U.S. Muslim leaders feel Obama snub

WASHINGTON, June 24 (UPI) -- U.S. Muslim leaders say likely Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama faces a dilemma over the enthusiastic initial support he received from them.

Some of them say even though they understand Senator Obama, D-Ill., needs to be careful at a time when many Americans are suspicious about Muslims, they still feel snubbed, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., until recently the only Muslim serving in Congress, told the Times that like many other Americans of Islamic faith he enthusiastically welcomed Obama's entry into the presidential race. But now, he said, requests to appear with the likely nominee aren't being answered.

After one such request for a joint appearance at a Cedar Rapids, Iowa, mosque, Ellison recalled an Obama aide turning down the appearance by saying, "'We have a very tightly wrapped message.'"

Obama campaign aides, however, deny there's been a snub.

"Our campaign has made every attempt to bring together Americans of all races, religions and backgrounds to take on our common challenges," Ben LaBolt, a campaign spokesman, told the newspaper.