Washington (CNN) The Republican National Committee distanced itself Tuesday from a tweet issued by the committee's new media director, Todd Herman, which questioned whether President Obama himself is part of the 20 percent of the country that believes he is a Muslim.
"Watch – Is @BarackObama amongst the 20% who think he's Muslim?" Herman tweeted on Friday. The message included a link to an interview taped during the 2008 campaign in which Obama stumbled while explaining his religious views.
First reported Tuesday by Politico, the tweet prompted the RNC to make clear that President Obama's Christian faith is "crystal clear" and that the tweet was sarcastic in nature.
"An errant, or sarcastically-intended tweet aside, the RNC has never spoken about the President's Christianity because it is both crystal clear and a non-issue," RNC spokesman Doug Heye said in a statement. "What is an issue, and remains foremost in the minds of voters is the failed efforts of Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to grow jobs. Today, it was announced that existing home sales plunged by 27%; discussing this issue will serve the voters far better than any nonsense that won't employ a single American."
According to the survey released last week by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, nearly one in five Americans believe Obama is a Muslim, up from around one in 10 Americans who said he was Muslim last year.
While most of those who think Obama is Muslim are Republicans, the number of independents who believe he is Muslim has expanded significantly, from 10 percent last year to 18 percent now.
Talk of the poll results dominated Washington discourse last week, forcing the White House to reiterate that President Obama is a Christian.
"President Obama is a committed Christian, and his faith is an important part of his daily life," Deputy White House Communications Director Jen Psaki told CNN. "He prays every day, he seeks a small circle of Christian pastors to give him spiritual advice and counseling, he even receives a daily devotional that he uses each morning. The president's Christian faith is a part of who he is, but not a part of what the public or the media is focused on every day."
From CNN Politics
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How can any adult be a part of the ridiculous party. They have insulted EVERY group of people there are. I wish they had someone to tell them the shut up and sit down. They are truly scary!
Just proving again how low the repukes will go.
What a load of crap.
I don't know what faith the president truly has...I doubt he's a devout anything, frankly. But what people don't get is a persons faith, or lack of faith, really does matter. A religious faith is supposed to inform the whole person, not just a routine practiced one day a week. A godless individual is also informed by a godless philosophy...they think we are animals. And if this is so, why expect any more out of himself or others, than what they would expect from a monkey?
I am Independent but may soon change to no party. Independents are suppose to find the facts. Not fall into hate mongering and lies. Independent in my opinion is look at both sides and find the truth. I am ashamed to be an Independent..
it is ok if the gop says so
it was sarcastic
can someone explin to me if it is against the consitution for our president to be amuslim?
i dont understnad guy like mitch droopy dog mcconnell
Unfortunately, there have also been a lot of sarcastic, rude, disrespectful comments written on the Muslim believe that the seed of Islam is passed down from father to son and that you are born Muslim if your parent is Muslim.
Out of respect to the Muslim religion I believe Obama was born Muslim because of his father having been born Muslim ( seed of Islam) but Obama chose to become a Christian as an adult. I think many Americans lack knowledge of the Muslim faith, religion and that is reason for so many arguments, many don't even understand that Muslims believe religion controls their government, their countries.
"According to the survey released last week by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, nearly one in five Americans believe Obama is a Muslim, up from around one in 10 Americans who said he was Muslim last year."
Clearly he's twice the Muslim he used to be.
The RNC Is Stuck On Stupid, And High On Arrogance. They Just Don't Get Over There Do They?
Its this kind of "oops" "it was all in fun.. jk" crap that has this country on its knees!! Here we are in very serious times and this is the kind of crap the republicans are pulling!!! How very adult Christian of them to take cheap shots!! This stuff just fires up their base even more, more hate, more fear, more nonsense!!!!
These GOPers are amazing. Congress is potentially ready to be handed back to them in November and yet time after time they to create doubt in voters minds with episodes of bad judgement like this. Is there an adult in that party...?
Disgusting.
RNS continues to represent the worst disgrace. And this from their "media director" – Just pathetic.
Actually, downright slander, playing on old scare tactic tricks: I am white – this is racist in that it is playing on fear of what can be perceived 'different' from oneself.
Now that's funny! Take a chill pill Libbys!
"First reported Tuesday by Politico, the tweet prompted the RNC to make clear that President Obama's Christian faith is "crystal clear" and that the tweet was sarcastic in nature."
Oh, BULL! The RNC is just doing everything it can to fan the flames of ignorance, hatred, division and fear, in the hopes of driving their "base" to the polls in November!
But I guess we shouldn't be surprised; Republicans have absolutely NOTHING to offer the American people! All of their policies are proven failures – so they resort to all this nonsense!
The RNC, teabaggers, birthers, and rightwing religious nuts make me absolutely ILL! (And more committed than ever to not only go to the polls, but help get out the votes for the Democrats.)
Of course it was a joke. It's always a joke, right? Here's a typical day in the life of a Republican strategist.
1. Post ridiculous, baseless, hate-mongering quote or statement in regards to the President.
2. Play it off as a joke.
3. Smile and pet persian cat while the idiots at FOX news broadcast filth to more idiots watching FOX news.
It's always a joke with them. Always.
The Republicans will stoop to any low, openly lie, help to perpetuate false notions against Obama and the Dems, and do anything to shift blame from themselves. It's a disgrace to the Republicans and our nation. The GOP knows Obama is not a Muslim, but they love perpetuating the notion to the public. They should all be standing up for our country's democratically elected President in matters like these. They're despicable. It's one thing to not agree with his ideas and policies, it's another to mislead the public in desperate attempts to regain power.
"If you tell a big enough lie, and repeat it often enough, people will eventually come to believe it to be the truth."
Josef Goebells, Adolf Hitler's NAZI Propaganda Minister
I heard everyone in the RNC is a scientologist or a satanist.
Hysterical huh?
That's pretty funny. Why would that cause a stir?
The GOP is filled with racist hypocrites. I know. Take me at my word.
We know republicans are scum. This little freudian slip is more proof.
I think RNC is better off spending time in strip clubs than in twitter!!
typical....we're just kidding
Typical Republican response!!! Open mouth and insert foot, then say I was misquoted, misspoke, ete!!!
President Obama has stated time and time again that he is a Christian and that his CHRISTIAN faith is an important part of his life. Yet the Republicans have persisted on the inaccurate fact that he is a Muslim, that he is not an US citizen and other facts. If you repeat a lie long and loud enough, people will assume it is fact. I wish the Repubs would spend as much time and energy helping the American people out of the ditch they put us in than spreading the slander and lies about President Obama!!!
With all the crap the Repubs are generating, we could be a "green" country in no time!!!
This has gone too far. The GOP shouldn't be surprised if they provoke a Civil War with all their hate, lies, fear-mongering, and racism. They also shouldn't be surprised when they become the primary targets of the war they started. As a veteran, the GOP makes me sick that I defended this country, only to make it a safe-haven for their domestic terrorism. Anyone who supports them is as guilty as they are. Choose your sides wisely blind followers of the GOP, your lives will depend on it.