Daniel Pipes takes an interesting look at the question of whether or not Barack Obama is a Muslim by heritage and who would therefore be considered a murtadd or apostate of Islam by Muslims who follow Islam by the standards of Islam. The US press have generally dismissed the issue, while the Clinton campaign is generally thought to be behind an email blitz filling inboxes with the claim that Sen. Obama is a closet Muslim who refuses to salute the flag.

The facts of the matter are debatable, but Mr. Pipes does a good job of marshalling them and addressing them one by one.

It's clear that several questions still remain unanswered. Incomplete reporting and misreporting of Sen. Obama's life haven't answered them. Revisionism and puffery on the part of both the Obama campaign and the news media only cloud the issue. And, finally, an almost complete lack of understanding of Islamic practice and belief on the part of the media, the pundits and general public allow the issue to remain unresolved.

Some reports claim both of Barack Obama's parents were actually atheists. The candidate now says he was raised in a Christian home. And this may be so. (We know he was raised by his Grandparents in Hawaii for much of his later childhood). At the very least facts indicate he was first raised in a Muslim home under the influence of his Muslim step-father in Indonesia, later receiving Christian baptism as an adult at the United Church of Christ in Chicago where he has been a member for more than 20 years.

The most important question about Barack Obama would seem to be not whether he is a Muslim or a Christian. The question is not even if he used to be a Muslim, was ever a practicing Muslim, or when he became a Christian, but whether Barack Obama has been truthful or nuanced in the telling of his own story.

AP story here.

Al Franken, Democrat Minnesota candidate for office of some kind,* jumped ugly on a student named Peter Fritz during a meet and greet at the late Paul Wellstone's alma mater, Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. The Senior history major was on camera duty for other students who wanted to be photographed with Saturday Night Live's Stuart Smalley guy. But young Mr. Fritz didn't want his own pic taken with and the former Air America yuckster.
A Carleton College blogger at scsuscholars.com gives background on Mr. Fritz and links to the the story as told by C.J. at the Star Tribune.
What happened when the unfunny Franken found out the photog was a conservative doesn't speak well for a man on the stump who actually wants to win higher office, not just play a Senator on TV. (It wouldn't work for a guy pursuing the office of dog catcher in a local election, either). Yikes! Did we say maturity and statesmanlike gravitas is apparently not Mr. Franken's long suit?

*(He's running for a Senate seat). But you knew that. We got wind of the story via Lucianne.

Everyone's loving on McCain lately, especially the media. But the lovely Ann Coulter has produced a a pointy little bodkin quite to the contrary. (Our progeny's presidential choice is John McCain).