Obama: ‘Our Muslim Population Feels Themselves to Be Americans’

[freshwest]

By Andrew Kirell - January 16th, 2015

During the Q&A portion of a joint press briefing with British Prime Minister David Cameron, President Barack Obama suggested that when it comes to fighting radical Islam, the United States has a security advantage over Europe because our Muslim population feels more assimilated than in other countries.

While that point will surely be lambasted by anti-immigration portions of the right, it is a great gesture to the many moderate Muslims currently living in the United States. And his point is backed up by facts:

The United States has one big advantage to this whole process. It is not that our law enforcement or our intelligence services, etc., are so much better. [...] It’s that our Muslim populations, they feel themselves to be Americans. There is this incredible process of immigration and assimilation that is part of our tradition. That is probably our greatest strength. That does not mean we are not subject to the kinds of kind of tragedy that we saw at the Boston Marathon.

As I’ve written in this space before, contrary to breathless proclamations from demagogic types, “the story of the Muslim-American is actually a success story...”

VIDEO at link, but I'm unable to access it, but I think this is it:

During the Q&A portion of a joint press briefing with British Prime Minister David Cameron, President Barack Obama suggested that when it comes to fighting radical Islam, the United... States...

Obama: ‘Our Muslim Population Feels Themselves to Be Americans’

That was rather garbled and the video is from Faux. (Surprised at the Faux crawl as it wasn't skewed, unless it's snarking...)

The full version, supposedly from the White House but carried on livestream:

Obama And British Prime Minister Cameron Full News Conference

Published on Jan 16, 2015

President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron talk about terrorism and answer questions from the press.

I tune out Cameron... Maybe someone will catch someone worthwhile that he had to say.

Oh, and BTW:

THIS IS THE BOG, IT IS A SAFE HAVEN GROUP CREATED BY THE ADMINISTRATORS OF DU. IT IS A PLACE FOR THOSE WHO SUPPORT DEMOCRATS TO CELEBRATE THE 44TH POTUS, BARACK OBAMA, ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY, ACHIEVEMENTS AND POLICIES.

IT EXISTS FOR THOSE WHO SUPPORT THIS PRESIDENT AND EACH OTHER. PLEASE CHECK THE PINNED THREAD FOR THE SOP (STATEMENT OF PURPOSE) OF THIS GROUP. THIS IS NOT A FORUM.

IF YOU CANNOT RESPECT OBAMA, DEMOCRATS, THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF THIS GROUP, OR THE MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP, PLEASE DO NOT POST HERE.

THANKS IN ADVANCE.

[sheshe2]

1. Kicking!

Will listen tomorrow. Gotta go.

The United States has one big advantage to this whole process. It is not that our law enforcement or our intelligence services, etc., are so much better. It’s that our Muslim populations, they feel themselves to be Americans. There is this incredible process of immigration and assimilation that is part of our tradition. That is probably our greatest strength. That does not mean we are not subject to the kinds of kind of tragedy that we saw at the Boston Marathon.

Muslim. I have no problem with them, they are Americans or a least some of them are. However not looking forward to the trial. A friend of a friend was called to jury. 60 page report she had to fill out. She has no clue yet if she will serve. A 4 month trial,not sequestered. 4 months she has to commute an hour to the city. No clue how she will afford that.

Doubt that I can handle the abuse here at DU. I may well be taking a break from here when it happens. It will be one hell of a shit show. It sure was when it happened.

Hugs freshwest.

[Major Hogwash]

2. I think President Obama is correct.

I think that most of the Muslims who live here, especially now, want to be Americans, and that they don't suffer from the same level of bigotry against their religion that is found in some other countries.
I also think that them feeling like a part of our community helps alleviate a lot of the tension and stress other Muslims must feel in some other countries that are not as inclusive as America.

[treestar]

3. I agree with that sentiment

it is easier to assimilate, as this is a nation of immigrants and more able to absorb them, - we don't have the sense of nationhood that a European country will have, going back so many centuries.