Polls in mid-2010 showed that close to 20 percent of Americans believed that Obama was a "secret Muslim" and that this made him an unfit president. Rather than challenge the racist assumptions of his accusers, Obama chose instead to emphasize his Christian credentials. This posture only gave credence to the notion that there is something wrong with being Muslim. In short, with a few exceptions (such as Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to be elected to Congress), the liberal imperialists in the Democratic Party pandered to the far right on this question. It is therefore not surprising that the right was able to set the terms of the discussion.

XREF: Connects to race-baiting dynamics in contemporary political discourse and how defensive positioning by marginalized figures can cede framing power to opponents. SEED: Could be an essay angle on how leaders' rhetorical choices about identity shape which assumptions become acceptable in public discussion.

Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politi…, loc. 525