El_Gringo_Grande

Well, you do represent a sizable number of American voters. That is a shame. To base something on a middle name. And it is a pretty common surname as well. Seems very silly to me.

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I’m not racists, I have republican friends. Radio show host.
- "The essence of tyranny is the denial of complexity". -Jacob Burkhardt
- "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" - Emerson
- "People should not be afraid of it's government, government should be afraid of it's People." - Line from V for Vendetta
- If software were as unreliable as economic theory, there wouldn't be a plane made of anything other than paper that could get off the ground. Jim Fawcette

Delta*RandyShugart*

I have a question, that might not have an answer.....but in the case of Katrina, why hasn't the middle class housing problem been addressed? or is it simply the case that the middle/upper classes will just go and have their house re-built while the lower classes sit back and wait for someone to build their houses for them? And does this type of thing fall under welfare? I am just curious, I haven't heard much about it......other than brad pitt building houses down there.

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Kerostasis

There's lots of good, solid reasons to be either for or against Obama ... and your best argument against him is that his middle name is Hussein, and your best argument for him is that you think Sharpton will stop using the race card for 4 years? Both of those are terrible reasons. His name should be irrelevant to his politics, and there is no way Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson will ever stop playing the race card, because that would put them both out of jobs.

A year ago I predicted that Obama's decidedly middle-eastern sounding name would probably put off a lot of voters, but so far that hasn't really materialized much. You're the first person I've heard actually use that argument. And really, its better that way -- I'm certainly not going to base my own vote off his middle name.

Actually, my vote's going for the guy who picks the most amusing Vice President! I figure since I don't like any of the main candidates anyway, that's as good a method as any to pick one. >.>

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Steeler

Juan Cole on Obama's name:
Barack Hussein Obama, Omar Bradley, Benjamin Franklin and other Semitically Named American Heroes

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AMosely

Bill Cunningham's 'Hussein' remarks in February at a McCain rally was the last time this 'issue' garnered national attention. There was such an outcry (and swift McCain denouncement) that one would think it would put the issue to bed. I wouldn't be surprised if it surfaces again should Obama take the nominiation, though.

I am more concerned about the myth that Obama is a Muslim - if 23% of democrats who hold a negative view of him believe he is a Muslim, what does that say about the potential national race?

Razcsak

Its also somewhat common to see people comment on the phonetic similarity of his last name to "Osama." Elwenil made note of that in this thread, in fact.

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Buckets

Good post. I pretty much agree with you here. Like him or not, his name shouldn't be an issue unless you're in first grade. Or a Fox News commentator. Then, apparently, its okay to call for his assassination.

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The artist formerly known as "pecker"

Delta*RandyShugart*

i'm am most likely not voting democratic for other reasons, but yes, having a president with the name hussein doesn't sit well with me, even if its a middle name.....i kind of think obama is a bit fake, but the same can be said for republicans this is however the most involved i have gotten into the election, so thanks for making this thread.....i learn something new everyday.

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CingularDuality

Are you going to tell us why? Or are you just going to repeat the same thing over and over?

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El_Gringo_Grande

It must be simple bigotry.

From answers.com
(bolding mine)

In this case irrational suspicion of anybody with the surname "Hussein". Or is it suspicion of anybody with a middle eastern sounding name?

__________________
I’m not racists, I have republican friends. Radio show host.
- "The essence of tyranny is the denial of complexity". -Jacob Burkhardt
- "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" - Emerson
- "People should not be afraid of it's government, government should be afraid of it's People." - Line from V for Vendetta
- If software were as unreliable as economic theory, there wouldn't be a plane made of anything other than paper that could get off the ground. Jim Fawcette

AMosely

So if it were his last name as opposed to his middle name, that would just be too much? This statement doesn't sit well with me.

Kerostasis

Well, damn. I just got around to watching your clip here, and that lady stepped in it 10 times as badly as Hillary did.

Background info: A few days ago, Hillary was talking to an interviewer about why she wasn't dropping out of the race, and how in years past campaigns were still going on well into June. Then she calmly added that after all, Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June during his campaign. This could easily be interpreted in two ways, as either a thinly-veiled reference to a potential Obama assassination, or as just another anecdote proving that campaigns aren't supposed to have ended by June.

This clip: The news lady is referencing the Hillary story and says,
"And now we have what some are reading as a suggestion that somebody knock off" *stumbles* "Os...o...osama...um...Obama. Well, both if you could." *she snickers*

That's...pretty bad.

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Delta*RandyShugart*

Just the name Hussein, and I hope Obama doesn't pick Hillary as VP especially after that comment she made.....can someone smell a new "wag the dog" scenario? If only Teddy Kennedy didn't drive drunk and flinging his car off the bridge killing that innocent girl, a Kennedy might have made it to the white house again.

Anyways as I pm'ed cingular, I will be staying out of this area of the forums. I am in no way a bigot, or prejudice towards any race, religion or culture.

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Switch

For those of you supporting Obama, there is a donation matching fund raiser going on... what ever you put in, someone else will match.

I spend plenty of time talking about my political views, but I never actually put my money where my beer hole is. Its rough with thousands in college loans, and gas at 45 bucks a tank....but hell, why not -- its not for me, its for everyone. If you care to try the donation thing, nows a good time, your contribution will be doubled. I put in 25 bucks... it was matched and now equals 50.

GO'bama!!

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|TG|Switch

Better known as:
That noob who crashed the chopper.
That noob who ran over the mine.
That noob who TK'd me with a sniper rifle.
That noob who hit that APC at 300m with light AT! Our APC...

Steeler

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