SHELBYVILLE, Ind. - Barack Obama can talk about his childhood years in Kansas and upbringing by his white Midwestern grandparents, but if voters at one small-town Indiana cafe are any indication, he has a long way to go to convince them he represents heartland America.
“Obama has great ideas but his background scares me,” said Chris Leighton, 60, a secretary having lunch at the Chaperral Cafe in Shelbyville, in southeast Indiana. “Everyone talks about him being a Muslim and having ties to terrorism, but how do people really find out?” 
The incorrect belief that the Illinois senator is a Muslim was shared by half a dozen others in the restaurant — a sign that dirty campaign tactics and Internet innuendo has taken root among some voters in Indiana, the next state to vote.
Construction worker Ron Debaun, 61, said he hadn’t yet decided whether he would support Obama or Hillary Clinton in Indiana’s May 6 primary, noting they both “have good ideas.” But he’s leaning toward Clinton.
What doesn’t he like about Obama?
“His Muslim ties,” said Debaun.
Why does he think Obama is a Muslim?
“Let’s just say that he admits it himself,” he said.
Retired locksmith Leslie Hedman, 61, said he doesn’t like any of the three candidates — Clinton, Obama, or Republican John McCain – because none are committed Christians.
“Obama is a Muslim,” he said. Where did he hear that?
“He said he was but then he said he’s not,” said Hedman.
Ironically enough, many of the lunchtime crowd said they were also turned off by Obama’s ties to Rev. Jeremiah Wright – the former pastor of Obama’s Christian church in Chicago, Trinity United Church of Christ.
“I definitely don’t like Obama because of the mess with him and his pastor. I don’t think he’s been honest about it,” said Candace Demmin, 37, as she had lunch with her mom.
“How can you go to a church for 20 years and not heard your minister say something off-color? Either he’s heard it and is lying about it, or he’s lying about going to church as much as he does,” said Demmin. “In which case he’s not the Christian he says he is.”
Obama strongly denounced his former pastor on Tuesday and called his racially charged comments “appalling.”
And if Obama’s Muslim ties and Christian pastor aren’t bad enough, his atheism is the last straw.
“A person who doesn’t believe in anything? I don’t want anything to do with him,” said cafe owner and Clinton supporter Shirley Bailey, 70. “He says he won’t take an oath on the Bible, he won’t salute the American flag. That doesn’t sit well with me.”
Obama was sworn in at the U.S. Senate with his hand on a Bible. He stopped wearing an American flag lapel pin — standard issue for U.S. politicians — saying that a pin on the chest matters less than what’s in the heart.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/Andrea Hopkins (Shirley Bailey, owner of the Chaperral Cafe in Shelbyville, Indiana, said she can’t support Barack Obama in Indiana’s May 6 primary because of his religious views. Many of her customers agreed.)
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this article is a shame!what do people think of Hillary’s connection to a group called the fellowship?
- Posted by Ann CoumoIt’s just killing you far-left liberals that your deceitful ‘politician’ - your golden boy Obama doesn’t resonate well with most Hoosiers, especially now that his association with the racist, America-hating Wright, Rezco and the terrorist bomber Ayres have surfaced. That’s one thing about Midwesterners, we can see through the glitter straight to the deceit and arrogance AND the inexperience. It’s funny that when we have opinions that differ from yours, we’re considered racist, ignorant and unenlightened. Now, WHO is the ignorant ones? People like you are the reason ‘hypocrite’ is a word.
But don’t fret about your leader; he’ll get a good showing in Indiana. In Gary, close to Chicago - where the population is almost 100% black, Indianapolis with a large population of blacks and liberal whites, and in the liberal college towns like Lafayette or Bloomington where IU is located, tons of liberal professors reside there who have indoctrinated their students well. There will be plenty of young, ‘enlightened’ anti-America professors and students to vote for your candidate. Now, THEY resonate well with Obama and his lovely “America is down-right mean” and “I’ve never been proud of my country until now” (until hubby started doing well in the polls) wifey-poo Michelle. Ahhh….what a great AMERICAN First Lady she would be, eh?
This small town, Hoosier republican – who, by the way, has done her research and is indeed ‘informed’, is doing my part and voting for Hillary May 6 JUST TO STOP OBAMA. I’m telling my republican family and friends to do the same; come November we’ll hold our noses and vote for McCain.
- Posted by BrendyJeremiah Wright here is what you need to know.
- Posted by hHe is an enabler of US military marksmen commencing
friendly fire. This man is deadly for the USA ,Just
listen to the tape 2001 played today at Hannity Radio Show.
Hannity overheard it , so did not comment on it.
SEN Obama is finished because these gang wars experienced Reverands Manings , Aires etc. will now extort him.
If we are lucky , the Fort Dix Bombing investigation will be re-opened and bring even charges against SEN Obama .Makes sense,because in SF CA Speech we learned he would like
his supporters to get their guns ready and expect command and control from the pulpit . The wrap song star ‘ showed
allegiance to those pulpits.
Today the tide has turned.SEN Obama split up with the previous planed command and control structure. It is the fight about being in control of the million men holding on to their guns in USA . It is not presidential , SEN Obama.Newt Gingrich, one of the brightest heads in this USA, sees you downhill also . It is the “milieu” that is not acceptable, the millieu SEN Obama is coming from, he would never make it for a top secret clearance .
Forget about these people. They are just dumb-asses.
- Posted by edSEN Obama will stand with the muslims , he said in his book ‘audacity of hope’
- Posted by hYou have to challenge him now about this , not later
when 3/4 of our cities are all blown to pieces.
Obama supporters should stop insulting the people of Indiana. They will be voting next and they may not vote for your candidate. That’s their choice. Since you know him best, name some of his accomplishments. There’s nothing listed on his website.
- Posted by goldenstateObama doesn’t care about changing America. Obama is as ego centric as his ex-pastor and only got truly offended when Wright called him out as being the say anything politician that he truly is.
Why did Obama pick Wright’s church in the first place? Probably because at the time he thought it would be politically advantageous to do so.
- Posted by davidWendy - Obama’s legislative accomplishments were in his final 7th year and were handed to him by his mentor, IL State Senate President Emil Jones. These small town people are proud of where they come from, insulting them will push them farther away from Obama. So don’t be to surprised if blue states go red if Obama is the nom. The idea of the far left liberals picking our president might be to much for small town voters.
- Posted by Windy in ChicagoHow the American people react to the Wright controversy and the innuendos that Obama is a Muslim is a test of how mature they are in the areas of racial and religious tolerance. Apparently, though, many Americans have not gotten over their racial and religious bigotry, whether they are aware of it or not, whether they admit it or not. No wonder, America continues to lose respect, prestige and moral ascendancy around the world. Electing a man to the presidency despite his dark skin and Muslim-sounding name, but who is a unifier and had the right judgment not to support a foolish misadventure can probably restore some of that lost respect and prestige.
- Posted by Joel BFor those who took the time to watch Bill Moyers interview Reverend Wright on his PBS show The Journal, they would know that he is a highly intelligent articulate man who served his country for six years in the military, spent the last 40 years attending to his church, operating so many social outreach programs, building the congregation from under a hundred to several thousands. The snippets are cruelly out of context and completely misrepresent the man. When he gave the speech at the National Press Club, again the networks took snippets and edited out the cheers and the applause his answers received. But he then went wild at the NAACP meeting, mocking his denouncers and acting rather irreverently - ignoring the political repercussions of his actions.
If Obama can weather this storm, and I believe he can, he will prove himself to be a formidable adversary to McCain, a tired old school politician with no demonstrable ability for higher office. But then he doesn’t have a hard act to follow, does he?
America has a golden opportunity to redeem itself with this election cycle. Obama has integrity and intelligence. Clinton has shown her hand several times now, proving that she represents old school politics ever bit as archaic as McCain. She doesn’t represent change. And her hawkish rhetoric won’t make friends around the world either.
So the choice appears in the next two stages, a great step forward or running on the spot. One brings promise, the other more of the same.
- Posted by MMThe media has only focused on McCain, Clinton, & Obama. There are more candidates running in the presidential race. It’s too bad that realistically we can’t get a decent person elected in this country. The very rich corporations and big wigs that run America decide our fate with money, propaganda, and the media so even if you think that Obama rocks it’s because you’ve been swayed that way. New and exciting doesn’t mean the best person for the job. By the way I wish we would stop with the racist America crap I won’t vote for Obama not because he’s Black but because he’s other things that don’t fit with my idea of a good president. I also won’t vote for Hillary not because she’s a woman but again because she’s other things that don’t fit with my idea of a good President. I won’t vote for McCain just because he’s a white man. no way. I wish someone like Sec. Rice was running I really like her AND OH MY GOSH she’s black and a woman.I say Shame on Americans still shoveling the race card it’s so tacky and out of date.
- Posted by DawnTales from the Trail
Man love publicity, and it took 45 minutes of the last debate before getting into the issues that is important for the country.
- Posted by glennWhy 2x another debate, can this improve the facts that Michigan and Florida votes are now relevant. all the problems we create, proves we are double minded.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
To the moderator: Would you mind replacing “durka” with “Muslim”? I used 4chan slang for a Muslim and people might not understand that. Oops.
- Posted by Ricky the AmericanObama and Wright are smart, but Wright mainly wants to advance his agenda, play the prophet of old Israel, rather than try to achieve his agenda from behind the Sanhedrin’s (or Caesar’s, or Herod’s) curtain, while Obama wants essentially to be Caesar and try to change America that way. Both people have a point: Wright is whining about how America is unfair, and Obama is trying to make it less so. Unfortunately, Wright might be undermining his own ability to make America more fair. waaaaaay to go, moron. That and the support you gave of an anti-Semite (Louis Farrakhan) turned me off. I could care less whether Obama is an athiest, a durka, a believer in Hawaiian tikis, a Christian, or a worshippor of Mudkip, but he has to be fair, reasonable, and nice to Americans, and he has to try to associate with Americans who are nice to Americans as well. Not whiners with a point.
- Posted by Ricky the AmericanBarack Obama is always preaching about how what matters most is being right on day one, not ready like Hillary is. Well Obama is NEITHER, Obama is not right for America and he wasn’t right about Reverend Wright either! Wright was Obama’s mentor and spiritual adviser of 20 some odd years, 20 years, nearly half his entire life people., hello? Wright was the pastor that married Barack and Michelle Obama and Wright baptized Obama’s children! fact. How wrong could Obama be staying so closely associated with this racist, hate mongering preacher for 20 whole years. Those who know Wright have said he has always been like this, so it is safe to conclude Obama was not only WRONG about associating himself with Wright, he also knew all about Wright’s very wrong views of America, Catholics, Italians, Jews and all the others Wright has slandered and denounced. ENOUGH, Vote for Hillary Clinton, it is the only actual right thing to do!
- Posted by Hillary All the Way!!!Democracy gone wrong. It’s great to have these people casting votes.
- Posted by some guyOver half of the posters here show exactly why it was so easy to believe that Obama was being an Arrogant Elitist when he “mis spoke” in SF for Bittergate.
These posters are doing the same thing (most are SnobAmaBabies), so why wouldn’t anyone think Liberals are all arrogant elitists?
Read these posts! aImagine they were about blacks/hispanics/etc instead of just people in the Heartland. I don’t see any difference, But I’m sure the rest of you will try to rationalize your prejudices.
You are talking about real people here! Calling them idiots and such. Who made all of YOU idiot police?
Posts like “have any of these idiots read Obama’s books” WHAT? Now you are not smart or cool if you don’t run out and buy Obama’s trash? What are you people, grade school kids?
“As a hoosier, I am not shocked at how ridiculous the answers/responses from these people are. Shelbyville is hillbilly central anyhow. Why not interview in the “brighter” regions eg: Indianapolis, Muncie, Bloomington, Lafayette etc.
- Posted by Hoosiers are dumb ”
But they are VOTERS! So now you want to take away their rights to vote and have a voice?
And they are RACISTS because they don’t like a persons views, real or imagined?
- Posted by RoBoTechAnd Liberals are supposed to be “enlightened” and “progressive”. Well, from these posts, it’s obvious that’s crap.
You all make me sick!
And now I know I haven’t been wrong about Liberals, They ARE whiny wusses that get together and attack a whole group of people, not face to face, but in a closed fund raiser or behind a keyboard.
I owe you for that knowledge, at least.
Hagee
- Posted by Carole-AnneThis article is sad. It exemplifies Americans stupidity. How can Obama be condemned for his Christian pastor’s comments, and yet and still be of the Muslim faith? How can he be an atheist but have ties to the Muslim faith? Furthermore, I’m tired of hearing white America being so appalled at Rev. Wright’s comments. If you shared the history and daily experiences of African-Americans, then you to would be outraged at America’s racist, sexist, and classist practices. The people interviewed in this article do not want to admit that they are not comfortable voting for an African-American. Honestly, I don’t see the honor in being the President of a country who still allows people to be exploited and objectified on a daily basis. I hope Obama doesn’t when, because that would save his life. He’ll probably be assassinated before he could complete his first year in office.
- Posted by J.D.My wife, a European, groans at these stories, “It’s your country,” she says. “Want to go to mine now?”
- Posted by StuartNo, please. Please, America. Not all Indiana voters have ambient room temperature IQs. You: you’re literate. You’re reading this. You know Obama’s not a secret Muslim (and even Hillary “as-far-as-I-know” concurs). Rev. Wright is no Svengali. Eloquence is not automatically a sign of elitism.
Please, America, have lunch in a diner. Chat up the folks at the next table. If they fuss over an absent lapel pin, please set them straight. Gently. Don’t proselytize, it’s unnecessary. Just educate.
Just a little bit of common sense, liberally applied, and my wife will probably stop bringing home moving boxes.