The Emergence of President Obama's Muslim Roots
June 02, 2009 6:58 PM

By the word of the Lord we stated emphatically a year ago; Barack Hussian Obama was and is a Muslim. Now, Obama Himself and the White House confirm that this is exactly so. For months after the election Obama has dropped his presense of being a Christian. He has had Christ and the cross covered when he has appeared in a Church and photos were taken. He has refused to become the member of any church in Washington DC. He and the White House turned their back on the national day of prayer. He turned down any declaration of the year of the bible.

In its place Obama has continually lifted up and exalted Islam at every opportunity, even bowing before the King of Saudi Arabia.

In the campaign Obama feigned offense at any suggestion of him being Muslim, he took offense at one speaking his full name, he hid his birth records, school records, collage records all of which declare his religion as Muslim.

Now his father he formerly declared an atheist, he now declares was Muslim. His Kenyan grandmother he declared a Christian, he now declares was a Muslim who paid for him to go to Mecca which is one of the most important and sacred things for a Muslim to do.

He further declares he has been a Muslim on THREE Continants. And finally where Obama declared months ago that America is NOT a Christian nation, he now declares America is a Muslim nation, one of the largest Muslim nations in the world.

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller report: The other day we heard a comment from a White House aide that never would have been uttered during the primaries or general election campaign.

During a conference call in preparation for President Obama's trip to Cairo, Egypt, where he will address the Muslim world, deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications Denis McDonough said "the President himself experienced Islam on three continents before he was able to -- or before he's been able to visit, really, the heart of the Islamic world -- you know, growing up in Indonesia, having a Muslim father -- obviously Muslim Americans (are) a key part of Illinois and Chicago."

Given widespread unease and prejudice against Muslims among Americans, especially in the wake of 9/11, the Obama campaign was perhaps understandably very sensitive during the primaries and general election to downplay the candidate's Muslim roots.

The candidate was even offended when referred to by his initials "BHO," because he considered the use of his middle name, "Hussein," an attempt to frighten voters.

With insane rumors suggesting he was some sort of Muslim Manchurian candidate, then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and his campaign did everything they could to emphasize his Christianity and de-emphasize the fact that his father, Barack Obama Sr., was born Muslim.

The candidate's comment at a Boca Raton, Florida, town hall meeting on May 22, 2008, was typical: "My father was basically agnostic, as far as I can tell, and I didn't know him," he said.

In September 2008, candidate Obama told a Pennsylvania crowd, "I know that I'm not your typical presidential candidate and I just want to be honest with you. I know that the temptation is to say, 'You know what? The guy hasn't been there that long in Washington. You know, he's got a funny name. You know, we're not sure about him.' And that's what the Republicans when they say this isn't about issues, it's about personalities, what they're really saying is, 'We're going to try to scare people about Barack. So we're going to say that, you know, maybe he's got Muslim connections.'...Just making stuff up."

Back then, the campaign's "Fight the Smears" website addressed the candidate's faith without mentioning his father's religion:

"Barack Obama is a committed Christian. (Not so) He was sworn into the Senate on his family Bible. (Only for show) He has regularly attended church with his wife and daughters for years. (Only for show to get the street credibility and blessing of this pastor who he has abandoned just as soon as he left Chicago) But shameful, shadowy attackers have been lying about Barack’s religion, claiming he is a Muslim instead of a committed Christian. When people fabricate stories about someone’s faith to denigrate them politically, that’s an attack on people of all faiths. Make sure everyone you know is aware of this deception."

The website also provided quotes from the Boston Globe and Newsweek mentioning his father's roots.

Since the election, however, with the threat of the rumors at least somewhat abated, the White House has been increasingly forthcoming about the president's roots. Especially when reaching out to the
Muslim world.

In his April 6 address to the Turkish Parliament, President Obama referenced how many "Americans have Muslims in their families or have lived in a Muslim majority country. I know, because I am one of them. (A Muslim American) "

- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller