Local mosque leader: Obama should decry bigotry when refuting Muslim rumors

Islamic International News By Assyarkhan / Adi Supriadi

Both major-party presidential candidates have shared the dilemma in recent months of having to distance themselves from outrageous statements made by pastors they’ve had in their corner.

But Democrat Barack Obama’s unique cross to bear has been repeated assertions — repeatedly refuted — that he is a “secret” Muslim, despite his 20-year membership in a Christian church in Chicago.

Some political commentators insist on referring to the presumptive Democratic nominee as B. Hussein Obama, emphasizing his middle name and, thus, his “suspect” origins.

Al Siddiq, president of the Islamic Center of Waco for some 20 years, said he understands Obama’s need to deny he is a Muslim. But he just wishes the candidate would be more adamant in denouncing the bigotry behind the charges.

After all, there are an estimated 8 million Muslim-Americans, a third of whom are native-born, and they will be voting this fall.

Siddiq said he’s been watching Obama and Republican John McCain’s wooing of the Judeo-Christian faith-based vote with interest from the sidelines.

“Obama seems to be a bold and solid candidate. But slowly he is becoming a politician,” said Siddiq, a local businessman who has been an American citizen since 1984.

Siddiq said that in discussions among worshippers at Waco’s first mosque, many express their support for Obama, based on his stance about ending the war in Iraq.

Siddiq, himself a U.S. Army veteran, said he is less impressed with Navy veteran McCain, who he said “is beating the same drum as Bush.”

As for recent flaps with Obama and the Muslim community — such as his campaign’s asking two hijab-clad women to refrain from sitting within camera-sight at a rally — Siddiq said he is pragmatic but not cynical.

“He has to be a politician in order to get into office. I cannot hold that against him,” Siddiq said.

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