Politicsobama mosque visitobama islamic society of baltimoremuslim americans

Obama: Muslims On TV Deserve To Be Portrayed As More Than Just Terrorists

"It's not that hard to do."
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By 

Reporter, HuffPost

President Barack Obama said that Muslims in media should be portrayed in contexts other than national security during a visit to a Baltimore mosque on Wednesday.

Noting the accomplishments of Muslim Americans, Obama called for them to be more diversely represented on television.

"Part of what we have to do is to lift up the contributions of the Muslim-American community not when there's a problem, but all the time," Obama said. "Our television shows should have some Muslim characters that are unrelated to national security. It's not that hard to do."

"There was a time when there were no black people on television and you can tell good stories while still representing the realities of our communities."

Obama's visit to the Islamic Society of Baltimore was his first visit to a U.S. mosque as president.

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Obama On Late-Night TV
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President Barack Obama sits with Jimmy Fallon during commercial break as he participates in a taping of the Jimmy Fallon Show, Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C.. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (credit:AP)
Barack Obama, Jimmy Fallon(02 of16)
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Pictured: (l-r) Tariq 'Black Thought' Trotter, President Barack Obama, Jimmy Fallon -- (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Barack Obama, Jimmy Fallon(03 of16)
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LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON -- Episode 622 -- Pictured: (l-r) President Barack Obama, Jimmy Fallon -- (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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President Barack Obama, right, talks with Jay Leno, right, during a commercial break during the taping of his appearance on NBCs The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (credit:AP)
Barack Obama, Jay Leno(05 of16)
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President Barack Obama talks with Jay Leno, right, during a commercial break during the taping of his appearance on NBCs The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (credit:AP)
Barack Obama(06 of16)
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President Barack Obama smiles towards the audience during his appearance for taping of NBCs The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (credit:AP)
Barack Obama, Jay Leno(07 of16)
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U.S. President Barack Obama chats with host Jay Leno during a taping of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” October 24, 2012 at NBC Studios in Burbank, California. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Barack Obama, Jay Leno(08 of16)
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U.S. President Barack Obama chats with Jay Leno during a break while recording an interview on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” at the NBC Studios in Burbank, California, on October 25, 2011. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Barack Obama, Jay Leno(09 of16)
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Pictured: (l-r) President Barack Obama during an interview with host Jay Leno on March 19, 2009 -- Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank (credit:Getty Images)
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President Barack Obama talks with David Letterman on the set of the "Late Show With David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (credit:AP)
Barack Obama, Jay Leno(11 of16)
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U.S. President Barack Obama (L) during an interview on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” at the NBC Studios in Burbank, California, on October 25, 2011. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Barack Obama(12 of16)
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U.S. President Barack Obama appears on 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno' at NBC Studios on October 25, 2011 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/NBCUniversal/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Barack Obama, Jay Leno(13 of16)
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U.S. President Barack Obama is seen with host Jay Leno during a taping of 'The Tonight Show' at NBC studios in Burbank, California. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Barack Obama, David Letterman(14 of16)
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President Barack Obama sits with David Letterman on the set of the "Late Show With David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (credit:AP)
Barack Obama, David Letterman(15 of16)
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President Barack Obama sits with David Letterman on the set of the "Late Show With David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (credit:AP)
Barack Obama, David Letterman(16 of16)
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President Barack Obama talks with David Letterman on the set of the "Late Show With David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (credit:AP)

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