State GOP chided for using Obama's middle name

 

By Bartholomew Sullivan (Contact)

Originally published 11:17 a.m., February 28, 2008

Updated 11:17 a.m., February 28, 2008

WASHINGTON — The Tennessee Republican Party has been chided by the Republican National Committee to stop using Barack Obama's middle name -- Hussein -- in its press releases, its spokesman acknowledged this morning.

The Tennessee GOP web site today contains a "clarification" beneath a press release (click here to see it)from Monday entitled "Anti-Semites for Obama," that explains why it has stopped using the name typically associated with Muslims. Obama, a Christian, has been mischaracterized by opponents as a Muslim.

 

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/28/obama28web/

It may not be PCers but rather strategists. There is some thought out there that the negative attacks and trying to link him to Muslims, is actually HELPING Obama.

 

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8751.html

 

AUSTIN —They are so sorry.

 

In the course of the primary campaign, and perhaps in a preview of the fall election drama, Senator Barack Obama has accepted the apologies of three United States senators, a former senator, CNN and various lower-level supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton.

 

Most of them have apologized for saying something insensitive about Obama’s race, his name, or his heritage. And the dynamic of outrage and offense this campaign has proved race to be a much touchier subject than gender. At times, Obama’s campaign has sought to downplay burgeoning outrage. At others, he’s stoked it for political advantage.

 

But most of the flaps ended the same way: With Obama forgiving the alleged offender. Sometimes he’s accepted the apologies graciously, sometimes sternly, but always in line with his message. And that message of reconciliation – often explicitly racial reconciliation – is a central part of his campaign’s appeal.

From the article I linked, I found this funny and interesting.

 

(The one person who has issued no apologies is Bill Clinton himself, whether out of stubbornness or the understanding of what a gift each apology is to his wife’s rival.)

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/the_somali_dress_is_just_the_b.html

 

The point is, labeling a political effort as racially divisive can be risky, depending on how the American people see it.

 

The Republican National Committee has reportedly begun studying how to criticize Obama without causing a backlash against McCain.

 

No doubt that information will come in handy in the coming months, because the picture of Obama in Somali dress is almost certain to be the first of many incidents that will determine the new rules of the road.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/the_somali_dress_is_just_the_b.html

 

The point is, labeling a political effort as racially divisive can be risky, depending on how the American people see it.

What does calling a man by his full name have to do with race?

What does calling a man by his full name have to do with race?

 

Because some will see it as an unfair attack on him and thus lean towards him because they see him as being treated unfairly.

 

RNC is seeing that happening now and doesn't want to see it continue by the actions of other Republican committees.

 

That is my purely speculative guess.

It is his given name. It should not have any racial overtones.

Lbbc is right. Same way that Hillary's debate performance (IMO, and in the eyes of plenty of others) backfired on her and just made Obama look better.

It is his given name. It should not have any racial overtones.

But emphasizing it does. Are we all going to pretend that these uses are innocent?

Lbbc is right. Same way that Hillary's debate performance (IMO, and in the eyes of plenty of others) backfired on her and just made Obama look better.

 

Okay the bolded just make this an official BGP classic thread. Ram saying I am right.:sssh:

Lbbc is right. Same way that Hillary's debate performance (IMO, and in the eyes of plenty of others) backfired on her and just made Obama look better.

 

As for Hilary's debate performance, some suggest that she has more experience than Barack, but IMO she doesn't have the appeal that he does. His ability to remain calm and her inability to do so is very telling to me.

As for Hilary's debate performance, some suggest that she has more experience than Barack, but IMO she doesn't have the appeal that he does. His ability to remain calm and her inability to do so is very telling to me.

 

I think one of the talking heads summed it up with the term likability. He is more likable than she.

 

On the issues, they are almost indistinguishable.

The mass voters, don't care about the issues as much as you would think.

They simply like him better than her and she cannot change that.

 

Remember the crying. They liked her after it and it spurred her to a surprising NH win. That has played out though and when compared to Obama, they like him more.

But emphasizing it does. Are we all going to pretend that these uses are innocent?

 

I'm not pretending anything at all. I think it makes for a sad situation when this has to be debated in any forum. I like the man and if he wins the nomination, he will definitely get my vote.

Let me say that in my family, THIS IS AN ISSUE.

 

They are Democrats and ONLY vote Democrats but they believe he is a Muslim. When they comment was made that they might vote McCain if Obama is the candidate, they had to jump start my heart.:eek:

I think one of the talking heads summed it up with the term likability. He is more likable than she.

 

On the issues, they are almost indistinguishable.

The mass voters, don't care about the issues as much as you would think.

They simply like him better than her and she cannot change that.

 

Remember the crying. They liked her after it and it spurred her to a surprising NH win. That has played out though and when compared to Obama, they like him more.

 

I agree. He is likeable. As for the issues, them not being that far different from each other is not surprising.