Rove: Don't "Hussein" Obama

No less an authority figure than Karl Rove has warned Republican operatives from demagoguing Barack Obama's middle name.

At a closed door meeting of GOP state executive directors in late January, Rove said the safest way to refer to Obama would be to use his honorific, "Sen. Obama."

"The context was, you're not going to stimatize this guy. You shouldn't underestimate him," one of the executive directors said. Rove said that the use of "Barack Hussein Obama" would perpetuate the notion that Republicans were bigoted and would hurt the party.

Rove also said that Republicans should refer to Hillary Clinton as "Sen. Clinton," rather than "Hillary."

Right wing figures are set to ignore Rove's advice. Rush Limbaugh used Obama's middle name more than a year ago, and Ann Coulter regularly uses the middle name, once calling him "President Hussein." So does Michael Savage, who once asked whether Obama was a "so-called friendly Muslim" or one more "radical."

Comments

Of course "right wing figures" like Limbaugh, Coulter, and Savage are going to ignore Rove's advice. They aren't in the business of winning elections, they are in the business of making money for themselves through entertaining a certain limited segment of the mass media market. And their business model depends on them being as inflammatory as possible, and they don't really care if their material offends 51%, 60%, or 90% of the country, as long as the money keeps flowing from the 10% of the media market that likes their shtick.

Posted by DTM | February 27, 2008 8:52 AM

Rove is right. No need to stoop to that level. There's more substantive issues to attack him on rather than the irony of his name. If we can't figure out what those things are, then perhaps we are already doomed in this race.

McCain doesn't help matters. Why does this seem so much like Clinton vs Dole all over again?

Posted by La' Maze Johnson | February 27, 2008 9:01 AM

Barrack Hussein Obama is his name. When you refer to him with by his full name how's that a problem? The Hussein moniker is not made up.

William Jefferson Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton. No one has ever questioned the use of those names before this election ever before.

It's a duck, It quacks like a duck, walks like a duck. Barrack went to Islamic schools. His father and step father were both Islamic, He has worn Islamic garb several times, He has met with the Nation of Islam members in Chicago. Sounds like a duck to me.

Posted by Egfrow | February 27, 2008 9:18 AM

I can't believe I am saying this but Rove is right.

But the thing is, that the VRWC can't control itself.

Racism and Xenophobia are too embedded in their bones for them to help themselves.

As an Obama supporter, I have to say that it is probably great that the republicans are like this. What the republicans are going to do is turn this election into a referendum on racism and xenophobia, and not only will they lose, but they will set back their party for a generation because younger voter don't see race like older voters do.

So, to Limbaugh, Cunningham, et all helping the republican party committ suicide, I salute you!!!!

Posted by RKA | February 27, 2008 9:23 AM

Egfrow, when did you stop beating your wife?

Posted by Gomes | February 27, 2008 9:23 AM

Yes, they wouldn't want to appear to be xenophobes.

Posted by Chris | February 27, 2008 9:26 AM

egfrow-
I am curious, do they pay people like you to spread these smears, or you just a garden variety bigot who has nothing better to do?

Posted by pittanylion | February 27, 2008 9:36 AM

With RKA, I'm mildly astonished to find myself agreeing with "Mr." Rove here about the danger that Obama's campaign presents to Republicans. Despite what you see on Sunday morning interview shows, this country isn't all white guys in the middle of post-mid-life crises.

Posted by MattF | February 27, 2008 9:39 AM

My favorite is when someone starts a sentence with "I'm really not a racist, BUT...." and then tells me that they can't vote for Obama because they heard about the email that (falsely) claims Obama went to a Muslim school. Ironically, the only religious school Obama ever attended was a Catholic school in Indonesia! The public school he attended for 2 years has been investigated thoroughly and found to be completely secular.

I wonder if we would be having this conversation if Obama was a blond guy named Fred Smith, who had been born in Hawaii and then moved to Indonesia for 4 years as a kid?

For myself, I would vote for him if he was spotted green. I like the message, the character, the temperament, and the judgment of Barack Obama. And the more I learn about his life and choices, the better I feel about my decision.

Posted by Jennifer | February 27, 2008 9:48 AM

Let me see if I got this right. There are 1.3 billion muslims in the world. But if you are a muslim or even just have a muslim father and middle name, that implies what? That you are barred from the highest office in the USA?

What about freedom of religion which in fact was one of the main reasons why many immigrants came to this nation years ago.

At Ground Zero, Muhammad Ali was asked by a reporter: "How does it feel to be of the same religion as the people who did this?" "His reply: How does it feel to be of the same religion as Hitler?"

McCarthy seems well and alive in the US in 2008. Just switch the communist for the muslim.

Posted by Jon | February 27, 2008 9:51 AM

"Egfrow, when did you stop beating your wife?"

Note that he never said he stopped beating his wife. And even if he denies it now, it's exactly what you'd expect a wife-beater to tell people.

Posted by Helter | February 27, 2008 9:51 AM

Thanks to Senor Rove, the idiot GOP has managed to do more to Balkinize and Damage this country and the Republican base much more than anyone calling that wannabee Senator Barack HUSSEIN Obama by his full name!
When are we going to wakeup and realize Senor Rove was pitiful and barely able to beat that FRAUD John Kerry and managed to decimate the GOP on the way to defeat in the '06 elections by that great AMNESTY disaster. What a stra-turd-gy that can be laid at the feet of Senor Rove, Senor Bush and Senor McCain....

Posted by Moultrie | February 27, 2008 9:52 AM

Helter,
It really is one or the other. Or do you believe someone who meets with a member of the NOI makes them a muslim? Ever see W with Muhammad Ali? I have. In fact, I have seen him holding hands with a Saudi Prince, and the saudis are good friends of his family. If it walks like a duck.... George W. Bush, closet muslim!
See how easy?

Posted by pittanylion | February 27, 2008 10:01 AM

Also, I would much rather have the middle name "hussein" than have my name be "Michael Savage Weiner".
If I had that name, I certainly wouldn't be stressing that others be called by their full names;)

Posted by pittanylion | February 27, 2008 10:08 AM

Let me get this straight... The entire left wing attack machine (Soros, MoveOn, CodePinkos, DailyKos), and even NBC News anchors (Olbermann) no less, can refer to Bush as "Hitler" and a "War Criminal" but we can't use Sen Obama's full name! Get real folks.

Posted by Paul | February 27, 2008 10:11 AM

George Bush and most republicans are all Muslims since they are always in bed and have sold the US economy to the Saudis, major banks are begging the Saudis to bail them out.

Posted by John | February 27, 2008 10:15 AM

SHE on you racists and Xenophobics.

You can't beat Sen OBAMA on issues and all you can do is try to paint him as a muslim. You right wing hypocrites - trying to tell the world that you're ready to invade countries to spread freedom, but you are bigots right here in your backyard !!!

Posted by Susan | February 27, 2008 10:18 AM

The left would like nothing better than to make this an election about race. On the other hand... listening to Rove cost the 04 elections and Bush represents' rove's thinking by never calling the truth the truth for fear of offending the other side - which plays right into their game of political correctness - the enemy gets to determine what you can say and not say - sort of a McCain Feingold of the spirit only 24/7/365.

Posted by Don L | February 27, 2008 10:18 AM

My own father's middle name was "Adolph," not a popular name to carry in his generation following WW2. People who insisted on using it were typically John Birch Society idiots ... the same as folks who make something of Obama's name in this age.

Neither of them CHOSE their middle names. Of course, most right wingers didn't choose to be born stupid, either....

Posted by Eurojudeochristian | February 27, 2008 10:21 AM

Rove has jumped the shark.

That Rove would even have the audacity to suggest that conservatives prostate themselves before the dictates of political correctness shows just how out of touch the man is.

Enjoy your retirement Rove and kindly STFU.

Lao
An American Expat in Southeast Asia

Posted by Lao | February 27, 2008 10:23 AM

Maybe we should just make up a new middle name for him and use that. How about Jefferson, it worked the last time a liberal Democrat fooled us into electing him.

Posted by flyover | February 27, 2008 10:24 AM

Jon, Islam is NOT a religion.

Islam is a satanic cult founded by a murderous pedophile. Islam appeals only to savages.

We should close all the mosques and then bomb Mecca and Medina. Its high time to finish the job the holy Crusaders didn't.

Posted by Lindemann | February 27, 2008 10:25 AM

Jennifer,
I'm not a racist, but ...
Obama stayed in Indonesia for 4 years. 2 years in Cathlic school and 2 years in a Muslim school. He was registered as a Muslim in this school and attended Friday prayers.

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 10:26 AM

Sen OBAMA had the choise to change him name, but he didn't b'cos he belives in an America where your fist/middle/last name did not determine what you become, but your hard work.

Millions are going through this fight everyaday and he chose to walk "the walk" with them, not the right-wing bigots who falsely claim they're are Chistians.

As a christian, I'm ashamed and wouldn't vote Republican again!

Posted by Mary | February 27, 2008 10:28 AM

YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-)

If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary's than they had ever been before or since.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

Best regards

jacksmith...

Posted by jacksmith | February 27, 2008 10:30 AM

Lao says: "That Rove would even have the audacity to suggest that conservatives prostate themselves before the dictates of political correctness shows just how out of touch the man is."

Are conservatives gonna kneel before they prostate themselves?

Posted by MattF | February 27, 2008 10:35 AM

This is BS. Pure and absolute BS. Hussein is the name his parents gave him. If he wins, and takes the oath of office, will his middle name be off limits then, too? Please. This PC crap is going to destroy America forever. I've decided to not vote for anyone for President. It doesn't matter who gets in, we are all doomed, and America will cease to be the great nation it is. PC is killing us, and this is a prime example.

Posted by jdawg | February 27, 2008 10:36 AM

Go ahead ,Limbaugh, Coulter, and Savage, and other right wing Nazi-racists like Glen Beck try to use negativism and help to define the Republican party as a party of intolerant, bigoted white males; the more you do this the more popular Obama will become among the mainstream Americans. The World is changing, the U.S. is changing, even Rove is getting it now, but amazingly some of the right wing extremists are still clueless!

Posted by Peg | February 27, 2008 10:36 AM

RKA:
"As an Obama supporter, I have to say that it is probably great that the republicans are like this. What the republicans are going to do is turn this election into a referendum on racism and xenophobia, and not only will they lose, but they will set back their party for a generation because younger voter don't see race like older voters do."

Islam is not a race. I agree that his full name should not be used (quick test: what is McCain's middle name? That should tell you how irrelevant it is). But your smears regarding Republican inclination for racism and xenophobia are a tad hypocritical coming from a protectionist party who has a former member of the KKK as a current US Senator.

Posted by Josh | February 27, 2008 10:37 AM

Go ahead ,Limbaugh, Coulter, and Savage, and other right wing Nazi-racists like Glen Beck try to use negativism and help to define the Republican party as a party of intolerant, bigoted white males; the more you do this the more popular Obama will become among the mainstream Americans. The World is changing, the U.S. is changing, even Rove is getting it now, but amazingly some of the right wing extremists are still clueless!

Posted by Peg | February 27, 2008 10:37 AM

"Are conservatives gonna kneel before they prostate themselves?"

Conservatives are long past kneeling.

lao

Posted by Lao | February 27, 2008 10:41 AM

Jacksmith,

My husband is a guitarist who performs live 3-5 nights a week. I don't play an instrument but since I have so much experience with him, maybe I should perform live too. But I don't. Because that would make me an idiot.

Of all of Hillary Clinton's arguments for the presidency - many of them good, her "working alongside Bill" is the worst. I have no idea how it's gotten so much traction.

Posted by Chaos | February 27, 2008 10:42 AM

That is false. CNN went to the school OBAMA attended and it wasn't a Muslim school - infact only rich folks could attend that school, more of an international school.

It's the FOXNews channel that started the eronoeus reporting. Check the facts. OBAMA was raised by his white grandparents. Unles the white grandparents were also muslims.

Posted by Susan | February 27, 2008 10:43 AM

Don't Hussein OBAMA? why not?

Posted by Gr8inferno | February 27, 2008 10:43 AM

Racism is not an attribute of one's political party. There are plenty of racists on both sides of the aisle.

Using Obama's middle name isn't racist, it's just stupid and makes you sound childish. There is plenty of ammunition to use on Obama between his questionable ethics and unrealistic policies without resorting to criticism of a name that he didn't even choose.

And jacksmith... I might be an idiot, but in your case there is no room for doubt.

Posted by Immolate | February 27, 2008 10:48 AM

Why do't we re-lect Pre Bill Clinton back into the whitehouse.

I'm very god at playing the keyboard and I'm married for 15 yrs. My wife sings in the choir with me all the time, so I think we shd allow her to play the keys as well since she has 15 yrs of experience watching me play.

Oh - I'm an idoit.!!

Posted by Mary | February 27, 2008 10:50 AM

Susan,
Per the CNN article you mention:
"Obama lived in Indonesia as a child, from 1967 to 1971, with his mother and stepfather and has acknowledged attending a Muslim school"

"Obama has noted in his two books, "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," that he spent two years in a Muslim school and another two years in a Catholic school while living in Indonesia from age 6 to 10."

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 10:51 AM

I hope everyone sees what's going on here.

The breed of no-wing, Hidden Hand conspiracy theory nutters who traveled so extensively with the left on the anti-war issue, with ridiculous nonsence about Jeff Gannon being the president's personal concubine and 9-11 being an "inside job," have now deeply embedded themselves within the right, through nonsence like the North American Union conspiracy theory.

Ron Paul fell far short of a primary win, and it seems we're all going to have to pay for it. After all, the only candidates left are all members of the dreaded CFR!!! They mean it when they say they endorse Clinton. With the Electoral deck stacked by the shadowy elites, the only strategy left in their cosmic fantacy is "worse is better".

They may be on the leftwing boards too, perhaps trying to get you to bite into "McCain the traitor" or "McCain fathered an illegitemate black child" apples, I don't know, but I've confronted these nutters in rightwing online communities and they are impeneterable and atavistic. Be forewarned: the fringe is on the loose!

Posted by jummy | February 27, 2008 10:52 AM

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think calling your political opponents "idiots" will help convert them to your side.

Posted by Howard | February 27, 2008 10:52 AM

A spade should be called a spade. I cannot believe that a lot of people are still trying to be politically correct. Wake up. It is not our fault if Hussein is Obama's middle name. Even Ted Kennedy mixes his name up.

Posted by Marilou | February 27, 2008 10:54 AM

I just don't understand why his kindergaten school comes in here. I'd no control of the school my parents send me. And for christ's sake, he was only six back then.

And are we saying his kindergaten school disqualifies him? Give me a break. !!!

Posted by John | February 27, 2008 10:58 AM

Rove (and McCain yesterday) are absolutely right about this. Sen. Obama is a danger to this country not because of his middle name or because he is some closeted Muslim, but because up and down the line on issues he is the most liberal Democratic Presidential Nominee since George McGovern. I'd be more than happy to have the American people decide the election on Obama's life story vs. McCain's life story, but elections should be about issues and xenophobic crap like this has no place.

Posted by Dudley Smith | February 27, 2008 10:58 AM

"It's the FOXNews channel that started the eronoeus reporting.

Posted by Susan | February 27, 2008 10:43 AM "

Actually, it was a no-name rag named Insight magazine who spent the first three paragraphs expplaining that the story was passed to them from the Clinton campaign's oppo research.

The fact is, these conspiracy nutters love Fox News Derangement as well. It's a common infection point on the body of the grassroots left.

To wit:
"Obama has noted in his two books, "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," that he spent two years in a Muslim school and another two years in a Catholic school while living in Indonesia from age 6 to 10."

HE"S A MUSLEM AND A VATICANTIST! HE"S A SHAPESHIFTER!!!!

Posted by jummy | February 27, 2008 11:00 AM

shorter jacksmith:

The majority of Democrats who voted in the primaries are idiots. ;-)

Posted by yoyoyo | February 27, 2008 11:01 AM

John,
I am not advocating anything. Just correcting some inaccurate statements posted above.

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 11:01 AM

Marilou, you're right. Obama's name is his name. But the p[roblem is people are trying to use his name to paint him something he's not. He did not cjoose the name his parent's gave him.

If he'd changed his name when he became born again, the same people would say gotcha, he's got something to hide.

Posted by Eatrlen | February 27, 2008 11:02 AM

What is wrong with being a muslim in America?
is it a bad thing? Do Americans hate muslims?

Posted by waid | February 27, 2008 11:02 AM

So we may have a President whos first name we arent allowed to say?...We they be able to draw cartoons of him?

Posted by Eric | February 27, 2008 11:05 AM

So we may have a President whos middle name we arent allowed to say?...We they be able to draw cartoons of him?

Posted by Eric | February 27, 2008 11:05 AM

I guess it is relevant that some might want to emphasize Obama's middle name to avoid confusion with all of the other Barrack Obamas who are big in the national news lately. Just sayin'.

Posted by Immolate | February 27, 2008 11:06 AM

"It's the FOXNews channel that started the eronoeus reporting.

Posted by Susan | February 27, 2008 10:43 AM "

Actually, it was a no-name rag named Insight magazine who spent the first three paragraphs expplaining that the story was passed to them from the Clinton campaign's oppo research.

The fact is, these conspiracy nutters love Fox News Derangement as well. It's a common infection point on the body of the grassroots left.

To wit:
"Obama has noted in his two books, "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," that he spent two years in a Muslim school and another two years in a Catholic school while living in Indonesia from age 6 to 10."

HE"S A MUSLEM AND A VATICANTIST! HE"S A SHAPESHIFTER!!!!

Posted by jummy | February 27, 2008 11:07 AM

"It's the FOXNews channel that started the eronoeus reporting.

Posted by Susan | February 27, 2008 10:43 AM "

Actually, it was a no-name rag named Insight magazine who spent the first three paragraphs expplaining that the story was passed to them from the Clinton campaign's oppo research.

The fact is, these conspiracy nutters love Fox News Derangement as well. It's a common infection point on the body of the grassroots left.

To wit:
"Obama has noted in his two books, "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," that he spent two years in a Muslim school and another two years in a Catholic school while living in Indonesia from age 6 to 10."

HE"S A MUSLEM AND A VATICANTIST! HE"S A SHAPESHIFTER!!!!

Posted by jummy | February 27, 2008 11:07 AM

Of course Waid, you can clearly see that American hate Muslims.

If someone is a christian (OBAMA), goes to the same church for over 20 yrs and his father gave him a name b'cos he comes from some part of Africa where that name is common, that he shd be disqualified despite the intelect and skill he brings to the table.

Posted by Mommy | February 27, 2008 11:08 AM

Waid,
Nothing wrong with being Muslim, just something wrong when you can't call someone by their own name.

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 11:09 AM

John M,
How about quoting the rest of the article, which goes on to say that the school in question had nothing whatever in common with the kinds of extremist madrasas most imagine when they think of a Muslim school? Moreover, why is spending two years at a Muslim school supposed to turn BHO into a lifelong Muslim and America-hating terrist while two years at a Catholic school seemingly has no effect? Why would anyone in their right mind hold decisions made by Obama's parents, well before Obama was of an age to have any say in the matter, against him? Does two years at a Muslim school taint Obama's mind so deeply that more than a decade of subsequent education at some of the world's finest institutions is powerless to undo it? I'm honestly curious just what all of this is supposed to prove.

Posted by julio ointment | February 27, 2008 11:10 AM

OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT, OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!

I'm a life long republican of 65 years old, but I'm ashamed of the republican party!!! A bunch of racist , intolerant, unforgiving, selfish, hypocrite, mostly fat bastards!!! I hope Obama becomes America's president so that I least our minds start to change...

Posted by Suzan | February 27, 2008 11:10 AM

julio,
Wow. Why do facts make you so emotional? Are you some kind of troll injecting "America hating terrorist" into the discussion?
I simply corrected a previous comment where someone said Obama went to school in Indonesia for only 2 years in a Catholic school and that he did not attend a Muslim school.
These are simple facts from Obama's own books. Nothing for him to be ashamed of.

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 11:16 AM

John M - you see right there you said "American hating terrorist" suggesting that all muslims are terrorists! You're in deed shallow minded.

Posted by Neme | February 27, 2008 11:22 AM

Suzan,

I'm ashamed of the republican party!!! A bunch of racist , intolerant, unforgiving, selfish, hypocrite, mostly fat bastards!!! I hope Obama becomes America's president so that I least our minds start to change

Wow. I hope your mind starts to change. What racism are you talking about?

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 11:22 AM

What, are you people crazy?

Hussein, if anyone cares to remember, was the name of a Middle Eastern dictator that the U.S.A. happened to recently depose through military force. There were some newspaper stories about it, and a good number of people heard about it.

In other words, Obama's middle name happens to be the same as our recent foreign enemy (whom we were literally at war with). That's some bad connotations, y'know?

Yes, therere are Muslim implications involved as well (a complicated issue, waid - yes, alas, many (most?) Americans hate Muslims (because many (most?) Americans are mouth-breathing morons)), but the Iraq War connection trumps these, methinks.

Posted by S.G.E.W. | February 27, 2008 11:23 AM

Neme,
I was quoting another commenter, julio. Please direct your question to julio. Thanks.

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 11:27 AM

"OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT, OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!

"I'm a life long republican of 65 years old, but I'm ashamed of the republican party!!! A bunch of racist , intolerant, unforgiving, selfish, hypocrite, mostly fat bastards!!! I hope Obama becomes America's president so that I least our minds start to change...

"Posted by Suzan | February 27, 2008 11:10 AM"

Suzan, get a grip. nobody's interested in that kind of trolling either. And, to the extent that you're an Obama-supporting Democrat, you should better spend your time being ashamed of the Clintons and their supporters for the racist themes they've exploited all throughout their campaign.

Posted by jummy | February 27, 2008 11:28 AM

Egfrow,
In your professional or personal life, do you use your entire name? If so, good for you. However, most people do not use their middle name. If Barack Obama was going around calling himself "Barack Hussein Obama", then you would have a point. Otherwise, you should consider that in polite society, we call people what they wish us to call them. Hillary Clinton does use her middle name. Philip Seymour Hoffman uses his middle name. Bill Clinton is not "William Jefferson Clinton" when he's written about, or talked about.

S.G.E.W. = There are many people with the name Hussein in the Middle East and most of them are not murderous dictators.

Posted by Mike P | February 27, 2008 11:31 AM

So, I assume it will be offensive when Chief Justice Roberts uses it in the inauguration?

Posted by thirtypundit | February 27, 2008 11:33 AM

Susan,

Simple question. Have you even the slightest amount of dignity? Look at yourself. You simply repeat Obama's talking points without even knowing what you are doing.

Now pay attention and listen close. I happen to live over here in Southeast Asia and have for 20 years. So please spare me the mind-numbing mantra about CNN and and Obama's school. I've been there - the school is NOT what you imagine. Now I know this might be hard for you to accept, but CNN and Obama both mislead you.

Lao
An American Expat in Southeast Asia

Posted by Lao | February 27, 2008 11:33 AM

George FELIX Allen could not be reached for comment.

Posted by holdfast | February 27, 2008 11:39 AM

This little ploy doesn't work how they want anyway. Every time I hear someone say B. Hussein Obama two things happen:
1) I lose respect for the utterer (or author) of the remark.
2) I have more sympathy for Sen. Obama.

I'm still not going to vote for him but I could see a large number of less conservative/partisan people getting fed up with the passive aggressive mealy mouthed racism of the Hussein users and supporting Sen. Obama. In addition it's just the perfect in for the media to paint any opposition to Sen. Obama as racist, which they will when he is running against a Republican.

Posted by Big E | February 27, 2008 11:39 AM

holdfast,
Our last 3 presidents George Walker Bush, William Jefferson Clinton (plus his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton) and George Herbert Walker Bush couldnt be reached either.

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 11:49 AM

Posted by jummy

Jummy you get a get a grip!!! I'm not a democrat and I might actually vote for McCain!!! I just don't his stance on the war... McCain actually impressed me yesterday, he's a descent man that's probably why most of you stupids idiots don't like him! I will still vote for OBAMA 08!!!

Posted by Suzan | February 27, 2008 11:51 AM

jummy,
There you have it. Suzan represents the typical Obama voter.

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 11:54 AM

John M, what's your point???

Posted by Suzan | February 27, 2008 11:59 AM

Don't you see that Americans are tired of the 7 yrs of Bush and want change? Change in the war, economy and healthcare?

McCain is 4more yrs of Bush!!

Posted by Enclave | February 27, 2008 12:00 PM

Enclave, You are a descent American my friend!!! You make me proud.

Posted by Suzan | February 27, 2008 12:02 PM

What scares me about Obama is not that he is like Bin Laden, or Saddam, or any other ridiculous comparisons.

Obviously, he is nothing like these evil people.

What scares me is that he ACTUALLY IS just like another historical figure.

THat figure is former President Jimmy Carter

Posted by TMF | February 27, 2008 12:03 PM

You have a point TMF! one that actually makes sense! Not like most of those racist bastards!!!!

Posted by Suzan | February 27, 2008 12:06 PM

William F Buckley started a great movement, it’s sad in the year 2008 we get stuck with smear merchants like Cunningham who cannot win the debate on their intellectual merits.

I have to laugh, these morons that have found their way into the GOP think they can win elections by ridiculing someone for a name given to them by their parents at birth? Is this a bad joke or a freakin' nightmare?

Good God, please save the Republican Party and move these losers into The Constitution Party or the Nazi party or somewhere else so we can be proud of the GOP once again.

Posted by April Orit | February 27, 2008 12:10 PM

April,
You are an obvious troll. Please try harder than this.

Cunningham is an entertainer, nothing more. A person that calls someone by their own name is not a Nazi.

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 12:14 PM

So what I see happening in the country is that people have accepted the fact that the American people shd and would not be so engaged in their our politics so much so that when someone like OBAMA is able to talk straight and build a huge coalition like he's done so far, they have a problem and must bring him down.!!

I suprised we do not celebrate sucess in this country!

Posted by Conny | February 27, 2008 12:16 PM

Conny,
Shh... I think there's a presidential contest going on.

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 12:17 PM

John M

You are obviously what's wrong with the GOP of late, let me quote Captain Ed from over at HotAir who spelled it out in a way that even you will understand -

Let’s just start off by acknowledging what Cunningham didn’t or wouldn’t admit — the emphasis on “Hussein” in remarking about Obama isn’t intended on ensuring proper identification. It’s a rather naked and intellectually dishonest way to play on the Obama-as-crypto-Muslim meme and/or engage in a little free association with Saddam. It’s a clever ploy, one that allows the purveyor to say (as Cunningham did later), “Hey, I’m just using his real name!” as a dodge for what he really had in mind.

Intellectual dishonesty, bigotry, ignorance or just pure Hillbilly Madness in it's least common state, whatever, it reflects on the Party.

You are the troll, if you cared about the GOP you wouldn't be commenting the way you are.

Posted by April Orit | February 27, 2008 12:22 PM

And waht message is the USA (hope of the world, land of the free) saying to the world. Even when we need to repair our image abroad, we are telling the world that we treat a distinguished American differently solely b'cos of his middle name?

I'm disappointed. Most of my mates in school have names based on different ancestry, yet we don't even notice that and we treat each other with dignity and respect.

I'm proud of America, and we're better than thge few who make us look like bigots!!

Posted by Joshua | February 27, 2008 12:26 PM

First of all, to all the Repubs who think it's so innocent to use Obama's full name, and to all the Dems who think the Dem party is above such things, remember how the Dems in 1988 and 1992 used to call Bush 41 "George Herbert Walker Bush", to imply (correctly, IMHO) that he was a rich aristocrat who didn't relate to the working man? C'mon everybody, get real. The middle name(s) are used for a reason, both sides do it, and both sides get upset when the other does it.

Second, to Jon, who said "At Ground Zero, Muhammad Ali was asked by a reporter: "How does it feel to be of the same religion as the people who did this?" "His reply: How does it feel to be of the same religion as Hitler?""
Do you really want to quote a punch-drunk boxer who's not only ignorant about Hitler's religion but also ignorant of his own? Just because Hitler was German he must have been a Christian? Hardly. Hitler was not a Christian, he was a pagan and into the occult. He considered Christianity to be a wimpy, Jewish religion. And I once heard an interview with Ali in which he claimed that unlike the Bible, the Koran had no contradictions. Leaving aside the fact that the Bible is a compendium of books from many authors, which would tend to produce some contradictions, and the Koran was written by one person, which would make it easier to avoid contradictions, the statement itself is false. The Koran has so many contradictions that Muslims had to come up with the concept of abrogation, in which later verses abrogate what the earlier verses say. Is Ali unaware of this?

Posted by Pervy Grin | February 27, 2008 12:29 PM

April Orit,exactly you made my day that's all I've been trying to say to these bastards!!!

Posted by Suzan | February 27, 2008 12:29 PM

April,
Cunningham did not twist his name to BushHitler or the like, he simply used his REAL name. Something is wrong if you can't speak a person's name. Very wrong.

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 12:31 PM

I'm proud of America, and we're better than thge few who make us look like bigots!!

I am proud of the GOP and we're better than the few who make us look like bigots. We are coming to a point where we are shedding these bigots, they do not belong in the Republican Party anyway.

They belong in The Constitution Party with the rest of the diehard Far Right Fringe - not in the Party of Lincoln.

Posted by April Orit | February 27, 2008 12:31 PM

I agree with Mr. Rove.

As I keep reminding my white friends and skeptical liberal friends of all races, we in the GOP are welcoming of all races and religions and we must stop catering to the bigoted views that some of our Southern voters have.

I am an important coordinator here in the South for the McCain team and it is IMPERATIVE that the use of Senator Obama's middle name cease. We took a huge hit yesterday.

Posted by Samir | February 27, 2008 12:33 PM

There is nothing wrong with muslim name, also FOX news need to thread with caution especially Hannity and Colmes, people should be quoted correctly and not incorrectly, many people listen to the media alot, but when FOX news is quoting Mitchelle Obama incorrectly that question their credibility and integrity.

Posted by Sunny | February 27, 2008 12:37 PM

There is nothing wrong with muslim name, also FOX news need to thread with caution especially Hannity and Colmes, people should be quoted correctly and not incorrectly, many people listen to the media alot, but when FOX news is quoting Mitchelle Obama incorrectly that question their credibility and integrity.

Posted by Sunny | February 27, 2008 12:37 PM

There is nothing wrong with muslim name, also FOX news need to thread with caution especially Hannity and Colmes, people should be quoted correctly and not incorrectly, many people listen to the media alot, but when FOX news is quoting Mitchelle Obama incorrectly that question their credibility and integrity.

Posted by Sunny | February 27, 2008 12:37 PM

There is nothing wrong with muslim name, also FOX news need to thread with caution especially Hannity and Colmes, people should be quoted correctly and not incorrectly, many people listen to the media alot, but when FOX news is quoting Mitchelle Obama incorrectly that question their credibility and integrity.

Posted by Sunny | February 27, 2008 12:37 PM

Samir,
Why do you paint Southerners as "bigoted"? I believe Cunningham is from Ohio. Why would you make bigoted comments to support your bigotry theory?

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 12:39 PM

What 4 letter word is GW's middle name......the Liberals and Dem's have hung every 4 letter word and even up to death wishes on GW for 8 yrs....

and now we shouldnt "stoop " to that level?

would that border on fascism..

Posted by bck | February 27, 2008 12:43 PM

Samir,
Why do you paint Southerners as "bigoted"? I believe Cunningham is from Ohio. Why would you make bigoted comments to support your bigotry theory?
~~~~~~~~~~~

That again is our problem of stero=typing - placing people into buckets, red/blue etc. And we all are tired of these.

So when someone connects to our better angels in the same way we are with these divisions, we respond and that accounts for the last crows OBAMA is drawing. Republicans, wake up.

We cannot fight this guy by appearing we are hatemongers, rather lets also call for unity.
That's the winning strategy.

Posted by Connyin | February 27, 2008 12:47 PM

Samir,
Why do you paint Southerners as "bigoted"? I believe Cunningham is from Ohio. Why would you make bigoted comments to support your bigotry theory?
~~~~~~~~~~~

That again is our problem of stero=typing - placing people into buckets, red/blue etc. And we all are tired of these.

So when someone connects to our better angels in the same way we are with these divisions, we respond and that accounts for the last crows OBAMA is drawing. Republicans, wake up.

We cannot fight this guy by appearing we are hatemongers, rather lets also call for unity.
That's the winning strategy.

Posted by Connyin | February 27, 2008 12:47 PM

April,
Cunningham did not twist his name to BushHitler or the like, he simply used his REAL name. Something is wrong if you can't speak a person's name. Very wrong.

This is the problem I have with your type. You really believe that the GOP is chock full of morons who will hear his middle name and go into muslim-panic mode and readily believe all the Lew Rockwellian type conspiracy theories about Barack Obama wanting to become POTUS to overthrown the gov't.

Your intentions is to instill panic.

Most Republicans are insulted and rightly so. Do you really believe we were born yesterday?

Look, you have to make a decision here. The GOP is the Party of intellects, if you guys have to resort to the level of a Cunningham or a Lew Rockwell, perhaps this party isn't for you.

Posted by April Orit | February 27, 2008 12:54 PM

Wow. Lots of trolls out today.

Posted by John | February 27, 2008 12:55 PM

Here are a few points i'd like to make:
1-It IS Barack's middle name.
2-He's probably used to fending off unfortunate remarks since the war began.
3-People repeating "Hussain" could actually be beneficial, since the more familiar a name becomes, the less we associate it with anything other than the individual.

On the other hand:
1-People should be referred to by the name they prefer. If my name was Penelope, and I wanted to be called "Penny", it would be obnoxious for anyone to keep calling me Penelope. It's a matter of showing respect.
2-Hillary calls herself "Hillary"-on all her signs and such, so that isn't a comparable example. Barack doesn't refer to himself as "Barack Hussain Obama". Furthermore, if you WERE going to be comparable, you'd have to call Hillary "Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton". That's her full name.
3-It isn't that people are saying Obama's middle name. Obama knows what his middle name is. It's the tone, and the intention of the people using it to remind people of the negative associations. If Obama's middle name was "Joe" you can bet-that no one would feel the need to repeat it over and over.

Posted by julie | February 27, 2008 12:58 PM

The GOP is the Party of intellects... the GOP is chock full of morons who will hear his middle name and go into muslim-panic mode

April, that's bordering on being schizophrenic.

Unlike you, I have faith in people that they will not panic just from hearing a person's name.

Posted by John M | February 27, 2008 1:00 PM

Rove is a Bushy. That limits his credability with me. Bush has been far too weak against the dems, from White House vandalism thru Sandy Burger and now.

Posted by Smarty | February 27, 2008 1:02 PM

Identity Politics is Identity Politics. Rove is wrong. Barack Hussein Obama by his name alone signals he is the avatar of Identity Politics.

Which by definition exclude white guys. Period. White guys make up the largest sector of the electorate. And married women (to white guys) are invested in their husband's career cause it pays half the expenses. They can't afford to see their husbands pushed off the job for Identity Politics Affirmative Action (which takes jobs and opportunities from White Guys and gives them to Blacks, Latinos, and women).

Blue Collar White Guys are the most at-risk from Identity Politics. They make up alone 25% of the electorate (the largest single demographic slice). Getting these guys on your side by pointing out the Barack Hussein Obama threat to them from Identity Politics is entirely rational, and hardly racist. Obama pushes himself as the "Black Candidate" so he can hardly complain when others push themselves as the "White Candidate."

This is the harvest of 50 years of Identity Politics.

Posted by Jim Rockford | February 27, 2008 1:03 PM

April, that's bordering on being schizophrenic.
Unlike you, I have faith in people that they will not panic just from hearing a person's name.

Oh please!! LOL, be honest. Who's the troll now? Here's another example of fear mongering and just plain bunk from poster Jim Rockford -

Obama pushes himself as the "Black Candidate" so he can hardly complain when others push themselves as the "White Candidate."

When has Obama pushed himself as a black candidate?? People have supported him because he is not running on black identity. He has never identified with being a black candidate. Where are you guys getting this donkey dust from or better yet what planet are you posting from?

Again more Far Right Madness, do you guys ever stop??

Do you guys realize that you are raping the Republican Party, destroying what's left of it's good name??

Please stop.

Posted by April Orit | February 27, 2008 1:12 PM

This is the harvest of 28 years of getting bigots and misguided fringe elements to vote Republican.

Posted by April Orit | February 27, 2008 1:15 PM

>>Obama pushes himself as the "Black Candidate"..

Posted by kbcart | February 27, 2008 1:19 PM

i think obama is great canidate and that even if hes in the position of vice pres. hell still do us wonders and the people that are saying that hed get us involved in kenyas civil war are wrong whyed he do that if wanted to do that hed run for president down there and then he could stop it down there and use all there own money and even if he did what good did it do to let iraq fight there

Posted by Cristopher | February 27, 2008 1:19 PM

"Obama pushes himself as the "Black Candidate""

I've watched him quite a bit. I've NEVER seen him do that. Got a link? Or is it simply enough that he has the audacity of hue and happens to be black that ipso facto makes him "push himself as the Black Candidate"?

Posted by Reaper | February 27, 2008 1:20 PM

"Obama pushes himself as the "Black Candidate""

I've watched him quite a bit. I've NEVER seen him do that. Got a link? Or is it simply enough that he has the audacity of hue and happens to be black that ipso facto makes him "push himself as the Black Candidate"?

Posted by Reaper | February 27, 2008 1:20 PM

kbcart -

I am beginning to believe that these people are agent provocateurs or Democrats trying to ruin the Republican party.

No normal person up on the political landscape, and a member of the GOP no less, would post this kind of ignorance.

There is more at play here.

Posted by April Orit | February 27, 2008 1:24 PM

"Obama pushes himself as the "Black Candidate""

OBAMA even declined the invitation to speak at the "Black Forum: recently which Hillary attended. OBAMA is mixed raced - black dad/ white mum - and has always called for unity as the blacks say he is not black enough whiles whites also reject him.

He even was raised by his white grandparents, which even makes blacks say he didn't go through the pain they had to go through everyday.

Posted by Beemer | February 27, 2008 1:28 PM

George W. Bush, closet muslim!

Actually that would make him a dhimmi. As far as Obama is concerned, I couldn't care less. The system already strained by it's own weight must collapse before it can be rebuilt. Obama will hasten that collapse and then we can get on with the recovery.

Posted by DFCtomm | February 27, 2008 1:31 PM

President Bush was a glib talker and foolish Americans got carried away and suffered for 8 years.

Boy it's going to happen again. What a pity.
A great country going down the tube.

Posted by Harry | February 27, 2008 1:40 PM

April Orit,

I agree there is more at play, but say to you don't worry and keep the faith. The good always outweighs the bad, and truth always finds a way to rise to the top.

As a proud Democrat, I admire your efforts to cleanse your party of these types and stand up for the things that are good about the GOP, our country and mankind in general. There is no place in EITHER political party for bigotry and hate.

Even though we may disagree on many things, reading your words gives me hope for our country. I'm sure that at the end of the day, we both want what is best for our country and the future of our children and grandchildren.

And I'm positive we both want a clean campaign, fought on issues, vision and not the vitriol and cheap shots that the extremists on both sides find so easy to spew.

This great country deserves no less.

Posted by kbcart | February 27, 2008 1:44 PM

The name "Barack Hussein Obama"
reminds me of three things that the current administration royally F'd up! Honestly, whenever I hear it, it just reminds me of three more reasons to vote for him, and not for the idiot warmongers!

Iraq, Hussein, Osama -- Three Republican disasters.

Barack Hussein Obama -- Our best chance to avoid similar disasters!

Posted by Dave | February 27, 2008 1:48 PM

As an Obama supporter, I have no problems with people using his full name when it is appropriate. If we're listing presidential candidates by their full names, for example.

What Cunningham did was special case him with the purpose of calling attention to the part of his name that irrationally causes fear. That speaks volumes about the character of some of those "right wing figures."

John McCain deserves praise for clamping down on this, and Rove is proposing to do what is in the best interest of the Republicans.

Cunningham, Limbaugh, Coulter - they will be the ones to bring down the very party they are trying to help.

Posted by Kevin, SF, CA | February 27, 2008 1:49 PM

Just like I said....

Many in the republican party just can't help themselves:

http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/feb/27/tenn-gop-stands-anti-semites-obama-piece/

Here is a delicious Irony of what is about to happen:

Many on the right use the actions of Islamic extremists to cast a nefarious cloud over the entire religion.

Now, the actions of right wing extremists are going to be used to cast a nefarious cloud over the entire Republican party.

Live by demonization, die by demonization!

Posted by RKA | February 27, 2008 1:52 PM

kbcart
As a proud Republican I respect your take on things - you are right on about all of it.

In the memory of William F Buckley, the GOP will rise again and be the proud Party of Lincoln in the style and eloquence of Mr. Buckley - in spite of all of the negatives we have faced.

Posted by April Orit | February 27, 2008 1:52 PM

In theory, there is nothing wrong with using Obama's middle name.

In theory.

But as someone with a funny sounding name, I can tell you that the way someone uses your name can indeed be very wrong. If it is used to imply difference and to alienate, then there is a problem. There is no doubt in my mind that Coulter, Cunningham and Rush are using Hussein in order to raise fears about Obama. To claim otherwise seems intellectually dishonest.

Juan Cole has an interesting breakdown of the Semtic origins of Barack and Hussein.

http://www.juancole.com/2008/02/barack-hussein-obama-omar-bradley.html

Two interesting points
1. The word Barack is a hebrew word and appears in the Bible 285 times. It means "to bless"

2. One of the greatest heroes of WWII was General Omar Bradley - an arabic name. Former centcom head General John Abizaid, has an arabic last name. I doubt anyone is concerned that they are/were Islamic infiltrators.

Posted by Jorge | February 27, 2008 1:56 PM

Far Right Fringe and The Far Left Fringe are bad news for both parties, period.

They should be shunned.

Posted by April Orit | February 27, 2008 1:58 PM

Do you truly imagine that slobbering attack dogs like Cunningham or Coulter are going to stop being slobbering attack dogs just because Rove is telling them not to?

C'mon. Obama is on his way to the White House and the maniacs who go after him with their erections showing are just going to make his campaign easier. They are going to make middle of the road voters and even conservative voters ashamed. There is nothing more powerful than shame when it comes to making a person behave better.

Posted by Karen | February 27, 2008 2:01 PM

Do you truly imagine that slobbering attack dogs like Cunningham or Coulter are going to stop being slobbering attack dogs just because Rove is telling them not to?

C'mon. Obama is on his way to the White House and the maniacs who go after him with their erections showing are just going to make his campaign easier. They are going to make middle of the road voters and even conservative voters ashamed. There is nothing more powerful than shame when it comes to making a person behave better.

Posted by Karen | February 27, 2008 2:01 PM

Do you truly imagine that slobbering attack dogs like Cunningham or Coulter are going to stop being slobbering attack dogs just because Rove is telling them not to?

C'mon. Obama is on his way to the White House and the maniacs who go after him with their erections showing are just going to make his campaign easier. They are going to make middle of the road voters and even conservative voters ashamed. There is nothing more powerful than shame when it comes to making a person behave better.

Posted by Karen | February 27, 2008 2:01 PM

We already know that the Repugs are bigots. That's old news.

Posted by Phyllis, Dallas TX | February 27, 2008 2:02 PM

We already know that the Repugs are bigots. That's old news.

Posted by Phyllis, Dallas TX | February 27, 2008 2:03 PM

This whole thing is so silly. Here's a mental exercise. Suppose there was a Republican candidate named "John Hitler Davis." Suppose he, in the eyes of the Republicans, was a great man, a great patriot, and who they consider their best hope for the next President.

Now, suppose Keith Olbermann gets up in front of a crowd at a Clinton rally and starts saying, "Unlike Obama and Clinton, John Hitler Davis wants to bankrupt America!!" and "John Hitler Davis wants to invade Iraq again. John HITLER Davis is bad for our country!"

Posted by Kevin | February 27, 2008 2:03 PM

I switched from being Democrat to Republican during Clinton's second administration. Because Republicans have blindly supported the senseless pursuit of the Iraq war, I am now Independent. The naked bigotry of certain segments of the Republican establishment, thanks goodness John McCain is not part of that, is pushing me even farther from the Republican platform. It will take a genuine respect of the strength of diversity from the Republican party before they get me back.

Posted by PJudice | February 27, 2008 2:11 PM

I can't believe the amount of racism in this room. It's actually appalling. On top of that it underscores how many people in this country live through their fear instead of their mind and how intolerant they are to accept the fact that this country is going to be run by someone that actually uses their mind--something I realize they are scared of.

In 2004 the Daily Mirror asked: "How can 59,054,087 people be so dumb?" in reference to 59 million people voting for Bush on the basis of gays and fear instead of rational thought. I'm guessing that some of those people are in here? Thanks for the wonderful contribution you've made to America and the world, guys! Without you reminding us about Barack Hussein Obama's name, I have almost forgot that you are responsible for the deaths of hundred's of thousands of Iraqi civilians; a refugee crises that has virtually destablized the Middle East; an upsurge in Iranian power and influence throughout the region; thousands of our own troops dead, injured, or exhausted; torture; wiretapping; excessive spending; massive increased debt to China; severe inflation; a recession; and a whole host of other DUMB policies that have significantly damaged this country.

The argument, "The guys name is Barack Hussein Obama" is the most cowardly attack available to the GOP and the mindless sheep that support them? Yes, it's his name. But you stress it with implication to something else. You are racist propagandists and nothing more--and poor ones at that. You can't get Obama on policy you fools. You can't get him on anything. The man is a human piece of Teflon. While you may want to hide in the cracks and call Obama a muslim, the country will go on without you in a proper direction that will clean up the crap storm you have left in your wake.

So carry on "my friends." Your day is coming to a decisive end.

Posted by Jman | February 27, 2008 2:21 PM

Kevin

Olberman is a Far Left Fringe element and if he did that I would hope normal Democrats would shun his behavior.

But pointing to conjecture of what might happen doesn't make what did happen, i.e. that idiot Cunningham, right.

Posted by April Orit | February 27, 2008 2:24 PM

Of course, we all know his middle name is Hussein, and there is no problem in including a persons middle name when referring to them. There is a problem, however, when it is used as a fear tactic. I don't see anybody referring to John Sydney McCain or Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton.

In the case of the Bush family, it's necessary to use the middle initial to distinguish between George W. and George H.W. Bush.

Referring to him as Barack Hussein Obama is nothing short of petty, childish, pathetic and transparent. Ms. Coulter and Mr. O'Reilly and the cons that repeatedly do this simply need to grow up.

Apparently, all the credentials you need to report on Fox "News" is the maturity of a seven year old and blatant disregard of facts and reality.

Can we get a fact check to verify, once and for
all, that Obama is not Muslim? Most people know he isn't, but can I get some proof to get these bloggers to calm down about it?

Posted by Rory | February 27, 2008 2:34 PM

Jman -

I just had someone over at another blog tell me this -

The GOP as defined by your catrasti ilk does not represent the true conservative values that are the founding principles of this country.

It's ridiculous what the GOP has become, they have the founding fathers confused with The Crown they were running from.

They have no idea how this Nation was discovered or settled.

Posted by April Orit | February 27, 2008 2:35 PM

Obama is a Christian. He goes to the United Church of Christ. As a pagan, I have had to answer for myself whether or not I'm comfortable voting for yet another Christian, and I've decided that at this point in our nation's history, I don't have much choice. But yes, Obama is definitely a Christian. He is not a Muslim.

I was raised by fundy Christians, homeschooled, sent to church every week, sent to evangelical bible camps, but that doesn't mean I'm a Christian now.

And honestly, it shouldn't be that big a deal even if Obama was a Muslim. It wouldn't be a big deal if so many Americans weren't mindless sheep. Blaming all Muslims for 9/11 is like blaming all Christians for the Crusades. These were the actions of a fanatical few, not of the whole. If Obama had spent 3 years at a camp in Afghanistan or something, then I'd be concerned.

But people are dumb.

Posted by John | February 27, 2008 2:38 PM

Republicans did ocasionally use Hubert Horatio Humphrey's full name for purposes of ridicule but not too often; they realized that doing so just made them look childish.

I would not worry too much about the "Obama is a secret Islamofascist" frothers. They are not swing voters and will not persuade swing voters--and will in fact alienate a good many moderate indpendents.

Posted by David T | February 27, 2008 2:54 PM

Looks like the Right wing can only express itself with hathred.
But not this time, for America is changing.
Whether they like it or not, this is a Country of Law but also of immigrants.
Smear is a loosing battle, proof is that OBAMA's movement keeps getting bigger and bigger despites the negativ attacks. It is just a matter time until the movement becomes an unsurmountable weight on these retarded Smear folks.

GO OBAMA

Posted by Ben, CA | February 27, 2008 3:00 PM

Just in case you have forgotten:
Remember, the Republican Party is the party of David Duke, the most famous KKK leader and racist in the world; And you dare to accuse Obama of being anti -American, just because of his middle name. David Duke almost became the governor of Louisiana as a Republican, supported by KKK.

The right wing bigots need to educate themselves a little more about our history. There are volumes of academic research connecting the Bush ancestors, and Henry Ford with Nazism. There are bestselling books written about Bush family's connection to the most corrupt regime of Saudi Arabia, where most of the 9/11 terrorists came from. Please educate yourselves!!

An ex-Republican – supporter of Obama

Posted by Peg | February 27, 2008 3:01 PM

Just in case you have forgotten:
Remember, the Republican Party is the party of David Duke, the most famous KKK leader and racist in the world; And you dare to accuse Obama of being anti -American, just because of his middle name. David Duke almost became the governor of Louisiana as a Republican, supported by KKK.

The right wing bigots need to educate themselves a little more about our history. There are volumes of academic research connecting the Bush ancestors, and Henry Ford with Nazism. There are bestselling books written about Bush family's connection to the most corrupt regime of Saudi Arabia, where most of the 9/11 terrorists came from. Please educate yourselves!!

An ex-Republican – supporter of Obama

Posted by Peg | February 27, 2008 3:02 PM

I love to hear idiot right-wingers using his name like he should be ashamed of it. It's a perfect example of their intelligence. It reminds me of being in 2nd grade. LOL But what else can they do? Republicans have screwed things up so bad, every criticism on the issues sounds even worse. The general election is going to be a showdown between the politics of Hope vs the politics of Fear. Oooh, it really scares us that a good and decent man carries his family name. Keep up the good work.

Posted by LeeFromVA | February 27, 2008 3:11 PM

Juan Cole has the absolutely best take on Obama's name.

Posted by nitpicker | February 27, 2008 3:15 PM

It was said:

"I'm not a racist, but ...
Obama stayed in Indonesia for 4 years. 2 years in Cathlic school and 2 years in a Muslim school. He was registered as a Muslim in this school and attended Friday prayers."

So children are now made responsible for the actions of their parents? (Remember, Obama was a child, not an adult, while living in Indonesia). And because a child was made to go to a certain kind of school by parents or responsible parties, that child as an adult is now held responsible for their actions? By this kind of logic, every son and daughter of a former Nazi is a Nazi, as is every generation after that.

Yet, we are allies with all Germany, allies with all these Nazis today, right? So that makes the United States Nazi-lovers, right? Guilt by association, right?

Walks like a duck...must be a Nazi.

Posted by JAW | February 27, 2008 3:17 PM

Rove and other Republicans might "officially" make this statement, but they'll make sure that their surrogates carry this message in as many ways as possible.

This is a good tactic for John McCain and I think we'll see more of it as the year progresses: His people hire a racist miscreant to slander his opponent, Barack Obama, with all sorts of personal attacks, like using his middle name, over and over, as an epithet, designed to exploit whatever fear or loathing certain voters have about a Muslim name.

Then, after the hired hand spews his hatred and vitriol, McCain can play the "good guy", denounce the vicious comments, and hope to gain brownie points with the compliant mainstream media that consistently eats out of his hand.

This way, he makes sure that the attacks against Obama happen but he gets to act as though his hands are completely clean.
Will voters notice? Will we stand by and let this continue to happen?

Posted by Steve Nesich | February 27, 2008 3:21 PM

This "name" business is a non-issue. Obama has dealt with this racism his entire life. Wait until we watch the unimaginative angry old guard standing next to the upright soldier of the future. Ten-hut!

Posted by Dahveed | February 27, 2008 3:35 PM

"I'm not a racist, but ...
Obama stayed in Indonesia for 4 years. 2 years in Cathlic school and 2 years in a Muslim school. He was registered as a Muslim in this school and attended Friday prayers."

I don't think any of that is even true.The school he attended was highlighted on CNN and it was secular.

Posted by April Orit | February 27, 2008 3:42 PM

Hey Everyone. Obama really may be a Muslim sleep agent. The National Examiner has exposed him. Here's the proof:

http://patdollard.com/wp-content/uploads/2286994669_426a7d669e_b.jpg

Posted by paulc | February 27, 2008 4:06 PM

Egfrow,
Don't forget to get off the couch, throw out the beer bottles, and go to the KKK meeting.
Loser!

Posted by joseph pierre | February 27, 2008 4:07 PM

Hillary's middle name is Diane. Rodham is her maiden name. Duh.

Posted by Julie | February 27, 2008 4:32 PM

demogogue:
n.
1. A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.
2. A leader of the common people in ancient times.
tr.v. dem·a·gogued also dem·a·goged, dem·a·gogu·ing also dem·a·go·ging, dem·a·gogues also dem·a·goges
Usage Problem To speak about (an issue, for example) in the manner of a demagogue.

Ambinder, you can barely write. Nobody is attempting to put Obama's middle-name in power. If your getting paid to write fluffy blurbs like this, you definitely should be donating money to charity because you are getting payed more than your words are worth...

Posted by Ed | February 27, 2008 4:36 PM

demogogue:
n.
1. A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.
2. A leader of the common people in ancient times.
tr.v. dem·a·gogued also dem·a·goged, dem·a·gogu·ing also dem·a·go·ging, dem·a·gogues also dem·a·goges
Usage Problem To speak about (an issue, for example) in the manner of a demagogue.

Ambinder, you can barely write. Nobody is attempting to put Obama's middle-name in power. If your getting paid to write fluffy blurbs like this, you definitely should be donating money to charity because you are getting payed more than your words are worth...

Posted by Ed | February 27, 2008 4:36 PM

The ignorance in this country about the nation of Indonesia is staggering. Having lived there myself, let me clue everyone in to a couple of facts learned first-hand.

Islam is the dominant religion in Indonesia, but it is not the official religion. Indonesia has no official religion. Traveling among its over 17,000 islands, you will find Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and a good number of animists. Because the archipelago has been influenced by invasions and population shifts for centuries (and the various religious beliefs that came with them), Islam as practiced there is a far cry from the Islam of the Middle East. I attended a spirit posession ceremony in Sumatra that began after all of the participants had finished their morning prayers at the village mosque. It's a melange of many beliefs, and although Islamic teaching is technically dominant, the actual practice of the religion is infused with ancient traditions and beliefs from other religions... and the Islam that is practiced on the ground in Indonesia would likely get you stoned or beheaded in Saudi Arabia.

Obama divided his time in Indonesia between a Catholic school and a PUBLIC school. As he was on the island of Java, where the majority are Muslims, he was naturally surrounded by a lot of Muslim classmates. However, indoctrination in Islam was not part of the public school curriculum at the time in Indonesia.

BTW, Obama's mother was a spiritual person with no religious affiliation. His Kenyan father was an avowed atheist, and his stepfather a lapsed Muslim who had long since stopped attending prayers at the mosque.

Disclaimer: I lived in Indonesia in the eighties, after Obama was there and before recent economic catastrophies brought on by President Soeharto's crimes and World Bank incompetence plunged the once-prosperous nation into an extreme divide of rich and poor. I understand that now a more strict brand of Islam is taking hold, and anti-American sentiment is widespread. This is in stark contrast to the time I spent there, when people still credited the US for booting out both Japanese and Dutch occupiers. Americans were beloved then. Another fine contribution to our standing in the world by BushCo....

Posted by Ken in RI | February 27, 2008 4:43 PM

For the record, John M. and anyone else who is being an idiot about middle names. Hillary Clinton's middle name is Diane. Rodham is her maiden name so to keep saying Hillary Rodham Clinton is stupid. And, Senator Obama's middle name is only used by idiot conservatives who are trying to disparage him. Do you honestly think that the American people are stupid enough to fall for your lowlife tactics again??? We want better for our country, and this world than that, and we are going to get it. Obama 2008!

Posted by donn | February 27, 2008 5:16 PM

For the record, John M. and anyone else who is being an idiot about middle names. Hillary Clinton's middle name is Diane. Rodham is her maiden name so to keep saying Hillary Rodham Clinton is stupid. And, Senator Obama's middle name is only used by idiot conservatives who are trying to disparage him. Do you honestly think that the American people are stupid enough to fall for your lowlife tactics again??? We want better for our country, and this world than that, and we are going to get it. Obama 2008!

Posted by donn | February 27, 2008 5:16 PM

Thanks, Ken in RI, for the information on Indonesia. Your post is thoughtful and instructive not that I believe you will change the minds of those who hate. Take care.

Posted by donn | February 27, 2008 5:19 PM

No, Steve Nesich, we won't stand by and let it happen. I thought the same thing as I watched McCain apologize for the man who introduced him. Rove is not stupid. He knows how the American people are feeling right now. So, in order to bolster McCain it would be just like them to do exactly as you state...surrogates leak information and attack Obama and McCain comes off as the nice tolerant one. It won't work. McCain said in his apology that it would NEVER happen again. So, we'll see. If it keeps happening and he keeps having to apologize I believe people will catch on. And, for those who don't we'll make sure that it is out there.

Posted by donn | February 27, 2008 5:25 PM

The post by Jman ("Posted by Jman | February 27, 2008 2:21 PM") is excellent! You are right on the money. The world is going to go on without all of them and they are going to be left to wonder why. We want to move forward into a better life and if they want to stay in the gutter so be it.

Posted by donn | February 27, 2008 5:34 PM

This is one of the most amusing series of responses I have ever read. Thank you, thank you everyone for a relaxing 20 minutes of procrastination. The idiocy of so many Americans never ceases to amaze me.

I think education of the Muslim world is the first thing that needs to be changed about the US education system. Like another poster up there said, 1/5 of the world population is Muslim, and it is the fastest growing religion in the world.

I LOVE THIS POST:
'At Ground Zero, Muhammad Ali was asked by a reporter: "How does it feel to be of the same religion as the people who did this?" "His reply: How does it feel to be of the same religion as Hitler?"'
For real, people.

YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT!

...if you vote for Hillary Clinton, because the majority of her support comes from people with lower education levels, but not African Americans, because Obama's got that one bagged. So will all the stupid white people in the room please stand up.

Posted by Frances | February 27, 2008 6:40 PM

These are the two most similar types of people on earth: the waaaay right wing, Bible thumping, religion humping, cult-like God obsessed Christian Americans who think their way is the only way, and the Islamic terrorists who attacked us on September 11th. Both are psycho crazy religion nuts out to kill everyone who is not like them. You all should get together for tea sometime, I'm sure you would make great friends. (And maybe do us all a favor and blow each other up in the process.)

...on a serious note, that's exactly the best way to understand Islamic terrorists. 1/5 of the world is Muslim and it is the fastest growing religion. It's only the psycho ones, like the nutters we've got here in the US who are literally OBSESSED with Christianity, who go around blowing other people up. The remaining 99% of Muslims are just going about their normal daily business just like you and I.

Posted by Frances | February 27, 2008 6:47 PM

Strategy: Have your Goebbel's put out racist innuendos.
Come back and say you abhor racism and we don't do that.
Keep the dialog going on unimportant things like Cunningham said Obama's name Hussein, McCain denounced it as racist, Rove said,refrain from using Obama's middle name (thus bringing attention to it without saying it), and bringing the entire racist,hating GOP playing their dirty little divisive games under cover.
The idea..change the course of the debate. Obama had a great response to McCain on Iraq. Strategy...the Democras have a better plan. Don't let the news focus on their plan. SWIFTBOAT. Or "Gore said he invented the internet" type of diversion to end substantive debate about the issues that will MAKE OR BREAK this country. Once and for all, don't give this any traction. GOEBBEL's will spend 4 hours discussing this instead of the issues that matter.

Posted by nothingnew | February 27, 2008 6:49 PM

I doesn't matter what republiucans do - they are too stupid and too racist to beat Obama

Posted by proudofmycountry | February 27, 2008 7:40 PM

"jumped the shark" jumped the shark a long time ago

Posted by Trevor | February 27, 2008 7:47 PM

Since when? the king of dirty tricks is telling the GOP to play nice....since when does the GOP play nice...why are they being so kind to Obama? This from the guy...that had the whisper campaign on Ann Richards was a lesbian to Get Bush elected to gov of texas. We have just finsihed with 9/11..people don't feel to kindly towards radical muslims; and the fact Obama's father was muslim and his stepfather was a radical muslim and Obama went to a radical muslim school doesn't seem to matter??? There are so many questions...and they are all swept under the carpet,we are to believe the whole world and all white people are now colorblind...it would be nice, but not likely!! both by GOP and by gop corporate press who would have you think Obama walks on water. Staged faintings close enough for Obama to react to and in camera range??? Is it me or is something up??and terribly wrong. CT people are voting african american??? uppity white folks...sure!! perhaps along the lines of the 2000 rigged elections. Even liberals who hated the 2000 election have been swept up in the propaganda. It seems it isn't important he was brought up in a muslim culture..it doesn't matter he has no experience...Nothing seems to matter not even that he has only been a senator since 2005....The fix is in folks

Posted by susan | February 27, 2008 7:49 PM

The use of Obama's middle name has been a cheap tactic by some people who try to play to the Islamophobia that a portion of the United States public has exhibited since 9/11. This is obvious and undeniable in it's veiled bigotry, and anyone who claims otherwise is either ignorant, or a flat out liar.

Of course, simply uttering the name Hussein is not a problem. No one is claiming that. It's all about how, and by whom, it's being used. I find it ludicrous to claim that people like Rush Limbaugh or Bill Cunningham are using it simply in an effort to correctly identify the person they're talking about as they try to whip up the passions of their conservative base. I know that the popular claim by Obama's opponents is that all of us Obama supporters are delusional, empty-headed morons, but trust me, we're not as stupid as you seem to think. Your bigotry shines through as clear and bright as the sun on a cloudless day.

And to answer some others who posted here, "Hillary Rhodam Clinton" is her first, maiden, and married name, NOT her first, middle, and married name. And for that matter, why, if he was supposedly just being thorough, didn't Bill Cunningham introduce McCain by including HIS middle name, too? Just for the record, for all of you out there insisting that using Obama's middle name has no hidden intent, McCain's middle name is Sidney. I assume you probably didn't know that, despite your deep-seeded desire to be thorough in the use of the candidate's full names.

Posted by Sean | February 27, 2008 7:56 PM

Too little too late. The conservative bigots are on a roll, baby. Its like a stopping in a middle of a good ejaculation. Cuntingham's veins are popping, he 's dying to say n*gger on the air everyday.

And who cares what Rove says. When someone refers to "Rovian" , I think of complete failure. The GOP mass of shit has flushed a while ago. McCain is just the left of skidmarks on the bowl, and Obama is about to flush.

Posted by KittyKatMan | February 27, 2008 7:59 PM

As a decent, liberal-minded American, I have every right to discriminate against someone because of his Muslim name. Islam is an ignorant, pre-modern, illiberal "religion" that has done this world nothing but harm lately, so any candidate's ties to it must be fully vetted. It's doubtful that there are "liberal Muslims," so Muslims living in the US or anywhere make me deeply uncomfortable.

Personally, I don't think Obama has any hard ties to Islam, although he clearly hasn't repudiated Islam's hateful ideas enough. But neither has Clinton or McCain.

Posted by James | February 27, 2008 8:14 PM

Obama is Christian. He would strike AL QUEDA, and he wants to focus on Osama bin Laden and Al Queda. This is what Bush should have done before he decided to use the military to fight his family feud.
Bush has done more for radicalizing muslims than Osama Bin Laden did. Bush is currently at 19% favorable rating in this country,where he is our President. Think of what the rest of the world thinks of Bush.
There are radical fringe of every group. They are dangerous whether they are environmentalists, religious fundamentalists, animal rights activists..the radical element can't define the group. As a Christian I don't bomb abortion clinics, yet a radical fringe of the Republican party that happens to be Christian bombed abortion clinics. I don't identify myself with them, and I don't want to be identified with them. The same is true for Muslims. Islam HAS millions of followers. Most have gone about their life following the tenets of Islam..that have made their lives and their neighbors lives better.
There are lies that say all Muslims want to kill you, but the same is said about Christians. They think if you don't convert, you will go to hell. So they are radical. They kill, they propagate hate, divide whole groups of people, and claim they are the "good guys".
Ours is a country that has no state religion. I don't think religion is important. I know people of every religion. The doctor who works in an emergency room when your child is brought in for critical medical care, can be a Muslim. He still will save the life of your child as that's his oath. He doesn't ask if your child is a muslim or a christian.
I'm tired of the all or nothing paintbrush of religions, race, etc. There are degrees. Not every Christian is a fundamentalist who believes in predestination, not every Muslim is fundamentalist. We stoke the anger in the Middle East. To find an outlet and justify it, Al Queda uses the pretext of religion. The same is true for those in the U.S. who want this war. They are stoking the fires and trying to make it about religion. It is not.

Posted by nothingnew | February 27, 2008 8:32 PM

I guess the TN - Republican Senator Lamar Alexander didnt get the message... So nice of him to have Rep Chair Robin Smith & Republican Communications Dir Bill Hobbs send out their little flyer.

little quotes like this reflect well on the GOP in TN.

"It can be guaranteed that the Islamic extremists who monitor our resolve and remain vigilant for opportunities to attack innocent Americans are “hopeful” that Barack Obama will be the next President. Their goal to remove the “filthy bacteria” (according to Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) of Israel off the face of the earth will be much easier with either of these liberal, leftist Democrats/Progressives in the White House."

I understand Republican Senator Lamar Alexander is up for Re-Election this Nov 08.... Biggots really need to be shown the door!!

Posted by MrJJ | February 27, 2008 8:47 PM

Barak Obama is not a Muslim. But so what?? I bet all you anti Muslim bigots forget that we are supposed to be a country with freedom of religion. We have now devolved into a country with religious bigotry in addition to all of the other bigotry and xenophobia we have. How the f*ck we gonna "lead" the world by example when we have so much bigotry ourselves? By the way, it is a fact that one reason Civil Rights legislation passed when it did was that we were busy telling Russia how great our democracy was while Blacks were being lynched, denied voting rights and made to give up their seats for whites and the rest of the world saw this. When a huge number of African/Middle Eastern citizens have the name Hussein, WTF does Barak Obama have to justify, explain, rationalize or even deal with his middle name? It's a non issue, except for some backwards, third-world hating Americans. Geeze! Move a few centuries forward in your thinking.

Posted by Barbara | February 27, 2008 8:49 PM

I will never vote for someone named Sidney. Well at least not this time around.

Posted by Jim B | February 27, 2008 8:55 PM

You know, as an Obama supporter, I gotta say this:

B. HUSSEIN FOR PRESIDENT!
B. HUSSEIN FOR PRESIDENT!
B. HUSSEIN FOR PRESIDENT!
B. HUSSEIN FOR PRESIDENT!
B. HUSSEIN FOR PRESIDENT!
B. HUSSEIN FOR PRESIDENT!
B. HUSSEIN FOR PRESIDENT!
B. HUSSEIN FOR PRESIDENT!
B. HUSSEIN FOR PRESIDENT!
B. HUSSEIN FOR PRESIDENT!
B. HUSSEIN FOR PRESIDENT!

Yes, and that does feel motherfucking good. Take that, you bigots. You're gonna be the death of this lovely country.

Posted by Dino | February 27, 2008 9:23 PM

Wow, some of you people are real mental giants.

Yes, HUSSEIN is his middle name, but what Rove is saying is that if you continue to use his full name, you'll sound like anti-Islamic bigots and you'll turn people off. This is EXACTLY what Cunningham was doing before McCain's speech the other day: demagoguery, pure and simple.

Throw in the fact that Obama is a Christian, and has never been a Muslim, and anyone doing this is a STUPID anti-Islamic bigot.

-BS

Posted by Bob Smith | February 27, 2008 9:49 PM

How thoughtful of Rove to be so concerned. (dripping with sarcasm)

Posted by nothingnew | February 27, 2008 10:23 PM

Hey, guys, let's get real. The only reason the Republicans refer to Barack's middle name ("Hussein") is because they think that their voters are basically xenophobic and ignorant (which, in fact, they are). Republicans depend on stupidity in their voters (how else can you explain the tax cuts for the rich and the idiotic War on Iraq?). Admittedly, some Democrats are prey to this idiocy also (see the War on Iraq and the tax cuts for the rich). But, by and large, the Democrats are on the progressive side of things and, if we can hang together, we can defeat McCain and his Republican war-mongers and end this monumentally stupid and bloody War on Iraq.

Posted by radlib1 | February 27, 2008 10:27 PM

hey liberals,itis what it is and it is his name.get over it liberals.

Posted by Joe Burke | February 27, 2008 10:33 PM

hey liberals,itis what it is and it is his name.get over it liberals.

Posted by Joe Burke | February 27, 2008 10:33 PM

Oil would be on table if NAFTA reopened: Emerson hints

JULIAN BELTRAME
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Ottawa — Trade Minister David Emerson suggested the United States has a sweet deal over access to Canada's oil under the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying the two Democratic presidential candidates calling for renegotiations may not know just how good the U.S. has it under the deal.

Mr. Emerson said Wednesday that reopening the three-country trade deal would not be a one way street and that Canada also has its list of concessions it would seek if the continental pact was renegotiated.

“There's no doubt if NAFTA were to be reopened we would want to have our list of priorities,” Mr. Emerson said.

“Knowledgeable observers would have to take note of the fact that we are the largest supplier of energy to the U.S. and NAFTA has been the foundation for integrating the North American energy market. When people get below the rhetoric and pick away at the details, they are going to find it's not such a slam dunk proposition.”

The trade minister's comments came after Democratic presidential rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama said during a debate Tuesday night that if they become president, they will pull out of NAFTA unless changes are made to the trade deal.

The continental trade agreement, as well as expanded trade with China and other low-wage countries, have come under fire from labour groups in the U.S., who blame free trade for the loss of hundreds of thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs.

In response to a question on whether she'd be willing to withdraw from NAFTA in six months, Clinton called the trade agreement flawed and said her plan includes telling Canada and Mexico that the U.S. will opt out unless the core labour and environmental standards are renegotiated, and the enforcement mechanism is enhanced.

Mr. Obama also said he would make sure the U.S. renegotiates the deal, and “use the hammer of a potential opt-out as leverage” to ensure they get labour and environmental standards that are enforced.

Mr. Emerson did not say Canada would insist on putting access to Canadian oil back on the table, but that provision in the deal has been a major concern to Canadian critics who argue that Canada would not be able to claim preferential treatment in a crisis.

Under the trade agreement, Canada is prohibited from cutting off oil exports to the United States if there is a worldwide shortage or supply disruption unless supplies are also rationed to Canadian consumers by the same amount.

Earlier Wednesday, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said Ms. Clinton and Mr. Obama may be misinformed about NAFTA.

“NAFTA is of tremendous benefit to Americans, and perhaps the nominees have not had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the benefit to Americans and the American economy of NAFTA, because there's a tendency to say ‘it favours Mexico, or it favours Canada,' rather than to recognize the mutual benefits that come out of free trade,” he said after a speech in Toronto.

Most studies of the nearly 15-year-old continental trade deal conclude all three countries have benefited in increased trade, but Canada and especially Mexico gained an advantage in the balance of trade with the U.S.

But Mr. Emerson said weighing exports and imports is too simplistic, noting that a car made in Canada and shipped to the U.S. is counted as an export, but includes many parts and inputs from the U.S.

“All three partners have gained and have gained substantially,” he said.

“These people [Ms. Clinton and Mr. Obama] are seasoned political veterans, and while they are under grassroots pressure at the moment and that probably won't go away, I think sound wise judgment will prevail at the end of the day.”

He added that the United States' current economic problems stem not from NAFTA, but from the country's own self-made subprime mortgage crisis that has battered the housing sector and from growing competition from Asia, particularly China.

Nevertheless, Mr. Emerson said he is concerned with the growing stridency of protectionist forces in the U.S., including many in Congress.

If NAFTA were to be torn up, Mr. Emerson said little would change in the short term but that disputes could increasingly spring up with no neutral way of resolving them.

“It's not so much more fights as a less neutral, well-defined way of resolving them,” he said.

“The dispute resolution mechanism, Chapter 19, has been generally speaking a real benefit for Canadian industry with the possible exception of softwood lumber.”

Posted by nazirmo | February 27, 2008 10:36 PM

I think it is a shame that we have to clarify that Obama is a christian. We should not have to talk about issues so unimportant. The country actually faces real issues and one of them is resolving the middle east. And in true reality some one with the name Barack Hussein Obama has better chance of reaching a common ground just because of his name and what it represents; that America is place where diversity thrives. If you really want to root out terrorism you have to root out hate.

Posted by Olin | February 27, 2008 10:38 PM

Just remember that none of these pundits are going to listen to Karl Rove. Sure he's the reason they've had the White House for 8 years. But Right wingers are like the zombies in any number of movies - they hunt in packs, but at the first sign of weakness will devour their own.

Posted by TH | February 27, 2008 11:02 PM

If anybody thinks Obama's middle is going to hurt him, think again. His supporters (myself included) will take the first step and emphasize that his name is indeed Barack Hussein Obama. They should know in this era of internet technology, fear-mongers can not hold intelligent people hostage and we will vote for Obama.

Senator Barack Hussein Obama for President

Posted by Tim | February 27, 2008 11:13 PM

Is it possible that we caould see the end of Reagan conservatism in the twinkling of an eye? Let them all shoo their mouths off. Limbaugh, Cunningham, Coulter, the whole lot. Its about time true Republicans took back their party anyway.

Posted by jvaljean | February 27, 2008 11:37 PM

Egfrow.

Walks like a moron, talks like a moron, is a moron.

I thought the Atlantic had intelligent readers. I'm going back to Harper's.

Posted by sf | February 27, 2008 11:41 PM

"It's in the way that you use it."
--- Eric Clapton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7_Ldy1XDOU

Why is this such a difficult concept for 'some' right-wingers to understand. Is it not one of the fundamental things they teach their children? Isn't it about treating others as you would like to be treated?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the name Barack Hussein Obama. There is something pitifully wrong with the character and moral values of those who take it up as a weapon.

Posted by jkbowman | February 27, 2008 11:42 PM

I was driving home today listening to talk radio, as a caller was exclaiming how it's only been 4 years since 9-11 (caller was a bit off on this), and she can't believe that we would elect a man named Barack Hussein Obama. I expect we have only heard the beginning of racism in this campaign. And it brought to light some of my deepest feelings about this election.

Yes, there is the risk, maybe a great risk, that Obama will lose just because of his skin color or name. He stands for some of the highest principles we have, that of the self made man, and not judging a man by how he was born. They are high because they are so easily knocked down. In a sense, I welcome all of this ignorance. It is an opportunity, an opportunity for the highest principles to be shown on sharp contrast with the fear this woman displayed. I've been reading about Gandhi and Martin Luther King recently. The idea of meeting violence with non-violence, of not humiliating your opponent to allow him to keep his dignity. Of the racist Southern governor who responded to non-violent protests & prayer with fire hoses and police dogs, but the firemen fell back weeping at the obviousness of their wrong.

I believe that this type of opportunity to change hearts and minds will be present over the coming months. That to me, and probably many of Obama's supporters, rings truer to my heart than policies, cult of personality, etc. The "Change" so often spoken about has a much different meaning in this context. And the forces against this type of change are even greater than the standard type of change. And that's exactly why you may see an unprecedented movement behind Mr. Obama, as well as against him. It may turn out to be a hell of a cause...

Posted by RideWinter | February 27, 2008 11:47 PM

LOL sorry Rove you are turning into a full rino if you think like this. No way will I stop using Barack Hussein Obama's full name. If he feels offended by his middle name he should have thought of that before he ran for President.

Repsect should be given as it is due and it most certainly is not due to the likes of Hillary or Barack Hussein Obama in any way.

Posted by Wild Thing | February 28, 2008 12:55 AM

"Now, suppose Keith Olbermann gets up in front of a crowd at a Clinton rally and starts saying, "Unlike Obama and Clinton, John Hitler Davis wants to bankrupt America!!" and "John Hitler Davis wants to invade Iraq again. John HITLER Davis is bad for our country!"

Keith Olbermann calls Republicans Hitler whether it's their middle name or not.

Posted by DFCtomm | February 28, 2008 2:15 AM

Well DFCtomm, you guys deserve it. You really do. If you listen to what he's been saying for years and its all based on FACT, the parallels between the current Republican regime and nazis are uncanny.

And Wild Thing, Walmart is having a sale tommorrow. I do believe Elmer's glue paste will be on sale. So stock up and don't eat too much of it.

Posted by KittyKatMan | February 28, 2008 2:38 AM

Tis but thy middle name that is the GOP enemy;

Thou art thyself, though not a Hussein.

What's Hussein? it is nor hand, nor foot,

Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
 belonging to a man.
O, bama! Take some other middle name!

What's in a name? That which we call a Rove

By any other name would smell like shit;

O, bama! Retain that dear perfection which thou art owed

Barack, doff thy middle name,

And for that middle name which is no part of thee
...take all of myself.

Posted by Truthor | February 28, 2008 3:36 AM

Republicans are like little children. Since they don't have any issues they can be proud of, they resort to childish taunting and bullying. This is going to be a long election year full of stories about flag lapel pins and halloween costumes he wore as a kid. The sad part about it is that the MSM plays along.

Posted by Richard | February 28, 2008 8:50 AM

To the guy who came up with the hypothetical "John Hitler Smith".

If John Hitler Smith was born before 1939, then there shouldn't be a problem.

If John Hitler Smith was born after 1945, then I think his parents would have to answer some serious questions.

Barak Obama was born long before "Hussein" became a dirty word in this country.

THAT's the difference.

Posted by Tom | February 28, 2008 9:41 AM

Hillary DIANE Rodham changed her name when she was younger...WHAT IS SHE TRYING TO HIDE?

Posted by ben | February 28, 2008 10:09 AM

Rove must be running awfully scared of Obama to be acting so tinid.

Posted by bill t | February 28, 2008 10:18 AM

Look, there is nothing wrong with using his name, but they people who are defending what that radio guy did the other day at the McCain rally are being either stupid or disingenuous, or both.

In the SAME SENTENCE where he mentioned BHO, he called the current president simply "bush" and called the VP "cheney." He didn't use their full names, and they are the sitting administration. He was interviewed about this last night on someone else's radio show, and he said that crap about all sorts of people getting called their entire names and that's just a sign of respect. He said he was trying to show obama "respect" by using his whole name, like FDR, he said. like JFK. Except that he in the same sentence DIDN'T show respect to two men he is known to highly respect, GWB and RBC.

There is no reason for Barak Obama's middle name to offend him, or the use of his name, either. I suspect if you asked him, he'd say of course he doesn't mind. But for cunningham/coulter/limbaugh to wield BHO's middle name like a sword on their shows, then take calls from people that say things like "that Hussein monster killed millions of children, we can't elect him! and 9/11!!!!" and not cut those people off the air, it is clear what is going on. To then come out and say things like "we're just trying to show him respect by saying his entire name" is not a defense. It is evidence against their insanity. Do these AM radio audiences hear that explanation and BELIEVE it? And we wonder how the german population was foolish enough to go along with the nazis for a dozen years?

Posted by ben | February 28, 2008 10:30 AM

As an old white guy .... I know all of the "code words" .... and have even told a few "sand nigger" jokes myself .... but I believe in what America stands for ... and the more hatred and bigotry I read and hear ... the more I believe that America must change and begin new again ...

and so I voted for Obama in the primary ... and I will vote for him in the election!

Posted by Rick Martin | February 28, 2008 11:18 AM

I am not from the US - but having read these comments, I am very pleased and proud of you guys - most of you seem to be able to transcend the obvious petty tactics of those who are trying to smear your candidate Barack Obama by using his middle name.
I am from india, by the way, and there;s been a historic tension between muslims and hindus. and yet, we've had a muslim president and muslim leaders, because people do not carry around negative stereotypes of the name...
Senator Obama is not muslim, but having a muslim middle name won't hurt when he tries to bring peace to the world.

For all his supporters, I have to say this: he is the best thing to happen to America AND I think the best thing for world peace.

Hillary Clinton will be better for India's economy -we all know she will help continue outsourcing , but I dont care about that, because Senator Obama will be better for the world! YEs You Can!!

Posted by Raj | February 28, 2008 11:27 AM

This is clearly a ploy by the Republicans so they can do a "good cop, bad cop" routine through the whole election. First some nasty rhetoric comes out from some popular, over the top, right wing talk show guy or gal. And then, to give it maximum play, the official campaign (McCain or the RNC) denounces it as over the top. That makes everyone aware of it (and on top of that all the publicity is free.) If anyone doesn't think Rove and his evil minions aren't orchestrating this, they are very naive. But then again, these guys have played us like violins in the past, so why expect an honest discussion of the issues this time.

Posted by J.R. | February 28, 2008 12:25 PM

This is clearly a clever tactic designed by Rove, after the classic "good cop, bad cop" routine. The right-wing talk show guys and gals say something over the top to exploit fears of Muslims and blacks. Then the official campaign (either McCain or the RNC) denounces it. That makes the news outlets track down what was originally said and rebroadcast it. That way the whole thing gets maximum play (for free even) and the smear is out there in cyber space and there is nothing Obama or anyone can do about it. The damage has been done and John "my friends" McCain is all honorable and apologetic and above it all. So transparent.....

Posted by j.r. | February 28, 2008 12:31 PM

In watching more coverage on all of this "Hussein" nonsense last night, I realized that if Obama ends up with the Democratic nomination, this Presidential election will probably be a landmark in American history. Specifically, it will become the brightest spotlight on where bigotry exists in this country that we've had in at least a generation. As has been vividly displayed in the comments here, I believe we'll see more "true colors" revealed than I've ever witnessed in my life. On the one hand, I find the idea of seeing just how deep and wide bigotry's influence on this country is to be saddening and scary. But on the other hand, it's always good for the rest of us to see what we're still up against clearly, so that we can deal with it in more effective ways. Let's hope the country can move past the ideology of shallow, ignorant hate and instead chooses to follow a positive direction with it's thinking.

Posted by Sean | February 28, 2008 1:54 PM

Isn't it funny how people include being a First Lady as "experience"? No one elects the First Lady, they elect the President. And speaking of being elected, how many times has Senator Clinton been elected to an office, and how many different offices (besides U.S. Senate)? Does anyone know?

Posted by Jess | February 28, 2008 2:28 PM

The Obama campaign is smart enough to handle this small crisis. The bumps in the road weed out the boys from the men. John Kerry was not able to survive the onslaught. I wish Obama the best - use humor, remain likable, do not whine. Use the name Hussein often, get comfortable with it. Make it a non-issue. Next thing you know Americans will be naming their newborns Hussein. Set a target of getting 1 million people to adopt the middle name Hussein.

Posted by Colin | February 28, 2008 2:29 PM

AND NOW ANOTHER EXCITING EPISODE OF "I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE..."

Karl Rove: I think we should rise above the fray and not refer to Mr. Obama as a "muslim/terrorist/negro".

INterviewer: Who was calling him that?

Karl Rove: What?

Interviewer: Who was calling him a "muslim/terrorist/negro"?

Karl Rove: Well, you were. Right there. You just did. But we shouldn't do that. We should be principled. I mean we shouldn't call him a "muslim/terrorist/negro".

Interviewer: Um, no one here was calling him that.

Karl Rove: Well that's good, because we shouldn't...you know, call him a "muslim/terrorist/negro". That'd be bad.

Interviewer: But the only person to say that is you.

Karl Rove: I'm sorry, what?

Interviewer: The only person who has used that..I mean said that out loud, was you..right there.

Karl Rove: Said what?

Interviewer: You, you refered to Senetaor Obama as a muslim/terrorist/negro.

Karl Rove: Well we can't use that sort of language. But now that you've mentioned it. it's part of the discourse.

Interviewer: What is?

Karl Rove: Well people calling him a muslim/terrorist/negro. That's bad. I'm a principled man, I don't advocate it. We really need to keep this discussion in the public eye - I mean about referring to Senator Obama as a muslim/terrorist/negro, cause principled people wouldn't do that.

Interviewer: But...but..you're...you...

Karl Rove: Great, thanks for the interview...

Posted by Brian | February 28, 2008 3:12 PM

There's no way I could vote for a presidential candidate who has the same name as such a ruthless killer. No way.
So I'm not voting for John (Dillinger) McCain.

Posted by Juanis | February 28, 2008 4:24 PM

What a joke.

Bob Mahr, Jay Leno, Litterman, and the liberal left
comics think it unsavory to tell jokes on
Presidents?

And the liberal press is upset?

What a joke.

Posted by Moe | February 28, 2008 4:43 PM

Yeah, but that Litterman fellah is pretty funny.

Posted by Juanis | February 28, 2008 4:47 PM

To all who responded to my "John Hitler Davis" post - I agree! Sorry if it wasn't clear, but I was basically trying to illustrate to right-wing wackos how they would feel if the Dems did the same. Of course, no Dem would ever do that. But unfortunately there are enough bigots in the Republican party that this Cunningham crap is sadly too common.

Posted by Kevin | February 28, 2008 4:52 PM

Get off the Hussein bit. People should be more concerned about what his church, TUCC.org, stands for. There are many questions about the belief system of that church which should be examined.

Posted by Not an obama girl | February 28, 2008 11:49 PM

Get off the Hussein bit. People should be more concerned about what his church, TUCC.org, stands for. There are many questions about the belief system of that church which should be examined.

Posted by Not an obama girl | February 28, 2008 11:49 PM

Barack H. Obama, please don't tell anyone his middle name is HUSSEIN the same as Saddam Hussein.
Remember its Barack H. Obama. Please don't tell anyone.

Posted by Jack | February 29, 2008 2:34 AM

Stop it! We were saving that for later in the campaign!

Posted by DrJay1966 | February 29, 2008 10:46 AM

At the risk of giving any weight to this ridiculous debate over Obama's middle name, let me ask a general question.

If having the name Hussein makes someone a potentially disloyal "America-hating terrorist", does that mean all those Americans named Jesus Or Moses or Mohammed are set to become potential Messiahs?

There was a member in my family whose middle name was Adolph, and he was a German immigrant to the US. Should he then have been thrown in jail or tried at the Hague, or bombed away?

To those who think Obama's middle name is an issue, please get a life, and make something meaningful and good out of it! we all just have one life to live! enjoy it with good thoughts and things, eh?

While the pathetic fear some of us Americans have of Muslims has them chained to hateful, violent destructive decisions, the world is going on ahead cheerfully, making great economic strides, social progress, and great money off of selling all kinds of stuff on American shores, buying off big chunks of American financial institutions, and other infratstructure crucial to American security, getting along with muslims, jews, christians, buddhists and others. Generally, getting ahead on things that really do matter - economic strength, education and longterm security of its citizens and their finances. and not a war in sight on their horizon!

Focus on what will make America really strong, if you really love this country, as you claim with your consistent chest-beating.

And for people who don't like muslims, our country certainly seems to obssessively love their oil!

Posted by Multi Kulti | February 29, 2008 11:09 AM

Maybe Obama should change his middle name to Cosmo.

Posted by Juanis | February 29, 2008 1:28 PM

Not an Obama girl:
precisely what issues of TUCC should we be concered about, according to you?

Posted by Multi Kulti | February 29, 2008 2:12 PM

Not an Obama girl:
precisely what issues of TUCC should we be concered about, according to you? i am still making up my mind between the Dems and appreciate any clarity or distinction I can find among the two candidates.

Posted by Multi Kulti | February 29, 2008 2:12 PM

When the right-wing radio hosts talk about Bush, McCain, and Romney, they never seemed to refer to George Walker Bush, John Sydney McCain, or Willard Mitt Romney. There must be some reason for including "Hussein" when talking about Sen. Obama.

If they care about nothing but the truth, why not introduce George Bush as a former drunk? It has the benefit of being true.

Posted by Paul H | February 29, 2008 3:09 PM

It is good of Mr. Rove to have taken this stand.
The conduct of Cunningham, Limbaugh, Coulter and others is what Nancy Reagan once refered to as that of the "extra-chromosome conservatives."

Posted by Robert Campbell | February 29, 2008 9:23 PM

It is good of Mr. Rove to have taken this stand.
The conduct of Cunningham, Limbaugh, Coulter and others is what Nancy Reagan once refered to as that of the "extra-chromosome conservatives."

Posted by Robert Campbell | February 29, 2008 9:24 PM

It is good of Mr. Rove to have taken this stand.
The conduct of Cunningham, Limbaugh, Coulter and others is what Nancy Reagan once refered to as that of the "extra-chromosome conservatives."

Posted by Robert Campbell | February 29, 2008 9:24 PM

Reading this junk is pretty funny. So far from what I have seen it is Hillary and the democrats that got the mud going about Obama.

[quote]Usually, their antics fill the front pages of only the Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times. But thanks to an accusation by Hillary Clinton, who called him a "slum landlord," Tony Rezko's alleged crookedness is national news.[/quote]http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/02/01/rezko/

Who made a issue out of Hussein?

Democrat Bob Kerry.

[quote]
Kerrey continued: “It’s probably not something that appeals to him, but I like the fact that his name is Barack Hussein Obama, and that his father was a Muslim and that his paternal grandmother is a Muslim. There’s a billion people on the planet that are Muslims, and I think that experience is a big deal.”

[i]It’s probably not something that appeals to him?[/i] [/quote]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/kerrey-tries-to-explain-obama-muslim-remarks/

Posted by Haryy | March 1, 2008 8:42 AM

Wow, all the postings here make me realize how much the name does matter to people. I had been focusing so much on the issues:

How I feel about our economy, the war, social issues, government services, and basic principles -- and deciding which candidate is likely to support what I believe in...that I forgot how shallow people get until I read through the comments here.

How stupid of me! You people keep going on about the name and I'll vote for who I want without considering that (whether I like Obama or not).

Posted by Pat | March 1, 2008 12:55 PM

I think the idea that Obama is a Muslim is ridiculous. He wrote directly about his conversion to Christianity and that form of Christianity chosen is controversial enough that I find this "secret Muslim" stuff incredibly stupid. However, if GWB's family history is worthwhile to dissect his politics (as every liberal newspaper and magazine I've read believes it is) than the same rule should apply to Barack Hussein Obama. What kind of milieu and mindset caused his mother in the 1960's to marry a foreign Muslim, not once but twice? Why were they in Indonesia during the overthrow of the Communists there? What were the grandparents he spent so much time with like and what did they (who must have been born around 1900-1920), think of their daughter's choices? I think all of this is fascinating and know nothing about it. If he were a Republican, or if it is all harmless or positive to his chances of winning, I think I would have read it in the NYT or Washington Post by now.

I do think Moslems consider the name "Hussein" to mean one is a Moslem. I think its a big deal among them and wonder what his fate will be as an "apostate."

Finally, as to xenophobia, I don't think its somekind of invidious discrimination to be concerned about whether or not a candidate for the Presidency of the United States identifies with America more than any other country.

Posted by jjv | March 1, 2008 1:59 PM

Some people (probably deliberately) keep missing the point about this whole issue.

It's fine to use BHO's middle name if there is any reason to. If it is read out by Justice Roberts at a swearing in ceremony, for example, neither McCain nor any other sane person would not find that contemptible.

There is no "political correctness" going on at all here.

But Cunningham (who also added "Mohammed" as fictional middle name for Obama at one point) was using it to try and stir up negative emotions among a small minded section of the republican voting population (aka his typical audience).

People who are so worldly that they have only ever heard of one person in the world with the name Hussein. People who think all muslims (like Muhammed Ali for example) are terrorists.

McCain objected because the *intent* of Cunningham's action was small minded and offensive, and because he wants his campaign to have higher standards than that. But he was also probably sensible enough to know that Cunningham's brand of rhetoric would also make republicans look bigoted and stupid and allow Obama to win the high ground.

It would be quite something if two people as honorable as McCain and Obama end up having a civilised campaign between now and November, though I guess we can't expect the extreme wings of the media to be civilised too.

It would also be quite something if people made the effort to go and find out what a candidate's past record really was rather than believe the first things the candidate's opponents throw out.

Posted by Griff | March 2, 2008 4:04 PM

Hitler? Who said anything about Hitler?

Posted by Max Bialystock | March 3, 2008 1:54 PM

Griff, you're right on. Nut-jobs like Coulter and Cunningham (had anybody ever heard of him before this?) are trying to scare everybody into making "a connection."

I've said this before, and nobody's come up with an answer, but here goes: If Barrack Hussein Obama was trying like mad to hide the fact that he's a Muslim so he can win the election, wouldn't he have changed his name by now?

And I sure wouldn't want people to judge me by my middle name: George.

Posted by Juanis | March 3, 2008 5:06 PM

I happen to be serving today in the United States Armed Forces and something that I read today really surprised me. The thing that I’m trying to understand is how some people have lost sight at the fact that Sen. Obama is a UNITED STATES SENATOR!!!! Have the general public forgotten that he has reached one of the highest echelon of our government? Though he might be young, I do believe that he has been elected to present ideas to the senate, ones that help shape not only the state of Illinois but the country! I guess that goes to show that some things will never change. Another thing I was thinking. While his name is Barack Hussein Obama his title is Senator, just like I would never call my college professor by his first name. Respect is all I believe any man wants right? I suppose not for those of color.

Posted by matthew | March 4, 2008 6:47 AM

There is an e-mail going around. claiming that Obama went to Muslin schools, was raised as a Muslim, and is still a closet Muslim. I heard on the Fox news the other day, that not only is this all lies, but the e-mail was written and unleashed on the internet by members of Hillary's campaign. The two culprits have since resigned.

I find Hillary's whole campaign to be extremely underhanded. She just doesn't seem to have any integrity. That shouldn't surprise me, since she is married to an a-moral, unfaithful, smarmy, lying, swindler. (Have we all forgotten about the White water scandal? Or that he lied to congress and the entire nation? Or that While he was supposed to be running this country, he was busy bonking an intern in the oval office?) I believe that Bill Clinton made a complete mockery of the white house! Can you imagine what a joke he would be as the president's idiot husband?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not crazy about Obama either. He just doesn't seem very patriotic to me. If you were running for President, wouldn't you stand up and place your hand over your heart during our national anthem? I know I would.

John Mcain, served this country, fought for this country, and truly loves this country. He has years of experience, and is getting my vote!

Pat

Posted by Pat | March 4, 2008 11:08 AM

Well I feel sad for all legal voting americans in every part of the world when these 3 to 5 clowns represent the best this country has to offer up as presidential hopefulls.

You see the NBA/NFL/MLB putting more time, effort, recruiting, training into fielding more winning candidates onto a single court/field then we do as a country in grooming, supporting, researching, and electing a positive presidential figure no matter when team he/she plays on (dem or repub)

Where is Abe Lincoln (the Joe Montana of presidents)when you need him! He took a country that was in the toilet and helped turn it into a winner, (eventually).

I don't just a simple blue collar mans point of view not trying to bash anyone person in here, just wondering where all the normal non fanatical folks are at, oh thats right we are all at work struggling to make ends meat, we really don't have time to get wrapped around the spokes about political smear campaings and middle names.

I knew a kid who's first have was "DINO" from the dog like character on the Flintstones cartoon, I would vote for him if he was the right guy for the job. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. (sorry probably butchered that quote, oh well you get it.

MJ

Posted by MF | March 7, 2008 12:33 AM

Egfro: "It's a duck, It quacks like a duck, walks like a duck. Barrack went to Islamic schools. His father and step father were both Islamic, He has worn Islamic garb several times, He has met with the Nation of Islam members in Chicago. Sounds like a duck to me."

Wow, you're an idiot

Posted by Scott | March 9, 2008 3:05 PM

Pat, he puts his hand over his heart when the pledge of allegiance is recited. Some patriotic people face the flag in a respectful manner and sing along to the national anthem (go to any baseball game and you'll see this is true). Not putting your hand over your heart doesn't make you unpatriotic.

Posted by Tom | March 9, 2008 3:09 PM

Scott and Tom are both right. Scott's right when he says Egfro is an idiot (indisputable, I would say) and Tom is right when he says placing your hand over your heart during the national anthem shouldn't be a litmus test for patriotism.

Posted by Juanis | March 11, 2008 6:32 PM

I'm from Kentucky and I won't vote for Obama because those people in the Middle East will be like "Yeah, we got one of our own in the White House!" His name is so unAmerican and he should have changed it. Also, there's video proof of Obama in the congregation listening to that crazy preacher, and Obama denied he was there. Do we want someone like this running our country?

Posted by Joe | March 31, 2008 11:57 AM

joe, do you even have a high school education? Muslims are not that concerned with us and our presidential race. The only Muslims that are concerned are the radicals. There are 4 subsets of the Sunni sect of Muslims: hanafis, malikis, shafis, and hanbalis. The hanbalis contain the Wahabis which are the radical al-quaeda terrorists. These Wahabis account for 3% of the Muslim population. We must not forget that there are nutty people in every religion. There are Christians that handle snakes some Amish people that are against medical treatments and don't forget that Hitler was a Christian.

Also the great thing about our country is that if obama is elected and does do something crazy involving Muslims in other countries he can be impeached.

Joe: "his name is un-american and should have changed it" are you serious?! Your name "Joseph" has roots in Europe and more prominently in Jewish culture. Should I now suggest you are a Jew? Of course not. People shouldn't make overgeneralizations based on something as trivial as a name. Believe me when I say there are much more important issues to consider.

Posted by katie | June 9, 2008 12:12 PM

You think the county is a mess now...just wait til the blacks and the guilty whites take over. this is incredible! Obama voters can't even say one thing this guy has done, not one. "he's a rock star"...that's a great reason to vote for him. He has never held a real job. he panders to white people with his white relatives, then with his blackness! he is a real tough chicago politician, he is nothing new! he votes "present" when he does go to washington. the whites are stupid and mezmerized and the blacks vote just because he is black. Down the tubes that is exactly where this place is going!

Posted by n. hughes-havlik | June 23, 2008 11:56 PM

I agree with the duck analogy. Why have a president that can't even have his name said? Sounds like WE are idiots. Now they have Michelle pretending she is someone she isn't and she has never done the volunteer work that Cindy has done, but then Michelle comes off as very self involved. Guess she has been too busy wavy her fits in the air to do much else. Sure hope Obama learns how to speak without a stutter and learns how many states we have...I can just see him talking without a script to foreign heads of state!!! that'll be real entertainment!!

Posted by hughes | June 24, 2008 12:01 AM

Can you imagine your one and only child a daughter from an upper class area,mercer island in washington state. In the 60's marrying the darkest man in africa, and bearing a child with him??? I know from living in Berkeley and going to school there if anyone i knew at the time had done this we would consider this person of lower class and she would not be in our group which was pretty liberal at that time but not concerning marrying or having children with a black person. Did she hate her parents? Why would she deliberately do this to them? I bet they NEVER recovered from this humiliation! Talk about messing up your geneology!!Then she turns around and married another out of her race!! and reproduced again !! this is incredible....I bet those parents were ready to slit their throats!! and hers.

Posted by typicalwhiteperson | June 24, 2008 12:12 AM

A previous writer wrote that Obama was a "self made man". Who paid for his tuition at those Ivy League schools: Columbia, Princeton and Harvard? No one knows. Remember , Obama was deserted by his father and abandoned by his mother and the grandparents weren't wealthy and he ends up going to the most expensive universities in the world? It doesn't make sense.

Posted by k. miller | June 24, 2008 12:44 AM

What a bunch of young fools. I guess next they'll tattoo and pierce it on themselves. I guess they were in elementary school when Sadam Hussein butchered and tortured thousands of people. So, this is the youth who will be deciding our 'change' ... great judgement!These kids have no sense of history, or hard won traditions. They are ready to change anything and everything at a drop of a hat. What's next? ... changing their middle names
to Hitler, or Stalin?

Posted by Gina | June 29, 2008 12:44 PM