shootfromthehip

Here are the facts: Obama’s tax policy has NOT raised taxes on those making less than 25OK a year. We have all received tax breaks.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html

The promise was not broken, but the right wing’s promise to lie and crank up the disinfo machine to 11 has been kept.
TfT

Interesting.

Did CNN fact check the NYTimes who said exactly the same thing that Franklin Graham said?

I didn’t think so.

CNN lies; everyone knows they lie, and that is why their ratings are in the tank.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kevin-Zimmerman/10028160 Kevin Zimmerman

Glynnis, why did you think Prothero was not particularly inspiring? He seemed, to me, actually to be pretty passionate on his points, even approaching offensive towards Franklin Graham’s comments. I especially liked that he used the verse of Jesus bringing a sword to describe the hostility found in the New Testament, not to mention the war, killing, punishment, etc rampant in the Old Testament.
Azarkhan

It is odd that Prof. Prothero did not cite a single passage from the Koran or from the Prophet Muhammad’s life to refute Rev. Graham’s assertions regarding apostasy, treatment of women, world domination, or how Muslims view Jews and Christians. As one of those “functionally illiterate” American’s Mr. Prothero sneered at, I was hoping the CNN expert would shed some light on the matter. Instead he sounded like another whiney leftist hack more interested in belittling American’s who disagree with him rather than in providing facts to support his argument.

Of course, Mr. Prothero did say that the Koran is a “big book”–maybe he hasn’t had time to read it.

BTW, using the “I come with a sword” quote regarding Jesus is beyond stupid. Jesus never wielded a sword in battle or killed his enemies or ordered the execution of prisoners. He also never set out to conquer neighboring cities and tribes.

Muhammad did.
lonestar77

shootfromthehip says:
August 22, 2010 at 7:40 pm (Quote)
1 9
“Here are the facts: Obama’s tax policy has NOT raised taxes on those making less than 25OK a year. We have all received tax breaks.
The promise was not broken, but the right wing’s promise to lie and crank up the disinfo machine to 11 has been kept.”

Once again, you’re WRONG!

http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/promise/515/no-family-making-less-250000-will-see-any-form-tax/
timzank

Franklin Graham is not the reason so many people think Barry is a Muslim, it’ s his BEHAVIOR that causes people to think that.

My guess is, he’s an atheist, in spite of the brand new “Christian Crusade” launched by the white House. You’d think all these new examples of Barry’s devout and daily prayer would make the lefties nervous.
StandUp

lonestar77 said:
Once again, you’re WRONG!
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/promise/515/no-family-making-less-250000-will-see-any-form-tax/

Sorry lonestar, I accidently thumbed down
felixw

shootfromthehip said:
Here are the facts: Obama’s tax policy has NOT raised taxes on those making less than 25OK a year. We have all received tax breaks.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html

The promise was not broken, but the right wing’s promise to lie and crank up the disinfo machine to 11 has been kept.

Quit spreading lies. Next year dividend taxes are going up. Capital gains taxes are going up. Income taxes are going up. Estate taxes are going up. And we already have a host of use taxes, on tanning salons, etc. It’s a total deception to claim that Obama is not raising taxes on people making less than $250 K.
adel

felixw said:
Quit spreading lies. Next year dividend taxes are going up. Capital gains taxes are going up. Income taxes are going up. Estate taxes are going up. And we already have a host of use taxes, on tanning salons, etc. It’s a total deception to claim that Obama is not raising taxes on people making less than $250 K.

And Democrats have passed 25 separate tax cuts…taxes on health compromising behavior like smoking and tanning don’t seem as onerous… the full story is more interesting than partial petty partisan indictment.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/jan/28/barack-obama/tax-cut-95-percent-stimulus-made-it-so/
timzank

felixw said:
Quit spreading lies. Next year dividend taxes are going up. Capital gains taxes are going up. Income taxes are going up. Estate taxes are going up. And we already have a host of use taxes, on tanning salons, etc. It’s a total deception to claim that Obama is not raising taxes on people making less than $250 K.

Yeah but Felix, the true disciples like shootfromthehip honestly don’t care. They know (especially now) the truth, they just don’t give a shit.
adel

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/feb/02/david-axelrod/axelrod-claims-democrats-passed-25-tax-cuts-last-y/
felixw

Check out this article, appropriate headlined “Tax Hikes for 2011 Hit Every US Taxpayer”:

http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272634048.shtml

Claiming that Obama is bringing down taxes is as bogus as the claim he has created jobs. These lies are so obvious, it’s hard to understand who the Democrats think they are fooling.
timzank

adel said:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/feb/02/david-axelrod/axelrod-claims-democrats-passed-25-tax-cuts-last-y/

from the article you cite:

” Which leads us to the question of whether all of these 25 qualify as tax cuts?

“In a way this reminds me of Clinton’s ‘It depends on what your meaning of is is’ comments,” said Rosanne Altshuler, director of the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. “It depends on what you mean by tax cuts.”

“These are all provisions that cut your taxes,” she said, “but most of them are temporary,” designed to stimulate a floundering economy.”

and most of them are obtuse and worthless as well to the average working american.
adel

So the complaint goes from he has increased our taxes to… yes well perhaps but those 25 are not eternal and are not sharp enough… somehow “worthless” (not sure how you evaluate cash back as without worth)… Felix posts commentary from the Republican Whip warning us that taxes will rise for all if the Bush tax cuts are not extended… not true… That is the narrative from the top… see Sarah Palin on the Obama tax plan…

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/aug/06/sarah-palin/sarah-palin-said-democrats-have-no-plan-extend-som/

“The Democrats’ plan seems to me to be quite explicit: keep the tax cuts for those under $250,000 and let those for the rich expire,” said Norman Ornstein, resident scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, and a longtime watcher of Congress. “Does that mean never, ever taxing the under-$250 (thousand) populace? No. But it is a straightforward policy plan.”

Linking to an op-ed from the Republican Whip seems an odd way to discover objectivity… if that is in fact what you are looking for…
Azarkhan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWAl5V-SiKQ
gar

The only people who can honestly say they received a tax cut are the one’s who lost their jobs, got their hours cut, or took reduced pay.The rest of us took out a long term deferred loan with China, Japan, and India which will show up later on our paychecks as deductions.Why isn’t this administrations approval rating through the roof with how they’ve handled the economy with these wonderful tax cuts?
adel

Azarkhan said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWAl5V-SiKQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbyFeFhUTmI&feature=channel
Azarkhan

Adel,

Not into the New Left, or the Old Left, but thanks anyway!
glenn113

Frank Graham is nothing like is father. Billy Graham would never have never condemed anyone for what their belief was and in fact welcomed all people of different faiths to his crusades. Billy Graham never mixed politics with religion. I’m sure he is ashamed of his son.
adel

Azarkhan said:
Adel,

Not into the New Left, or the Old Left, but thanks anyway!

Sure that you are not…
adel

gar said:
The only people who can honestly say they received a tax cut are the one’s who lost their jobs, got their hours cut, or took reduced pay.The rest of us took out a long term deferred loan with China, Japan, and India which will show up later on our paychecks as deductions.Why isn’t this administrations approval rating through the roof with how they’ve handled the economy with these wonderful tax cuts?

EPI Working Paper
http://epi.3cdn.net/d144a03f5b38f7a137_aqm6b9p0y.pdf

Key Findings

- Countries historically do not cut their deficits in a slump, instead addressing these problems during a non-recessionary time.

- When countries cut in a slump, it often results in lower growth and/or higher debt-to-GDP ratios. In very few circumstances are countries able to successfully cut during a slump, and this happens only when either interest rates and/or the exchange rates fall sharply.

- In our analysis, we find that there is no episode in which a country facing the same circumstances as the United States (recent recession, low interest rates, high unemployment) has cut its deficit and succeeded in reducing its debt through growth.

- We conclude that there is little evidence provided by A & A that cutting the federal deficit in the short-term, under the conditions the United States currently faces, would improve the country’s prospects. It may even make the United States’ situation far worse.
Azarkhan

Quite sure.
StandUp

Azarkhan said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWAl5V-SiKQ

Great song. Stevie Ray Vaughn does a good cover of this one.
StandUp

glenn113 said:
Billy Graham would never have never condemed anyone for what their belief was

glenn113 said:
I’m sure he is ashamed of his son

wtf?
adel

glenn113 said:
Frank Graham is nothing like is father. Billy Graham would never have never condemed anyone for what their belief was and in fact welcomed all people of different faiths to his crusades. Billy Graham never mixed politics with religion. I’m sure he is ashamed of his son.

Except that is not true… remember the Nixon Tapes?

http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=29272
Azarkhan

StandUp said:
Great song. Stevie Ray Vaughn does a good cover of this one.

It’s good, but my favorite cover of his is Voodoo Child (slight return).
shootfromthehip

I’ll go ahead and agree on that, Azarkhan (quite possibly the only thing me (and Stand Up) will agree on. SRV was great.
StandUp

shootfromthehip said:
I’ll go ahead and agree on that, Azarkhan (quite possibly the only thing me (and Stand Up) will agree on. SRV was great.

Thanks for ruining it for me :)
The Real Royal King

To be sure, I find Franklin Graham to be a terrible spokesman for the faith, and I reject what he has said. However, Billy Graham was hardly a voice of tolerance.

VARIETY AND CHOICE ABOUND:
HATE AND LIES, OR LIES AND HATE.
THOUGH FACTS AND NEWS CAN’T BE FOUND
SAVE FACTS AND NEWS WE CREATE.
TCinAZ

shootfromthehip shootfromthehip says:
There is no “debate” about Obama’s religion. He is a Christian, not a Muslim.

END OF STORY.

Well I could Leave My House dressed as an Evzone every Morning and walk into work singing Θεοτόκον (the Hymn of the Divine Liturgy of St. John referring to the Virgin Mary), and let’s Also Presume that my Mother is Just an fuzzy-past American who has preached the Gospel of KKE for HER whole life, and that My Father and Stepfather are Muslims. And that Granny, Gramps, and my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Half-Sisters and half-brothers who live in an Athens slum on Dad’s side are all muslims . And “I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries.”, and my former Preacher is a Malcom eX(marks the spot) Muslim Too. Oh, But I’m NO Haji. Sure I Walk like one, and I Talk like one, And I Quack like one, But I don’t Dress like One – Anymore. So I’m a Christian.. or An “Atheist”. YUP. I’m not a Lapsed or Taqqiya Muslim. And why Not? Because I SAY SO! Because My Records Are Sealed! That’s Why! So I’m A Christian-Non Believer Damn it! “Trust Me”! Or just Meet Me at the 50-Yard Line for a Coin Toss Tomorrow and we’ll decide Again what it is that am.

Ps. TOTUS couldn’t even commit to which was his favorite Baseball Team! Love the White Sox but… Yeah Ok. I guess “I Heart” The White Sox.

END OF STORY.
Azarkhan

SRV-In 2003, he was ranked #7 in Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Here is the list:

http://www.listology.com/story/rolling-stone-100-greatest-guitarists
Pablo

Azarkhan said:
It’s good, but my favorite cover of his is Voodoo Child (slight return).

They’re both great, but I’d have to go with Little Wing. Damn, but that boy could play.
StandUp

Azarkhan said:
SRV-In 2003, he was ranked #7 in Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.Here is the list: http://www.listology.com/story/rolling-stone-100-greatest-guitarists

Lot of great guitarists on that list…but they left out a few who should be in the top 20 at least – Alex Lifeson, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai & Eric Johnson. What do you think about them?
dlauf87

This would have been a good chance for CNN to host a debate. Unfortunately, they aren’t interested in that, they just want to tell you what to believe.

This professor didn’t explain the reverend’s statement at all he only said it was silly. It would have been nice to hear why there is a misunderstanding about the political aspect of Islam and to see some actual evidence to his claim that Muslims are not taught to hate Jews because there are passages in the Koran and several real life examples of Muslims being taught to hate Jews. This piece was very weak and I think that’s why CNN’s ratings are hurting.
StandUp

Should have said – in my opinion
puck30

StandUp said:
Lot of great guitarists on that list…but they left out a few who should be in the top 20 at least – Alex Lifeson, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai & Eric Johnson. What do you think about them?

This guy should have been higher up on the list too…………….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onfcy8fcIJY
Azarkhan

Pablo said:
They’re both great, but I’d have to go with Little Wing. Damn, but that boy could play.

I listened to Stevie Ray’s “Little Wing” and I’m definitely on board-beautiful guitar work.

Check out this vintage clip of the MC5. Whatever the guitarist Wayne Kramer is on, I want some!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnIp0l4_9FA&feature=related
StandUp

puck30 said:
This guy should have been higher up on the list too…………….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onfcy8fcIJY

Damn, I could talk about guitarists all night, but I need at least 4 hours sleep b4 work

Buchannan sorta reminds me of Gary Moore or Tinsley Ellis…what little I listened to. Not too familiar with his music, but I will be.

Got some sleep music lined up for now – Pink Floyd’s Shine on you Crazy Diamond
Azarkhan

Ditto.
puck30

http://www.we7.com/#/song/Elmore-James/Hawaiian-Boogie
dowdaytrader

shootfromthehip said:
Here are the facts: Obama’s tax policy has NOT raised taxes on those making less than 25OK a year. We have all received tax breaks.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html

The promise was not broken, but the right wing’s promise to lie and crank up the disinfo machine to 11 has been kept.

Obama raised taxes on all tanning salon beds via the healthcare “reform” bill he signed…people that make LESS THAN $250,000 pay this $10 tanning bed tax….Obama has broken his no taxes raised on the middle class pledge.
NORBIT

Like a true, indoctrinated left-wing professor, HE WOULDN’T ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION!
He just tried the Smear-&-Run tactic so polpular with the PROFESSIONAL LEFT!!!
kit9

Wait a minute. Obama’s father was Muslim and was a Muslim when he was born…Obama attended a Muslim school as young child briefly. I didn’t read this in some nutty right wing blog..I read it in Newsweek during the campaign
Some_Dude

Moderate said:
What happens if you are born into Islam, Muslim scholars are divided on this.

It’s clear it’s a patriarchal religion, as far as they’re concerned regarding inheritance. But that doesn’t matter, obviously, as an individual is free to choose their religion regardless of what some source of dogma may say.

There’s also the fact that Obama’s father was a Christian at the time of his birth. So even if the reverends argument/statement had any intellectual integrity, it’s effectively moot.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Rebecca-Cole/1816764126 Rebecca Cole

In the Muslim world Obama would be deemed a Muslim ~ in places like Egypt or Malaysia he would be put into prison for not practising ‘his’ religion of Islam.

Why?

Because under Islamic law no one and I repeat no one is allowed to leave the religion of Islam. That means that once a parent converts his children and his /their grandchildren would be forcibly converted to Islam. See ‘Compass Direct’ for current cases.

But one of the most notable was an Egyptian case ~ where the father had converted to Islam when the children were little to obtain a divorce ~ the Coptic Church does not issue divorces. Then he concealed the fact that he had converted ~ until it was discovered when his daughters reached their mid 30′s. Both were imprisoned for 3 years for not practising ‘their’ Islamic faith. Since a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man their marriages would have to be annulled ~ they were imprisoned or sentenced Sept 2008. And the court declared that their children and their grandchildren will all be Muslim.

More recently in Egypt two teenage boys were forcibly converted ~ again because their father wanted a quick Islamic divorce.

It is a tragedy!

Under Islam law Obama would be deemed a Muslim and if he were living in one of these countries ~ he would suffer like all other apostates ~ tortured and repeatedly jailed, passport confiscated. See a report written by Human Rights Watch on the matter. It reports that some converts from Islam choose to live in hiding, with their ‘undocumented’ children, in the hope that in the next generation ~ by giving the child a neutral name the family can re-emerge as Christians. The trouble started in Egypt when records became computerised.

One man and his daughter recently applied to the Egyptian court to acknowledge their Christian status, the last we heard they had their travel documents confiscated at the airport ~ were living on the run and the little girl had acid thrown at her. She famously wrote a letter to Obama telling him of her and her father’s plight.

In Egypt Bahai children can’t attend school because of their faith.

All non-Muslims in the Islamic world live as 2nd class citizens ~ they don’t have equal rights with Muslims ~ to change one’s status is simple ~ one must convert to Islam. See Dhimmi laws.

Allying yourself with Islam blindly ~ is not necessarily wise.

On Graham other comments ~ the Koran does tell Muslims to attack all non-Muslims [Koran 9:29]
glenn113

adel said:
Except that is not true… remember the Nixon Tapes? http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=29272

Apples and Oranges. That was a comment made personal to Nixon which he didn’t remember and was not evil like Franklin. Not even remembering he apologized for it. I dare you to show me where Billy Graham went on the air or public and denounce a religion like his son. Won’t happen.
Pablo

StandUp said:
Damn, I could talk about guitarists all night, but I need at least 4 hours sleep b4 work

The best blues guitarist you’ve never heard of: Chris Duarte. If you have a chance to see him (and he’s on tour now!), don’t miss it. You’ll be blown away.
StandUp

Pablo said:
The best blues guitarist you’ve never heard of: Chris Duarte. If you have a chance to see him (and he’s on tour now!), don’t miss it. You’ll be blown away.

I’ve actually heard of him, but not heard his music. Checking out the website now listening to C-Butt Rock – I like it…can’t go wrong with Texas-style blues.

Might check him out in October at the Double Door in Charlotte, NC, it’s only 1 hour away.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

TfT says: “CNN lies; everyone knows they lie, and that is why their ratings are in the tank.”

If lying were related to ratings, the Fox Republican Propaganda machine would be at the bottom of the ratings and Beck would have been gone long ago.

No, ratings are based upon people’s bias. As Americans become more partisan, Fox and MSNBC go up in the ratings while an objective network, a genuinely fair and balanced network like CNN (now that they’ve dumped Dobbs) is not what partisans want to watch.
greg454

Let’s see, when he spoke at Georgetown he had his goons cover the cross, yet when he spoke in Egypt he refered to the Quran as “our holy q’uran.” If he’s not a Muslim, why use “our” when talking about the Muslim holy book? IF anything, Obama seems to me like a CINO – Christian In Name Only. Then again, neither Barrack nor Hussein are Christian names, so our half-cracker in the White House can’t even brag about having a Christian name.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

greg454 says: “Let’s see, when he spoke at Georgetown he had his goons cover the cross, yet when he spoke in Egypt he refered to the Quran as “our holy q’uran.” If he’s not a Muslim, why use “our” when talking about the Muslim holy book? IF anything, Obama seems to me like a CINO – Christian In Name Only. Then again, neither Barrack nor Hussein are Christian names, so our half-cracker …”

And how are you NOT a racist? You remind me of Beck, quoting Obama out of context. Without that, one can only guess what he meant – if he actually said – “our” Koran or Quran. Can you point to the text?

Greg, who are you to pass judgement on Obama’s faith?
greg454

I didn’t say anything remotely racist, but then again, you liberals think that if I say I like white chocolate more than black chocolate, that’s a racist statement. Koran, Quran, Q’uran, I’ve seen it spelled in so many ways. Whatever dude, go back to masturbating to a picture of Obama. Silly Obama-lover you.
ladyruth54

If you like blues, check out Joe Bonamassa. IMHO HE is the BEST guitarist around.

http://jbonamassa.com/
sarainitaly

Perhaps I missed it, but I didn’t hear him refudiate Franklin Graham’s statements about Obama being born a Muslim, as the son of a Muslim. He just accused him of spreading disinformation…. He didn’t counter with any facts. Everything I have read says that if your father is Muslim, you are considered a Muslim.
Sean68

timzank said:
Franklin Graham is not the reason so many people think Barry is a Muslim, it’ s his BEHAVIOR that causes people to think that. My guess is, he’s an atheist, in spite of the brand new “Christian Crusade” launched by the white House. You’d think all these new examples of Barry’s devout and daily prayer would make the lefties nervous.

That’s my contention as well. His christianity is little more than a political pose. If you read what he says about how he “came to the lord” (or however he put it), it sounds as bogus as a 3-dollar bill. I have very little doubt that Obama is typical of most left-wing academic types: he’s an atheist/agnostic (as am I).
Sean68

Azarkhan said:
SRV-In 2003, he was ranked #7 in Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.Here is the list: http://www.listology.com/story/rolling-stone-100-greatest-guitarists

Predictably sucky list. The disgraceful omission of Mick Taylor makes it so.
http://none pyrope

Since, in one of the two autobiographies allegedly written by Barack Hussein -0bama, he said that he attended a Muslim school for two years, one must deduce that–at least at the time he was in attendance–Mr. -0bama was, in fact, a Muslim. Analogy: How many non-Catholics attend Catholic schools?

Now, since Mr. -0bama has not outrightly informed us as to what is his religious faith of preference (although he did attend the so-called “Reverend” Wrights Church of Universal Hate for 20 years), we are correct to be left not knowing whether he has a religious preference. He ditched the National Day of Prayer but has prayed in numerous mosques. What does that leave you to think?
jpopplewell

I agree with an earlier comment (Kevin Zimmerman) that I found Stephen Prother to be interesting and informed in his discussion with John King. I would add that had King truly wished to educate the public on the context of Frankln Graham’s remarks, he could have invited both a Christian and a Muslim scholar to provide a deeper insight into Muslim beliefs as well as Franklin’s interpretation of them. However, with the trend towards dumbing down the analysis of news to produce instantly recognizable pigeonholes via soundbites and labels, that would surely exceed what we can expect from our media.