I find the results of the poll to be so embarrassing and alarming that I had to force myself to post this diary.
Meet the base of the Texas Republican Party, folks.
There is, of course, nothing actually wrong with one being a Muslim but the implication where seriously misinformed and low information voters are concerned is highly disturbing. Do they honestly not know Obama's religion or do they choose to ignore the truth?
The bias against Muslims is bad enough and we have G.W. Bush and his fanatical right wing neonut base to thank in demonizing all members of this religion. W.'s reckless and careless language about "Islamic Fascism" has served to paint all members of the faith as potential terrorists.
The poll conducted this month by the University of Texas found that less than half the state's voters, a majority of whom support John McCain's candidacy, could correctly identify the religion of the Democratic presidential candidate. Obama has been a member of the same Christian church in Chicago for more than 20 years, and he faced controversy earlier this year when controversial statements from the church's former pastor appeared online.
When asked Obama's religion, 22.7 percent of the respondents said Muslim, while 45 percent correctly said Protestant.
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How is that over 20% of Texans do not know the truth about Senator Obama's religion? How, after almost two years of a Presidential campaign can people actually not know a few basic facts about a Presidential candidate? This is the age of 24/7 cable TV news and the Internet. Texas has some of the nation's finest colleges, universities and graduate schools. The community colleges in this state do a really fine job, too, in providing quality education to its students. So, why is there such a large segment of those who continue to wallow in ignorance?
The poll showed that Texans were far more willing to believe untruths about Obama than about Sarah Palin, the GOP's vice presidential nominee. Just under 3 percent said they believed the untrue rumor that Palin's youngest son, Trig, is actually her grandson.
Oh, and guess what, Texas boasts the highest number of ignoramuses.
The number of Texans who persist in their belief that Obama is a Muslim is nearly twice as high as the national average.
Are we proud folks? In part, this must have something to do with our public K-12 schools second to last ranking nationwide. Not to mention the fact that our State's renowned leadership prefers to build prisons rather than fund our state's schools. Texas seems proud, too, in leading the nation with the highest number of uninsured residents.
Should we be worried about such ignorance and stupidity?
The finding worries the Dallas Morning News's Tod Robberson.
This is worrisome because it underscores how uninformed or misinformed people are about some of the easiest and most accessible facts about the presidential campaign. I mean, if voters can't even get his religion right, how in the world are they going to understand his position on more complex issues like health care, taxes, Iraq or urban policy?
They won't. They won't even attempt to understand it or read more so they'll be better informed. This is an indication of how lazy people are. Or, more accurately, how lazy nearly one-quarter of Texans are.
Texas's federal, state and local leadership owns this appalling outcome. Meet its base:
A big vote of confidence and special thanks to G.W. Bush, John Cornyn, John Culberson (R-US Houston) Governor Perry, and all Texas Republicans for creating the First Banana Republic State of the United States of America. And hats off to some of our state's newspapers and networks for failing to properly inform over 20% of its reading and viewing public.
It is time to fire the purveyors of stupidity and misinformation, folks. Every last lousy one of them.
VOTE A STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC TICKET if you have not done so already. It is well past the time to end Texas Republican's culture of ignorance, divisiveness and its blatant and hateful racism.
Let's move on to a more, tolerant, inclusive, knowledgeable, hopeful and a truly united states of America.
By the way, news about the appalling ignorance of Texans made it to the national media tonight. MSNBC's Chris Matthews of Hardball outed Texas Republicans. The people of Texas are now the laughing stock of much of the U.S.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, voting for the willing ignoramus members of the Texas Republican Party will take place on Wednesday, November 5th. Those with outstanding warrants, citations, unpaid child support payments, DWI convictions, and those who have histories of illegal drug use and/or partner/spousal abuse, cheating on exams, or criminal records, including misdemeanors, will be arrested upon arrival at the voting poll.
