Port Fourchon, Louisiana (CNN) - Barack Obama is a Christian, Newt Gingrich said Friday, but he also said he understands why some people believe the U.S. president is Muslim.
"Why does the president behave the way that people would think that? You have to ask why would they believe that? It's not because they're stupid," Gingrich said after a campaign stop on Louisiana's Gulf Coast Friday.
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
The Republican presidential candidate experienced that firsthand in Lake Charles Wednesday, when a man stood up during a question and answer session and said, among other things, that he believes Obama "is a Muslim."
Since then reporters have asked Gingrich why he didn't correct the man if he believes that to be untrue.
"Does it bother or concern you that so many people do think he's a Muslim? Polls show it's a big chunk of the electorate," a reporter from Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked him during a media availability. Gingrich replied, "It should bother the president."
Gingrich turned to the administration's policies to explain why some people might question the president's Christian faith. He said the administration has "a very strange value system."
"The fact is I take [Obama] at his word but I think it is very bizarre that he is desperately concerned to apologize to Muslim religious fanatics while they are killing young Americans while at the same time going to war against the Catholic Church and against every right to live Protestant organization in the country," said Gingrich.
He added, "I just think this is an administration that has very odd values. They're just standard left-wing values which is as long as you're not Christian or Jewish we respect you."
The former House speaker often points out the administrations "war" with the Catholic Church related to the rights of religious institutions and the universal health care law.
Also see:
Romney primary tactics insufficient for general election, Gingrich says
Romney pens op-ed to mark 'Obamacare' anniversary
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Wrong Newt, anyone who does believe that Obama is a Muslim is stupid. Simple as that.
If President Obama is such a Muslim, he sure does suck at being one, you know, killing his own people, Bin Laden, Gaddafi, 23 of 28 top Al Queida operatives, he is such an apologist. Jimmy NEWTron is a bad joke like the rest of the GOP.
What is truly scary is that people take this guy seriously. Our country would be is so much trouble were any of these guys become president, they are as unAmerican as you can get. I have often wondered why Republicans hate America so much.
Im so sick and tired of this racist i can just puke!
Nero Newt (with out the violin) watching the GOP burn to cinders. That photo is iconic big time.
Newt, if you call Palin, she would probably know exactly who President Obama pals around with, being the leading authority on that topic. LOL Campaign 2012: Like No Campaign Ever Before!
Sigh, President Obama does not urinate all over Catholics anyone else. You conservatives cannot be taken seriously because you say stupid stuff like that (see Truth and Nothing But The Truth's comment). Aren't you Catholics and Evangelicals tired of politicians using religion to get your vote? I am Lutheran, but I don't care what religion a candidate practices as long as he works to help America.
It was only a matter of time before the GOP would exhume their strategy of both demonizing an entire Religion and falsely accusing the President of being Muslim.
But for arguments sake, I for one would vote for a Muslim American candidate for President over yet another Liar and Criminal (or aka Republican Christian White). We already endured 8 years of a Republican Christian White Liar and Criminal.
Pathetic, laughable and tell tale of how weak the party of Genocide Over Policy (GOP) has truly become this election cycle.
"Seriously Tommie, do you think conservatives will vote for Obama? Or just stay home and let Obama run the country over the cliff for 4 more years?? "
You for real? I know plenty of staunch conservatives who will stay home, including family members, if Mittens is nominated. They don't trust him and don't perceive him as having any core values....quite the contrary, they perceive him as an avaricious, self-serving panderer who will do and say ANYTHING to get into the WH. THAT makes him and his loyalties BUYABLE.
Dear Newt,
Yes, they are stupid! That is why they are part of your base.
Sincerely.
Disgusted Citizen
Imagine having an adulterer as President.
Imagine have an adulteress as First Lady.
Yes Newt, they believe Obama is a muslim because they are stupid. Just liike they're stupid for believing he wasn't born in Hawaii. Do you want me to go on?
Well if Obama is a Christian then why doesn't he respect others religious beliefs? Why does he force his socialist policies on religious people and force them to violate their religious beliefs? Add that to his middle name of Hussein and his cozying up to muslims, apologizing to them and throwing Israel under the bus and and you're a complete moron to not at least understand how people could think this way.
You mean like hunting down and killing Osama bin Laden? Bush couldn't be bothered, maybe HE's the secret muslim!
Newt if full of it. He knows very well that people believe Obama's a Muslim because the hosts of conservative talk shows promote and spread that misinformation. It has nothing to do with the President's behavior or policies. Besides, when the assertion is made directly to Newt, he says nothing to discount it, knowing it's a lie. His silence is a clear message that he'd rather the truth not be emphasized. Typical GOP conservative hypocracy and lack of integrity
Such a powerful photograph of Newt.
Did he go to the Aryan modeling school ? The only thing missing is a brown shirt and hat.
Newt's photographs should be published as postage stamps, postcards, posters.
Historian Gingrcih is telling a wrong story
they ARE stupid Newt and using fear and ignorance to try to win support and votes is just as stupid.
Go away Newt. A loser when you were speaker of the house and now a bigger loser. I guess now is when he starts blaming the Left Wing Media for his faults! Loser!
I think Newt has blown his last gasket. Maybe he needs a new wife? Somebody get Newt a straw so he can breath while his campaign sinks to the bottom.
Geez Newt, just why do you think so many people who get their news from Fox and Rush think that our president is Muslim? Could it be because you and all your cohearts do not have the decency to stand up for the truth as John McCain did? People who don't correct people when they are wrong just lead them to believe that they are right. Shame on you and shame on the GOP. It is exactly the same thing as bearing false witness. You better head to confession again.
"Why does the president behave the way that people would think that? You have to ask why would they believe that? It's not because they're stupid," Gingrich said after a campaign stop on Louisiana's Gulf Coast Friday.
---------------------
These people are stupid and shouldn't be out in public unsupervised. Then again, neither should Newt.
how do catholics minds work? How do they treat people? Ask Santorum and Pat Robertson about how Pat (and probably Santorum) want Peyton Manning hurt???? Yep, these are the roll models that the catholics hold up to the rest of us... And they want us to follow them????
Newt needs to shut up, drop out of sight, and leave the intelligent conversation to adults. This guy is such a pompous, over rated, egomaniac,.. divisive , vengeful and hate filled with his discourse.
( Sigh!) Here we go again. GOP candidate goes into Louisiana, a state with one of the highest rates of illiteracy and plays the "President is a Muslim" card. It is a shame how the GOP plays on the ignorance of people; this has to be one of the most egregious abuses of power in modern times. The GOP has their voting base just where they want them; hating on everyone that is different than them, waving around guns, and a bible they clearly can't read.