In Case You Hadn’t Heard, Obama Rhymes with Osama
This may not seem like the sort of video you’d expect to find on a site dedicated to promoting Sen. Obama’s candidacy, and for good reason: it is a negative spot conflating his name with that of known tyrants and terrorists.
The video’s focus on Sen. Obama’s name is purely superficial, and belies more than anything the creator’s discomfort with the idea of a black man with an unfamiliar name running the country. I opted to post it because I think it’s typical of the attacks we’ll see on Sen. Obama from many on the right once he becomes the Democratic nominee.
Some Democrats are undoubtedly uneasy with what they perceive as a vast swath of this country that simply will not vote for Sen. Obama based on his name and his skin color. I think that logic sells Americans short. I wouldn’t put “Hussein” on the campaign literature exactly, but we should welcome discussion about Sen. Obama’s name — and showcase the small-mindedness of those who will try to use it against him.
The fact is, if that’s the line conservatives choose to take, it means they’re unable to engage on the issues, and Sen. Obama’s supporters shouldn’t miss an opportunity to point that out. I was encouraged when reports came out a few months ago that callers to Sen. Obama’s office inquiring about his middle name were told that “It’s Hussein, like the dictator.” That, my friends, takes balls. And if there is one thing Democrats need…
At the end of the day, I’m confident that those who are persuaded by the sophomoric “Obama rhymes with Osama” line wouldn’t have voted for Sen. Obama anyway — and that many more will be turned off by such ignorance than will be drawn to it.
In an effort to get that ball rolling, here is a video entitled “How To Remember Barack Hussein Obama’s Name” from RepublicanMan10, whose depth of argument is matched only by his camerawork:
March 24th, 2007 at 12:16 pm EST
[…] View original here: JHC […]
March 28th, 2007 at 12:54 am EST
quote “The video’s focus on Sen. Obama’s name is purely superficial, and belies more than anything the creator’s discomfort with the idea of a black man with an unfamiliar name running the country. ” When does the author of this video ever mention anything about a black man? He is purely stating facts about his name. You liberals like to jump on the race card at every chance you get, even when its not brought up. Who cares if hes black, white, or purple, his name still ryhmes with Osama. I guess I am just not used to someone running for President who has a common name of someone who we will catch on the battlefield of Iraq. Other than race, maybe we should focus on his socialist agenda.
May 11th, 2007 at 10:35 am EST
Hi Matt,
If you want to focus on his “socialist agenda,” go for it — at least we would be talking about issues, rather than trying to respond to the bogus racial and religious fears of many on the right.
You suggest the fact that Obama rhymes with Osama is somehow a legitimate criticism, since you are “just not used to someone running for President who has a common name of someone who we will catch on the battlefield of Iraq.” Leaving aside for a second that Osama bin Laden is not and never was in Iraq, the fact that “you’re not used to it” doesn’t make it the basis for substantial argument.
Hopefully soon you’ll be ready to engage on issues that matter. Come on back whenever that’s the case.
Thanks as always for reading the site.
January 20th, 2008 at 12:39 am EST
I personally have, to be fair, begun to use the candidates’ full names. Equal opportunity, yo.
HILLARY DIANE CLINTON!
JOHN REID EDWARDS!
Rudolph William Louis Giuliani!
John Sidney McCain III!
Michael Dale Huckabee!
Freddie Dalton Thompson (serious, this is on his birth certificate!)
Willard Mitt Romney!
Now really, how about we start calling Hillary “Hillary Diane” and Fred “Freddie Dalton” or Rudy “Rudolph William Louis” or Mitt (already weird) “Willard Mitt”? It’s only fair!
January 20th, 2008 at 12:41 am EST
Oops… I forgot! (Although his supporters aren’t so guilty of the Middle Name Conspiracy)
Ronald Ernest!