Obama: Like Me, Thomas Jefferson’s Opponents Claimed He Was a Muslim

‘So I was not the first’

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

"That doesn’t mean those of us with religious faiths should not be involved. Remember many preachers and pastors fought to abolish the evil of slavery. People of faith advocated to improve conditions for workers and ban child labor. Dr. King was joined by people of many faiths challenging us to live up to our ideals. And that civil activism, that civic participation that’s the ensis of our democracy, it is enhanced by freedom of religion. Now, we have to acknowledge that there have been times where we have fallen short of our ideals. By the way, Thomas Jefferson’s opponents tried to stir things up by suggesting he was a Muslim. So I was not the first — [ applause ] No, it’s true. Look it up. I’m in good company. But it hasn’t just been attacks of that sort that have been used. Mormon communities have — that attacked throughout our history, catholics including most prominently JFK, John F. Kennedy when he ran for president was accused of being disloyal. There was a suggestion that he would be taking orders from the pope as opposed to upholding his constitutional duties. Anti-semitism in this country has a sad and long history. And Jews were excluded routinely from colleges and professions and from public office. And so if we’re serious about freedom of religion, and I’m speaking now to my fellow Christians who remain a majority in this country, we have to understand attack on one faith is attack on all our faiths." (Applause)

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