According to a report by journalist Chris Hayes for '' The Nation '' , Martin issued a press release shortly after Obama 's keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention that he had evidence Obama " lied to the American people " and " misrepresent ed his own heritage . " Martin claimed that Obama was really a Muslim , was possibly hiding this fact " to endanger Israel , " and that " Obama 's Muslim religion would obviously raise serious questions in many Jewish circles . " Within a few days , the conservative site '' Free Republic '' picked up Martin 's press release , triggering a long discussion . However , according to Hayes , the issue went dormant after Obama 's election to the Senate , only to pick up again in 2006 as rumors spread that Obama was considering a presidential run . In October , a conservative blog , Infidel Bloggers Alliance , reposted Martin 's press release in response to a question about Obama 's heritage . Then , on December 26 , conservative activist Ted Sampley , co-founder of Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry , posted a column suggesting Obama was a closeted Muslim , heavily quoting Martin 's original press release . According to Hayes , the first of many emails suggesting Obama was a Muslim was forwarded to '' Snopes '' within hours of Sampley 's story . Hayes believes that the email was likely a slightly altered version of the Sampley article , which was in turn heavily based on Martin 's 2004 press release . Martin told Hayes that he got numerous calls once the emails began circulating . When the callers asked him if he wrote the release , Martin replied , " They are all my children . " On June 28 , 2008 Martin told the '' Washington Post '' that he was n't " trying to smear anybody , " but that it was " just an underreported story . " Jerome Corsi 's book '' The Obama Nation '' , published on August 1 , 2008 , opens with a quote from Martin on Obama 's alleged Muslim heritage and supposed attempts to conceal it . Jim Rutenberg of '' The New York Times '' says that the book has been " widely discredited "
2004 Democratic National Convention
2004 Democratic National Convention
Andy Martin