Obama legitimated anti-Muslim sentiment by emphasizing his Christianity rather than rebutting it.

Evidence

Polls in mid-2010 showed that close to 20 percent of Americans believed that Obama was a “secret Muslim” and that this made him an unfit president. Rather than challenge the racist assumptions of his accusers, Obama chose instead to emphasize his Christian credentials. This posture only gave credence to the notion that there is something wrong with being Muslim. In short, with a few exceptions (such as Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to be elected to Congress), the liberal imperialists in the Democratic Party pandered to the far right on this question. It is therefore not surprising that the right was able to set the terms of the discussion. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 525

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Obama framed even anti-Islamic acts in national-security terms rather than religious freedom. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 524; Liberal Islamophobia under Obama worsened conditions for Muslims at home and abroad — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 436; Anti-Muslim racialization is bipartisan and flourished under the Obama administration (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Liberal Islamophobia under Obama worsened conditions for Muslims at home and abroad #expands (0.70) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 436
• Anti-Muslim racialization is bipartisan and flourished under the Obama administration #exemplifies (0.65)