Mehdi Hasan

Mehdi Hasan’s polemical take on politics, economics and foreign affairs

Want to know why liberals/lefties feel so let down by Obama? Here’s why

The US president fails to stand up to ignorance and bigotry – again!

By Mehdi Hasan Published 19 October 2010 14:12

Ask any travel agent, globetrotter or gap-year student: the Golden Temple in Amritsar, north India, is both a site of pilgrimage for Sikhs and a must-see on any tourist's Indian itinerary.

But India's most famous foreign tourist, US President Barack Obama, who will tour the country next month, may have to forgo his visit.

It was supposed to be Obama's only religious appointment on the four-day trip to India, but a politically sensitive row over the required headwear for the temple threatens to derail his plans.

According to local media reports, the president's team has baulked at the idea of Obama wearing a headscarf or skullcap -- required for any visitor to the holy site -- due to fears it may feed rumours circulating about his alleged Muslim beliefs.

The sight of droves of foreign tourists sporting colourful headscarves, most provided by the temple, is as much a part of the dazzling experience as the temple itself.

Reportedly, the president's aides proposed a modified version of Obama's now customary baseball cap as a compromise. But sports caps fall foul of Temple regulations, placing him in a delicate position.

I'm lost for words. Speechless. Barack – get a backbone!

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Tags: Islam Barack Obama India

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17 comments

Wed, 2010-10-20 16:28 — Vinay Patel (not verified)

Mr. Hasan,

While I agree this incident is an issue, he does not always "fail to stand up to ignorance and bigotry".

Obama standing up for the "Ground Zero" mosque when senior officials within his own party dared not to is something we should remember and applaud.

Wed, 2010-10-20 16:50 — Nassim Ally (ali) Osman (not verified)

He would have been better off visiting a Masjeed

Some Masjeed does not require visitors to cover their head

Only be properly dressed

Tue, 2010-10-19 15:15 — Sciamachy

Haha - he should play up to it, greet the Americans on TV with "Salaam aleikum, Infidels!" ;-D

But seriously, the Tea Party mentalists wouldn't believe he was Christian (not that his religion should have any relevance to how he runs a secular US) if he took holy orders & became a priest in the Vatican. Sometimes you just cannot get the truth through the thick skulls of those who just will not believe it.

Tue, 2010-10-19 15:39 — Benedict (not verified)

If he wears a skullcap, the nutters will then start to think he's part of a Jewish conspiracy for world domination. It should confuse them for a while anyway.

Tue, 2010-10-19 16:14 — @Propensity (not verified)

Obama better not go to Burger King... or the Tea Party will think he's a Whopper with Cheese.

Tue, 2010-10-19 16:25 — mitchy

Oh, ffs. You know what, I'm with Sciamachy on this, why not? Might as well have a laugh at the expense of these tea party f**kwits.

Tue, 2010-10-19 16:40 — Dave C (not verified)

Get rid of the adads1452 spam.

Tue, 2010-10-19 16:41 — writeoff (not verified)

Weak, media led neo-con, always was, always will be. On his watch millions of US$ are being transferred from his liberal supporters, via the National Endowment for Democracy and USAID into profoundly racist, anti-democratic, anti-left wing parties and agencies throughout Latin America. Many of the people who accept this cash would not be prepared to shake his hand yet he doles out cash-for-coups just as eagerly as his predecessor. No scruples, no surprise and like you say Mehdi, no backbone.

Tue, 2010-10-19 18:26 — The BigotBasher (not verified)

So how many Liberal / Lefties in the US will know about this - never mind hold it as a reason to be disappointed with the President?

Just for information support for President Obama remains high for all demographics except for white Christian Conservatives, ie the Tea Party and their political wing the Republicans.

Wed, 2010-10-20 21:36 — jeremiah

The TEA party is the Nazi Party, the Republicans are the BNP and the Democrats are the Tories.

Anyone who thinks that Democrats = Liberal or Left is Ann Coulter.

Tue, 2010-10-19 19:54 — Ian (not verified)

Didn't John Major refuse to wear a ceremonial turban in Amritsar because he "didn't want to get on the cover of Private Eye?"

So I read in Private Eye.

Thu, 2010-10-21 00:44 — RK (not verified)

Spinning comes to mind. This man has no problem telling Nasa to spend time money and energy to focus on Islamic Science.

The visit to temple is probably being avoided because he is a Muslim and not the other way round. That is left liberal spin.

Thu, 2010-10-21 08:14 — Greg Dyke (not verified)

Didn't John Major refuse to wear a ceremonial turban in Amritsar because he "didn't want to get on the cover of Private Eye?"

No! John Major refused to have a Curry at No 10 in front of Norma.

Wed, 2010-10-20 08:49 — Jeyabalen

For all his lengthy and flowery speeches, he lacks the courage to respect the religious needs of the Sikhs. Reminds of Bush Jr

Wed, 2010-10-20 10:31 — Tanino (not verified)

No, Mr Hasan, leftists feel let down by Obama because they've seen their nation's finances deteriorating and they have a President whose wavey rhetoric they find viable but whose promises of change haven't been realised.

Here are three Americans who speak for a good part of the left-leaning part of America;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOh8e_Q0m5E

Sat, 2010-11-06 06:53 — brad evans

How about this as proof of backbone: Go to the site without wearing anything on your head? Tell the TeaBaggers that you're not going to be told where to visit and tell the religulous that you're not going to be told what to wear no matter how "sacred" the spot?
Double whammy! Screw the fanatics and the over-sensitive at one go!