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August 20th, 2010
05:56 AM ET

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Roger Clemens Indicted

"I never took HGH or Steroids. And I did not lie to Congress. I look forward to challenging the Governments accusations, and hope people will keep an open mind until trial. I appreciate all the support I have been getting. I am happy to finally have my day in court."

[Posted at 2:23 p.m.] Major league pitcher Roger Clemens was indicted for obstruction of Congress and other charges Thursday related to statements he made to a congressional committee in 2008. READ THE INDICTMENT

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President Obama's Faith Questioned

The White House is responding to new polls Thursday that show an increasing number of Americans believe that President Obama is a Muslim.

"President Obama is a committed Christian, and his faith is an important part of his daily life," Deputy White House Communications Director Jen Psaki told CNN. "He prays every day, he seeks a small circle of Christian pastors to give him spiritual advice and counseling, he even receives a daily devotional that he uses each morning. The President's Christian faith is a part of who he is, but not a part of what the public or the media is focused on everyday."

Sound off: We want to hear from you this morning. Add your comments to the LIVE Blog below and we'll read some of them on the show.


Filed under: American Morning • LIVE Blog
soundoff (51 Responses)
  1. Scott

    Two quick points

    1. To the people claiming that no other president had as much vacation time as Obama, you have very short membories. Bush took much more vacation time. Please check your facts.

    2. CNN, is there a rule that every 5 years or so whatever the newest craze is has to be trotted out as a possibly "Addiction"? I could probably take a time machine, go back to selected points in time and see similar experts trotting out the exact same "Theories" for teenagers and The telephone, Rock Music, Walkmen, MTV, Video Games, Cell Phones, e-mail, etc...

    August 23, 2010 at 8:20 am |
  2. Ed

    I am not so sure whether he is a Christian but he should not comment about this Morgue issue. Mosque should not be built near ground zero. Freedom of religions means you can express your believe in America but not be built near ground zero where Extreme Islamic slaughtered American.

    August 22, 2010 at 8:49 am |
  3. Angela Savage Austin

    Its Time To Heal and Rebuild.... I wonder if the same people who think that President Obama is the anti-christ are the same people who think he is a muslim...that would explain the motive behind their message of madness...trying to connect some sort of premeditated dots.......... I understand what President Obama's message to us all was about re: building the Mosque near ground zero....even God gave man laws in which to govern his sinful ways and still man falls short. Mankind needs laws to secure the rights of all men...when laws are broken, fear, corruption, greed, and war prevails...haven't we learn anything from our past....Brotherhood is practiced by all Faiths and Love is the greatest gift given to man, yet we worship hate, divison, confusion, greed,lust and false pride. We need our sanity restored before peace can ever be accomplished. When our body is infected with a sore, before healing can be done, the pus and disease must first be removed and the wounds must steadily be cleaned to prevent reinfection...then antibodies are administered to promote the healing process. Our bodies teaches us how to preserve life...even Mother Nature does the same...yet man...blessed with a brain to reason with fails miserably. Its time to break down the walls of fear and hatred and greed and self-righteousness...lets obey God's law first to love our brothers and sisters as we claim to love God and then we will have no problem in obeying the Constitution and our God Given Right to life, prosperity, peace, health and happiness. ITS TIME TO HEAL....and REBUILD!

    August 20, 2010 at 11:23 pm |
  4. aJ Leigh

    i would like to know what faith the majority of Obama accusers follow themselves for I will say this.
    As a German Jew; The Askenazi as my people are called and which means German and as one of those people who went to a private Hebrew school growing up I can say with conviction that the Christians are whom I fear for their agenda has always been a blood bath. Throughout history it has been their church and the forcing of their modified text by which millions have perished. Here is an example of faith. Jews have been driven from their Holy Land time and time again, there was a wide spread act of Genocide (6 millionish sound good to you?)against the Jews and it was never behind the Muslims.
    Maybe you bible thumpers should learn a bit more about the paganistic farce that you all so proudly flap your lips about instead of spreading inaccuracies about islam, jews and our history relating to one another.

    Just continue believing what they tell you in regard to your own faith for I dont know how you show your faces at all and there fore cannot lend any more energy to discussing the blasphemy of the Christians.

    August 20, 2010 at 11:18 pm |
  5. tm1946

    It makes me laugh to think the president be a muslin is any kind of an issue.

    I would suggest he needs better staff advisors and only talk about issues that matter, like the economy. For those of who worry about polls, 20% think Pres Obama is a socialist and that number is growing, just might be a bit more important for his political future than what religion he might be affiliated with.

    I am worried about all the vacations he takes, what's with that?

    August 20, 2010 at 12:57 pm |
  6. Kristina

    Not all who claim to act in the name of a religion are true adherents to its teachings. There are ABROGATION WITHIN THE QUR'AN: The meaning of abrogation, in Arabic words "nasikh" and "mansukh"The technical tems refer to certain parts of the Qur'anic revelation which have been abrogated by others. Understanding the concept of abrogation is very important in order to understand Islam. Within the Qur'an itself are statements which contradict others.
    THE QUR'AN says: Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits, for Allah does not love transgressors. 2: 190
    "And Slay them (the infidels) wherever you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out, for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter" 2:191

    "And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and Faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression" 2:193

    "Fightin is prescribed for you, and you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you know not" 2:216

    Here we see for the first time that war is permissible. "Let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. To him who fighteth in the cause of Allah, whether he is slain or gets victory soon shall we give him a reward of great (value) 4: 74
    "Seize them and slay them wherever you find them: and in any case take no friends or helpers from their ranks" 4:89

    August 20, 2010 at 11:17 am |
  7. Barbara

    Some people are guilty of abusing our President by vocally taking positions that are inaccurate. Each of us has a right to a personal position about our faith and should not be abused because they are different from someone else's view. Most of us are not educated on all religions and some fear of the unknown is normal. We do need to be understanding of the families of tje 9/11 tragedy. I'm not sure if the proposed building will cause them pain or not. I hope the muslims and the families can be considerate of the other party.

    August 20, 2010 at 11:16 am |
  8. David Arnold

    For those of you that doubt the Presidents faith; GROW UP. I am a Republican and disagree with him on some issues, but when it comes to faith, that is his business and his business alone. I am fairly confident that if he were to try to push some sort of Islamic agenda, we would catch on pretty quick. And if that happens we have a solution; we fire him at the next election. From everything I've heard & read, he is a good Christian(again, his business). As far as his support for the mosque. That's his job. He has to defend the Constitution and the people who want to build the mosque have the constitutional right to do so. The most successful policy maker of the last century is by far and away Osama Bin Laden. He has shaped Government agencies, dictated how we travel, and justified the government trampling on our civil rights in the name of safety. The funny thing is it's not their fault, we let them do it. Our economy is in a shambles and where are our best and brightest. Their at the airport with their shoes in their hands waiting for a cavity search or their typing on a blog complaining about how things are instead of getting out there and making a difference. Every single one of us is important. We are the key to turning this economy around. Not the President. If he is a Muslim and a good President, that's better than some Christian Presidents we've had. But he's not a Muslim. Now let's all get back to work. Please!!!!

    August 20, 2010 at 10:48 am |
  9. LorraineH

    The mosque location in New York is part of a devious plan by the Iman to get cheap land and many concessions which is the real they chose that location. They knew, once the location and plans for this mosque to be built near 9/11 were released to the public, there would be a public outcry of astronomical proportions pitting American against American. While they let everyone put in their 2 cents both for and against, let Americans against get riled up they just continued to say it is a Center for Peace and Understanding. Now New York Officials are offering to find them a different piece of land to build on. The Iman will accept this generous offer as a Muslim gesture to show respect to the victims of 9/11, their families and the rest of the American people. They will apologize profusely for underestimating the feelings of Americans and causing such pain. Of course this 'found' land will come with a lot of freebies, including probably a reduced price, reduced taxes, contribution to the actual building, etc. This is why no money has been raised as yet – they won't need as much once all you Americans, through your taxes, foot the bill. Guess who is smarter?

    August 20, 2010 at 10:21 am |
  10. Tina Horne

    Concerning unemployment, I would take CNN more seriously if you would report more in depth rather than have Candy eloquently repeat sound bytes. I am SO very tired of seeing a wealthy media entity such as you set the precedent for being fed what the wealthy want put out there, instead of you using your great resources to really get to the truth and reality of this and many other situations. What a waste of intelligence and opportunity. I would like you to truly research and then discuss why we are in this financial and jobless situation. They are tied to so many other issues, like the lack of effective regulation of huge corporations that have become deeply established worldwide in the exploitation of desperate peoples by paying them pennies. That does so much damage across the board, it destroyed working standards that many of our forefathers in the last two centuries literally gave their lives for. in the USA. We have demonized unions rather than embraced them as a tool for regulation of business practices as well as positive support for the workers, guaranteeing them a safe foundation of representation. Why won't you talk about this non-partisan issue? Our democracy needs untainted, free press in order to hold the balance of power. Corporate media undermines this vital force and only serves the advantaged. I dare you to take this on. Stop taking money from obscenely huge corporations, then I might consider you an option. To me right now CNN is a sellout. So sad.

    August 20, 2010 at 10:09 am |
  11. Shanna

    Re: Islamaphobia
    I understand those that have Islamaphobia. All we ever see broadcasted are rallies with thousands of people chanting “death to America.” Hate and destruction over and over again. Where are those who represent the so-called loving and gentle side of the Muslim faith? Where are their rallies? We need to hear it and see it. Until the good (Muslim faith) over-shadows the hatred, nothing will change.

    August 20, 2010 at 10:03 am |
  12. Barbara Pernaris

    If Obama would be "honest" about who he is, including that he was a Muslim, I would take it at face value, because is the truth. Maybe, which is why I believe he's closeted, would not have gotten him elected. I agree with a statement in here that Americans are ignorant about Islam... That said, the fact cannot be denied that because of radical Muslims and what Islam means to them and their interpretation of the Koran, has gotten us all where we are today and why 9/11 happened – HATE, FEAR and IGNORANCE.
    I believe Obama is Muslim in his heart. I believe him to be socialist in his heart. I think he's a poor leader, I think he has no clue on what he's really supposed to be doing and I think America made a mistake in electing him to office. But time will tell...
    I didn't vote for him, I do not like him and I DO NOT TRUST HIM!
    And that is my right!

    August 20, 2010 at 9:57 am |
  13. gayle mccreery

    I am concerned and dismayed by the pressure on our President(s) for instant answers to complex problems. The nasty personal attacks are demoralizing to those of us who vote regularly, who follow issues looking for facts and information that is not based on inflammatory commentary. Re the faith issue and Pres. Obama, I think that deep in this issue is the racial "other" distrust of the different. Yesterday I say a large sign on an H2 vehicle that said: Save America from socialism and communism: impeach Obama–can't fathom the thought behind such suspicion. I am a white, boomer aged female and I support this Presidents efforts to administrate this Country.

    August 20, 2010 at 9:53 am |
  14. Carol Wise

    thanks CNN for adding to the confusion by airing Dr. Graham's opinion that religious belief somehow comes to people through their genes (seed come through the father). Faith doesn't come through our genes anymore than does our political views or our preference for ice cream flavor. I hate to bring this up, but this was the same superstitious reasoning that people applied to race during slavery and religion during the Holocaust. Please, CNN, do not air this clip anymore unless it's to point out the difficulty of this topic

    August 20, 2010 at 9:32 am |
  15. D

    "Judge not,that you be not judged", a lot of so called Christians have forgotten or just simply ignore this verse because it doesn't mesh with their political or racial views. As a far as vacations, Reagan used to play cowboy a month at a time... GW was even known to ramble around on the range. Pitiful little arguments from pitiful little people.

    August 20, 2010 at 9:29 am |
  16. citizenbfk

    Attacking religion goes against our core values. The Big Lie against Muslims is saying they were the ones who did 9/11. That would be like saying the WW2 attack at Pearl Harbor was done by Buddhist.

    August 20, 2010 at 9:24 am |
  17. cynthia Wirth

    The Muslim question is becoming this generations "Mc Carthy Era Witch Hunt". It is easy to create hysteria in bad economic times and immediately following incidents such as 9/11. Hitler did it with the Jews, Pearl Harbor caused the creation of places such as Manzanar, will America fall prey to Muslim hysteria? We still have time to decide. I pray to God we make the moral, rational choice.

    August 20, 2010 at 9:23 am |
  18. Andy

    Muslim-Americans have protected rights, but they are not protected from hearing concerns about their religion and building a mosque on this site.

    Unfortunately, Islam has a lot of baggage in the US. We shouldn't pretend that it doesn't. Better to get these concerns out into the open and discuss them than to silence them. Americans have a legitimate right to their concerns, whether founded or unfounded.

    Strangely enough, the same people who oppose building a mosque on this site could be the same people fighting for their right to build it.
    Protesting the mosque is not the same as denying their right to build it there.

    August 20, 2010 at 9:23 am |
  19. Jmike

    I believe that most Americans are very ignorant about Islam. We as a people have a phobia regarding Islam. I am a soldier in the US Army curious about my religon and faith and afraid to come out because people including my family and soldiers are so homophobic over Islam.

    August 20, 2010 at 9:21 am |
  20. Allen in Hartwell GA

    On any day of the week, at any hour of the day, you can tune your radio to a station somewhere that has a hate jockey telling lies, half-truths, and rumors about President Obama. Most of the people listening to them don't care whether there's any truth to what's being said, they just want to hear something bad to justify their hate of the president.
    The question shouldn't be which lie do they believe, but why do they say they believe these lies.

    August 20, 2010 at 9:03 am |
  21. Dianne

    If people could read about the President's earlier life they would know he is of the christian faith. His mother and father divorced when he was still a toddler. His grandparents raised him also (white). His father visits him once when he was about ten years old or so. Most of his life he did not see or know his father. His grandfather was the "man in his life". President Obama was in Honolulu during his earlier life more than anywhere else. From living abroad President Obama learned other cultures and his mother taught him tolerance. Of all the Presidents of the USA, this President truly understands various religious and knowledge and understanding of people of another country. It is not just talk as other Presidents. He has first hand knowledge. People who go to church every Sunday does not make a christian. Look at the lies these so called christians say about the President. Is that a christian? You can read the hate statements about President Obama even on CNN blogs. Is that a christian? My Mother you to say to me, how can you love God whom you have never seen, and hate your fellow man whom you do see?

    August 20, 2010 at 9:01 am |
  22. Tom-Vermillion Ohio

    Mike E. North Carolina, says that the president 'clearly supports gay marriage'. From my recollection, the president is quite uncomfortable with that idea. The liberal left claims that the president is not supportive enough. In other words, he is as neutral as can be expected. The same can be said of this mosque issue and the same can be said of the race issue. Why? Because he has to be! For the record, by the way, this President will go down in history as one of the most truthful and open presidents in history. Being truthful, however exposes himself to those who want to see him fail. He's got a rough road ahead.

    August 20, 2010 at 8:57 am |
  23. mike sey

    In what other profession (other than the ministry) is a person expected to prove one's religious bona-fides? The parade of presidential hopefuls before religious authorities and bodies around primary and election time puts America in the same category as Iran with the Council of Guardians passing judgement on the legitimacy of candidates.

    The Fanatacism, exceptionalism and extremism in both make atheism an extremely attractive and sensible option. Religion should be nobody's business but your own.

    August 20, 2010 at 8:55 am |
  24. art

    If Jesus were walking upon this earth today, and decided to run for office, does anyone believe he would have set up his campaign office in a building owned by foreclosure specialists- as McCain/Palin did in Michigan?

    @Michael

    Wasn't Bush on vacation during the Katrina crisis?

    August 20, 2010 at 8:48 am |
  25. RMW

    Yeah.... just look at what Obama has done since he's been elected. Increased debt – misreported number of jobs created – increased spending – attempted to turn the USA into a socialist country. The US will be well rid of Obama when he is finally ran out of office ... and the polls are showing most Americans don't trust/like Obama.

    Come on November.

    August 20, 2010 at 8:41 am |
  26. Barbara Pernaris

    I agree with Candy: There is nothing you can tell me to convince me that Obama is not a Muslim (closeted). There are too many facts to the contrary of him being a Christian. Facts even reported on CNN.
    Obama being a Muslim is not the crime, the lie of it is. And that is what worries the people of America. There is less and less trust and more doubt as to who is he working for in the WH.

    Obama was born Muslim. To a Muslim, African national father (who's family today are Muslim – ...Obama has Muslim 1/2 brothers and sisters, who he visits with) and a converted Muslim mother. He was raised Muslim.
    His mother remarried a Muslim from Indonesia, where Barack lived for over 4 years and was educated in a Madrassa, which is a Muslim seminary that that teach legalistic Islam — Wahhabbi.
    Barack's middle name is Hussein, given to him by his father. A Muslim name meaning "good".
    According to US Intelligence, the Wahhabbi proclaims that non-Muslims have no rights, should not exist, and Islamics should particularly hate Jews.
    When understanding that this was Obama's childhood teaching, one then can understand how he could live twenty years with a screaming, anti-American mentor such as Jeremiah Wright. Wright was preaching exactly what Obama believed as a closet Muslim.

    Obama was exposed to Chrisitans while he was under the care of his grandparrents. But in Hawaii, he can be Muslim and be OK.

    In my opinion, at some point Obama realized that in current America, he needed to make a change. That's when he found the cultic Muslim cadence from Wright's pulpit and entered membership in a Protestant denomination. With that membership, he could say that he is "Christian." He also could relate that he found Jesus there.

    Did you know that Obama belongs to a denomination of the Protestant church permits each member to write his own religion? And at the same time he has a "pastor" who preaches as a mosque cleric.

    In closing, I'll leave you with the carrot hanging on the stick:
    Obama has a cousin in Kenya named Raila Odinga. Odinga tried to become president of Kenya. He lost the election; however, his followers have brought about "ethnic cleansing" in retaliation.
    The cousin promised the country a total Islamic rule even though Muslims count only 10% while Christians count 80%.
    The cousin promised a legalistic Muslim (same Muslim teaching Obama was raised in) regime where Christians were eliminated and the Koran's sharia was implanted.
    When the cousin was running for office in Kenya, Obama called the cousin during his New Hampshire campaign to wish his relative well in the elections in Africa.
    PLEASE DON'T TELL ME THAT OBAMA IS NOT MUSLIM, BECAUSE HE IS!!

    August 20, 2010 at 8:39 am |
  27. Charity

    President Obama is really trying his best to see that the economy of the United States jump starts again but it is not happening the way he planned. However, man proposes and God disposes.

    I Had a dream and saw two plain crashes, of Boeing, bigger than 747 aircrafts of SouthWest Airlines crashed in a Down Town or main city settings but not sure where it is going to happen. It could be the SouthWest Airline, it could be another Airline but I am not sure. The first plain crashed and burnt to ashes with the full passengers and the second one landed with the mouth side upside down and started coming down with the tail and wings and some other sides busted and as I stood watching, a big part of the debris started coming towards me and I took to my feet.

    This dream was so vivid that I woke with a start and was shaking for at least an hour, I tried reaching the white house or somebody at the CNN to give message to the President, no one will listen. I called my Pastor, his wife, and another senior mother in my church, no one will listen or call me back.

    All I am saying is that we should pray, I don't care what religion it is to avert this crashes because if it happens, America will suffer more than we are suffering right now. We should ask God for mercy.

    Thanks for taking your time to read my long comment\letter. This is the only way that I could channel this message.

    August 20, 2010 at 8:38 am |
  28. vic nashville tn

    18 % doesn’t believe in baptism so they believe Obama is Muslim

    34 % strongly believe in baptism so they believe Obama is Christian

    Move on

    August 20, 2010 at 8:36 am |
  29. Michael Armstrong Sr.

    The problem is that no other presidents enjoyed such vacation time .

    August 20, 2010 at 8:34 am |
  30. art

    I'm pretty confident in President Obama's faith. He walks his talk. Keeps his campaign promises. All one has to do is take a look at what has been accomplished since he took office. His focus has been on assisting those who suffered the most from the last administration's willingness to enable greed, through the practice of de-regulating the intellectual violence which assisted them in accomplishing their goals.

    It's been taking place within the conservative administrations in this country since, Nixon.

    He's pretty Jesus-like to me.

    August 20, 2010 at 8:32 am |
  31. Michael Armstrong Sr.

    Obama seems to like vacations and breaks alot where does he find the time to work .

    August 20, 2010 at 8:28 am |
  32. Steven

    I thought the president may be an atheist because some of the ideas he stated and wrote in the past, such as quoting a line from Thomas Paine in his inaugural speech. It is unknown what his true feelings about faith are, but it shouldn't matter in any significant way other then one's curiosity .

    August 20, 2010 at 8:25 am |
  33. Mike E. North Carolina

    How can you report that the president is a committed Christian when he clearly supports gay marriage and the Bible calls that act an abomination?

    August 20, 2010 at 8:23 am |
  34. Tom-Vermillion Ohio

    As a design engineer, I have ingrained within myself, a super strong desire to get at the 'truth', that is to get a rock solid understanding of the world around me for what it really is and how it really works. To me, the 'ugliest of all uglies', is for people to lie or the withhold vital information to promote their agendas over the desperate need to solve very serious problems that we all now face. What can be even more 'ugly' is for people of influence to intentionally and purposely inject into the problem solving process non-revelent issues and controversies to defeat, sabotage and/or distract the efforts of those who are diligently at work to solve these very serious problems. For over twenty years, I have listened to CNN because, for the most part CNN has delivered to me the most reliable, valid and responsible news. I am asking CNN to keep it that way, regardless of what the competition is leading CNN to do. In other words, keep it ethical. Do not let that competition undermine your efforts. Thank you for posting my posts.

    August 20, 2010 at 8:12 am |
  35. Greg

    You are reporting that president Obama is a Christian and that he prays everyday. Just exactly how do you know that?

    August 20, 2010 at 8:06 am |
  36. Janice Thaxter

    I do not understand the reason you Media types, especially CNN, does not investigate Soetoro, his lies to Congress and the American people. We believe he is not a Christian as he canceled the Christian Day set aside for us years ago and yet he attended the Muslim Holy Day a week ago and had a dinner to celebrate it. He never goes to Church, at least not since he moved into the White House. Soetoro has not proven himself to be a stand up type, he has proven himself to be a liar of the worst type and he preys on the young., high school or college kids those of us with some years on us know better than to listen to his lies.

    August 20, 2010 at 8:04 am |
  37. Michael Armstrong Sr.

    The problem is that Obamas father is a Muslim and Obama has not been babtised .

    August 20, 2010 at 8:04 am |
  38. I. Smith

    they fail to leave out that the 1 in 5 Americans who think obama is muslim are idiots

    August 20, 2010 at 8:04 am |
  39. Scott

    So What? I'm tired of our presidents having to trot out phony ahearence to religeon to make themselves seem elctable to the right wing southern convention types. Everything from Clinton carrying a Bible around and specificlly using the hand he was carrying it in to wave to the press, to Bush saying that his favorite Philosopher was Jesus, to McCain seemingly changing his religeon when he ran for office from Episcipalian to Baptist.

    The U.S. elects presidents and we also get to publicly see who their govt. advisors are. The LAST thing I want is some unappointed religeous "Advisor" to the president having their fingers in the mix.

    I don't care what Obama's religeon is, but what I do care about is that whatever his religeon it should have nothing to do with his decisions as president. The one other scary thing about his, is the fact that 18% of the population isw suceptable to beliving an absolute falsehood just because they are reading it on the internet or seeing it on an opinion program.

    August 20, 2010 at 7:55 am |
  40. Sandra

    Because people want to believe in lies. It gives them a reason to hate. My biggest concern is not the media, though that's bad enough, but religious leaders, pastors, priests and whatever you want to call them. When a priest publilcally wish President Obama dead I knew we were in for trouble.....Isn't this how the witch hunt started? When logic and what our country is founded on goes out the wind to mass hysteria and accusations we are in for a rough right and I hope those responsible will answer to a higher calling.....Of course you always have those that actually believe this.

    August 20, 2010 at 7:40 am |
  41. Scott Stodden

    When It Comes To The Polls And The Accusations About Weather President Obama Is Truly A Muslim I Would Say We Need To Ask Ourselves Why He's In Support Of The Muslim Mosque Being Built Two Blocks Away From Ground Zero, Why Did He Celebrate And Hold A Special Event At The White House To Celebrate The Beginning Of Ramadan & Why Did President Obama And Isral Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Have A Heated Exchange The First Time He Came To Visit President Obama At The White House? If He's Not Muslim Then Why Did He Do All This? Im Not Saying He's A Muslim Because None Of Us Truly Know What His Religion Is But I Find It Appalling That President Obama And Mayor Michael Bloomberg Are In Support Of This Mosque Being Built Two Blocks From Ground Zero Where Thousands Perished Due To Islamic Extremists!

    Scott Stodden (Freeport, Illinois)

    August 20, 2010 at 6:57 am |
  42. R.B. Bookwalter

    Kiran asks why it matters that 18% believe Obama is a Muslim. The answer is simple. It means that at least a fifth of American voters go to the polls having been convinced of absolute lies about the candidates – – and cast their votes based on those utterly false beliefs.
    And these false beliefs are not just mistakes. For one thing, there is clear evidence that they are false. For instance, I would guess that most of those who think Obama is a Muslim would also condemn him for having sat in Reverend Wright's church for 20 years. So these folks are in absolute denial of verified factual information.
    Secondly, these false beliefs are not manufactured in the heads of the fools who hold them. They are delivered to them through the media. These uncritical thinkers know nothing about Obama (or any other political figure) by direct experience. Like virtually all voters they only know what they've heard or read.
    So what are they reading and hearing? Clearly they are confusing lies they hear on the radio, read on the internet, and see on some cable "news" programs with accurate, factual information.
    And let's be clear about one thing. The people presenting these false beliefs through the media do not believe them. They know that the information is false. They sell it because they want thoughtless listeners to believe lies.
    These propagandists have a right to knowingly spread lies. But they do not deserve their loyal followers. Americans have to become better educated and better critical thinkers so that they will turn off the BS artists, understand how to separate fact from fiction, and vote based on clear headed analysis.
    If this happened I expect the ratio of conservatives and liberals would remain about the same, but we would stop rewarding propagandists for treating American voters as if they were idiots.

    August 20, 2010 at 6:54 am |
  43. kim

    I will remind you all at CNN – that MOST Republicans voted AGAINST The 9/11 responders health care bill. Why doesn't CNN ask these Republicans WHY they did that?

    CNN should doing their job, YOU should be asking Republicans why they voted against the healthcare bill for First responders? Why 155 of the 170 Republicans in the Congress voted AGAINST helping 9/11 responders.

    If a few of those Republicans had STOPPED playing politics, and done the right thing – this bill would have passed weeks ago! BUT as usual Republicans decided to obstruct.

    THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!
    CNN do your job!

    August 20, 2010 at 6:54 am |
  44. Scott Stodden

    Hello And Good Morning To Everyone At American Morning! Concerning Roger Clemens And The Charges Against Him I Believe Everyone Is Innocent Until Proven Guilty But Remember There Has To Be Evidence To Accuse Someone With Something We'll Just Have To Wait And See!

    Scott Stodden (Freeport,Illinois)

    August 20, 2010 at 6:51 am |
  45. Suze Diaz

    There should have been a fourth option in the poll on the President's religion – "Don't care"

    August 20, 2010 at 6:43 am |
  46. kim

    I will remind you all at CNN – that MOST Republicans voted AGAINST The 9/11 responders health care bill. Why doesn't CNN ask them WHY?

    CNN should doing their job, should be asking Republicans why they voted against the healthcare bill for First responders?

    CNN do your job!

    August 20, 2010 at 6:36 am |
  47. Elijah

    Sarah Parlin has fallen from status and seem to be roaming around to try grab on irrelevant issues. We mostly agree that when extremists commit unhumane acts, they are called terrorists. What do you call a dr who used the "n" word 11 times in about a span of 3mins and apologized after. Such apology seem like paramedics arriving after dealth.

    August 20, 2010 at 6:23 am |
  48. MeloN

    Oh.. the irony and hypocrisy of it all.....

    Let's send Roger Clemens to prison for 30 years for lying to people that lie to the American public on a regular basis.

    Only in America.

    August 20, 2010 at 6:22 am |
  49. Lynn in Alaska

    I'm hoping that John and Kiran might be able to shed some light on why the pollsters are continually polling Americans about the president's faith anyway?

    I myself know that he's a Christian, but when pollsters keep asking people about his faith over and over and over again, it keeps bringing this ridiculous issue front and center again.

    When they keep polling people with this same question, I can see why some people eventually become confused on the topic.

    I think the pollsters need to move on to more pertinent and valid issues.

    Thank you American Morning!

    August 20, 2010 at 6:17 am |
  50. MeloN

    Good morning CNN!

    Roger Clemens is innocent till proven guilty. Simple as.

    After a year and a half of Barry Obama's spewing to the American public – believing he is a Muslim really isn't much a stretch. Despite CNN's and other left wing liberals attempts to save Barry Obama the curtain is slow coming down on that sad chapter of American history.

    Dr. Laura did nothing wrong. End of story.

    August 20, 2010 at 6:08 am |
  51. salah

    this is a total scam just to put down the president

    August 20, 2010 at 6:06 am |