Obama campaign manager David Plouffe accused the Clinton campaign Monday of “shameful offensive fear-mongering” by circulating a photo as an attempted smear.
Plouffe was reacting to a banner headline on the Drudge Report saying that aides to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) had e-mailed a photo calling attention to the African roots of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
“The photo, taken in 2006, shows the Democrat front-runner dressed as a Somali Elder, during his visit to Wajir, a rural area in northeastern Kenya,” the Drudge Report said.
The Clinton campaign did not deny the charge, but did not comment further.
Plouffe said in a statement: “On the very day that Senator Clinton is giving a speech about restoring respect for America in the world, her campaign has engaged in the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we’ve seen from either party in this election. This is part of a disturbing pattern that led her county chairs to resign in Iowa, her campaign chairman to resign in New Hampshire, and it’s exactly the kind of divisive politics that turns away Americans of all parties and diminishes respect for America in the world,” said Plouffe.
The photo created huge buzz in political circles and immediately became known as “the ‘dressed’ photo,” reflecting the Drudge terminology.
© 2008 Politico.com
Ahh yes. That anti-christ beast Nader should think to intefere with a possible Clinton coronation!
And this is an offensive picture why? Do not American women cover their heads out of respect for custom in nations which follow Islam? Good grief…
Clinton has now surpassed the most disgusting campaigns in American political history. She is not only a poor candidate she is poisoning everything and everyone around her.
Obviously all those presidents who donned Native American head dresses were endorsing the killing of American cavalry officers.
omigodobamaisaraghead! I have finally been persuaded to vote for him.
I think it is a cool picture kinda like Sahib the Elephant boy or from ali baba and the 40 thiefs….
Obama is Cool!
You know the “forces of darkness” (the Clinton machine, the Republicans, & the corporate media in the person of their red-headed stepchild, Matt Drudge) are scared when they become the “enemy of my enemy is my friend” and work together to produce this clumsy smear. Considering Drudge made his bones by being the Clinton’s bete noire, this shows just how desperate the aforementioned Keystone Cabal are to stop Obama as he goes from strength to strength.
LOL @ Dichterfreund. Touche
“Clinton has now surpassed the most disgusting campaigns in American political history. She is not only a poor candidate she is poisoning everything and everyone around her”
i’m guessing you missed the judical selection of george w. bush in 2000?
how about the swift-boating of john kerry in 2004?
ever hear of karl rove?
while i do agree that this is precisely the sort of thing that will cost clinton the election… it hardly constitutes “the most disgusting campaigns in American political history.”
you new here?
How do the pro Clinton idiots who post here plan to spin this one? This inquiring mind wants to know……..
Senator Clinton is desperate and feeling trapped. Like any animal, human included, when trapped they will do ANYTHING to escape (win). Her current behavior perfectly reflects the psychological response patterns associated with being desperate and trapped. She will say and do anything in the next week that she thinks will enable her to achieve victory in Ohio and Texas. There is NOTHING she won’t say or do. Her behavior will make Dumbya’s dirty tricks on Senator McVain in South Carolina 2000 look like child’s play. This photo and the stupid charges over the weekend defending her flip-flop record on NAFTA are just the beginning of the assault on Senator Obama. I only hope Obama DOES NOT dig up some of the stupid “COSTUME PHOTOS” taken of Senator Clinton when as First Lady she traveled all over the world partying down on behalf of her husband.
Land o’Goshen!
Wait till Glenn Beck gets ahold of this! Why, it’s practically a smoking gun!
Uh-oh, Barack! I can feel the entire nitwit xenophobe bloc slipping away!
Why did this Plouffe respond at all? To a non-issue?
So Obama is wearing custom native dress in respect of elders…Big Deal…
Clinton, the Republican Drag Queen has completely lost the plot…how pathetic….
Politicians of all stripe, in all ages, have had to be sensitive to headgear and to the possibility of “gotcha” photography. Remember Michael Dukakis in a tanker’s helmet in his own PR firm’s disasterous TV ads? Or Estes Kefauver wearing a full eagle feather war bonnet?
That said, two things are significantly different about this flap of Barack Obama wearing a Somali elder’s turbin that Drudge (and apparently Hillary Clinton’s campaign) are circulating.
First, the photo-op was on a visit to Africa in 2006, not somewhere on a media-covered campaign trail. Maybe Drudge and U-Tube are just breaking new ground here, but I doubt that we are about to enter an age in which candidates in their old Halloween, or Mardi Gras, or Bohemian Grove attire have to worry, but you can never tell. If the Guilliani campaign hadn’t imploded on the launch pad, maybe photos of Rudi in drag would have been circulated against him by his rivals. Context is all important.
Second, the Obama-in-a-turbin photo arises squarely in the context of the prior Swift Boat attacks upon Barack as a closet Muslim. For Drudge, it’s just a renewal of right wing inflammatory bigotry. For Hillary’s campaign to republish it as something legitimately germane to the campaign for the Democratic nomination would be truly reprehensible.
Finally, I can’t help but say I wish Barack Obama would get his staff stay further above the gutter level than Plouffe’s catty rejoinder. I don’t give a damn about staff shake ups in the Clinton camp in Iowa and New Hampshire, and it’s tacky to bring it up as part of a response.
What should be decried here is the racism, religious, and cultural bigotry.
Bill from Saginaw
Well at least we know he’s not a redneck.
haha… getting desperate?
Oh no… hes not fit for presidency, look at his un-american turban…
Thats what most of dems are, progressive coating exterior, republican inner core…
They just have a different approach to dominating the rest of the planet
I hope this photo, along with all the Islamophobic internet drek that constitutes the mental sewage of defiantly ignorant nutcases, does keep those people from voting for him. I hope it keeps them over there in their own nasty world and out of mine. I don’t share Obama’s desire to unite Americans. I don’t have his generosity of spirit I guess. I don’t want to go pheasant hunting with Cheney and Scalia or play Scabble with Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh. I want those assholes discredited and shunned. I want them indicted and imprisoned. I want them away from me and my family and my house pets. It’s what I like about Nader, shameful to say. He is pissed like I am, and wields the sword of vengeance and impeachment and savage justice.
Nader is awesome. He has every right to run.
The democrats are sick and diseased for caring more about him running for president instead of a) the democrats who voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 and b)the Republicans stealing the 2000 vote by depriving florida voters.
Dems are sick.
Who said “the nitwit xenophobe block is slipping away?” I love it.
Absolutely. This is bringing sanity back. Thanks Hillary. Bring it all out. Might as well bring it out now. When that’s done her claim that she is the only one that is vetted will be false. It looks as if she’s going to expose any possible chink before the Glenn Becks get a chance to. By the time Hilary is yesterday’s news Obama will be thorougly vetted.
“He is pissed like I am, and wields the sword of vengeance and impeachment and savage justice.”
Yeah, but he’s also a spoiler. If he had really wanted to run he wouldn’t have waited until now. This is a ploy by the repugs who control him and have for so many years.
I don’t want to play nice either, I’m mad as hell and I’m not over it, not by a long shot. I don’t believe in Obama or Hillary or McCain. They are candidates for the elite 1% who could give a damn about “democracy” or democrats or repugs. I want those idiot talking heads and repugs who started these wars hung out to dry for all to see, then I want them to rot in jail for ever. Dying is too easy for these evil people. I want them shamed and peniless AND SORRY! I want to see them sweat, to bleed even now that they all think torture isn’t really torture let them find out that it hurts and ruins your mind and kills when there is mercy, but oh, please don’t show them any mercy.
I will vote for whoever I want to, and the counters will decide who they want to “count” the votes for, and we will all have to live this way until the revolution.
Are you sick of it yet?
If Obama’s smart, and he is, he’ll turn this into a positive by coming out loud and clear and saying “I love this kind of thing…it shows how desperate and afraid they are of the kinds of change we’re talking about.” Make it clear that anyone who pulls this kind of stunt is actually helping him, not hurting him.
After 15 years of being investigated and accused of everything from trivialities to murder, why would the Clintons think this little picture was a big deal? After all, the pic of Cheney socializing with Saddaam Hussein was nothing to worry about, so this is certainly no thing for anyone to get ulcers about.
Maybe it is time a lot of people that have nothing to do but trash candidates should get a life and do something constructive .
Very sinsister. Scary! We’re all gonna die if Obama is elected. We’re all gonna die if McCain is elected. I’ll fall over dead if Nader is, the shock would kill me. If Hillary is elected, I’ll die laughing, thinking up jokes about Bill being back in the White House.
Well, so much for any prior thinking, that either Hillary or Obama would poossibly be the VP choice for either of them.
And to think we are now entrusting TEXANS (Bush enablers, you know) to make the next major decision in the Obama/Clinton face-off. Not to dismiss Ohioans, of course. Maybe the two groups together can somehow wake up and smell the coffee.
The irony of this photo, which no yet has mentioned, is that it pictures Obama as the international diplomat. Just the kind of message I would think Hillary would not want to leak out.
great pic! it gives me hope that Obama will get us out of the ME and the rest of the world. maybe he will be the beginning of the end for the Pox Americana. Amerika out of people’s faces now! my only disappointment in this matter is that Obama has to hesitate showing the pic himself.
dponcy
I was about to say the same thing - then I reached your post!
I don’t see anything wrong with this photograph at all. “To the pure all things are pure” (not that I’m pure, but just to make a point).
The whole primary scene is getting really silly now - and it has months and months to go. How will we survive until November?
this, in conjuntion with her yellow suited mocking http://freedompress.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/clinton-mocks-obama/ is clear evidence that her campaign is in the final throes of meltdown mode . . . rip and good riddance
This is NOTHING compared to the campaign of character assassination that the Republicans and the corporate-owned media are going to unleash on Obama in the general election, if he is the Democratic nominee.
He will be thoroughly Gored and Swift-Boated as un-American and untrustworthy, while the corporate-owned media praises John McCain, a blatant liar and crook, as a “straight talker”.
And he had better be prepared to do more about it than whine and complain that it’s unfair.
the right can have at it, folks just aren’t buyin that crap anymore
Kem, you had me laughing! That was good.
i don’t think this will hurt anyone except Hillary who is just looking more and more desperate.
kathyodat
LITTLE BROTHER gets BEST OF
“Land o’Goshen!
Wait till Glenn Beck gets ahold of this! Why, it’s practically a smoking gun!
Uh-oh, Barack! I can feel the entire nitwit xenophobe bloc slipping away!”
I have tears in my eyes
MAMA miA! Que idiotas!! no puedo creer que alguien pueda reducirce a este nivel de payaseria, tonterias y locuras. Supongamos que es verdad que Obama estuvo vestido asi, y que? que me importa? Obama todavia es parte de los democratas! El no va a cambiar nada, en verdad. Por eso, la partida VERDE es mejor. Obama no esta en favor de IRV, de elecciones directas, de quitar el college delegates, el no esta en favor de cambiar el sistema verdaderamente, hm.
lover of peace wrote: “Do not American women cover their heads out of respect for custom in nations which follow Islam?”
Some, like Hillary Clinton, do, but they shouldn’t, anymore than they should have respected American customs of not letting women vote or hold office, or Mississippi and South Carolina customs of white men using black women slaves as sex toys. “Custom” in civilized societies has almost always and almost everywhere been the enemy of women’s equality and dignity. If an American woman raises her daughter in Somalia, should she force her to submit to clitoridectomy, as a sign of respect for local culture? Why don’t we make Islamic women in America uncover their heads (if it’s not too sunny or cold) to conform to our local cultures? We do have them, you know.
But on the subject at hand, I agree with Dichterfreund’s sarcasm: “Obviously all those presidents who donned Native American head dresses were endorsing the killing of American cavalry officers.” Osama was just dressing like the natives as part of his goodwill tour, the same way politicians put on hard hats and blue shirts when they go onto the shop floor and pretend to be one of the “guys”.
BlueSky regarding Nadar, “This is a ploy by the repugs who control him and have for so many years.” Talking about conspiracy theories. Where did you get this nonsense from? Proof?
You’re gunning for revolution like many of us. My choice is a non-violent change. Nadar is the change we need.
EL Bravo____didn`t understand a word of your post, but it made more sense than most of the others here. Keep it up, it a welcome change from the load of crap so far.
That Luo bastard is just sucking up to the Somalia guy so he can get his cousins in Kenya some good business connections. Maybe something in the area of telephone scams.
Only an unsophisticated, uneducated, dip-spitting redneck would support bush. These same trailor trash idiots are rallying to the Clinton flag. The mindless are always drawn to the mindless. It’s easy to flash a picture to these morons and say “Hey he looks like a Arab!”. Then Clinton can insult his patriotism and whatnot to twist what little minds her crowd of followers has. Of course, no one bothers to ascertain the nature of the picture.
Kernel,
Muchas Gracias amigo!!
El Bravo
I dislike drudge as much as the next guy but ease off him on this one. After first reading this I went to his site, the articles he links to are in no way slanted against Obama. If anything they are anti Billary. I would never prop up the drudge report, but he is not being a Hillary hack on this.
Just what we want for President: a person who smears or trashes another . . . No thanks! No Hillary!
I want a real debate between Hillary, Obama, Kucinich, Edwards, and Nader. I don’t give a darn (pardon my language)
if they want to exclude the last three . . . but unless I am allowed to witness a real debate between all five . . . without the manipulation of intrusive media nonentities, I won’t be party to the demise of American Justice and Democracy!
El Bravo I understand some of your post IRV lets have it, then vote for Nader, then Kucinich, Then Obama….
“You have three wishes, oh master…”
Sen. Clinton adheres slavishly to party traditions and promptly shoots herself, and every member of her campaign, in the feet.
“Mission Accomplished”
I think his mom is Scottish. Maybe he should don a kilt. Then he could say we’re getting a twofer.
It’s Jane Fonda all over again.
“Clinton, the Republican Drag Queen has completely lost the plot”
Wasn’t Giuliani the Republican drag queen?
Think of all the pictures of Georgikins holding hands with Saudi princes.
We need to have fun with this stuff — it’s John Birch commie-fluoridation style gaga.
This is nothing. Senator Clinton has spent years dressed as a liberal.
great job, bluesky!
daniel david, it is sad indeed that texas will help out hillarious. exactly what i referred to last week re: racism. it ain’t over yet. even more amazing is this inbred/hybrid vote coming up here in texas. first you vote, then you caucus. we get to line up in a room at 7:15pm, as soon as the polls close, to get counted again. a-fucking-mazing. i guess the good thing is we get to flip the bird at hilarious’s supporters. still, it’s only a primary. in november, the vote in texas will go to the mad bomber.
When in Kenya, a good diplomat will always do as the Kenyans do.
Militant liberal
Careful with the Osama/Obama mixups.
You’ll be seeing lots of these “accidental” misspellings later,as the rightwingnuts try to appeal to the subliminal reptilian brain.
hamster, you’re absolutely right! Sorry about my misspelling! However, what I said might have been true about Osama in Afghanistan as well as Obama in Kenya. :>
The man was visiting the country of his father and donned native dress. So what?
I think Obama is a lot cuter dressed up as a Somali Elder than Bush was dressed up as a pilot. I don’t see the arrogance or the lies in this picture.
I’m waiting for Nader to put on a turban, you know, just to get in on this action.
Beppe Grillo for President, 2008!!! I am serious. We have all the tools people, Youtube is the biggest tv channel in the world, direct democracy is here, and there is nothing anyone can do about it!!!
not even Obama
I know it’s been mentioned, but man, is this line funny…
“Uh-oh, Barack! I can feel the entire nitwit xenophobe bloc slipping away!”
I have friends in Africa who are all excited about Obama. They are watching our primaries more closely than I am.
The very idea that a black man, one generation removed from Africa, can run for president in the USA is truly a great PR for America.
I don’t believe Hillary or Obama will win, but it makes the rich white male empire look better to “consider” not-whites and females as potential equals for once.
Hilary is a total bitch from hell. Obama is about as good as we can realistly hope for. He’ll be an incredibly huge improvement. Black power! for a change!
I think Hillary has Karl Rove on her payroll.
Jonathan Alter of Newsweek who wrote a great book about FDR and is a well respected journalist said on the Keith Olberman last week that — Hillary needs to get out NOW!!
Now we know why– spread this paranoia around.
It shows that Bill and Hillary do not care if the dems loose in 2008– they do not seem to mind McCain– the man who is famous for 30 bombing flights over Vietnam when we already knew that it was pointless and anybody with brains was not out there doing that.
el bravo,
no hable, but gracias por la espanol. bueno amigo.
who do you think is funding the Nader campaign? capitalists on steroids who want McCain to win
A vote for Nader is a vote for Mccain
grow up and vote for Obama who has a good chance of winning especially if you who are in love with Nader will deny him your vote due to common sense.
Consider this - IF Hillary is elected to the White House, at least no one will be giving her a blow job.
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.
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.
I’m glad that Hillary has publicized this photo of Obama because it raises a lot of questions that I think should have been asked months if not years ago. I consider the publication of the photo a public service. So, yes, I have been strongly influenced by this photograph and I really think it has opened my eyes. But as a campaign stratagem the photo is still a flop because no way would I ever vote for a skag queen like Hillary.
Food for thought.
I hope Clinton isn’t the Democratic nominee and Nader isn’t the Green nominee because I refuse to vote for either of them.
Seaweed,
Great comic relief. The images that came into my warped mind were priceless.
Ghawar, WTF? Is this a joke? Or are you really that hateful and willfully ignorant?
Hillary is on the ropes and Drudge is a jerk for printing that picture.
At least Obama is sticking to his anti-war stance and wanting us to leave Iraq pronto, but there’s McCain, the hundred year man, now saying the war will be over soon!
Flip-flop McCain or Bill-in-Drag Clinton don’t have what we need in a president.
Nader can forget it, too.
BARAK You can wear a turban, or a jillabah, or a chador or run around butt nekkidy. IM STILL VOTING FOR YOU.
Ghawar, if you are indeed a ghawar, you shouldn’t be wandering the streets alone asking these questions of strangers. Try “wikipedia.org”. McCain was born in the Canal Zone, and I believe a US Territory takes precedence over an occupied zone when it comes to eligibility to run for president of the US. Hawaii became a state in 1959 (after a long period of occupation). Obama’s wearing a Somali headdress, not Afghan - they look more like Sichuan scallion pancakes. Don’t you watch television? Members of the Taliban have appeared often on TV. Reading would be better, but you need something to help you inform yourself.
I’ll give you and this comment the benefit of doubt, and assume it is really a weak witted stab at irony. I’ll assume you’re not as ignorant as you seem to be and not a boneheaded xenophobe.
Will Nader ever admit that George W. Bush was, indeed, a lot worse than Al Gore would have been as President? The world will receive an Obama presidency with much hope and enthusiasm, reversing an 8 year slide in the USA’s esteem. McCain is just a another war monger who loves the militarists and only hopes for more war. He says we can win in Iraq, but never bothers to explain how or what a victory will look like. Will he be as evil as George W. Bush? Can we all sing along with his campaign song, Bomb, Bomb Iran?
On the other hand, any country that can elect Baby Bush to a second term, probably deserves Hillary Clinton as its president. She fashions herself as the female decider ready right now to invade and bomb any country at anytime. And the Democratic Party establishment of the Joe Lieberman stripe may in the end choose her to run and lose to McCain along with the help of Ralph Nader’s ego.
Still, there is some hope that Barak Obama will be nominated and elected. The world should be so lucky!
grow up and vote for Obama? Give me a break. I have half a mind to stay home.
gimme a break… does that mean the wisconsin blowhard Jim Sensenbrenner is actually an african witchdoctor? Cuz all ya gotta do is go into his DC office and look at his walls… hes got portraits of himself on each wall… cept the one directly in fron of his desk… it has a mirror!
One of the pictures has him in Mauri tribal attire… so according to Hillary… he’s a witchdoctor!
Can’t anyone find the link to Hillary and Chelsea dressed in local garb on a trip to India / Pakistan? Or am I misremembering?
It’s all silly, in the context of a President who can give a speech with a straight face about the importance of checks and balances among the three branches of government, while eviscerating two of those branches and deliberately destroying the third through cronyism and incompetence so his friends the mega-barons can amass yet more wealth. And then put on military garb and prance around like a GI Joe doll, after blowing off his Guard service.
EL BRAVO
moi, non plus. je ne parle pas espanol. mais comme quels que’un a dit, vous pensez que les autres ‘verte’ ils sont le meilleur. ca c’est la verite. nous, qui respecte la terre et les choses naturel. en esperant que le meilleur il gagne……………..eux, qui respecte la vie…..
Seaweed: No more blowjobs in the oval office? Why do you think Bill wants Hillary in the white House
so bad?
Such low down and dirty politicking by Hillary should lose any support she might still have. Looks like a desperate act on her part, or at least her staff’s part.
Karita Hummer
Edwards Democrat
I just voted early in Texas (which is only Step 1 these days. We have to go back for the caucus at our precinct at 7:15 p.m. after our true voting day Mar. 4th, which is when apportionment for delegates by some arcane formula will take place.)
Anyhow, a woman behind me said she’s received 6 phone calls from Florida to vote there though she hasn’t lived there for four years. (It’s clear that they dialed her area code here in Texas. She wondered who she should report this to, believing there might be others encouraged to vote in Florida.
Who do you suppose is in charge?
Ah….I’m greatly relieved. Now that Ralph Nader has entered the presidential race I have someone to get enthusiastic about. He will now be attacked from all sides in the demorat party as a spoiler. But in fact he is the real champion of a vital democracy. The two parties are really one party–the party corrupted by big money, the party that no longer represents ordinary Americans. Nader advocates cutting back on the military, single payer universal health care, and all the other systemic reforms this country desperately needs. Clinton and Obama are both corporate-dependent and therefore fatally compromised. The United States needs deep reform now not fiddling at the edges as Clinton and Obama would do. So what if Nader doesn ‘t have a chance to win. He’s the only one I can vote for in good conscience.
Hillary hugged a palestinian and emoathized with her, The flak from that act of compassion was huge. Instead of standing up she wiltd as it really had an impact on her popularity polls, you remmebr the manner in which the Billaries ran the nation according to their own prolitical expediency rather than as barack does according to principal and authentic leadershiP?
barack: equals a blessing. may he prove to be a nlessing for USa and the world.
Barack means blessing. may he prove to be a blessing for USA and the world.
Rainbow Warrior is right. This is a picture of diplomacy in action. When a guest of another country, you graciously accept gifts and wear them, you accept refreshment and you eat and drink it. No one except someone desperately looking for dirt is going to find anything wrong but everything right about this 2006 picture of Obama looking Presidential.
I mean, no one faults Bush for wielding a ceremonial sword, dancing around and then reclining on cushions so someone can peel him a grape, do they?
Same thing: it’s about diplomacy.
Woohoo. I don’t quite get the outrage.
I think it testifies to Obama’s sensitivity in respecting other cultures. He’ll make an outstanding president.
The folks in Texas let Bush wear a cowboy hat without crying foul (and he ain’t NO sort of cowboy)….
Does anyone bust a gut when Bush bin Laden suits up in Arabic dress, holds hands with Arab men and swings a scimitar around in photo ops…?
Hillary ought to hang it up. Think how much fun it must be to face Bill in the bedroom at night after another day as a losing candidate.
Hey, speaking of Obama smears, did anyone see this on CNN:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/25/cnn-relegitimizes-scurr_n_88290.html
I didn’t see it because I don’t watch CNN (for obvious reasons) but if I understand it correctly, this is the FIRST hate&fear, lie-filled email that circulated about Obama that CNN used as basis for one of their bogus polls. There is now a new one, even more racist (if that’s possible) according to MotherJones.com
Back in the 70’s, a friend returned from Saudi Arabia and brought me a full native Arab garb. I put it on, with a pair of dark glasses of course, and we took some pictures.
In the 90’s, I lived in Singapore and Sumatra for a while and often wore a sarung and headdress. (Still do sometimes, it is soooo comfortable)
What can I run for? I’d love to be Ambassador to Singapore, or perhaps a Sumatran consular official.
I guess everyone’s W’s oh-so-presidential pretty silk dress:
http://letsgoeverywhere.wordpress.com/2006/11/20/president-bush-in-a-pretty-silk-dress/
I do believe Hillary screwed up bad on this one, it’s worse than the plagurism charge. When you attack another, justified or not, expect a backlash and sometimes the backlash is far more effective than the original shit throwing.
After the NY Times artilce about NcCain being a bit too friendly with a pretty, blond lobbyist, money suddenly poured in for his campaign.
Most folks have said it all. If Billary released this photo in some surreal bid for the xenophobic, nativist vote, shame on them.
If Nader truly is a “Third Way” tool-candidate spoiling it for a McCain victory, shades of Teddy Roosevelt whose Bull Moose spoiler bid gave us Woodrow Wilson and, thus, the Federal Reserve (the banking elite who really run this country, thanks to our love of easy credit and “pretend”/platonic money), The National Income Tax (as “surety”/collateral for that easy credit), WW1 (paid with taxes), periodic inflation/recession/unemployment cycles (the latter to “discipline” the workforce to settle for cheap wages) and endless wars that “cure” unemployment, distract the angry masses and feed the Military-Industrial complex…
As the man said, “It’s the economy, stupid.”
And those who run it _always_ win! What are your candidate’s _economic_ views? Those matter.
I could care less if he dressed like J. Edgar Hoover on Easter Sunday at the races.
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.
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?
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.
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!
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.
hilliary desperation in high gear ! it will only help obama……i’m still supporting him
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.
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……….
Thus “Hillary-hater”-haters follow “Hillary-haters”, as surely as the night follows the day.
Can “Hillary-hater-hater” haters be far behind?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Clinton is showing her true colors. She is capable of much more. She might be worse than Cheney (LOL).
Poor, poor, Bill. . .
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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/
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
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!!!
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.
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, 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-campaign-source/
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.
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.
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
Thanks, Scroller, for those Hillary-NAFTA links!
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).
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.
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?
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!
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.
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….
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.
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.
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.
Bet fox never ran one.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/25look.htm
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?
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?
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 agree with the above reponder who said it is a NON ISSUE
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 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.
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?
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 I