# Why would Obama make such a preposterous claim? \[US one of the largest Muslim countries\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 3, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567 "2009-06-03T12:55:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/61 "2009-06-03T19:07:34Z")
My guess is that Obama, familiar with the often-quoted fact that the US is the largest Jewish nation, wanted ‘balance’ and came up with this strange notion that the US is also one of the largest Muslim nations. Never mind that it’s completely untrue. I guess we could be charitable and put this down to an honest mistake, were it not for the fact that he’s a politician and, right or left, these guys will always manipulate the truth if they perceive an advantage in it. Where’s the advantage in such an obvious misstatement, one which the media would pick up straight away? Because the Western media is unimportant in this instance, these remarks were aimed at the Muslim world and they won’t bother about subsequent ‘corrections’. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/62 "2009-06-03T19:14:24Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Where’s the advantage in such an obvious misstatement, one which the media would pick up straight away? Because the Western media is unimportant in this instance, these remarks were aimed at the Muslim world and they won’t bother about subsequent ‘corrections’. He’s communicating remarks to the Muslim world via a French TV channel? Did you read any of the two pages of the thread that took place between your OP and your second post? I’m also puzzled by your assertion that politicians never make mistakes. The evidence to the contrary is pretty overwhelming. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/63 "2009-06-03T19:34:18Z")
Has anyone notified the McCain campaign? This should be great news for them. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/64 "2009-06-03T19:40:55Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > My guess is that Obama, familiar with the often-quoted fact that the US is the largest Jewish nation, wanted ‘balance’ and came up with this strange notion that the US is also one of the largest Muslim nations. The notion that the US has the largest (or near largest) population of “X” is common enough. Surprising things like this are often bandied about as fun trivia. For instance I have heard Chicago has the second largest Polish population outside of Warsaw. New York has the second largest Hispanic population outside of Mexico City and the US has the second largest Hispanic population in the world after Mexico. China has more English speaking people than the United States. California has the eighth largest economy in the world all by itself. So on and so forth. I don’t know if any of the above are really true but they are common enough. So, considering the US is rather large and rather diverse it is not surprising that someone may extend the notion while ad-libbing in an interview. It is true in so many other ways why not here too? Such things are not all that strange in this country. > [@](#): > > Never mind that it’s completely untrue. I guess we could be charitable and put this down to an honest mistake, were it not for the fact that he’s a politician and, right or left, these guys will always manipulate the truth if they perceive an advantage in it. He has no particular reason to intentionally manufacture this little “factoid”. Sure it sounds better to the Muslim world if the US can say it has a substantial Muslim population making it among the largest such population in the world. However, it still works to say there are 3 million Muslims in the US (which is still a lot) who get on fine in this country and are welcomed. Do you expect presidents (any of them) to have encyclopedic knowledge of US demographics? > [@](#): > > Where’s the advantage in such an obvious misstatement, one which the media would pick up straight away? Because the Western media is unimportant in this instance, these remarks were aimed at the Muslim world and they won’t bother about subsequent ‘corrections’. As noted you apparently have not read the thread till this point as that was answered numerous times already. If you did read the thread then why the blinders? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/65 "2009-06-03T19:46:00Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > He’s communicating remarks to the Muslim world via a French TV channel? > > Did you read any of the two pages of the thread that took place between your OP and your second post? > > I’m also puzzled by your assertion that politicians never make mistakes. The evidence to the contrary is pretty overwhelming. The remarks were presumptive materials for his speech in Cairo, and France has an enormous Muslim population. Address that population and you can be sure that your remarks will circulate throughout the Muslim world. Who else would be the targeted audience? (And politicians always have a targeted audience.) And if you’re determined to put this down to sheer ignorance on Obama’s part, be my guest. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/66 "2009-06-03T19:52:38Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > And John Lennon meant that the Beatles were all _taller_ than Jesus. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/67 "2009-06-03T19:59:46Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > So lets accept the 2.8 million number as being accurate. That puts us at number 39 between Kuwait and Oman. So even with the extremely liberal estimate of six million we are not in the top half. Just by eyeballing it without doing the arithmetic myself I think it’s fair to estimate that any one of the top four countries has more than all the bottom half combined even if you include America. > > . The 2.8 million number is from 2001. Eight year old numbers on a population that had a significant upwards trend during the preceding decade is probably not worth accepting as accurate. Granted, as a Minnesotan, I have the perception that the Muslim population in the U.S. is pretty darn significant - it being 5% of my children’s classes. We’ve been a significant landing spot for Somali refugees, so headscarves around here are normal. ---
**Author:** ![Kiber](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiber/32/317_2.png) [@Kiber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiber)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/68 "2009-06-03T20:06:24Z")
I think people are missing the real outrage here. The very next sentence, which nobody has quoted here, is this: > [@Obama](#): > > And so there’s got to be a better dialogue and a better understanding between the two peoples. Dialogue? What??? Understanding??? See - here’s the problem. Sure he may have misrepresented the relative size of the muslim population in the U.S. - but anyone could do that. The kicker here is that he did it to promote Dialogue and Understanding. We all know those are just weasel words for capitulation. I weep for this country . . . . . ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/69 "2009-06-03T20:12:58Z")
This is avery important misstatemnt. It’snot somethinginconsequential like trying to clam there are WMDs in Iraq, or that Iraq was involved in 9/11 or that Iraq was in cahoots with Al Aqaeda, or that we don’t torture. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/70 "2009-06-03T20:24:00Z")
It was inevitable. Faux outrage is now real outrage from [Micheal Goldfarb at the Weekly Standard](http://www.weeklystandard.com/Weblogs/TWSFP/TWSFPView.asp#11838). He is actually insinuating that Obama is hiding the fact that he speaks Arabic. From a one word thanks to a foreign head of state, and a cll to prayer in 2007. Listen up republican people, we can not continue this way. We have to have SOMETHING we can parody you with. Everytime we think we have an arrow in our quiver to poke with, you steal it. You’re starting to bristle like a porcupine. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/71 "2009-06-03T20:24:37Z")
Was it ever agreed here what the definition of “one of the largest” is, or only that he lied? ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/72 "2009-06-03T20:29:47Z")
Ladies and Gentlemen! Elvis has entered the building! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/73 "2009-06-03T20:32:54Z")
Been here for years, friend. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/74 "2009-06-03T20:33:36Z")
By builiding, I meant discussion, friendo. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/75 "2009-06-03T20:38:13Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Very true. > > I believe that there are different qualities of bullshit however; some is certainly more stinky than others. If we compare the stinkyness of two piles of bullshit: > > **Obama Bullshit:** > > My opinion of the reason for the Bullshit: Obama wanted to convey that there were a lot of Muslims in the United States, and therefore the country is in no way “anti-muslim” > Stink Factor: “whew! Who let one off?” > > **Bush Bullshit:** > > My opinion of the reason for Bullshit: Bush wanted to justify his decision to go to war in Iraq, a decision that cost a huge amount of money and lives. > Stink Factor: One metric ton of weapons-grade stink Yes, it’s just irritating that you can’t call Obama on his bullshit without someone crying, “But W!” ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/76 "2009-06-03T20:41:00Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Yes, it’s just irritating that you can’t call Obama on his bullshit without someone crying, “But W!” We can’t help it if W was a world class douchenozzle whose stink still lingers. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/77 "2009-06-03T20:41:21Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > The 2.8 million number is from 2001. Eight year old numbers on a population that had a significant upwards trend during the preceding decade is probably not worth accepting as accurate. > > Granted, as a Minnesotan, I have the perception that the Muslim population in the U.S. is pretty darn significant - it being 5% of my children’s classes. We’ve been a significant landing spot for Somali refugees, so headscarves around here are normal. Yes, but generally we rely on figures from several years back for population extrapolations. If you can find something more up to date I am fine with revising my figures. Even 3.2m won’t make us one of the largest Muslim nations, either the smallest of the biggest or biggest of the smallest, but not one of the biggest Muslim populations. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/78 "2009-06-03T20:42:22Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > We can’t help it if W was a world class douchenozzle whose stink still lingers. Well you can avoid playing stinky pinky with the residue. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/79 "2009-06-03T20:42:45Z")
> [@Kiber](#): > > I think people are missing the real outrage here. The very next sentence, which nobody has quoted here, is this: > > Dialogue? What??? Understanding??? See - here’s the problem. Sure he may have misrepresented the relative size of the muslim population in the U.S. - but anyone could do that. The kicker here is that he did it to promote Dialogue and Understanding. We all know those are just weasel words for capitulation. > > I weep for this country . . . . . First the Communism, now the negotiating with/appeasing terrorists. I give this country 2 years… 2 1/2 years, tops. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567/80 "2009-06-03T20:43:47Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Yes, it’s just irritating that you can’t call Obama on his bullshit without someone crying, “But W!” Because people want to say “bullshit is bullshit” which implies it is all the same. As has been shown it isn’t as comparisons to W-bullshit shows all too clearly. It’s like saying “a lie is a lie” suggesting there are no shades of gray in there. If I am throwing you a surprise party tonight and I lie to you so as not to spoil the surprise is a far cry from lying about, say, non-existent WMDs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-make-such-a-preposterous-claim-us-one-of-the-largest-muslim-countries/498567.md?page=5)