What's in a Name?

The New York Times reports on the White House statement concerning the beheading of American aid worker Peter Kassig:

“Today we offer our prayers and condolences to the parents and family of Abdul-Rahman Kassig, also known to us as Peter,” Mr. Obama’s statement said. The president used the Muslim name that Mr. Kassig adopted after his capture, making the point that the Islamic State had killed a fellow Muslim. He acknowledged the “anguish at this painful time” felt by Mr. Kassig’s family."

Let me see if I've got this straight.

Peter Kassig was kidnapped by a barbaric Islamic army. He was more than likely coerced into converting to Islam with the hope that this might save him from beheading. The NYT article notes that he is identified by the Islamic barbarians who kidnapped him as "Peter Kassig."

Barack Obama decides to use his vaunted interpretation of nuance and call him "Abdul-Rahman Kassig" in the hope of what, exactly? The NYT tries to cover for their favorite president by suggesting that Kassig's Muslim name was used by this president as an indication that ISIS killed another "Muslim." As if the families of the thousands of Syrian and Iraqi Muslims killed by ISIS are unaware of that fact.

ISIS beheaded a citizen of the United States. A citizen named Peter Kassig. A citizen who converted to Islam under duress. And Obama uses his Muslim name? W.T.F?!

Using the Muslim name for this man is an insult to his family, his colleagues who were there to help Muslims, his country, and his memory. It is something that is so tone deaf, it's shocking, even for Barack Obama.