Obama and the Turban Non-Story
This really is "the silly season of politics.".
Closeted right-wing headline writer Matt Drudge contributes to the latest political zeitgeist by publishing a year-and-a-half-old AP photo of Barack Obama seen in the traditional dress of a Somali elder. The innocuous photo was initially published in August 2006 on an African news Web site, but, Drudge claims it was "circulated" by "stressed Clinton staffers." David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager, takes the bait and says the Clinton camp "has engaged in the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we've seen from either party in this election." Tensions rise between both camps and the non-story dominates the headlines. Meanwhile, the mainstream media and the (allegedly) progressive e-telligentsia continue to take cues from Drudge and parrot right-wing talking points as fact.
This is at least the second time in recent months the Obama campaign, supporters, and, the media were gamed by that old Jedi Mind Trick: Republicans plant a story with a friendly source. Simple-minded folks and those with nothing to lose become easily distracted. The story dominates the news cycle and becomes etched our collective consciousness. Republicans smirk and mutter, "Dance, puppets, dance."
Welcome to the gradual re-definition of Barack Obama into an "un-patriotic" "anti-American" "black militant" "Muslim" who sympathizes with "Iran"—which we have been warning against since 2006. It is very likely Obama will become the Democratic nominee and Republicans always manage to do this to the Democratic nominees—molding the war hero Kerry into a fraud and "flip flopper", portraying Gore as a liar who "invented the internet", attacking Dukakis as a soulless technocrat, etc.. The attacks will become much uglier—Time's Mark Halperin suggests John McCain and supporters should "use the race card" and "emphasize Barack Hussein Obama's and exotic background"—when/if Obama becomes the nominee.
Stay tuned.
** WHO Provides Aid to Ethiopia [HAN-Geeska]
Things McCain Can Do to Obama [TIME]
Obama Camp Says Clinton Behind Turban Pic [Tribune]
Somali Dress Picture Online for Months [Big Head DC]
I Feel for Their Sickness [MyDD]
McLaughlin: Michelle Obama is a "Black Militant" [MM]
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Welcome to the Campaign, Barack [HuffPo]
Teddy Endorsed Obama to Preserve JFK's Civil Rights "Legacy"? What Legacy? [HuffPo]
Why Obama is Losing Black Voters [HuffPo]
Yes, Virginia [The Daily Voice]
Behind the Gay-Friendly Faces [Advocate]
Rove on Obama: "Lazy" and "Basketball Playing" [R20]
The Advocate: Clinton vs Obama [R20]
Democratic Debate Addresses Homopohobia, Race [R20]
Obama Snubs Clinton at SOTU [R20]
The Advocate: Clinton vs Obama [R20]
Super Tuesday Analysis [R20]
Obama Sweeps LA, WA, NE [R20]
Barack Obama Wins Iowa [R20]
Did they see George Dumbya dancing--I mean, trying to dance with the Saudi Prince the other week. Hillary wouldn't sink this low. It was those flat-assed, right-wing Republican bastards.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 26 February 2008 at 10:38
Just because the freaking DRUDGE REPORT says Clinton staffers sent him the photos do we believe him? No. Why not believe his alien abduction stories, too? Or are we just picking and choosing what we want to believe?
What is there to be ashamed of? These are the typical pictures diplomats take when traveling. Bush has taken many, so have the Clintons when they were in the White House. And if you follow the link, it dates back to 2006 on an African news website. Anyone can find them and apparently there were in a tabloid, too.
If you don't like Hillary, you just don't like Hillary. But stop blaming her campaign for every bad thing that happens to Obama. It's childish and short sighted. If Obama is the nominee, this is just the beginning. Toughen up and focus on the Republicans ....
They are the ones denying our rights and not funding schools and health care and HIV programs. Oh, that's right, the Obama supporters want to reach out to Republicans so you will never blame them for the shape we're in!
Posted by: Andrew C | 26 February 2008 at 11:30
Willie Horton, Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, Dukakis driving the Tank, Kerry in the NASA Jammies...
Okay, America--here's your chance to disprove all those stereotypes that you're a bunch of xenophobic racist ethnocentric redneck ignoramuses. Or that you can even conduct a relatively fair presidential election (after two very questionable ones).
The whole world is watching...
Suggestion to Obama--a little passage he has full permission to "xerox":
"Thank you, Senator Clinton. After I weather all of these negative attacks by you and the smears by your campaign and those loosely attached to it, I'll be quite ready for the Republican Smear Machine in the fall. Thank you for giving us quite the "kitchen sink" shakedown cruise and the opportunity to prove I can run--and win--a campaign."
Posted by: Andy Niable | 26 February 2008 at 17:03
Andy, that's a nice fantasy but this is certainly not going to be a "relatively fair election." We are talking about the same people who ran racist aned homophobic campaign in '02, 04 and 06. Ask Harold Ford. Why would they suddenly become "fair"?
I think what Rod has been saying all along is that this is the "Republican smear machine" in action. I'll be very interested to hear Obama and supporters acknowledge it because they only seem to focus on Clinton. Even in the fall, when Obama is the GE nomninee, I'm sure all the Obamatons wuill still be in denial, blaming everything on "the Clintons."
Does the "Republican smear machine" oficially begin only when we have a nominee? Or only when certain candidates aren't runninmg? What about John McCain's warmup attack today? Does that count? What about Bill O'Reilly on Michelle Obama? Sorry, the "Republican smear machine" began when Obama declared his intentions to run.
Posted by: Alan T | 26 February 2008 at 17:24
Wow, you really went there. I have to say, when I saw the photo it upset me and I had to think why would it or why whould it if he took the photo.
The point is well taken. There are enough people who don't want Hillary Clinton to win the nomination and they are quite willing to suspend disbelief and defend unreliable sources such as Novak and Drudge. It's really quite embarassing that Obama and his supporters aned any DEMOCRAT believes this sources.
Let's see what happens when Obama is the nominee, what Drudge and Novak will say then, and what many Democrats will then say.
Posted by: ATL Kid | 26 February 2008 at 19:01
>>>Let's see what happens when Obama is the nominee, what Drudge and Novak will say then, and what many Democrats will then say. <<<
The Democarts won't have anything to say. If they're quoting Drudge as fact today, they should quote Druidge as fact later. Trash is trash, no matter who cleans it up.
Posted by: brad lindau | 26 February 2008 at 19:05
"After I weather all of these negative attacks by you and the smears by your campaign and those loosely attached to it, I'll be quite ready for the Republican Smear Machine in the fall."
Amen to that, Andy!
Posted by: ca | 26 February 2008 at 22:15
Alan, I believe I was making the point at how difficult a fair election IS in this country, in my challenge to a country that hates intellect and discourse and prefers Project Runway to C-Span. Perhaps the sarcasm of the paragraph wasn't clear.
Though I speak only for myself, I believe Obama supporters are as realistic as Hillary supporters about exactly how awful the Republican Smear Machine already is and will be in the fall election. In fact this Obama supporter finds Obama a far more difficult target for that machine compared to GOP-fundraising-dream Clinton. Obama is a far more likely victor against Grampa Munster McCain.
Yes, Alan, the Republican Smear Machine runs 24 hours a day (just as Fox News does), and Obama is already facing attacks from McCain and the rest--and so far the polls indicate Barack may have a teflon rivalled only by Reagan. We can only hope, and hope is powerful.
But I appreciate your comments, Alan. We are all, after all, in this together, regardless of which candidate we back. I believe we all want what's best.
Posted by: Andy in Seattle | 26 February 2008 at 22:27