I think the polls that say a number of people in the USA think that President Obama is a Muslim or they are unsure what religion he holds is a reflection of two things:
1) People who don't follow politics for a living or out of habit (those kind of folks would know that President Obama has made it very clear through interviews and speeches that he believes in Christianity) are probably basing their assessment on his name.
If you heard that the new math teacher at your daughter's high school was Joseph Lieberman, you might "guess" he was Jewish. He might be. But he might not be. If you heard the new director of the local chamber of commerce was Kathleen Kennedy, you might "guess" she was Irish Catholic. She might be, she might not be. If you heard the new police chief in town was Barack Hussein Obama, you might "guess" he was Muslim. He might be, he might not be.
Thus, for non-political news junkies (most Americans), who don't have a specific recollection of President Obama speaking directly to that issue, they might "guess" and, in this case, be wrong.
2) Politicians wear their religious beliefs to varying degrees. Some are quite open about it while others less public about it. President Obama hasn't made it a big point in his public appearances to highlight his Christian faith.
Thus, for the political and news elite who are appalled at this confusion, please remember the average American doesn't live/eat/sleep politics!
And for the average American, I say, please pay a bit more attention to the news!
And for those who are fanning the idea that President Obama is a Muslim for some potential political gain, STOP IT!
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