[SKL]

Erinelway: Since that other thread was closed I will refrain from responding to your comments, other than to say that I have nothing against Muslims, nor against their religion; I have read the Koran numerous times and memorized parts in English and Arabic; I have studied the religion in depth and believe it to be a beautiful religion in its basic form. Some of my very best friends are Muslim and some come from places that are largely or mostly Muslim. A comment from me that someone attended school in a Muslim country should not be read as a slam on that person (for that reason) nor on Islam. However, it cannot be denied that in Muslim countries, young people are likely to hear harsh criticisms of the USA.

My thoughts on Obama are:

1) How can anyone really answer this, since the press has respected Obama's demand that his children be left off limits?

2) I have little knowledge of what kind of father he is. His kids seem like normal kids for their age, from a distance.

3) I do have a concern that he involves them in assemblies where they hear divisive political and racist rhetoric.

4) I also feel that he should be spending as much time as possible with them, given that a girl's quality time with her father has a huge impact on her success as an adult. From what I have heard, he is allowing his political career to cut into his time with his kids a lot. Just a statement, not a judgment, to balance similar comments made about Ms. Palin.

5) Voters should give this issue the same weight as they give to the questions about Palin as a mother. I think that means zero weight for both sides, but from what I've heard so far, people don't seem to be able to ignore this issue on Palin's side, so maybe there ought to be more coverage of Obama's family to balance this out.