Obama apologizes to Muslim women

Barack Obama called today to personally apologize to two Muslim women barred from seats behind the stage at a rally this week, the Politico website is reporting.

The Obama campaign blamed overzealous volunteers who didn't want women wearing headscarves in the camera shot.

One of the women, lawyer Hebba Aref, had demanded a direct apology after Obama's campaign on Wednesday said that the volunteers were out of line for disinviting the women from seats directly behind Obama at a Monday night rally in Detroit.

Aref had said Wednesday that Obama's message of inclusiveness rang hollow after the way she was discriminated against, particularly after she had defended him against negative rumors that he was Muslim.