GWB is always dressed as one.

Last night on a late night show they showed a picture of George Bush visiting Turkey.

He was dressed up as one.

I got a good laugh out of it.

I still say that Bam Bam benefits more than anyone from this scandal and that someone from his own camp is behind it.

And sometimes you can't get a life. And sometimes, even if you have one, this is what you want to do with your spare time.

And, I can't believe all the humorless CD readers! Ghawar's piece was a spoof! You know; satire!

Get a life!

Obama Hussain Obama has a problem of perception now. Rush Limbough has already started accusing him of dressing up like Osama bin Ladin. After all this is America.

I can't beleive all of you gullible people out there. The media reports something and you all automatically fall in line like a bunch of sheep and blindly beleive it. The truth of the matter is that there is NO PROOF that Clinton's campaign sent that photo to the media! So, if her people didn't send it, then who is running the smear campaign? Could it be Obama's side or the republicans? It is no secret that the republicans own the media and also that they do NOT want Hillary in the white house. Why? Because she has a back bone and she's not afraid to do some bitch slapp'in when needed. Omama on the other hand, as great as he makes himself out to be, is green and will be much more easily manipulated. Plus, the republicans are already gearing up for a smear campaign of their own against Obama. If you think thier not you are out of your mind! There is nothing they can say about Clinton that everyone hasn't already heard, except retarded claims like... Hillary is trying to make Obama look bad by showing him in Arab clothes! Pa-lease!

RE: Hillary may deserve criticism, but one thng is certain, she is not stupid. ___ She had no hand in this mess. It would have been utterly stupid.

Kem - we have one of our rare moments of agreement.

I think it was Obama doing a bit of shock and awe - who do you think planted it? They love Obama in Kenya - even named a school after him - so I doubt that the picture came from there.

PS. They do have a tradition in the poor town where Obama's paternal grandmother still lives that those who leave and make good come back and help out the rest of the village. Hope is a word they have already filled with their imaginations back in Kenya.

QUESTION: Which camp to you think is promoting those "assassination" rumours! It would certainly make one suspicious of anyone not totally sold on Obama.

I would probably vote for Nader but Obama's getting in no matter what. Right now it's Obama's to lose and he's not about to let the victory slip through his fingers like Hillary Clinton did (when she was so far ahead she seemed unbeatable).

RE: - Nader is not a 'spoiler,' but one of the few candidatew out there addressing the REAL issues that concern us

chessmate - the whole post - yes!

Hillary may deserve criticism, but one thng is certain, she is not stupid. ___ She had no hand in this mess. It would have been utterly stupid.

And why didn't the Hillary campign staff deny it immediatelly? I can see why not, they didn't have a clue when this was announced and they have thousands of campaign workers. They likely wished to insure it actually didn't come from one of the heads of the campaign before they announced it wasn't us.

Decision time is drawing near.

Our choice will be chiseled in life thats to be.

Or not.

we are lucky to be alive!

"For those who think there is no difference between Obama and McCain, now you can vote for Nader."

After Gore "lost" the election while winning the popular vote in 2000, Nader was blamed for his 'loss,' and the media pushed that story like a drug. Regardless of the 'electoral college,' Gore won the popular vote, meaning the MAJORITY of American WANTED him for president. And still, to this day, we have the stupid 'electoral college.' With the same electoral system we have now, the national majority was marginalized and, in many states, it discouraged some from even voting. Why even vote in a winner take all state when that state is heavily for one or the other party? Essentially, that means some votes DO count more than others.

Rather than push for meaningful change, though, we beat up Nader, meaning that we've allowed ourselves to become brainwashed against our own better interests.

With Florida in 2000, there were other underhanded dealings going on. Many voters were disenfranchised, mostly those for Gore.

Nader is not a 'spoiler,' but one of the few candidatew out there addressing the REAL issues that concern us. With Nader running, the Democratic nominee will be forced to at least address some of them. Be glad for Nader's decision to run, and don't be so gullible.

RE: Fear is their weapon and TERROR is their cry

What do we fear? What causes us terror? McCain continuing the Bush/Cheney legacy!

The Dems are not above playing the fear card.

Andrew - I already don't watch Rush etc.

No I'm sayin we need help to beat McCain.... The more participate the greater the Glory.

Our world is still ruled by men how have to hate
they twist away our future and they twist away our fate
Fear is their weapon and TERROR is their cry
We can stop em if we try ...... Here is a land full of power and glory
beauty that words cannot recall
Her power Shall rest on the strength of her freedom and her glory shall rest on us all.....

Phil Ochs knew too

Love

I say we make a nation-wide campaign to shun or boycott the Drudge and Limbaugh and any other blatant liars.

There is nothing wrong with being a progressive or moderate Muslim or dressing in the traditional clothing of a country you are visiting. You can find photos of Bush in a yarmaluke visiting Israel and you can find photos of Hillary in a hijab in Arab countries. They are simpling respecting local religion and local culture.

GHAWAR -- Are you for real ?

The +_ T R U E _+ ragedy-morality divisive fear-mongering WTC attackers, provided the perfect pretext for illogical hatred and fanaticism -- which purposely enrages shallow-minded well-conditioned propagandized pawns -- to voluntarily do the task of supporting the power structure's highly profitable illegal wars -- while themselves suffering egregiously from outlandish hidden taxes (inflation + deficit financing + interest), loss of available jobs, decreases in quality and quantity of health coverage, and general erosion of the infrastructure (bridges, roads, cities, hospitals, …).

Go and ask POGO, to find out who are +_T R U E_+ demons within your head

This election is unique (even with Ralph runnin) and that is like Lincoln said you can't fool all the people all the time.

This photo was gonna come out some time and I don't think it hurts Obama one bit because his strength is that he doesn't appeal to the right wing nuts. His strength is that the American People are not as sheepish as many here on Common Dreams keep accusing us of being.

We the people now know that Bush got us into a world wide religious War brought on by the profits of treating terrorism as something that can be defeated with more war when terroism has always been a part of War. So the USA pays terroists to join our side and when we stop the money payoff the terrorists return to their original mission to live without the USA domination of their lives. This has been goin on long before we noticed.

For those who think there is no difference between Obama and McCain, now you can vote for Nader.

Is everybody Happy?

We are gonna win anyway!

@ KEM PATRICK:

If the Hillary campaign staff didn't release that photo, why is she getting raked over the coals for it?

Because it's politics as usual. It's quite possible that David Axelrod is the master of this "circulated" photo flap.

If a candidate were traveling in Scotland and was photgraphed in a kilt, most folks would probably think it was part of the tour, although chances are that others might think of it as cross-dressing.

So who are the folks who are upset with the Somali-elder outfit? Anti-Somalis? Anti-northeastern Kenyans? Anti-muslims? And doesn't that say more about them than the candidate?

And what would be the reaction if candidate Obama were photographed in a folk costume reflective of his mother's Irish ancestors? And who would care?

This is an easy one - the candidate has only to rhetorically ask why folks are so upset. The unspoken answer will rally more support than opposition for Obama.

We ought to be proud that we have a candidate who shows respect for the dress and customs of others. Even Dubya, not well reputed in this respect, holds hands with Saudi royalty and kisses them. Does that mean he is gay? A Muslim sympathizer?

Ghawar wrote: "What is Obama's religion? Why is he wearing a Taliban headdress? It's not clear to me where he was born either. I heard from one fella that he was born in Hawaii. But if Hawaii was not a state then - I think it was not admitted to the union until 1960 - then is he really qualified to be president? Another guy said Obama was born in Kenya!? in which case he should be deported."

Barack Obama is a Christian. He was not wearing a 'Taliban headdress,' he was wearing a Somali tribal elder costume out of respect for his hosts. He was born in Hawaii after it became a state in 1959. (He's 46, so you can do the math.) The guy who said Obama was born in Kenya should be deported.

Ghawar wrote: "Is Obama his first name or his last name? What kind of a name is that anyway? I heard at the club that Obama's MIDDLE name is Hussein!? And there he is in a Taliban headdress! Sorry, Obama or whoever you are, but I can't vote for someone as questionable as you."

Glad you keep up on the latest news, Ghawar. Now it's time for you to crawl back under your Republican rock -- at the 'club.'

Micki, Hillary's campaign did not deny that they circulated the Obama photo to the media, only that they couldn't trace exactly who among 700 people did it. When that photo was taken, Obama wasn't a presidential candidate -- he declared in 2007 -- and didn't anticipate being ridiculously identified as some sort of a 'Muslim mole' by his political opponents.

Right, jlover, Hillary is desperate as hell and her only hope is to try and destroy Obama in any way possible but it isn't working. Watch for her to put the last stake in her own campaign by going full-out nasty in tonight's debate. Think she was booed last time? That was just a warm-up.

Ghawar
America is supposed to be the land of the free. If this were true and you really believed it, then even a Muslim president, which Obama would not be, should not bother you, let alone enrage you. Open your heart and your mind for the sake of all God's children.

The fact that you use the term "raghead" shows that you are not nearly as intellectual as you claim to be. Even if your IQ tests are off the charts, you are socially challenged (an empathy deficiency) and out of touch with 95% of humanity.

The US Congress is 85% rich white men. How is our country free and a representative democracy if less than 5% of the country always get to rule the rest of us? You have been brainwashed to think the only people worthy of the presidency are rich white men. Free your mind sir!

Are Americans more human and therefore of more value than nonAmericans? Are white male Americans more human than other Americans? Don't you think it's possible that you have a psychological issue with regards to devaluing nonwhites, nonmales, and nonChristains?

Perhaps you still believe in the old vision of America as a moral beacon of freedom to the world, but that is all propaganda for fools. America has hardly had a short period without serious moral blemishes (and I don't need to mention Korea, Vietnam, or Iraq here):

1600-1776 early Americans murdered as unsaved "savages"
1776-1865 slavery practiced and no women's rights (1920)
1868-1950's Jim Crow Laws and KKK in congress
1900-present imperialism via military force (Smedley Butler)
1950-present CIA worldwide support of fascist regimes
1980-present erosion of laws governing corporate greed
911-present erosion of individual liberties

Nationalism is a maggot in humanity's head as far as I am concerned. No nation is free of sin. Let he who hath no sin shoot the first missile...

America needs to come down off its high horse.

Ghawar, are you serious? Obama has never been a Muslim, and he's not "being fitted for a turban!" Obama belongs to the United Church of Christ, a Christian church obviously.

Didn't Nancy Pelosi wear a Muslim scarf for women over her head when she visited the middle-east? I didn't hear anyone complaining about that. "When in Rome, do (dress) as the Romans do." Ever hear of that??

Now the Clinton staffers are saying Obama should be "ashamed" (because he is defending himself) as though sending the picture out is HIS fault! Unbelievable! What a con artist Hillary Clinton is.

"In a teleconference with reporters, retired Air Force Gen. Scott Gration, an Obama adviser who accompanied the Illinois senator to Kenya two years ago, said the senator was there to learn how tribes were organizing themselves.

"And in the course of this, Senator Obama was given an outfit and as the guest that he was, the great guest, he took this outfit and they encouraged him to try some of it on," Gration said. "It was a thing that we all do."

In December, two Clinton Iowa volunteers resigned after forwarding a hoax e-mail that falsely said Obama is a Muslim possibly intent on destroying the United States. Obama is a member of the United Church of Christ and says he has never been a Muslim, but false rumors about Islamic ties are circulating on the Internet."

'Most shameful'
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe accused Clinton's campaign of "the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we've seen from either party in this election."

I agree with Mr. Plouffe.

In December, two Clinton Iowa volunteers resigned after forwarding a hoax e-mail that falsely said Obama is a Muslim possibly intent on destroying the United States. Obama is a member of the United Church of Christ and says he has never been a Muslim, but false rumors about Islamic ties are circulating on the Internet.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23337141/?GT1=10856

The photo disturbed my sleep last night. I can't understand what is happening to my once proud country. We were attacked by ragheads and now even the next president is being fitted for a turban.

I was okay yesterday afternoon, but repeated exposure to the photo has ENRAGED me. That's how propaganda works, people - by repetition. I had to order the children out of the house for their own protection (my wife left me years ago when she found out that she could not keep up with me intellectually).

I'm going into the Black neighborhoods today and see what more I can find out about Obama: where he's from, what's his Real name ect,ect.

What silliness. And - I've been searching and find no evidence that the Clinton campaign sent this photo. Why is everyone so hysterical that ...

** The Clinton campaign may have sent it? It's a political year, people. Junk happens.
** Obama is wearing a turban? I thought we were all becoming so politically-correctly MULTICULTURAL?

Geez people get a life.

I would have never guessed it was him if someone hadn't told me. I couldn't see his face that clearly. But, I can imagine the election will get ugly before it's over.

Est. hybridoma2001

talves de acuerdo. Claro, estoy harto de estas tonterias al nivel nacional...por ejemplo, de una foto asi. A veces pienso que es un plot entre todos ellos para hacernos creer que ellos estan peleando, y nosotros los tontos creemos que el debate es genuino cuando en verdad es todo un show, una pelicula, un acuerdo. Francamente, la verdad es que no hay mucha diferencia entre Obama o Clinton.... con la excepcion de que el estaba contra la guerra, las diferencias son marginal, sin profundidad. Se que NADER es mejor. tiene mejores propositos e intenciones pero el chance de el ganar son pocos....se que me diran que no soy realistico....pero les hago recordarse que el presente gobierno con mayoridad democrata nos habia prometido de investigar Bush, de parar la guerra, de " cambiar " el sistema....y Pelosi es una oveja, miedosa, estan todos vendidos a la corrupcion. No son diferentes a las " Banana Republic " politica que tanto critican. El mundo se rie de nosotros. Nuestra politica es de payasos.

chessgames56: Not to say we won't get fooled again, only noting the stark contrast in style.

Billary basically has no style, they didn't think they would require any since they have been hosting the party and anticipating the red carpet rolled out for the white house without question.

Poor Billary, desperate and so jealous. That public display of mocking was petty and small....reduced to mocking hope--if that isn't pathetic. Scolding like a bitter school marm resentful of the popular inspiring teacher. There is no depth for which Billary won't plumb to spread their sleaze.

It is actually an issue here.

A lot of Americans are afraid of Muslims, specially the ones who hide among Americans and act as one :)

The image is directed at those people and not the "progresives". This will stay in their mind, until the election day, and god forbid he becomes the "winner of the election" they will be using this to discredit him for all eternity.

By the way, take a look at the latest Onion video about the 2008 elections results:

Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/diebold_accidentally_leaks

Cheers,
/Farhad

I agree with the above reponder who said it is a NON ISSUE

The real problem here is that we're hung up on religious beliefs. Like little kids in the school courtyard, we say: "My belief is better than your belief, my god is the ONLY true god. Na, na, na, na, na..."

What's it going to take to stop this nonsense?

I think that's what we all should be asking ourselves, not worrying about who's wearing what costume. Anyone who is swayed away from Obama for this reason deserves whatever government they get. Until each of us looks in the mirror and recognizes that it is we, and we alone, who are the cause of our own effects, nothing will change.

I'm curious what the drugde report is...who is it...where and how did they get the photo...

It seems difficult to find any further information on how they actually obtained the email and I'm curious to find out...

Anybody know?

Just heard a news report on CNN, where truckers were being interviewed. They're saying that with the recent spike in gas prices, that it's becoming less worthwhile to transport goods because compensation is not keeping pace with the higher prices. Keep in mind that the recent spike in gas prices has been attributed to Wall Street speculation!

Nader wants to tax Wall Street profits before raising other taxes:

"We have the worst tax system, perverse incentives that rewards the speculators on Wall Street. Why aren't we taxing speculation on Wall Street instead of heavily taxing human labor and sales taxing necessities like food and appliances and furniture and clothing? There's no debate on this."

Nader from the Russet interview.

Go Ralph!

Vern writes:

"The Obama campaign appeals to the higher angels in human nature, while the Clintons grovel in the dirt and pander to ignorance, fear and the lowest common denominator."

For some reason an old song by the Who comes to mind:

"Won't Get Fooled Again."

Oh yeah?

Bet fox never ran one.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/25look.htm

It comes down to the difference in outlook:

The Obama campaign appeals to the higher angels in human nature, while the Clintons grovel in the dirt and pander to ignorance, fear and the lowest common denominator. The Clintons have demonstrated, in their desperation to cling to control, that they will stop at nothing, they will stoop to anything, they will burn the village rather than have anyone else emerge as an alternative. The Clinton brand name and the stalking DLC horse they rode in on has to be let out to pasture. If the Democratic party ever wants to be relevant, effective and meaningful again, the Clintons and their unethical modus operandi and tiresome scolding lectures need to go. That should be priority number 1.

ONE MORE THING

Why is no one mentioning the obvious? This photo makes him look like he's being prepped for the part of LITTLE BLACK SAMBO in a 1930s school play?

Until this moment, I assumed that the Muslim-HOAXers and other slime-mongers were Republicans, wanting to see the least electable Dem get the nomination.

To me, this is solid evidence that Clinton is involved.

Drudge is no friend of Neoconservatism. Libertarian philosophy is closer to All-American Anarchy than modern Neo-liberalism, Statism and the PNAC's Imperial America.

It pays to read. There are many anti-war folks on the right side of the political spectrum, and increasingly among Republicans than you would know, if the only media you get is Corporate Media and Progressive Blogs.

The assertion that Drudge is up to Dirty Tricks on behalf of the GOP is pure poppycock. They stated unequivocally, that the photos were emailed to them from the Clinton Camp. I believe them.

Now, in the name of protecting their sources, they may delay or even NEVER profer more proof of it's origins. And they may even take delight in the consternation of the Obama camp, that this is successfully being spun against them now. My man Obama's camp jumped the gun.

This kind of crap, whether originating with the Clinton Camp or the GOP tricksters, will have negligible effect... and responding does no good either. Until a monetary link is established between the Tricksters and the Clinton camp... it's best to let it slide.

Now I need a shower, just thinking about it. It's amazing how the stuff gets on you.

Wearing a muumuu doesn't make one a Mau-Mau. Wearing a cowboy hat doesn't make you a cowboy. Wearing a beret, on the other hand, probably DOES mean you are pretentious....

Senator Clinton:

You must be pretty desperate to throw the election to the GOP, in trying to toss a sabot like the Obama-in-a-turban pic into the works when it looks to everybody like HE's going to be our party's nominee. Do you accept responsibility for the monstrous acts of your staffers when they pull such an obvious hype? If not, how do you differ from the Shrub?

Oh, God, Hillary, why do you keep shooting yourself in the foot?? Read my lips:
Xenophobia OUT, Divisiveness OUT, Fearmongering OUT!!
Hope, Reconciliation, Vision IN IN IN!

Is it too late for you to seek the Republican nomination? You're just their type. Also, it's the only way you'll ever likely to get back in the WH.

Most sincerely,
Moss Valentine,
who once thought you might be different. Too damn bad you turned out to be just another phallus. Yeah, so's yours.

I am sorry but the Clinton administration already demonstrated this perspective when they kept sanctions on Iraq and as a result millions of children died.

Some will only look out for the benefit of this country but I look out for the benefit of all and Hillary Clinton.......your not IT!

She has been demonstrating her fiscal responsibilities and now her racial perspectives. I wonder how many people will see what she is doing in as a positive role model for this country?

But the Clinton campaign manager did respond to the Drudge Report accusation. He said it wasn't an issue, pointing out that there were widely published photos of Hillary Clinton in the garb of other nations she had visited. It looks to me a lot more like Rove-style divisive antics to me.

scroller February 26th, 2008 12:53 am

excellent analysis.

tolerancenow February 26th, 2008 12:03 am

your point about racist (cultural) code language is correct. target audience - uneducated, white, christian voters:

"Now the Clintons are attempting to make Obama look like a minstrel singing doo-dah! The Clintons never wanted to help blacks, but keep them in their place. Now a black man is bucking their system and America is applauding and supporting. Why?"

...... to pose a physical manifestation of what they perceive to be hollow. a man who wears costumes (like his amazing biography suggest) specifically his roots (in the minds of clintonistas ?'is he really from afriiica ?....') is an attempt to undermine his story, his identity, he's a minstrel, he's shuckin and jivin us like jackson did in SC (it's psychops training for obama before he runs against rove & mccain).

Thanks, Scroller, for those Hillary-NAFTA links!

On Hillary Clinton's claim to have been against NAFTA even though her husband Bill was for it, see:

"Hillary Clinton's NAFTA U-turn says something about her — and us"
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004198705_sirota25.html

and this YouTube from Youngstown, Ohio:
"Hillary Clinton: NAFTA Flip Flop"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y3HWDXmXrY

Thank You ~Scroller~. It seems to me, that anyone with half a brain, would realize doing that would hurt Hillary, not Obama. It may be reverse shit slinging? Politics is dirty, dirty, dirty business and I trust none of them.

It also seems to me, that Obama would say, "Yeah that's a picture of me, so what? __ I'm proud of it. I've got some more if you wish to see them." Something stinks about this whoe thing.

Kem, to your two pertinent questions:

1) The Obama campaign has stated that the picture itself does not bother Obama. It is the apparent intent--by someone--to stoke racist reactions in racist sectors of America that is the thing objectionable. (How else to interpret an enemy of Obama sending the photo to Drudge? Why send it at all?)

2) "If the Hillary campaign staff didn't release the photo..."

a. Drudge, who published the story, states that it was a Clinton staffer who gave it to him.

b. The Clinton campaign's position is not (according to latest reports) a denial that anyone from their campaign did it, but that they do not know if anyone of their people did it.

(senior Clinton campaign staffer: "There are 700 people in our organization. We can't be sure that it didn't come from us. It is not the intent of the campaign to release this picture to tarnish Senator Obama in any way. But if someone in the campaign thinks the Obama gets treated differently by the media, well they're right," the senior staffer said."
http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/02/25/photo-showing-obama-in-somali-garb-circulated-by-clinton-cam...

The senior staffer's wording is a little unusual. What is this "it is not the intent of the campaign to release this picture TO TARNISH OBAMA in any way..."? If they didn't send it at all, why defend the motive in sending it?

Then they jump on the Obama campaign as overreacting, which is like baiting a woman with something highlighting feminism, or a gay with something highlighting homosexuality, and then when they react, saying with mock shock, "are you embarassed by being a woman (gay)? What is your problem?"

Same old, same old, from the Clinton campaign, is what it looks like from here. I admit its possible Drudge was deceived by someone pretending to be from the Clinton campaign who actually wasn't, and the Clinton campaign is only opportunistically trying to capitalize on it without having caused it. But remember, this comes in a context of news articles openly talking about how the Clinton campaign, on the verge of implosion, has decided to go negative against Obama in desperation.

That is just not so Tolerance now. Many have been saying that but it it is not true. She didn't support NAFTA and that is well documented, check it out. I'll vote for Obama if he wins the primary.

Kem Patrick, I keep reading info re support of NAFTA exactly opposite of what you report in your post (12:04am). Can you help us out with some sources re this? I began the campaign supporting Kucinich, who is totally against NAFTA, so I may not be up on Obama and Clinton. I want to be informed, so thanks for any help in the NAFTA area.

KEM PATRICK: When Bill was president, Hillary went out campaigning across the country to gain support for NAFTA!!. It was Bill who disagreed with the same go to jail or else health care plan Hillary tried to pass when he was president. Surely you remember the same health plan Hillary is promoting now getting voted down by a heavily democratic congress during Bill's term. Democrats then didn't want to send people to jail for disagreeing with Hillary anymore than they do now. VOTE OBAMA!!!

On the same day that Senator Clinton gave a speech about her special foreign policy credentials, her campaign supposedly sent the email-photo showing Senator Obama in African dress. NOT WISE.
Some might be reminded of the Clintons' failure to stop the Rwandan Genocide as it went on ... and on ... and on. Almost no one in the press or blogs have mentioned this most unforgivable of foreign policy failures -- which directly resulted in almost one million human beings who were murdered -- and, another four million who later died in the Eastern Congo (as a result of what had happened in Rwanda).
Do we really want someone with those international 'credentials' leading our country?

Here is another important thing.

Hillary disagreed with Bill Clinton on the NAFTA issue. That is documented. Since she had been a US Senator, she has opposed NAFTA many times and has been vey criticla of it and says we must make serious changes to it.

Obama on the other hand, supports NAFTA, always has and still does. Yet so many unfairly blast Hillary on that issue, but give Obama a free ride. I'm not supporting either of them, nor McCain, but I do study the issues, which is not alwyas easy, as there is a lot of mis-information passed out.

For many Blacks who lived during the movement, this is another form of "code" the southern racists use in describing who they feel is an undeserving minority. Just like Bill compared Obama to Jesse Jackson (code word for they all look alike to me) and Bill's comments about NBC correspondence who was suspended when he told the truth about how Billary was treating their child- "If he said this about a black man, he'd be fired".
Code for racist jealousy.
Now the Clintons are attemptig to make Obama look like a minstrel singing doo-dah! The Clintons never wanted to help blacks, but keep them in their place. Now a black man is bucking their system and America is applauding and supporting. Why? Not because he's black, or because he's liberal, but simply because he is an American. An American who for the first time since JFK, and FDR before him, is asking Americans to join him in a revival of the American dream. He is speaking to everyone!! Get it?
Unlike Hillary who hires people to bring in "Iron my shirts" in order to gain sympathy as an oppressed female, Obama's heart felt belief in Americans makes him a true leader.
Hillary's problem with Obama is that he is not a victim or a stereotype of the helpless black. Clinton's campaign against Obama shows her true feelings towards blacks. Clinton still holds on to the memories of slavery's chains and the old perceptions that black people can't survive unless they become dependent on white folk telling them what's good for 'em, otherwise the black man can't be trusted. This is the message behind the photo.
Hillary and her racist mind has been lost forever in time. Obama is the essence of the American evolved- Just in time!!

By the way, since Hillary always look like a whiny selfish idiot when side by side to the much more intelligent Obama, why is she asking for another debate? She always gets booed and loses.

Could someone please help me with this? __ Two pertenant questions.

The picture of Obama dressed in African garb does not bother me in the least.

Why is it bothering Obama?

If the Hillary campaign staff didn't release that photo, why is she getting raked over the coals for it?

Did it occur to any of you nitwits, that Hillary had nothing to do with the release of this photo? "She absolutely did, she did, she did!" What a way to increase the sympathy for Obama, that already exists. Just when we're finding out that Obama voted in "favor" of NAFTA. Do you really believe that Hillary's campaign would act to release such a photo to the public, one week before the Ohio and Texas primaries? I knew you Obama supporters were dumb; I had no idea "how" dumb you are. Drudge is an enemy of Hillary. That much is certain.

Pictures of Obama in African garb, you say?

Check out these pictures of the Clintons and Bush in various traditional garb and check out the last picture. I'm sure McCain will come to rue the day this one was taken.

http://www.juancole.com/

I think Obama looks handsome and cool. I think other countries would respect us more if we had him as president. I don't see Hillarious laughing so much lately; I wonder why? LOL

Her nasty campaign against Obama reeks of Republican tactics. And why not? She's IS a Republican. Looks like she's also a racist.

Because of her mean-spirited campaign, I've decided to vote for Obama. He seemed a bit right-wing to me, but that's okay. He's not as right-wing as Hillary, and he's still better than any Rethuglican. :)

Do you think Obama would be allowed to board a flight in this garb or the homeland security thugs would haul him in for interrogation?

Sorry MICKI, I thought it came from the Hillary campaign staff. If not, why are the newscasters sayig Obama is pissed at Hillary for it? And if there is nothing wrong with the picture, why would he be upset wtih anyone for releasing it? Now I'm confused.

El Bravo, todos nosotros estan hartas de como se elige el presidente de Los Estados Unidos. Y yo creo que ninguno de los candidatos esten a favor de las cosas que mencionas. Apesar de esto, quien crees tu seria el mejor candidato?

Should be a pretty interesting "Debate" tomorrow night on msnbc. Hope they are not sitting next to
each other, I don't think Hillary is going to tell Obama what an honor it is to be there with him.

I'm amazed at how the frenzied masses become so nervous whenever someone places a piece of cloth on ones head. To them, a man without his head covered is a friendly, 'normal' person, but if he places a piece of cloth on his head he's suddenly transported into some other world where that man is now something to run screaming from. Those in power know that fear mongering is the best way to control the gullible masses who then cling to the old familiar leaders for protection. Familiar names like Bush and Clinton - better the 'devils' they know than the 'devils' they don't. That's the mentality of the fearful, quivering status-quo voters.

Clinton is showing her true colors. She is capable of much more. She might be worse than Cheney (LOL).

Poor, poor, Bill. . .

Wait until you guys find out who Hillary is really associated with...and that nice little last message she gave at the debate in Texas was to ok the hit on Barack... "no matter what happens we will be ok."

Wake up this is a truly evil woman.. Check out if she was at the Bilderbergs meeting in Canada.

People in other countries would love having the freedoms we have. Dont act like a bunch of dweebs. Do we have to go down the dark hole of more of the same? We are about to lose our freedoms..dont make stupid jokes. Take your lives seriously. Bring your A games for once. Look what Barack is trying to do. What are you willing to do? I am involved and dedicated to put one who would bring hope and truth. Or maybe you dont HEAR that.

I am truly amazed at the outrage of the Senator's campaign because of the picture of him. If Senator Obama is the authentic person I assume he is, he should be proud of the picture.
Do Senator Obama's supporters have an image in their minds of him that diallows the richness and complexity of his heritage?
That is not what we Americans are about

As bad as this smear may be, it is not unpredented nor can Clinton be blammed for starting such slander.

It is eclopsed by the the Bush/Rove character assassinations. Their branding of Max Cleland a triple amoutee Viet Vet unpatrioic for his efforts to install a 9/11 investigation which Bush opposed; The deceptive Swift Boat campain against Kerry proven to be false; feeding deceptful rumors that Ann Richards was a Lesbian, and that McCain had fathered a black child because he had adopted a girl from Bangledesh--are only some examples.

The sad truth is that their is a direct relationship between the degree of deception and slander in such attacks, and their effectivenes-- because of the apathey and indifference of so many Americans.

Why blame the Clintons. Americans will have to come terms with "diaper heads" on their own. Americans have been conditioned by years of late night talk show jokes about dark skinned "dodgy" turbaned people. Matter of fact Dennis Miller was quite proud of the fact that only one turbaned person – a hapless sikh, was killed by a mob in response to 9/11. So there you have it.

The photo would never have been published by a news site rather than the Bilge site, because it's not newsworthy. But given the basic constituency of the Bilge site, the implication is "We have photographic proof that the Senator is a Muslim Manchurian candidate!"

This is slubbering dementia of the DNA deprived, of course, but the Bilge report know their audience, and the ease with which Hillarites cozy up to Foxcysts and Drudges tells us much: Hillary won't speak with the elected president of Venezuela, who has promised to abide by the defeat of the referendum which would have allowed him to run again; but Dominionists, with whom she prays every week on the Hill, and fascisti of all shapes have an open ear & the welcome mat rolled out for them.

we came out of africa.
our wisdom out of the middle east.
let us not forget our origins.
let us celebrate other cultures.
and remember, we are all in this together.

Plouffe is a bit hysterical about this. There is nothing sinister about politicians, diplomats, reporters, aid workers, visitors etc. donning native dress when visiting foreign countries. Plouffe would have done better to indicate that Obama, like many other Americans, show respect for other cultures when visiting and he should have provided photos of them doing so. There is nothing offensive about an American leader in a foreign country donning native attire.

This is racism to the fullest,and it angers me...playing on close-minded American fears of terrorism all compliments of the desperate Clinton campaign. I hope this comes back in such a way that it smacks her right in the ass -- perhaps then she'll really have something to cry about.

Hillary Clinton was reported today as attacking Obama for saying he would be willing to talk--talk--to (as Hillary put it) "dictators" such as Chavez of Venezuela.

Chavez has taken no action against the U.S., has not threatened a hostile action against the U.S., nor is he a dictator by any standard or usual definition of the term. What "preconditions" does Hillary have in mind that she would require Chavez to meet before she would deign to talk (if Chavez asked to talk)? Why is Hillary calling Chavez a "dictator"? I do not believe Hillary is that ignorant that she actually believes that. Instead, with echoes of right-wing talk radio and Bush speeches, Hillary just flings this kind of inflammatory non-fact based language (the comment on Chavez) into the air given her by her speechwriters because she/they think it will play well to the gallery. This misuse of rhetoric on Hillary's part is just shameful.

"I will not be penciling the leaders of Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, or Cuba on the presidential calendar without preconditions until we have assessed through lower level diplomacy motivation and intentions of these dictators"
--Hillary Clinton, Feb. 25, 2008
http://www.groundreport.com/US/Clinton-Attacks-Obama-On-Foreign-Policy-and-Inexpe

I live in Texas, and lots of Texans are switching from Republicanism to vote for Obama. Even good ol' boys! I think Texas will surprise you.

Hey, we progressives are already drowning here in Texas in the sea of Rednecks, Homophobes, and Religious Right. Can you tone the Texan-dissing down a little and stop lumping us all together? I mean we have to bear the burden of knowing that Bush CLAIMS to be a Texan every day of our lives. We had to endure this liar as Governor. That's heavy stuff. I scrolled back up trying to locate the email that said we have the primary, we have the caucus at 7:15 where we vote twice, but then get ready for Texas to go red and vote for BombBombIran in November. She's right. Progressives are a minority here and sometimes we're victims of harassment by our neighbors because of our yard signs, etc., but by god we're HERE! Go, Obama!

PaulK

Yes, "raghead" is just what the xenophobes will associate with Obama after seeing that picture if they don't see his color first!

I think this was one of the dirtiest tricks I've seen in this campaign. Somebody's been borrowing from Karl Rove's playbook.

"The 2005 Trilateral Commission Membership List".
This might be some interesting reading for the supporters of Hillary. They would also have to read the history of the commission.It might shed some light on the hand in hand tours of GHWB and Slick Willie to get the CAFTA deal approved.
The Clintons will say or do anything to retake control of The White House. You should remember that it was Bill who signed the NAFTA deal for big business. That sure worked out well for the working class of this country didn't it. Hillary will do the biding of big business just like Bill and will use any smear tactics to achieve that goal.

Hey, what is all this about trashing Ralph Nader when the story is about labeling another presidential candidate as a "raghead"? Ralph is a perfectly normal American but you do remember, folks, about Nader's ancestry. "Nader" is a Lebanese family name. So take the Nader potshots on some other thread, please.

So Obama dressed up in some local custom is scary but Clinton not even bothering to vote on denying retroactive immunity to telecoms illegal wiretapping of my phone calls is OK.

I started laughing a couple of days ago at NBC news, watching Bushie get down in Africa. Someone put on some traditional African dance music, people were getting into mbuka-mbuka (just dancing, without the shedding of the clothes part), moving practically every joint and muscle that a person can identify and Bushie, he's up there dancing like the drunken American frat boy of his youth, arms out like he wants to hug someone and basically doing the twist. Oh yes let the African come through in you, you little Hutu, you! Now do the Watusi! I never laugh out loud at the TV! Mbuka-mbuka, by the way, is the etymological root of the term boogie-woogie.

Drudge released it asserting it was an email from unnamed sources in the Clinton Camp. Now Clinton denies it and says "If Sen Obama thinks releasing a photo of himself in traditional African garb is negative, well SHAME ON HIM."

They laid the bait, he bit... now they spin it against him.

What I've noticed is NON STOP PRO CLINTON SPIN ON CNN.
Jeebus I hear so MANY lies I can't track on them. They play and replay Clinton using the most snyde tone over and over... then present Obama's position in their own words... always erroneously... always with a spin... never accurate

Then they always report it as two way vitriol when in fact it's always Clinton... escalating to high warble

Clinton can be relied on to serve the MIC, or lose so McCain can. Ambiguous as he is they must percieve Obama as a loose cannon. They're "moonbeaming" and "deanscreaming" Obama the same way they did Kucinich, Paul and Gravel.

I hope he kicks her ass... Cynthia McKinney lookin better every day.

Obama is not really a Somalian, so his wearing of this costume is just paying respect to that nation's culture and customs, kind of like Bush wearing a cowboy hat.

I can't agree that this incident is no big deal. For every reader of this thread there are thousands who get their jollies from listening to Limbaugh. Just as Ghawar (4:20 p.m.) seems to have jumped to the conclusion that Drudge wanted, there are probably millions whose hatred of any Democrat is reinforced by seeing this kind of photo, whose hatred is reinforced by repetition of Obama's middle name, and so on. What scares me most is that the majority of those nuts are fond of guns.

Thus "Hillary-hater"-haters follow "Hillary-haters", as surely as the night follows the day.

Can "Hillary-hater-hater" haters be far behind? :?:

Barak Hassiem Obama looked very nutral as usual, not a platform in cut throat Washington where the deals are cut with big business.
I only hope whoever gets to run , can do more than flank willies with big business and venture capital in developing countries. Like the dollar says "In GOD WE TRUST" everyone else needs to shut up and put up. It might help to prove they have done it before by the way. Not judging Im just saying..........

Clinton's smears are starting to cancel each other out. Now she's complaining Obama doesn't have enough foreign policy experience. Yet there he is visiting Kenya in 2006, and dressed the part.

She is one desperate woman fighting for a cause...her own.

hilliary desperation in high gear ! it will only help obama......i'm still supporting him

Of course it was circulated by the Clinton camp. They've pretty much admitted it. Somebody in that bunch believes that Obama's race ought to be thrown into the voting public's face, since this isn't the first time they've tried to slide little racial negatives through the cracks.

Obama Picture Ignites Row

According to the Drudge Report, which published the photograph on Monday, it was circulated by "Clinton staffers".

Some Clinton aides have tried in the past to suggest to Democrats that Barack Obama's background might be off-putting to mainstream voters.

A campaign volunteer was sacked last year after circulating an email suggesting, falsely, that Mr Obama was a Muslim.

But the BBC Justin Webb in Ohio says the photograph - coming at this pivotal moment in the campaign - is being seen by the Obama team as particularly offensive.

His campaign manager, David Plouffe, accused Mrs Clinton's aides of "the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we've seen from either party in this election".

The accusation was dismissed by Mrs Clinton's campaign manager Maggie Williams.

"If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed," she said.

"Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely."

Mrs Williams did not address the question of whether staffers circulated the photo.

=====

More concisely, they did not deny that they circulated it.

And why is the Obama campaign making such a big friggin' deal out of this photo. So what if he had his photo taken in Somali Trabal clothing? Why does his campaign take the position that this photo is "damaging" to him? What an insult to the Somalis!

But, remember it was Obama the Wonder Boy who dressed in the garb, agreed to be photographed (in 2006), and must have known that the photo would be in the public domain since AP, Reuters, and other news services have copies of the photo in their files.

I think it is absolutely mindless of you Hillary-haters to turn this photo-flap into such a huge deal.

This photo — if it makes him look silly — is in the eye of the beholder. And, apparently, in the eyes of the Obama campaign it makes him look silly, otherwise why are they unhinged about it?

That, my friends, is how to spin!

Doesn't anyone remember bush in that dress thing he wore recently? Many "dignitaries" take on the dress of the land they are in. Hillary, remember John Kerry? "If you knew what you knew now, would you still vote for the war?" Kerry "Yes" and the collective gasp was heard around the country and Kerry lost. No, Nader did not make it happen, a landslide would have been hard to fix. Kerry lost because he had no courage. Hillary is afraid to take off the "manliness" and become a woman of courage. Sorry Hill, you lost my vote a long time ago.

Many of you are missing the point and/or jumping to conclusions.

Since when do you take Matt Drudge at his word? I guess your hatred for Hillary Clinton far surpasses your judgment. You have no evidence that this photo was "circulated" by Clinton.

And why is the Obama campaign making such a big friggin' deal out of this photo. So what if he had his photo taken in Somali Trabal clothing? Why does his campaign take the position that this photo is "damaging" to him? What an insult to the Somalis!

But, remember it was Obama the Wonder Boy who dressed in the garb, agreed to be photographed (in 2006), and must have known that the photo would be in the public domain since AP, Reuters, and other news services have copies of the photo in their files.

I think it is absolutely mindless of you Hillary-haters to turn this photo-flap into such a huge deal.

This photo -- if it makes him look silly -- is in the eye of the beholder. And, apparently, in the eyes of the Obama campaign it makes him look silly, otherwise why are they unhinged about it?

The world will receive an Obama presidency with much hope and enthusiasm, reversing an 8 year slide in the USA's esteem.

I wish people would shut up about the U.S.'s image abroad. Our image now is what it should be: the truth. What the U.S. needs is humility.