<div>It's likely you make a valid point, given that many "racists" (I put that word in quotes because race is not a scientific concept, but a socially constructed fantasy of sorts) in the US who harbor prejudice based on skin color, also harbor prejudice based on religion. However, as you point out, it is more acceptable to pass judgement based on someones religion, so this is the approach adopted by those highlighting Barack Obama's middle name "Hussein," given its associations with the Middle East and Islam, or who spread inaccurate claims regarding Obama's alleged Islamic background.</div>
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<div>In a close election, false statements about political candidates, even if only believed in by a percent or two of voters, can swing the election, so spreading false rumors is a deliberate, cynical and effective tactic, especially given that many voters will not do extensive objective fact based research.</div>
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<div>The modern science of persuasion works, targeting decision making processes in the brain that are not based on conscious fact and reason based assessments.</div>
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<div>Ted Moffett<br><br><span class="gmail_quote">On 9/7/08, <b class="gmail_sendername">Loren Singh</b> <<a href="mailto:loren.singh@gmail.com">loren.singh@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</span></div>
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<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<div dir="ltr"><br>>>In fact, given the realities of US politics at this<br>>>time in history, any candidate for president or vice president must<br>>>announce, and back up by action, they are a devout Christian, or they will<br>
>>have a limited chance of election. Witness Obama's repeated insistence he<br>>>is not Muslim, his emphasis on his Christian faith, and the attacks, by<br>>>those wishing to undermine his campaign, that he has a Muslim background.<br>
<br>The casting of aspersions about Obama's religion is the polite way for racists<br>to adorn their racism with the more "socially acceptable" and "politically correct"<br>window dressing of religious bigotry.<br>
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