FOFPL Steve Benen brought my attention to a new poll showing that the rumors about Barack Obama being a Muslim are having their intended effect.

Thirteen percent of respondents to the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released today said Obama is a Muslim, up from eight percent who held that belief in March.

(Do I need to say that the bigotry motivating the lie is even worse than the lie itself? Yes, yes I do. The bigotry is even worse than the lie itself.)

Last week, the Pew Forum's John Green (aka The Guru of Faith in Politics) said:

Most politicians, Democrat and Republican, have denounced the rumors, and so has the American Muslim community. However, they could be an important factor in the campaign nonetheless, especially if national security becomes a prominent issue in the campaign. Many Americans have negative views toward Muslims, and thus an association of Obama with Islam could raise questions about his trustworthiness, as at least some Americans believe these rumors.

I know that religion-baiting is hardly a new development in American politics, and I suppose we should have expected religion to get weaponized in this heavily religion-themed campaign, but that doesn't make it okay. Not by a long stretch. It degrades our politics, embarasses us on the world stage, and insults Muslims and all people of faith.