If you arent anti-Muslim, you must be a Muslim.

Thats the tone Donald Trump s co-chair in New York, Carl Paladino, took on Thursday when he joined a tired chorus of conspiracy theorists who think President Barack Obama , a practicing Christian, is actually a Muslim.

The failed 2010 gubernatorial candidate went off the rails during an unrelated interview with the Observer, saying:

In the mind of the average American, there is no doubt he is a Muslim. He is not a Christian.

As evidence, Paladino pointed to Obamas international policy and apparent pro-Muslim bias overseas: Look at what hes done with Iran, what hes done with the Sunni-Shia thing over in Iraq and Iran, and with ISIS.

Seems legit.

People have been making the argument with no proof beyond the presidents traditionally Muslim middle name, Hussein since 2008. By 2010, at least 18 percent of Americans thought Obama was Muslim, though the conversation fizzled out as the president proved over and over that he is a practicing Christian.

Until this election cycle.

Actor Antonio Sabato Jr. jumped on the Obama-Muslim train at the GOP convention last month, as those close to Trump breathed new life into the old conspiracies about the presidents birth certificate.

And the question was: Did he get in as a U.S. citizen, or was he brought into Harvard University as a citizen who wasnt from this country? said Corey Lewandowski, Trumps former campaign manager, on CNN this week.

The argument about Obamas religion should be moot, and would be if those lashing out against the president didnt see Islam as an overwhelmingly bad thing. When Sabato Jr. spoke at the RNC, he said Obama was absolutely a Muslim, and drew a connection between that alleged faith and the bad guys.

I believe that hes on the other side the Middle East. Hes with the bad guys, Sabto said. Hes with them. Hes not with us. Hes not with this country.

But its not just about Obama. The quotes signal a general acceptance of Islamophobia in the GOP, and Trumps rivals on the campaign trail werent really any better .

Obama has showed his long-form birth certificate before, and he appears to be taking all the conspiracy theories in stride . Hey, at least people dont believe he hosted a satanic ceremony at a state house. Oh, wait .

Editors note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar , rampant xenophobe , racist , misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims 1.6 billion members of an entire religion from entering the U.S.