My Middle Name is Hussein
It is a very interesting national phenomenon that many Obama supporters are challenging the notion that Barack Obama’s middle name is a political liability. Over 500 have joined this Facebook group called “My Middle Name is Hussein, Too.” The members of the group and many others from the social networking site agreed to change their Facebook middle names to be Hussein to celebrate Obama’s birthday on August 4. Daily Kos posted an article called “We Are All Hussein,” in which the author said that he was “sick of Republicans pronouncing Barack Obama’s name like it was some sort of cuss word. It is a national embarrassment that American political discourse stretches so far to the extremes of xenophobia and puerility that a candidate’s name can become an object of propaganda.” By far, though, the biggest amount of publicity that this grassroots effort has received came from this New York Times article, “Obama Supporters Take His Name as Their Own.”
If you want to join the effort, join the Facebook event above and change your middle name to Hussein. Also, you can join this Flikr group and post a photo like the one to the right with you holding this sign that reads “My Middle Name is HUSSEIN.”
Although these efforts are encouraging, the overall national trend of ignorance and xenophobia is still astounding. The most recent poll I could find on the issue (Pew Research, May 30) shows that 11% of the electorate believes that Obama is a Muslim. Even more startling, 79% said that they had heard rumors to that effect, and a further 9% aren’t sure what religion he is because they have heard conflicting things. I don’t think it would surprise anyone to learn that Americans have generally unfavorable views towards Muslims, and a Muslim would never have a chance at a national election at this point. Perhaps someday we will become more enlightened, but until then, it is important that Obama’s supporters and staff directly confront these rumors and whisper campaigns to mislabel him as a Muslim.
-David Hussein Manes
The intent of this effort is certainly admirable, but I think its certainly up in the air as to whether it is actually a good idea. Of course, xenophobia, ignorance, yada yada. The fact remains that Obama’s middle name is a liability (though, it seems, not a prohibitive one), and anything that draws attention to it is not good for the campaign. I’ve talked to a few people in the campaign and they agree, but I don’t think many people have been exposed to this bit that weren’t already aware of his middle name. If it ever made it up to the mass media level it might be a problem.
jkkuwitzky
10 Jul 08 at 3:04 pm
Also, that picture is disgustingly patriotic.
jkkuwitzky
11 Jul 08 at 12:16 am
It’s time for a new post.
S.C. Denney
11 Jul 08 at 12:23 am
Ha, the picture is supposed to be over-the-top patriotic, so thanks for noticing. But disgusting? Why do you hate America, Kolby?
David M. Manes
11 Jul 08 at 1:45 pm
I find the picture very fitting considering the fact that so many Obama haters like to say that Obama isn’t really for America. Therefore, by having a big Obama advocate decked out in the red white in blue speaks volumes. Good call there Mr. Manes
Stephanie O'Brian
11 Jul 08 at 2:17 pm
Yeah, but I sure as heck wouldn’t be caught wearing a lapel pin, that’s for sure. Or with my hand over my heart.
David M. Manes
11 Jul 08 at 2:20 pm
Let me count the ways….
jkkuwitzky
11 Jul 08 at 2:44 pm
What country do you like, then? Or are you just generally misanthropic?
David M. Manes
11 Jul 08 at 2:48 pm
I like America just fine. So far as countries go its near the top, but I could be just as happy in any Western European democracy or Australia/New Zealand. I’d probably prefer Norway or Sweden if given the choice. America’s biggest selling point to me is its respect for free speech (something the rest of the enlightened world would do well to adopt), and I think most European countries take multiculturalism too far and end up tolerating hateful worldviews just because they are different. Most of all I think people are totally incapable of governing themselves in any sort of entirely acceptable way. I’d really prefer that the Brookings Institution rule the world.
jkkuwitzky
11 Jul 08 at 4:38 pm
Norwegian weather is appealing, seeing as I love snow; however, I am not too fond of paying $150 for pizza and a movie.
S.C. Denney
11 Jul 08 at 5:36 pm
The point not being made is that “Hussein” can be offensive to others just as “Hitler” would be to some. The point has merit but society, culture often dictate the meanings for words.
Rodney McCarthy
11 Jul 08 at 7:33 pm
I don’t have a problem with his name. But the whole idea seems a little too “cult of personality” for me. I certainly don’t think Mr. Obama has anything in common with Stalin, but I’d prefer to wait until he accomplishes something. Even then, it would have to be on par with, say, George Washington or Moses before I renamed myself.
curtsullivan
14 Jul 08 at 5:28 pm
For the record, I insisted on being referred to as Kolby Rodham Kuwitzky during the primaries.
jkkuwitzky
14 Jul 08 at 5:38 pm
Oh Kolby, you never should have said that. I am going to call you that forever, now. Kolby Bitter Rodham Kuwitzky is your new name.
David M. Manes
14 Jul 08 at 10:17 pm
You can’t call me bitter. That’s elitist, even though we all know there’s nothing I cling to more than guns and religion.
You’d be bitter too if someone stole your job.
jkkuwitzky
14 Jul 08 at 11:46 pm
How does someone steal a job?
S.C. Denney
15 Jul 08 at 3:15 pm
By successfully telling millions of voters that they should vote for you because you represent a new kind of politics when, in fact, there is absolutely nothing new about the way you play the game (aside, perhaps, from being good at it), thus leaving me without a job.
jkkuwitzky
15 Jul 08 at 4:38 pm
I’m having a hard time with the connection, but I am dearly sorry for your loss.
You going to the Hill, then?
S.C. Denney
15 Jul 08 at 8:17 pm
Maybe it’s about time for a new post? Something on foreign policy? It’s been a couple weeks. Something on philosophy? It’s been ages…
David M. Manes
16 Jul 08 at 11:59 am
I just got done with my 22 page policy report on Iraq — it sort of consumed the little free time I have.
I was reading up on France’s overhauled foreign policy doctrine and Obama’s Foreign Policy stance. I will write something later today or tonight on one of the two topics (perhaps both). I promise.
S.C. Denney
16 Jul 08 at 12:18 pm
I was going to be up for posting something about Obama and foreign policy (in light of his speech from yesterday morning– I just read the text and I’m feeling more pleased than ever with my preferred candidate), but if Steve’s got it covered….
Just kidding. Some sort of post coming soon.
Karie
16 Jul 08 at 3:19 pm
Obama now with a negative favorability rating among white voters? (NYT)
Spin that one for me Mssr. Manes.
jkkuwitzky
16 Jul 08 at 4:38 pm
Actually, I will spin it for him…
I wrote about this today on our new blog on politics and current events, http://www.semipolitico.com. The results of the poll in general aren’t so shocking- whites are divided in their opinions of Barack Obama while blacks, on the whole, have a generally more favorable view of the Democratic presidential candidate. I know what you are thinking, but its not just the fact that blacks tend to be Democrats while whites make up a majority of both parties. However, this may be a suprise to you:
“Yet still, among just Democrats, blacks were more apt than whites in the poll to express positive views of Mr. Obama across a range of questions. For example, black Democrats were 24 points more likely than white Democrats to have a favorable opinion of Mr. Obama.”
What does this mean? Well, not too much. Coming out of a long, drawn out primary contest that put two historic candidates up against eachother, there is likely to be some kind of rift in a political party. With the vast majority of blacks voting primarily for Obama (9 out of 10 in most states), it is a no-brainer to see that whites will make up the majority of Democratic voters unsatisfied with Obama. However, as the Seattle Times points out, black and white may not be Obama’s real race problem.
John D'Alessandro
16 Jul 08 at 7:00 pm
My point was that I went back and forth with the authors of this blog throughout the primary process about the issue of likeability (the authors premise being that Senator Clinton’s negatives were an electoral obstacle that Obama would not face). My point then and now is that there are so few swing voters that a presidential election will undoubtedly produce a very polarized electorate (in both directions).
Also, I was referring to the fact that the poll indicated that a higher percentage of white voters had a negative opinion of him than had a positive one (though of course white voters make up the large majority of those not pleased with Obama). That said, the undecideds in the poll made up as large a chunk of the electorate as those with a negative opinion, so the issue is clearly fluid.
jkkuwitzky
16 Jul 08 at 9:24 pm