In this Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller ABC report, the reporters seem to completely agree with the wisdom of President Obama's positioning when it comes to his Muslim roots. That is, the reporters accept that it was the smart thing to play those roots down back in the campaign but now to let 'em take center stage when the President goes to Cairo to make his much-ballyhooed "Muslim speech."Others would describe the President's pragmatics in different terms. Hypocrisy. Dishonesty. Chicanery. Flim-flam. Manipulation. Those are a few that come to mind.
Here's what slips from the ABC report.
The other day we heard a comment from a White House aide that never would have been uttered during the primaries or general election campaign.
During a conference call in preparation for President Obama's trip to Cairo, Egypt, where he will address the Muslim world, deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications Denis McDonough said "the President himself experienced Islam on three continents before he was able to -- or before he's been able to visit, really, the heart of the Islamic world -- you know, growing up in Indonesia, having a Muslim father -- obviously Muslim Americans (are) a key part of Illinois and Chicago."...
Since the election, however, with the threat of the rumors at least somewhat abated, the White House has been increasingly forthcoming about the president's roots. Especially when reaching out to the Muslim world.
In his April 6 address to the Turkish Parliament, President Obama referenced how many "Americans have Muslims in their families or have lived in a Muslim majority country. I know, because I am one of them."
