The Muslim Smear

Last week, Nation columnist Naomi Klein wrote a convincing column calling on Barack Obama to go on the offensive against the internet-spread hate campaign accusing him of being a Muslim. "Use the attacks to begin the very process of global repair that is the most seductive promise of his campaign," she recommended. "He can state clearly that while a liaison with a pharmaceutical lobbyist may be worthy of scandalized exposure, being a Muslim is not."

While she posted her column last Friday, I didn't read it until I got my copy of the magazine in the mail this evening. I had to laugh. Last night, I watched 60 Minutes. It was like he'd read it, too. Here's what Obama told correspondent Steve Croft after he showed a clip of a focus group that included a distressed, laid off paper mill worker who was leaning toward Obama but expressed fears about the "fact" that Obama was a Muslim and didn't know the national anthem (to his credit, Croft immediately told the fellow it was a lie).

These emails are not just offensive to me, somebody who is a devout Christian and has been going to the same church for the last 20 years, but it's also offensive to Muslims because it plays in, obviously, to a certain fear-mongering."

When Clinton was asked about the Muslim lie and the photo of Obama in Somali dress that her campaign had to deny distributing, she at first said she had "no reason to believe it's true." She then expressed empathy for her opponent, having been the target of so many smear campaigns herself.

If Obama wins the two big primaries tomorrow and he and McCain become the presumptive nominees, it will be interesting to see how the Republicans handle the Muslim issue. Will they denounce the rumor-mongerers? Or will they cave in to the Rovian dark side with non-denial denials like having no reason to believe it's true?

Last night, Obama showed that he has nothing to fear from the Muslim card. To the extent it gets played, he showed that he can turn it to his own -- and the nation's -- advantage.