My Middle Name is Hussein

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.

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

Let me count the ways….

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.

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.

For the record, I insisted on being referred to as Kolby Rodham Kuwitzky during the primaries.

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.

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.

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.

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.