BULLETIN - AT 9:47 A.M. ET:  The president has spoken to the Turkish parliament.  Most of his speech was boilerplate.  You know - we are not at war with Islam, we want a good relationship with Muslim countries, Islam has enriched the world.  Pretty much George Bush stuff. 

But there were two curious things:  First, Mr. Obama once again endorsed Turkey's entry into the European Union, one day after he was slapped down by Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel for saying just that.  The European Union's entry requirements are really not our business.  Why did the president feel it necessary to rub France and Germany's noses in it once more?  Is it simply because he was in Turkey and wanted to make nice?  His behavior reminds me of the line from a song in "Finian's Rainbow" - "If I'm not near the girl I love, I love the girl I'm near."  The man just can't help going for that love.

And then there was this, which will create major buzz on the internet, as reported by The New York Times:

“The United States has been enriched by Muslim-Americans,” Mr. Obama said. “Many other Americans have Muslims in their family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority country. I know, because I am one of them.”

And then he paused. And waited. And, after about five seconds, as the translator caught up, the applause came.

It was a politically risky line for Mr. Obama to use because back at home, there remains chatter, particularly on right-wing internet Web sites, that accuse Mr. Obama of being Muslim, and may try to interpret that line as proof of those views.

I'm not sure that will happen, but you'd think, considering the sensitivity of the issue, that the president could have been more clear.  When he says, "I am one of them," I assume he means that he has Muslims in his family (true) and has lived in a Muslim-majority country (Indonesia).  But the sloppiness will ignite the buzz machine.  He should have said, "Many other Americans have Muslims in their family, as I do, or have lived in a Muslim-majority country, as I have."  Much clearer. 

Oh, by the way, Mr. Obama did get in the required grovel line.  After discussing the delicate issue of Turkey's genocide of Armenians in 1915, the president said, "“Our country still struggles with the legacy of our past treatment of Native Americans.”

Again, he can't help himself.

April 6, 2009