http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25367461#25367461

“Bush said that in response to North Korea, the U.S. would erase trade sanctions under the Trading With the Enemy Act and notify Congress that in 45 days it intends to take North Korea off the State Department list of nations that sponsor terrorism.”
Source

So I have one burning question:

Why did the US put North Korea on the terrorism list in the first place? Because they sponsor terrorism or because they had an undocumented nuclear program? Does having nukes automatically qualify you for the list? Surely the problems with North Korea run deeper than this. Right? And, if having a nuke program translates into “sponsoring terrorism”, then I suspect all countries with a nuke program should be candidates for the list.

Oh, then there’s Iran…

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=25370634&#25370634

It is inaccurate to call Barack Obama a Muslim. Is it a slur?

The Obama campaign suggests it is. A new campaign Web site designed to air and rebut potentially damaging Internet rumors reads in one part: “Smear: Barack Obama is a Muslim… Truth: Sen. Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised as a Muslim and is a committed Christian.”

The characterization highlights a tricky balance the campaign is trying to strike: to tamp down false rumors — intended by some to link the Democratic presidential candidate to radical Islam — without offending Muslims and harming his image of inclusiveness.

Muslim-Americans have made up one of Sen. Obama’s most loyal bases of support since he announced his candidacy last year. But lately some Muslims, concentrated in several battleground states, say they are having second thoughts over his campaign’s ardent defense of his religious background.

 

http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=25029&&name=n&&currPage=1&&Active=1

As Senator Barack Obama courted voters in Iowa last December, Representative Keith Ellison, the country’s first Muslim congressman, stepped forward eagerly to help.

Mr. Ellison believed that Mr. Obama’s message of unity resonated deeply with American Muslims. He volunteered to speak on Mr. Obama’s behalf at a mosque in Cedar Rapids, one of the nation’s oldest Muslim enclaves. [b]But before the rally could take place, aides to Mr. Obama asked Mr. Ellison to cancel the trip because it might stir controversy. Another aide appeared at Mr. Ellison’s Washington office to explain.

“I will never forget the quote,” Mr. Ellison said, leaning forward in his chair as he recalled the aide’s words. “He said, ‘We have a very tightly wrapped message.’ ” [/b]

[b]While the senator has visited churches and synagogues, he has yet to appear at a single mosque. Muslim and Arab-American organizations have tried repeatedly to arrange meetings with Mr. Obama, but officials with those groups say their invitations — unlike those of their Jewish and Christian counterparts — have been ignored.[/b] Last week, two Muslim women wearing head scarves were barred by campaign volunteers from appearing behind Mr. Obama at a rally in Detroit.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25340374

Im gald that Muslim Americans are finally seeing the true colors of this FRAUD.

DETROIT (June 18) - A young Muslim woman said she and another woman were refused seats directly behind Barack Obama — and in front of TV cameras — at a Detroit rally because they wear head scarfs.

Hebba Aref said Wednesday that she and Shimaa Abdelfadeel were among 20,000 supporters who gathered to see the Democratic presidential hopeful on Monday at the Joe Louis Arena when the groups they were with were separately invited by Obama campaign volunteers to sit behind the podium. But Aref said the volunteers told members of both parties in separate discussions that women wearing hijabs, the traditional Muslim head scarves, weren’t included in the invitation and couldn’t sit behind the podium.

Aref, a 25-year-old lawyer, said a member of her group was told by a volunteer that she could not invite Aref because of “a sensitive political climate.”

Obama spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement saying such actions are “not the policy of the campaign.”

“It is offensive and counter to Obama’s commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run. We sincerely apologize for this behavior,” the statement read.

Aref said she replied by thanking Burton, but requested Obama apologize directly to her and Abdelfadeel, as well as invitations to sit behind him at a future campaign event. Obama spokeswoman Amy Brundage said the campaign has apologized.
“He needs to take the matter seriously and send a strong message against any kind of discrimination,” Aref said.

A message was left Wednesday morning by The Associated Press for Abdelfadeel.

Presidential campaigns routinely invite audience members they believe will enhance the image their candidate wants to convey on TV to stand behind the candidate at rallies.

Aref, who was born in the United States to Egyptian immigrants, said she had defended Obama during the primaries against a constant drumbeat of rumors that he was Muslim. Obama is a Christian.

Obama also has been careful in denouncing the links, noting that some rumors about him also have been insulting to Muslims.

“I don’t want to be called something I’m not, but I felt like … everyone was treating this accusation of being Muslim as though it were some sort of crime or sin,” Aref said.

She was grateful that the group she was with at the rally, which included her brother, Sharif, as well as non-Muslim colleagues of his, declined the invitation to take seats behind Obama after she was refused.

Still, she said, it was difficult to hear Obama’s message of unity among races.

“As he’s saying it, I’m thinking, ‘Well, wait a minute, I was obviously … profiled and discriminated against an hour ago.’”

This has to be the most powerful reason to make me get out there and go do a cleanse. Everytime I start having second thoughts about going through the inconvenience and uncomfort of doing a cleanse, I’m going to watch this. Jeez! Now watch this disgusting video of a real parasitic worm trying not to be stirred [...]

Clinton Says She Will Not Concede

This woman is unbelievable! She clearly does not have enough delegates. She clearly is behind. She just can’t move on. Every day she continues to fight Obama, is another day that he has to campaign, and another day less rest for the more important race.

To be fair though:

On NBC’s “Today Show,” Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said that once Obama gets the majority of convention delegates, “I think Hillary Clinton will congratulate him and call him the nominee.”

Which is the right thing to do, I suppose. She could save everyone a lot of effort if she just faces reality now of course.

Some gardeners worry how their garden will survive while they are away on holidays. With a little organization and preparation, you can go on holidays without worrying about facing impending doom in your veggie patch when you get home. 1: Plan the timing of your holiday. Don’t decide to go lay on a beach somewhere when [...]

According to the New York Times: “Senator Barack Obama has resigned his membership in Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ, which he attended for nearly two decades, following months of controversy about pastors and their political views.”

I wonder if this is political move… hmmn… Sounds like a political move to me. I doubt he would do this if he wasn’t running for president.

Here’s the additional spin:

Mr. Obama said that his resignation was not a matter of political convenience, but rather that he had reached the point where neither he nor Trinity’s pastors and congregants could worship in peace. He noted that reporters now pored over sermons and that some had called sick members at home to ask about the church.

Regardless, removing himself from the Church should give him a bit of a boost I think.