Obama: The Muslim misconception

Almost 1 in 5 Americans think Obama is a Muslim. Does this prove he's too guarded about his Christian faith — or just that there are a lot of dumb people out there?

Pundits are at a loss to explain why 18 percent of Americans say the President is a Muslim.
(Image credit: Getty)

According to a new Pew poll, 18 percent of Americans now say President Obama is a Muslim, up from 11 percent in March 2009. Only a third (34 percent) correctly identify him as a Christian, and 43 percent say they don't know what his religion is. Pundits are at a loss to explain exactly why Americans are increasingly confused about Obama's faith, which has been the subject of fringe conspiracy theories since the earliest days of his candidacy. The White House released a statement affirming Obama's "strong Christian faith," but added that he "doesn't wear it on his sleeve." What does the mass misconception about Obama's faith mean? (Watch a Fox News discussion about the poll)

It means the right wing smear campaign is working: Sixty percent of those who believe Obama is a Muslim say they heard it from the media, says liberal watchdog Media Matters. And with the right wing media "relentlessly" pushing this myth, are we really surprised?

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