Barack Hussein Obama is, as Sarah Silverman notes, a “super f*cking shitty name.” What was once a taboo among his opponents and quite possibly his greatest political liability is now an immediate diplomatic asset: His name, and all the racial and ethnic preconceived notions that accompany it.

Despite frequent descriptions of his Christian faith and the explosive flap with his estranged former Pastor, an estimated 1 in 10 Americans still believe Sen. Obama is a Muslim. While this number may have lowered since October, many still hold to the belief that Obama is some kind of rogue “Manchurian candidate.” This raises an interesting question: Is this misconception–one held by those with unparalleled access to 24 hour cable news, internet, and talk radio–also held by Middle Easterners who are, arguably, less informed?

Today, the American Muslim Task Force on Civil Rights and Elections released a poll of 600 American Muslims from more than 10 states, including Pennsylvania and Florida, in which an overwhelming 89% of respondents said they voted for Obama, while only 2% said the same for Senator John McCain (R-AZ).  On a side note, these staggering numbers practically mirror Obama’s support in the African American community, where he garnered an estimated 93% of the demographic.

What is it, if not his name, that spurred the American Muslim community, a voting-bloc which traditionally skews conservative, to rally with such unprecedented force around President-elect Obama? I seriously doubt Obama’s name will serve as the singular cornerstone to a Middle Eastern peace dialogue, but will the perception, however false, that Obama is a Muslim work to stem the tide of negative public opinion in the Middle East? The answer remains yet to be fully seen, however anecdotal evidence seems to suggest yes, if only marginally.

Of course, while many Arabs may relish the idea of a Muslim leading the United States, Jewish Israelis remain rather uneasy with Obama’s ascension to the Presidency, to say the least.

Moreover, if we’re to assume that some Americans and Arabs hold the misconception that Obama is a Muslim, we must also assume that some Israelis, too, will hold the same belief. Now the question is, will this patently false "smear," as it’s called, be a diplomatic asset and net benefit for the United States, or, will the corollary effect in Israel undermine the US’ efforts in building a coalition of peaceful nations in the region? After all, perception and public opinion matter; just ask Senator McCain.