Urge Obama to convert to Islam and educate Americans that what they have
been told about
Islam are lies propagated by anti Muslim bigots.
Obama's spokesman called the cartoon
"tasteless and offensive" [AFP]
Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate, has spoken out about
the satirical
depiction of him and his wife on a magazine cover, calling it an insult to
Muslims.
Speaking on Tuesday night on the CNN's Larry King show, Obama said the
cartoon, which depicts
him and his wife as flag-burning "radicals", did not bother him.
"You know, there are wonderful Muslim Americans all across the country who
are doing wonderful
things and for this to be used as sort of an insult, or to raise
suspicions about me, I think
is unfortunate," he said.
Obama blamed himself for not being forceful enough in challenging some of
the misconceptions
about him, including the false belief held by some Americans that he is a
Muslim.
"I do think that, you know, in attempting to satirise something, they
probably fuelled some
misconceptions about me instead," he said.
"But, you know, that was their editorial judgment. And as I said,
ultimately, it's a cartoon,
it's not what the American people are spending a lot of their time
thinking about."
The cover of The New Yorker magazine, which went on sale on Monday,
depicts Obama in what many
see as "Muslim clothing" - sandals, robe and turban - while Michelle
Obama, his wife, has an
assault rifle slung over one shoulder and is dressed in camouflage and
combat boots.
Bill Burton, Obama's spokesman, termed it "tasteless and offensive".
David Remnick, The New Yorker editor, has defended the cover, saying it
was satirical and was
chosen because it had something to say.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2008/07/200871632055291361.html
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com
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