LOS ANGELES — A significant number of West Virginians (and some others in America) evidently take the view that U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama is a Muslim. In a surpassingly depressing report from the coal-miner state on the eve of Tuesday's West Virginia primary, The Los Angeles Times noted voter views that go like this: "We do not need a Muslim to lead the good ole USA."
To more than a few Americans, it would seem, the very fact that "Hussein" is a Muslim should invalidate his candidacy, even though the U.S. Constitution establishes no official religion — and indeed guarantees freedom of religious choice for all.
Of this scenario, a quartet of things must be said: