On the heels of a poll last week indicating that a growing number of Americans incorrectly believe President Obama is Muslim, evangelist the Rev. Franklin Graham commented on the confusion over the president’s faith.
“I think the president’s problem is that he was born a Muslim, his father was a Muslim,” Graham told CNN’s John King. “The seed of Islam is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim, his father gave him an Islamic name.” Full interview
Graham, who said he believes Obama is now a Christian, prayed earlier this year with the president alongside his father, renowned evangelist and presidential religious adviser Billy Graham.
But are comments like this planting the Obama-as-Muslim seed? The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life conducted the poll before the president spoke out about the proposed Islamic community center and mosque in lower Manhattan, which has become a national issue.
Does it matter what the president’s faith is? Share your thoughts on whether statements such as Graham’s suggest a religious litmus test.