Why so touchy about Obama's middle name?

[quinnox]

His middle name is Hussein, that is a fact. But Obama fans seem to be real touchy about it. First, do they think it's bad he has this name and why? And if so, do you think republicans won't say his middle name all the time in attack ads and on the talking head shows if he is nominated, and maybe just shorten it to "Hussein Obama".

Don't be naive, the republicans will play on anti-muslim sentiment any way they can.

Get ready to hear his middle name endlessly if Obama wins the nomination.

I learned recently that Obama's father was muslim and I say so what, but don't think the republicans won't play it up to the hilt.

[Lint Head]

1. You must think highly of Re-Pubic-Rats.

At least Huckabee's middle name isn't Jesus. :dem:

[Perry Logan]

2. If he wins the Presidency, it will be a neat historical irony.

[AX10]

4. True.

Same with Hillary.

[Capn Sunshine]

27. Have to wonder which would be more Ironic

Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama

[AX10]

3. Because they hate Hillary so much...

they want to find anyone to oppose her. Obama fits the bill quite well. They know that the Right Wing will vilify him (or any other candidate we endorse). Obama supporters are suppressing anything that can be perceived to be negative or in fact negative because they want him to be the nominee. The hatred of Hillary has caused them to act in a cult-like manner. "All hail Obama". Never question him.
From day one, there has been talk of Hillary's negatives. There has been talk of Edwards negatives, but when it comes to Obama, no one around here dare speak of his negative. If you do, you are vilified.

[quinnox]

10. I agree

Obama fans seem to have blinders on.

[monmouth]

5. I'm pretty sure Hussein in that world is as common as Smith. Makes

me sick this petty stuff. I worry that these people vote..

[denem]

6. "I learned recently that Obama's father was muslim"

What a tawdry lie. I doubt you sincerity on all you say. You're a Freak.

[quinnox]

14. whatever

Its the truth but you can believe whatever you want, its cool.

[cali]

7. why are you getting so much pleasure out of what you think the

pukes might do? No one is unaware of what they'll do in the general. If your candidate makes it, it'll be nonstop lesbian innuendo- don't forget, pukes hate gays and lesbians as much as they do Muslims; maybe more. And people are touchy about it because some of Clinton's supporters are using his middle name in a very freeperish way.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. Cheap attempt to influence the electorate by associating his middle name

with a ethnic group that has garnered the disdain and prejudice of a notable amount of "native borns". Same thing would have been done almost 63 years ago (1944) if his middle name was Heinrich or Hashimoto.

[blm]

9. Bill Clinton protected Poppy Bush's secrecy and privilege over truth in the historic record.

and THAT is a fact.


http://consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html


And some Dems want to repeat that continuing protection of BushInc.

[oasis]

32. And this is somehow relevant to Obama's middle name?

:shrug:

[blm]

36. Yep - the OP is about FACTS that will be used against Dems. This is a fact that actually matt

Matters a helluva lot more to the world and this democracy than Barack's middle name.

[oasis]

39. Think so? "Poppy Bush's secrecy and privilege over truth". How would the GOP nominee

use that issue to attack a Dem?

[Vickers]

11. Only when people bring it up for dishonest reasons.

Oops!

[bunkerbuster1]

12. You "learned recently that Obama's father was muslim?"

snort.

[quinnox]

13. thats right

I read it in a thread here on DU, I honestly didn't know that.

[BigDDem]

15. No, no, no

You cant bring up his middle name, or "little blow",
the republicans would never do that. Right?

[quinnox]

16. good point

Some Obama fans have their heads in the sand apparently.

[ellacott]

19. Who said they would never use it?

[sniffa]

44. it's just the latest straw man

Lil Dog's followers are kicking that straw man's ass.

[melody]

17. Obviously because it's used by the right-wingers to cloud the issue

And is also a pointless observation.

I'm not a Hillary voter nor am I leaning toward Obama but even I see mentioning it is merely bringing up the right's
talking points for them.

[rinsd]

18. Stop. Seriously. This is completely counter-productive.

[Crunchy Frog]

20. His father was an atheist, and left when he was two.

I think the reason people are touchy about it is because it is used as a cynical cheap shot to imply some sort of connection between Obama and Islamic terrorists. I expect that sort of behavior from Republicans, but find it rather shocking when ostensible progressives do it on a Democratic board.

[Forkboy]

21. I expect the Right to use it. What's your excuse?

You know full well why it's used and the effect intended, and yet you play right into it and help tote their baggage. Where would the Repubs be without people like you willing to do their dirty work?

[Vinca]

22. Exactly. Coulter calls him "B. Hussein Obama." nt

[Forkboy]

23. And some Hillary supporters will sink to the same level as Ann.

[yellowcanine]

24. Why do you feel the need to mention it as it should be a non issue?

That is why Obama fans are "touchy" about it, because people keep bringing up what should be a nonissue. The fact that republicans might "play it up to the hilt" does not mean you should also.

The same goes for the religion of Obama's father - a non issue also.

The bigger question is why do some Democrats feel the need to repeat Republican talking points about Democratic candidates?

[Cameron27]

25. Don't go there, really.

The RWers will use any sleazy smear to try to take down whoever wins the primaries, but that shouldn't decide who gets our votes.

[Franc_Lee]

26. Get over it... deal with it...

[Lucinda]

28. They will use everything they can about anyone we nominate. None of it should be ingored

But its just nastiness to smack each other around with any of it.
I think it should all be discussed, but in a tactical sense.

[Capn Sunshine]

29. You "recently learned" Obama's father was muslim?

Did I miss that Penn conference call?

I knew we could depend on Hillary's people to do the RNCs heavy lifting for them.

[LittleBlue]

30. It's bigotry to rationalize this type of behavior

Now if any person has a non-Anglo, non-Christian name, just trash him/her in the primaries and legitimize it by saying, "Oh, the Republicans would have done it eventually. Best it comes out now."

This is not some skeleton in the closet that needs vetting. It's his middle name. Trashing it because it's from a different religion/culture is bigotry.

[jenmito]

31. Aren't you the same poster who "suggested" how Obama should clear up info. about his "heavy cocaine

use"? :eyes:

[quinnox]

33. update: I have read all the responses

and a lot seem to be missing the point. Its about what potential vulnerabilites each candidate has, and Obama's middle name like it or not will be used by the republican attack machine.

So while Obama can't do anything about it this is another piece of the puzzle regarding bad reasons for Obama to be the candidate.

I reject completely this is "doing RNC work", no, this is being realistic about Obama and the weaknesses of his candidacy.

[jenmito]

35. His name is not a weakness. And again-aren't you the one who gave "advice" on how Obama should deal

with his "heavy cocaine use"?

ETA: If he were to be our president, his middle name would be a great asset.

[quinnox]

37. why keep asking?

Yes, I wrote Obama should come clean about his cocaine use. Satisfied? lol

and Obama's middle name is a weakness, like it or not.

[jenmito]

41. To point out a pattern you seem to have...

which follow's Hillary's pattern IMO. You said Obama had HEAVY drug use. You pulled that out of your "hat."

It's a weakness how? The Repubs. will try to scare people with it and he, like usual, will come back with a zinger to show how ridiculous the "scare tactic" is.

[quinnox]

42. ok fine

I might have been wrong about the "heavy" part. I shouldn't have said that when it probably isn't true.

[jenmito]

43. Thank you...

I agree. :)

[leftynyc]

47. His name is not a weakness???

What country are you living in? Because in the US, anti-Muslim crap has been all the rage for the last 7 years - or haven't you noticed? Now should it matter? Of course not. Do you think the pukes are above using his middle name in every single utterance?

[jenmito]

49. Like I said,

If he were to be our president, his middle name would be a great asset. And before that, when the Repubs. try to smear him due to his middle name, I'm sure he'll come back with some zinger and take it off the table. He's clever that way. I live in NY.

[Forkboy]

38. No, under the guise of vetting you ARE doing their work.

I'm not saying ignore it, but by bringing it up the way most people are, including the so-called Dems I've seen use it here, it's plain to see they don't really care about the party or helping it, they care about using it as a smear against Obama and they hide behind the "vetting" lie. We could do this to all of our candidates and it would be cheap and counter-productive every time. Just take something that someone might mention down the line and say we're only bringing it up to help.

I think the concern is touching.

There are valid weaknesses in all the campaigns, but bringing up this kind on nonsense under the guise of concern is sad and I don't think it fools too many people.

[quinnox]

40. ok well, I see you made an effort

so I will answer. You are assuming motivations that aren't there. I am honestly saying that Obama's middle name is a weakness that will be exploited by the republicans and I think anyone who doesn't see that has their head in the sand.

Its not like I'm the first one to think about this, there was a thread ealier that was locked saying the same thing and I have seen this raised as a concern by many others. Its not like I'm all alone here in my opinion on this name thing.

And it does concern me as one who wants the Democrats to win in 2008. Why wouldn't I be concerned about something that could prove good fodder for the republicans.

[Forkboy]

45. Every now and then I make an effort. I think it's the Mountain Dew.

You are assuming motivations that aren't there. I am honestly saying that Obama's middle name is a weakness that will be exploited by the republicans and I think anyone who doesn't see that has their head in the sand.

Ok, I'll take your word that your motivation in this is fair, but I am still highly skeptical of how it's being brought up and used around here. It doesn't have to be a weakness because we should point out how ridiculous that line of attack is. We have serious problems in America that we could point to and contrast that to their smears over a man's name, for instance.

Its not like I'm the first one to think about this, there was a thread ealier that was locked saying the same thing and I have seen this raised as a concern by many others. Its not like I'm all alone here in my opinion on this name thing.

That thread perfect example of what I'm talking about on how things are framed under the guise of concern. There's just the headline emphasizing the name as a negative, and the OP gives no reasons to explain why that is, why it will play out that way, or offer any ways to counter it if it did. It assumes all Americans are too stupid to see what we see, that's it's a useless and vapid thing to judge a man on. I don't talk to a ton of people but the ones I do I know are smart enough to ignore such a petty issue even in the best of times, and this is anything but.

And it does concern me as one who wants the Democrats to win in 2008. Why wouldn't I be concerned about something that could prove good fodder for the republicans.

Then offer ways to fight it instead of just saying it's bad and will hurt us. Otherwise it seems to me and others that it's being used against Obama instead trying to help a Democrat, which is out ultimate goal. Obama and Hillary are last on my list, and I'm not always their biggest defenders, but on such petty issues I'll defend any of them, whether it's this or "Tipgate" or the haircut crap. :shrug:

[quinnox]

46. fair enough

I will take what you said into consideration.

[Franc_Lee]

34. Hey! -----> "change, change, change" spread the word...

[LanternWaste]

48. Anyone who thinks that the GOP will go easy on ANY of the candidates...

Anyone who thinks that the GOP will go easy on ANY of the candidates, regardless of middle names, marriage partners, or even choice of soda is either naive, or a hack.

Get ready to hear A if Edwards is the nominee.

Get ready to hear B if Kucinich is the nominee.

Get ready to hear C if....


But by singling out one nominee as the target of GOP is disingenuous at best, I'm sure you know.

[Jai4WKC08]

50. Because they are in denial

They would rather shoot the messenger than face reality.

[sniffa]

51. this guy doesn't stand a chance

[DivorcingNeo]

52. *Applause*

For stupidity.

More silly drama...*rolls eyes*

I'm beginning to think this person is a Republican operative because I can't believe Democratic supporters can be so bigoted. *smirks*

[NewHampster]

53. true but DUbamas don't want to hear the truth

[DivorcingNeo]

54. *yawn*

Maybe you should stop, turn around and get a clue. Who would want to "hear" or read about something as asinine and school yard juvenile as whether someone is electable based on their name?

[rucky]

55. If you think that would suck, I had a neighbor named Osama.

Poor guy lost most of his electrical biz after 9/11.

[NewHampster]

56. That does suck

I had a friend named Hussein who ended up divorced and has had about 10 jobs since 2001. Electrical engineer.