Poll shows Americans are confused on Obama’s religion
A year and a half into his presidency, Americans appear to be growing more uncertain about Barack Obama’s religion.
A Pew Research Center survey shows that nearly one in five Americans — 18 percent — believe Obama is a Muslim, up from 11 percent in March 2009. Meanwhile only about one third of Americans surveyed correctly describe Obama as a Christian, a sharp decrease from the 48 percent who said he was a Christian in 2009.
The survey was completed in early August, before Obama backed the controversial construction of a proposed mosque and Muslim cultural center near the site of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York.
Obama said last week he believed Muslims had the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in the country and supported their right to build the center in lower Manhattan – comments that could add more confusion about his religion.
The Pew poll said the view that Obama is a Muslim is more widespread among political opponents than his supporters. In addition, beliefs about Obama’s religion appear closely linked to his job approval rating.
Among those who say Obama is Muslim, 67 percent disapprove of his job performance while a majority of those who think he is Christian approve of the job he is doing.
The poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life was conducted July 21-Aug 5 among 3,003 respondents.
Will latest polls weigh on Obama?
President Barack Obama summoned his war council today for what may be a pivotal meeting as he decides what to do in Afghanistan. While Obama weighs up his options on whether to send in more troops — with most money on about 30,000 more – he might also glance at the latest round of public opinion polls on Afghanistan.One by the Pew Research Center put Obama’s favorable job rating on Afghanistan at 36 percent, sharply down from 49 percent in July.On troop levels in Afghanistan, 40 percent say there should be fewer U.S. soldiers, 32 percent approve of an increase while 19 percent say current troop levels are satisfactory.A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released today found that 56 percent of respondents opposed sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan while 42 percent supported additional forces.Which way are you leaning? More troops, less, the same? Stay, go, the status quo? As commander-in-chief, will Obama go the way of Goldilocks and take the middle road, or will there be a surprise?Click here for more Reuters political coveragePhoto credit: Reuters/Jason Reed (Obama making statement about Fort Hood shootings)
The US has an interest in the Middle East and Asian regions. We have an interest in supporting the security and democracies from overthrow by islamic extremism, and intercountry terrorist groups such as the taliban, hamas, hezbollah, etc. We should not commit to long term troop build up without a country forming its own plan for securing its own country. We do not the full support of the people or region. Once we leave after sacrificing American lives and resources, we will have no benefit in this region. We need to focus on our own preparedness for national defense and reaction forces throughout the world. We need to focus on concerns over Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, the socialist movement in South America, and islamic radicalization throughout the world.
I could not care less what religion Obama is or if he is religious or not, I can’t see how it matters at all. We have a separation of church and state in our constitution for a reason.