Smear Campaign

Now I understand in Israel that the word "Muslim" is less of a religious designation and much more of a pejorative term and all...but this is just silly.

The New America Foundation's poll of Israelis, released today, contains a finding suggesting campaign-trail rumors about Barack Obama's religion penetrated deeply in the Jewish state.

The survey, by Jim Gerstein, asked Israelis (both Jewish and Muslim) whether a series of terms describe President Obama well, and 39% of respondents said the term "Muslim" describes the president, who is Christian, well. Of those, only 15% said the term described him very well.

A plurality, 49%, said Obama isn't well-described as a Muslim.

Honestly, two in five Israelis?  Shouldn't you guys actually be able to recognize an actual Muslim and differentiate one from a Christian or a Jew?  If there is a country on Earth where the population should be able to easily do that, it should be Israel, yes?

Oh, and bonus Ben Smith Of Politico Verbatim Expert Punditry:

But in a country engaged in decades of violent conflict with its Muslim and Arab neighbors, the fact that well over a third of Israelis buy into the groundless rumors about Obama's faith suggests the depth of his image problems.

So, the fact that 39% of Israelis buy the "groundless rumors" perpetuated in part by the Village to attack Obama is Obama's problem?

Ass.