For one S.D. voter, Barack Obama has problems on two religious fronts

If there was one sliver of a silver lining in the ongoing embarrassments caused Barack Obama by his membership (which he gave up this past weekend) in the Trinity United Church of Christ, it was -- some of his partisans asserted -- that the controversies would help douse the rumor-mongering that he's a closet Muslim.

That may be wishful thinking, if the attitudes of a voter The Times' Noam Levey encountered in South Dakota today are at all indicative.

Levey was with Hillary Clinton as, in what may be her final full day on the campaign trail, the Democratic presidential contender worked hard to score one last victory in Tuesday's South Dakota primary. Her schedule took her to Tally’s Restaurant, a landmark in downtown Rapid City famous for pigs in a blanket made with Buffalo sausage.

It was all fairly typical -- she gave a speech, smiled and posed for photos and talked with patrons about healthcare and asked young people about their student loans, shaking her head at the amount that one young woman said she was wrestling with.

In her brief talk, she zeroed on the message that, against lengthening odds, she keeps hoping will resonate throughout her party and stall Obama's seemingly inexorable march toward its nomination. Referring to the presidency, she said, “I want you to think hard. Who would you hire to do this job.”

Few of her listeners needed any convincing that she would be the right choice. And one of those Clinton backers, 48-year-old Cheryl Chamberlain, was in no mood to transfer her allegiance to Obama, citing a litany of reasons that can only cause eyes to roll within his camp.

“I won’t vote for Obama,” Chamberlain told Levey. “You go on the Internet and see him associated with that church, with the Koran. He won’t wear a flag pin. … After 9/11, there is absolutely no way I’d support someone who is associated with the Koran. I won’t support terrorism.”

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Evil Pundit]

Considering that Obama's church supports Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, there's a legitimate ground for associating it with the Koran.

[tlsmith1963]

This is what I would say to Chamberlain: I don't wear a flag pin, either. Is loving your country all about wearing a silly pin or waving a flag to you? It's about more than cosmetic appearances.

I would also say that she needs to educate herself about Obama & stop listening to blowhards like Rush Limbaugh who tell lies about him.

[GC]

Racism is hilarious ... And sad.

[Darlene]

Cheryl Chamberlain is 100% correct.

Barack = Muslim

HUSSEIN = Muslim

Obama = Muslim

I would never vote for NoObama.

[Sterling Greenwood]

The only people I've met who are upset with Obama's "religious issues," are those who didn't want him to win in the first place.
Sterling Greenwood
Aspen Free Press

[Jkan]

Muslim or nt, Obam is not QUALIFIED!! Period.

McCain/Jindal will put his ego to rest, come November.

[Charles Venus]

There was a saying from the GI's in WWII that they fought the war "for motherhood and apple pie." With a Democrat in the White House we'd be fighting for abortion rights, gay and lesbian rights and human embryo experiments. Think twice before you put Obama in that House.

[Greg]

9/11... I hear planes are dropping in the mall of Washington DC. Me and 2 coworkers go out to kick some behind along with some others probably already doing so if we find some planes. There were none.

But oops... neither one of us had flag pins so I guess we weren't acting very patriotic that day huh?

If people would take the time to listen and not just hear they would understand what the man is saying.

He is not against the lapel pin.
He merely states that anyone can wear a lapel pin.
A terrorist could wear one to fool so many that thinks wearing one makes you patriotic. I have family who are former military who take pride in their service and they don't walk around in lapel pins except on special occassions. It doesn't make them any less patriotic.
Patriotism is not about the pin, but about your heart and wearing the pin can be a good disguise of your heart my friends.
Oh... keep in mind Rev Wright did his time defending this country. Do you think he is more or less patriotic than Chenney or Bush?

[Fred]

The whole flag pin nonsense reminds me of that episode of "Seinfeld" where Kramer enter an AIDS walk to help the charity, but is then attacked by ribbon bullies when he opts not to wear an AIDS ribbon.

(See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8FA3C7ntJc )

[Greg]

Darlene....
Didn't Roots teach you anything?

The father side of his family wasn't brought over on a ship and sold and forced to leave behind his name of heritage.

Whipper: Your name is Toby!
Kunta: They call me Kunta Kinte! (WHIP!)

I have a family member that tried Muslim and he said Obama is no more Muslim then the Whites who fear him.

Stop hiding and just admit you are racist.

[isonprize]

I have never seen a flag pin on Sen. Hillary Clinton. Sen. John McClain wears a flag pin sometimes, sometimes he doesn't. Sen. Obama wore a flag, stopped wearing a flag pin, wears a flag pin occasionally, now.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE in a person's ability to run the United States of America??

[Vietnam]

You've got to be kidding. You guys are an utter parody of all that it means to be American. Muslim = terrorist? No wonder you're called flyover country.

[08vote]

Did Obama EVER insinuate that Clinton was a Lesbian, while she insinuated on CBS (a mainstream media outlet) that Obama could possibly be Muslim. Did you see or hear outrage of that CBS insinuation from the Obama Campaign, but yet heard outrage from the Clinton campaign of sexism.... this prolonged election brought out some pretty ugly stuff, not the least of, YOUR TOTAL IGNORANCE - you don't want believe in Obama's Christian faith because you already have your minds made up and only seek that information that validates your own misconceptions and prejudices.

Incidentally, with the help of the Los Angeles Times blogging corner, I can count on my finger the number of positives spins given to Obama, while Hillary on the hand, has not only gotten a FREE PASS from her supporters but 80% of the blogging coverage of Hillary at this web site has consistently been mostly positive; and never to the slant nor to the degree of negative coverage as the LAT has given to Obama.

[08vote]

AND BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT OBAMA THAT HAS THE TWO RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS, IT'S THE IGNORANT (AND CLOSET BIGOTS) WHO HAVE THE PROBLEMS!

[jerry]

Darlene you are a racist

Darlene=Nazi

I would never believe No Nazi Darlene

[mike]

booo hooo ... get over it, or move to another country with your ignorance. 'cuz barack is the next president of the united states. you probably wouldn't have voted for him anyway, with or without his "church problems".

[Ted]

Why are some many Americans off their rockers? He's not a Muslim!!! How many times do you have to hear it?! Not only that, but in the mean time you have all taken the time to degrade Islam by associating its holy book, and any/all of its followers with terrorism. You would think I was crazy if I said all christians bomb abortion clinics.. wouldnt you? You are just as crazy. Barack is not a muslim, and has never been a muslim, so take your crude, and idiotic remarks elsewhere. P.J O'rourke may have been right when he said that the best argument against deomcracy was a 5 min. conversation with the average voter.

[Jeshurun Jakes]

This is a no-story indeed. I can't believe you wasted my precious two minutes talking about an ignorant woman from South Dakota who's unashamed of her apparent ignorance and would rather keep her head buried deep inside the sand. We all know that Obama is not a Muslim, has never been; he wears the flag pin and he loves this country more than those who feel that America should be a warring nation.

[ruth]

what is it with americans who have such religious intolerance?
1. Obama is a christian and it would appear from his life until now, he is someone who has a true understanding of being a follower of Christ -
2. I am not so sure about either Hillary or John McCain - maybe churh goers but where is their personal relationship you guys look for?
3. Musims are NOT terrorists - pleeeese - there are some terrorists who are musims- dont be so basically confused. It's little wonder the rest of the world increasingly thinks USA wants to live on it's own planet.

All I can say is thank God for Obama - an intelligent, person who may really be able to bring some change to america - you guys need him but it looks like a heck of a lot of you are going to be struggling with your intolerance.

[CB]

As Ron White once said... You can't fix stupid.

[Margaret]

Ummm, where's Hillary's flag pin? Not sure I've ever seen her wear one.

[Irishspacemonk]

Obviously appealing to her base...uneducated, white American's making less than $15K and voted for bush in 00, 04

[Thomas]

wow. this chamberlain lady is a joke. now islam = terrorism? im not even muslim but that is completely racist and ridiculous. she won't support someone just because they are associated with the koran? since when did being muslim automatically associate you with terrorism. i can't believe this is even a story.

[Wilford Brimley III]

I am very proud of my country! I wear a flag pin in the shower! I love Jesus, and Elvis and puppies! I drive a Chevy and eat apple pie at least twice a day!
I read about an unknown native tribe discovered in South America! We need to send our military over there to liberate those people and teach them about democracy....
McBush'08

[Joan]

If I were Hillary Clinton I would be embarrassed by the comments of some of her supporters.

Just to clarify, not every Clinton supporter is racist, and not voting for Obama doesn’t mean that you are a racist. However, Cheryl Chamberlain is a racist.