Joe and Hussein are Muslims and Americans

TPM Reader BD: Remember how during the 2008 campaign a lot of people suggested that Obama could prove to be an excellent role model for African-American men who have often been deemed less than responsible as husbands and fathers? Wouldn’t it be great if white Evangelical Republican men could come up with a role model like that too? [From Reader Deep Thought]

John Bracken points me to this article on John McCain where he seems to be putting a lid on the racist rhetoric his campaign has been hinting at. Over at TPM they have video of the exchange and some analysis of what is going on now. Regardless of why, I’m glad McCain said what he said. Haroon seems to be a bit more bitter about this. I think he’s reading too much into it, but he is a smart guy, so who knows. Election 2008, McCain

Helping U.S. reach out to young Muslims worldwide – latimes.com. A Kashmiri-born Muslim who grew up in Massachusetts, Pandith was appointed to her position last June, shortly after President Obama, speaking from Cairo, sought to dissipate some of the mistrust between Muslims and the West. Pandith’s charge is to help bridge the cultural and religious divides by reaching out to individuals and organizations to build cooperation and partnerships.