This review of the available documentation and history depicts a picture slightly different to the one presented in pt bridgeport’s dismissive tone:
http://www.danielpipes.org/article/5286
However, his religious affilliations as a child seem less onerous than his Christian avowal as a mature adult. And he brings up his daughters as Christians, which, if anyone is interested in such things, should clarify the matter once and for all.
It is possible to look at his Muslim roots in the same way we assess Sarkozy’s Jewish roots. Was he compromised by those blood connections? No. What bothered the Muslim voters in France about him was his declared friendship with Israel and the US.
Obama’s willingness to speak to Israel’s enemies disturbs some Jewish-American voters. That’s an issue that should concern not only Jewish voters. In my opinion, he was beginning to backtrack a little in the last debate with Clinton, when he agreed that any talks with any hostile party should be preceded by proper preparation. So he is eschewing the more explicit “no pre-conditions” in favour of less aggressive formulation, but the denouement is not much different than what is happening today.
He tries not to be too explicit in his condemnations and embraces (as exemplified in the little kerfuffle about Farrakhan). This might be a hint as to how he will conduct himself as a president. Perhaps he subscribes to the dictum: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Who knows, he might yet turn out to be of Machiavellian genius and really bring a change in the way things are done in Washington…
