Hi folks,

As many of you may have seen, Sen. Clinton on 60 Minutes tonight said that Sen. Obama is not a Muslim, and I quote: "As far as I know."

Were this someone else - someone not a politician, not Sen. Obama's chief opponent, not comprehensibly aware to the finest detail the status of Sen. Obama's faith - I could believe that it was an uninformed statement.

I believe it was entirely intentional for the purpose of fostering the fears of the uninformed, and the bigotted, solely for the electoral benefit of Sen. Clinton. 

Sen. Clinton is definitively and without doubt fully aware that Sen. Obama is specifically of the Christian faith and has never subscribed to Islamic faith.  She could have said so forthrightly and done a good deal to eradicate the ongoing fear campaign of Sen. Obama's detractors, benefitted both the Muslim and non-Muslim American population, and advanced the cause of the United States in international affairs.

She did not.

Instead, she chose to use words that encourage both the fear of Muslim Americans as a group and the lingering "accusation" by extremist factions that Sen. Obama subscribes to Islamic faith.

I suggest that every Democrat, every Republican, every Independent and every American of every stripe bring this final step over the bounds of decency to the attention of their elected officials.  There are prices not worth paying to get oneself elected to political office.  The price we all just paid in the peace of this country and the dignity of the office of President is too high for anyone to lay at our feet.

I have sent the following letter to the Democratic National Convention, Senator Edwards,  Senator Dodd, Senator Kennedy, Senator Alexander, Governor Richardson, Speaker Pelosi and others.  I will continue to do so to more political, media and other public sources.

-regards

-chris

Dear DNC representatitves,

I would like to comment to you on Sen. Clinton's "60 Minutes" interview today. As you likely know, when asked whether Barack Obama was a Muslim she replied:

"No. No, there is nothing to base that on. As far as I know."

I have included the transcript of that exchange at the end of this message, as well as the link to the entire transcript on the show's website.

As a veteran politician, I find it *extremely* hard to believe that Sen. Clinton said these words without forethought. "As far as I know." That leaves a great deal of interpretation for the viewer.

This from the person most likely to know every detail of Sen. Obama's current and past faith, including the fact that he has never been a Muslim and has in fact attended the same Christian church for twenty years. Senator Clinton knows *definitively* that Senator Obama is a Christian and has never been a Muslim and was more than capable of saying so.

The implication that there is any lingering doubt in Sen. Clinton's mind in regards to Sen. Obama's religious inclination can only be read as a specific and intentional political tactic to play to the fears of uninformed and regrettably anti-Muslim voters.

As a respected voice in American politics I turn to you to use your position to put a stop to this inconceivable use of fear and bigotry by a leading candidate for the highest office in the nation, and indeed the world. I fail to find words to describe my reaction when I watched a potential US Presidential candidate, instantly perceiving both the impression this statement immediately had on American Muslims, and the use that it will be put to by those who lack tolerance.

I beg you. Please, in the name of all you stand for, in the interest of your party and for the love of this country: speak out before it is too late.

With deepest respect,

Chris Blask

Transcript:

""You don't believe that Senator Obama's a Muslim?" Kroft asked Sen. Clinton.

"Of course not. I mean, that, you know, there is no basis for that. I take him on the basis of what he says. And, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that," she replied.

"You said you'd take Senator Obama at his word that he's not…a Muslim. You don't believe that he's…," Kroft said.

"No. No, there is nothing to base that on. As far as I know," she said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/29/60minutes/main3894659_page4.shtml