Yesterday when I was listing to NPR (I know, I know), I heard a group of people explain their interest or disinterest in this year's presidential candidates.

Their designated Republican voter was an older guy who sounded like he suffered from a severe case of redneckery--so pretty typical NPR stuff.

He explained that he couldn't vote for (paraphrasing) "Osama, er Obama. It's just one letter, you know. And his middle name is Hussein". Hard hitting stuff, NPR. You're doing a bang-up job.

And of course, you might have seen the emails with the picture (right) attached. You might have heard Rush Hudson Limbaugh pronounce Barack's middle name over and over as if it mattered. Maybe you've done the same.

Before we get any further: let's get this straight, America.

Senator Obama is NOT a Muslim.

Weren't you paying attention during that episode where the Senator had been going to that batshit church with the batshit pastor on Chicago's South Side? HELLOOOO! Jeremiah Wright is not Muslim, he's the pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ. Mr. Obama went to this church for TWENTY YEARS.

Indeed, the senator's father was Muslim. And a young Barry Obama was Muslim as a boy before eventually leaving Islam to become a Christian, inspired by his mother. But the Senator is no longer a Muslim, he is not a "secret" Muslim (Muslims don't pretend to be Christian EVER, for ANY reason). This is not a point of debate. It is not a discussion.

Listen, there's plenty of reasons to not vote for Obama. Gentle reader, I'm probably with you on most of them. But Islamitude is not a good reason. Get a new argument. Try this one: as a Muslim apostate, he might be more offensive, more hated, more detestable to the Muslim world than any gun-toting Christian might ever be. There. Now you might have a reasonable argument. At least it begins with a fact rather than a fictition.

I doubt the guy from NPR reads this blog. If someone knows the guy, please forward to him this piece of information. And if you're out there saying Barack Obama's middle name as if it mattered, please re-read this post from the point where I write: Senator Obama is NOT a Muslim.

It occurred to me the other day: given Mr. Obama's experience with Islam and the batshit church, is there any doubt as to why he is bitter about religion? The poor guy. He's been given barrelfuls of vinegar and not a spoonful of honey. It'd make me bitter, too.

As a final note, the Senator decided earlier this year that it wasn't a good idea to hang around Rev. Wright anymore. Agreed, Senator. So he's church shopping these days. Has anyone invited him to St. John Cantius in Chicago? When I'm in Chicago next, Senator, you can come with me. I'll save you a spot in the pew. After Mass, we'll have some tea and you can introduce me to your wife and punishments. Sounds nice, huh?