McCain disavows comments about Obama

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You're still avoiding the question: Why is he singled out for this treatment?

No I am not, your avoiding my question. What is wrong with using his real name?

There's nothing wrong with Obama's real name, if you ignore the connect-the-dots context to Cunningham's comments. Troll is right - most people will see this for what it is.

[GaryC 7]

You're still avoiding the question: Why is he singled out for this treatment?

No I am not, your avoiding my question. What is wrong with using his real name?

There's nothing wrong with Obama's real name, if you ignore the connect-the-dots context to Cunningham's comments. Troll is right - most people will see this for what it is.

Then it won't make any difference then will it? My point is this, I am tired of certain things being "off limits" to even broach. We can't criticize Obama for fear of racism, we can't criticize Clinton for fear of sexism. IMO they are using this as a weapon to silence anyone that dares challenge them. I was pushing this as a way to make that point.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You're still avoiding the question: Why is he singled out for this treatment?

No I am not, your avoiding my question. What is wrong with using his real name?

There's nothing wrong with Obama's real name, if you ignore the connect-the-dots context to Cunningham's comments. Troll is right - most people will see this for what it is.

Then it won't make any difference then will it? My point is this, I am tired of certain things being "off limits" to even broach. We can't criticize Obama for fear of racism, we can't criticize Clinton for fear of sexism. IMO they are using this as a weapon to silence anyone that dares challenge them. I was pushing this as a way to make that point.

It won't make any difference. But that doesn't mean we should pretend that a smear is anything other than what it is.

Obama isn't campaigning on race. Clinton isn't campaigning on sex/gender. That said there are plenty of pundits out there who insist on using racism and sexism to criticise both of them.

Of course Clinton can't help being a woman anymore than Obama can help being black. Those facts don't amount to a "weapon to silence anyone that dares challenge them". Cunningham used Obama's full name in relation to an obvious and established smear.

McCain is right to distance himself from those modes of discourse.

Edited February 27, 2008 by Number 6

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Clinton isn't campaigning on sex/gender.

Hillary Clinton in her closing statement in tonights debate in Ohio:

You know, obviously I am thrilled to be running to be the first woman president, which I think would be a sea change in our country and around the world, and would give enormous ... you know, enormous hope and, you know, a real challenge to the way things have been done, and who gets to do them, and what the rules are.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/polit...ext-debate.html

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well she's not exactly saying "vote for me - because I am a woman".

[mawilson 2,133]

Obama is lucky his middle name is Hussein and not Saddam

[GaryC 7]

Well she's not exactly saying "vote for me - because I am a woman".

No, but MANY of her supporters are doing so and she knows it. The same can be said for Obama and his race.

[Alex+R 0]

Well she's not exactly saying "vote for me - because I am a woman".

No, but MANY of her supporters are doing so and she knows it. The same can be said for Obama and his race.

I've heard maybe 1 person say I should vote for Hillary because she's a woman. I've heard NO ONE suggest we should vote for Obama based on his race.

Anyone claiming that being Black would actualy *help* a candidate in America has been smoking something I want a hit of.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Anyone claiming that being Black would actualy *help* a candidate in America has been smoking something I want a hit of.

[gwen75 0]

i dont normally contribute to these type of political threads but this must be said

the reason cunningham used his middle name is the same as the reason ann coulter repeatedly called him b. hussein obama

there is obviously a reason why they are emphasizing his middle name - it is to connect in people's minds the image they have of sadaam hussein with obama

i really dont understand how you keep playing dumb, gary c and just see the tactic for what it is - im very sure it is just you being stubborn as you provide no other explanation than 'whats wrong with saying his middle name'

no there isnt anything wrong with using his middle name, that isnt really the point though is it? it's in what context and what unspoken thing they are trying to imply and connect obama to that is questionable

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well she's not exactly saying "vote for me - because I am a woman".

No, but MANY of her supporters are doing so and she knows it. The same can be said for Obama and his race.

Perhaps the same can be said for every president thus far being a middle-class white male. I'm sure someone must have voted for that

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i dont normally contribute to these type of political threads but this must be said

the reason cunningham used his middle name is the same as the reason ann coulter repeatedly called him b. hussein obama

there is obviously a reason why they are emphasizing his middle name - it is to connect in people's minds the image they have of sadaam hussein with obama

i really dont understand how you keep playing dumb, gary c and just see the tactic for what it is - im very sure it is just you being stubborn as you provide no other explanation than 'whats wrong with saying his middle name'

no there isnt anything wrong with using his middle name, that isnt really the point though is it? it's in what context and what unspoken thing they are trying to imply and connect obama to that is questionable

Well stated.

[SqdnGuns 21]

It's his name, yes, but you're fooling yourself if you don't think Cunningham didn't use it just to plant a seed in the mind of the audience.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You're still avoiding the question: Why is he singled out for this treatment?

No I am not, your avoiding my question. What is wrong with using his real name?

I've answered your question: He's singled out for the treatment. That's what's wrong.

So, now answer mine: Why is he singled out?

[Caladan 19]

You're still avoiding the question: Why is he singled out for this treatment?

No I am not, your avoiding my question. What is wrong with using his real name?

I've answered your question: He's singled out for the treatment. That's what's wrong.

So, now answer mine: Why is he singled out?

It takes a special kind of blinders not to see that the guys repeating "Barack Hussein Osama, oops, teehee, we mean Obama" aren't just trying to make a point about how a well-chosen middle name can make the first and last name flow nicely together. They're trying to get prejudiced idiots to make the Muslim = Obama = 9/11, every day of the year! connection.