What is wrong with having a Muslim as president?

[Banquo's Ghost]

This thread is not about the US election per se, but an intriguing question that has arisen from some of the attacks and misconceptions heaped upon Senator Obama. Despite irrefutable evidence otherwise, the charge that he is a muslim appears to have stuck in some circles, and evidently has power to dent, if not derail, his campaign.

But as General Powell so eloquently asked: Why shouldn't it be possible for a muslim American to run for president?

This opinion piece from the Irish Times provokes some questions, the answers to which I would interested in reading.

Maybe different groups just take turns at being the victim. Jewish people had a stint, black people are hopefully coming out of theirs, and it looks like the group of the moment are the Muslims. All it took was one or two unhinged groups and a couple of acts of terrorism. Now, one can almost publicly say things like "they don't like us", "they have a violent culture", or "they think we are all infidels and want to take over the West".

What about other groups? If the idea of a Latino or a Muslim in the White House is beyond belief, what does that say of American society? Either the White House is strictly reserved for those who profess to be orthodox Christians (that excludes Mormons like Mitt Romney) and the whole notion of plurality is a lie, or something has gone wrong.

[Xiahou]

But as General Powell so eloquently asked: Why shouldn't it be possible for a muslim American to run for president?

As long as enough of their policy views line up with mine, I don't care what religion or race they are. I think Powell was a little hypocritical in his criticism along those lines. For every time a McCain supporter suggested Obama was a muslim, Obama supporters have just as vehemently tried to shout it down, as though being muslim would be some fatal character flaw. He's not a muslim, he's a christian- but so what if he was? Using his middle name has also become a smear, or even a racist attack- why?

I guess, to answer the question, I personally, don't care what a candidate's specific religion is. But, judged by the reactions on both sides to muslim insinuations on both sides, society as a whole apparently isn't ready for it.

[drone]

A Muslim president? We cannot have a president that takes orders from Mecca!

Or where ever they take their orders from...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[rvg]

Because people tend to vote for what they know and understand. Islam is still largely and enigma in our society, and the antics put up by various crazies in the middle east do not exactly help its image. A muslim presidential candidate will have serious trouble connecting with the bulk of the voters, and while he might do well in the oval office, there's practically no chance for a muslim to get there.

[ICantSpellDawg]

In all fairness - the accusations are not simply that he is a Muslim, but that he has been lying about his faith in order to subvert criticism of his Muslim faith. That would be a major concern if the rumors were true.

Other than that, any faith that is outside of the US mainstream brings deeply held beliefs that might be hard for large swathes of society to accept. The more exotic, the more different ideals, the more people will question them.

Look at what they did to Romney over his faith.

[rvg]

Look at what they did to Romney over his faith.

Yes. Tom Cruise too, should never bother running for president.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I think Powell was a little hypocritical in his criticism along those lines. For every time a McCain supporter suggested Obama was a muslim, Obama supporters have just as vehemently tried to shout it down, as though being muslim would be some fatal character flaw.

Angry redneck: I'm not voting for Barack HUSSEIN Obama because he's a muslim!
Obama supporter: Actually, he isn't: *proof*

or

Angry redneck: I'm not voting for Barack HUSSEIN Obama because he's a muslim!
Obama supporter: What's wrong with being muslim?

[Fragony]

One word, takiyya.

[Koga No Goshi]

For every time a McCain supporter suggested Obama was a muslim, Obama supporters have just as vehemently tried to shout it down, as though being muslim would be some fatal character flaw.

I personally do NOT shout it down when I hear it passed around. I have always responded to the rumor with "And what if he was?"

I think it's a little bit of spin to say Dems are just as endorsing of the idea that "it's bad to be Muslim." I am sure you can find Dems who'd never vote for one (just as you'd find Dems who'd never vote for a black man.) But I think the outrage has a little more to do with the fact that, I dunno, it's a complete lie being made up to hurt our party by playing on ignorance. I think you'd see the same reaction from Dems if they heard from Republicans all the time that Obama had seven toes.

It would not make any difference whatsoever to me. I am not Christian and I have never even had the option of voting for a major party candidate who was not Christian, or at least did not heavily profess to be one. As long as their religious views (be they Sikh or Christian or Muslim or Buddhist) does not underline and inform their policy views on everything and God doesn't tell them which wars to start, my vote is within their potential reach.

[rvg]

I personally do NOT shout it down when I hear it passed around. I have always responded to the rumor with "And what if he was?"...

Realistically, it would likely be the kiss of death for his presidential bid.

[Koga No Goshi]

Realistically, it would likely be the kiss of death for his presidential bid.

Of course it would. No one denied most Americans are stupid and hypocritically prejudiced, even within the confines of the "freedoms" they profess to stand for.

[rvg]

Of course it would. No one denied most Americans are stupid and hypocritically prejudiced, even within the confines of the "freedoms" they profess to stand for.

Well, I will certainly deny that. People have a very natural tendency to gravitate towards their own kind. There's nothing wrong with that. Thus, Waspy McWaspers will always stand a better chance of getting elected than anyone else, while a muslim's chances will be slim provided that his opponent is not a complete idiot. People out of two similar choices people will always vote for a safer one. That's quite the opposite of being stupid.

[Incongruous]

Of course it would. No one denied most Americans are stupid and hypocritically prejudiced, even within the confines of the "freedoms" they profess to stand for.

This is one of the issues, people such as yourself who profess to have no problems with Islamic presidents are slitting your own throats.
I find it amusing someone who claims a love of socialism to be so scathing of your fellow taxpayers, where is the respect?

This lack of respect and elitist midset will do nothing but cause your beliefs to fail, if you constantly gaze down at people they will push you over.

[yesdachi]

I don’t think a true Muslim could be the president of a nation of people that are not Muslims. The religion doesn’t seem to work well with the any kind of multiculturalism.

[Jolt]

[Stupid irony/McCainiac's men are dumb as hell]Because Muslims incite to global terrorrism![/stupid irony]

[atheotes]

i would say nothing's wrong. I dont think a person's religious beliefs have any bearing on his ability to lead a government..... also i dont think anyone whose defiining chrateristic is his religious belief might not make it as far as becoming a president...