Obama '08?

sozobe wrote:

My overall take on this is better now than later. It obviously actually startled some people (LSM went so far as to say it would be a factor for her in NOT voting for him, though she wouldn't explain why, exactly), and I remember it startling me when I first found it a while back. (In the "oh no!" sense.) But I think Obama is very, very practiced at handling this sort of thing (he's been doing it his whole life) and that "Hussein" will be absorbed and owned the way "Obama" has been. People will stop making the eek connections and just think of him.

Exactly. And if everybody will just chill and let him be himself, weird name and all, and accept the good natured banter as just that, it will only endear him more to the public. As long as the uptight types get their shorts in a wad every time somebody teases him, it definitely will plant negative contexts in people's minds.

My overall take on this is better now than later.

I never heard of Ed Rogers and have no clue who he is.

Foxfyre wrote:

Baloney. You will first need evidence that the Republicans are 'sliming' Obama at all or show that Greenfield is parroting what Republicans are saying about him. Otherwise, it very much appears that you are just 'sliming' Republicans.

The singular instance I've seen of this so far was Ed Rogers (I think that's the right name) tossing in Obama's middle name during an MSNBC interview (and Just Wonders did it here on a2k as well). As I've never heard Rogers include anyone else's middle name previously (why, after all? Hardly relevant information) the intent was pretty transparent.

But as I said, so far, it's the single instance.

blatham wrote:

Foxfyre wrote:

Baloney. You will first need evidence that the Republicans are 'sliming' Obama at all or show that Greenfield is parroting what Republicans are saying about him. Otherwise, it very much appears that you are just 'sliming' Republicans.

The singular instance I've seen of this so far was Ed Rogers (I think that's the right name) tossing in Obama's middle name during an MSNBC interview (and Just Wonders did it here on a2k as well). As I've never heard Rogers include anyone else's middle name previously (why, after all? Hardly relevant information) the intent was pretty transparent.

But as I said, so far, it's the single instance.

page 225

The first reference in the thread to Mr. Rogers is in a post from Blatham to you, FF.

Soz- The twits who focus on his name, IMO are going to have the whole issue fly in their faces. The first time that one hears Obama, he thinks, "Ohmygawd, it sounds just like Osama". And then Hussein. By the time that a person hears the name for the 100th time, it will have no more effect than Smith or Jones.

So don't get upset when someone brings up the name "red herring". Ultimately, familiarity with it might work to Obama's advantage!

Guys I apologize right up front, but after all the discussion on Obama's name the last day or so, this came in my e-mail just now. And I couldn't not post it.

I hear you Soz - and since we'll have no choice but to talk about it, that's the only attitude to have.

Hey, maybe if we all call each other "my Hussein" (as in "What's up, my Hussein?", it will diffuse it completely, huh?

Oh good grief.

Pointing out that something is happening, especially with all of the qualifiers blatham used, is a far cry from being upset, or oversensitive, or any of the other terms that have been used.

Miller, interesting info, thanks. I think Edwards blew his chances with his lukewarm performance in the 2004 elections, but I prefer him to Hillary for example.

Disgusting, foxfyre.

The cartoon relies on two "jokes"... Hillary's roots and the rhyme on Hillary's sign. Both are designed to appeal to people with IQs of about 80.

But the kicker is slipping in the "Hussein" element but doing so as if it is coming from a Democrat's voice.

Getting born in, the State Hawaii an,
Poppa was Kenyan and his Momma was an Indian
Black Obama, no he's not Osama,
Hussein is his name but he's like the Dali Lama,
He didn't notice the fools focused upon his name,
Trying to make some political hayyyyy,
That's insAAAAAAAne,

He's a runner, rebel and a stunner,
Who woulda guessed he would be the up and comer,
Out in the flatlands he was gearing up fo much mo
What in the world do these incompetent's take him for,
He has much more in store,
That's for sure

(Chorus:)

O Obama bring us Peace,
With no partisan disease,
O Obama show your teeth,
He's our savior, He's our priest,
Yeah, yeah,

He's a charmer, smiler and a igniter,
Should've seen him coming when it got a little brighter
Kerry and Clinton, never new what hit um,
He's walking over fools like they were never even with him
With a name like Barack Obama,
Focus goes to him when he's in the panorama,
His only worry's the Republican spin machine,
Other lefties can only dream,
They're too weak

With his smile, good looks and his style,
He won't just shake it up but he'll leave them in a pile.
Doesn't matter, who they send to chatter,
If the party wants a win, better let him be the batter.
When debate time comes he will show us all so much more
Ya know he'll take over the floor,
That's for sure,

O Obama bring us Peace,
With no partisan disease,
O Obama show your teeth,
He's our savior, He's our priest,
Yeah, yeah,

Who knew the fools who doubted you
Who knew the trials they'd put you through
Too true the other side is through
Too true, too say say say

Push the fader, gifted animator
No stopping now for the master debater
McCain or Romney, or maybe Giuliani,
Will have his hands full with the man from Hawaii
But you know head to head these guys don't really stand a chance.
Once you get past your first glance.
He's the man,

O Obama bring us Peace,
With no partisan disease,
O Obama show your teeth,
He's our savior, He's our priest,
Yeah, yeah,

Repeat Chorus

Okay, now I'm really bored (I'll prove it in minute). :wink:
In an attempt to both bring this thread on topic and have a little fun, I've composed my first song. :razz:
Since I have no such talent, I'm borrowing the music, the layout and some of the words to the Chili Peppers' Dani California. For those who don't know it; the original song can be heard here.
Here goes:

OCCOM BILL wrote:

Getting born in, the State Hawaii an,
Poppa was Kenyan and his Momma was an Indian
Black Obama, no he's not Osama,
Hussein is his name but he's like the Dali Lama,
He didn't notice the fools focused upon his name,
Trying to make some political hayyyyy,
That's insAAAAAAAne,

He's a runner, rebel and a stunner,
Who woulda guessed he would be the up and comer,
Out in the flatlands he was gearing up fo much mo
What in the world do these incompetent's take him for,
He has much more in store,
That's for sure

(Chorus:)

O Obama bring us Peace,
With no partisan disease,
O Obama show your teeth,
He's our savior, He's our priest,
Yeah, yeah,

He's a charmer, smiler and a igniter,
Should've seen him coming when it got a little brighter
Kerry and Clinton, never new what hit um,
He's walking over fools like they were never even with him
With a name like Barack Obama,
Focus goes to him when he's in the panorama,
His only worry's the Republican spin machine,
Other lefties can only dream,
They're too weak

With his smile, good looks and his style,
He won't just shake it up but he'll leave them in a pile.
Doesn't matter, who they send to chatter,
If the party wants a win, better let him be the batter.
When debate time comes he will show us all so much more
Ya know he'll take over the floor,
That's for sure,

O Obama bring us Peace,
With no partisan disease,
O Obama show your teeth,
He's our savior, He's our priest,
Yeah, yeah,

Who knew the fools who doubted you
Who knew the trials they'd put you through
Too true the other side is through
Too true, too say say say

Push the fader, gifted animator
No stopping now for the master debater
McCain or Romney, or maybe Giuliani,
Will have his hands full with the man from Hawaii
But you know head to head these guys don't really stand a chance.
Once you get past your first glance.
He's the man,

O Obama bring us Peace,
With no partisan disease,
O Obama show your teeth,
He's our savior, He's our priest,
Yeah, yeah,

Repeat Chorus

Now that's the spirtit! What up my... wait a minute... am I allowed to say that?

But I just wanted some acknowledgement that this thing isn't being given life by the reactions to rightwingers bringing it up, but by the rightwingers bringing it up.

I never heard of Ed Rogers and have no clue who he is. But from the short excerpt Blatham posted, it looks very much like he rejected a negative connotation to Obama's name and Matthews was trying to bait him into saying something negative about it. Chris Matthews is a dedicated card carrying Democrat. So who is the villain there?

And to try to extrapolate one person into being representative of everybody else in a political party or even a group is dishonest in itself.