Obama Supporters Heart “Hussein”
June 29th, 2008 at 02:19pm Matt Margolis
Hows’ this for hypocrisy: If you don’t support Barack Obama, if you dare mention his middle name, you’re accused of fearmongering. If you support Obama, and mention his middle name, you deserve a freakin’ medal:
Barack Obama’s middle name Hussein has been used in some corners as a rallying cry to cast false aspersions against him, but in a growing movement, some of his supporters are adopting his middle name as a show of solidarity with the candidate.
The New York Times reports that those who are adding Hussein to their name tags — at least online — come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including Jews and Catholics, Hispanics and Asians; and from all over the country, from Oklahoma to Washington, D.C.
[...]
People are changing e-mail accounts and adding Hussein as their middle names on social-networking sites like Facebook, the Times reports, to deaden the effect the name “Hussein” has on some people who see it as a negative trait.
Well then, if they can call attention to it, from now on, I’ll just call him by his full name, Barack Hussein Obama.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats
29 Comments
1. JustAnotherTaxpayer | June 29th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
How decent of you Mr. Margolis. Your generosity knows no bounds. Your refering to the oppostion candidate by his full name. You must be the only person in America who thinks he’s trying to hide his name. You must be a writer for fox news.
What are you going to bring up next? Nancy Reagans astrologers to tell us what nemerical relationships can be ascertained from his name to determine whether his election wil be a good bad omen for the country.
Keep up the good work!
2. The New Conservative | June 29th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I’ll be honest I think some people have used his middle name in ill-will. For the record I don’t think the man is a Muslim. He’s just another typical liberal who belives in Universalism. I do think it’s stupid for either said to try and use his Middle name as a wedge. What difference does it make?
http://www.thenewconservatives.blogspot.com/
3. The New Conservative | June 29th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
said=side
4. Mark Noonan | June 29th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Worst thing about this, in my view, is the Cult of Personality aspect of it…this sort of thing has no place in American politics and defeating Obama is taking on a very vital aspect…we can’t afford a man in the White House who has a personality cult following him and willing to do his bidding, come what may…
5. Matt Margolis | June 29th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
HIs name is irrelevant. His positions are what matters the most. But, I can’t stand the hypocrisy of the left who will use this a means of accusing non-supporters of being racists.
6. Rico Hussein run | June 29th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Maybe we should all do it. After all, the whole point of adding “Hussein” as a middle name is to deaden its effect. As Matt Hussein Margolis indicated, the name really should be quite irrelevant. But it’s not to some. And to expand on what Mark Hussein Noonan said, there should no more be a Cult of Anti-Personality than there should a Cult of Personality. We should stick to the issues — and reprimand those who attempt to get us to focus on irrelevant things.
7. JustAnotherTaxpayer | June 29th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
To the editors,
This is the most non-issue issue you’ve ever presented here.
But keep on going if it pleases you.
Hey, I’ve got an Idea. Let’s promote McCain by always using an abreviated version of his middle name, Sid.
Sid for prez.
Has a nice ring to it!
Sid for prez.
No repeat this mantra 100 times to recieve the full GOP blessing.
But we better hide his “III” designation because it sounds eltist.
Sid for prez.
Have a nice day.
PS. Have I got my humor back.
8. Casper | June 29th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
“Worst thing about this, in my view, is the Cult of Personality aspect of it…this sort of thing has no place in American politics”
That’s funny coming from you, since you and Matt have been members of the “Cult of Bush” for years. Sad that you can’t see in yourself what you see in others.
That said, I would agree with Matt that what matters most are his positions. I would suggest that members from either side that makes a big deal about his middle name are being ridiculous.
9. neocon | June 29th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
The middle name of Hussein is just deliciously ironic considering that most liberal would prefer that Saddam Hussein still be in power.
That being said, this is a complete non-issue. It wouldn’t matter of Barry had the last name of Johnson or Smith, it will be his ludicrous policies that will fail him in the end. However, I see him running to the right lately on guns and FISA, which is not setting well with the left:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/28/obama-undercuts-his-brand_n_109758.html
In his desire to make everyone happy, I think it is will be his base whom will be most miserable.
peace, neocon
10. Danish Artist | June 29th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
“Liberals prefer Hussein”
Now that has a nice ring to it AND it is the truth AND it has been used before!
11. Rico Hussein run III | June 29th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
neo Hussein con III: In his desire to make everyone happy, I think it is will be his base whom will be most miserable.
You were referring to Barack Hussein Obama III, not John Hussein McCain III, right?
12. My new WordPress MU Site &hellip | June 29th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
[...] EnochWalked wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptBarack Obama’s middle name Hussein has been used in some corners as a rallying cry to cast false aspersions against him, but in a growing movement, some of his supporters are adopting his middle name as a show of solidarity with the … [...]
13. Sarah Bloch | June 29th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Franklin Delano Roosevelt ran on the issues in ‘32 and won.
Dwight Eisenhower ran on the issues in ‘52 and won.
Ronald Reagan ran on the issues in ‘80 and won.
Bill Clinton ran on the issues in ‘92 and won.
Right now John McCain is running off the issue slate because the issues don’t favor the GOP. The issues that American people want to talk about are serious policy failures for the political right over the last seven years. Obama can hammer McCain on the economy, the failure of the war in Iraq based on the treatment of the troops once they get home and the exclusionary nature of the Bush White House regarding Congressional Oversight.
McCain has only racial fear mongering, foreign terror fearmongering and his admitted lack of knowledge of economics. It’s looking kinda bleak for the GOP this year and that’s why the D list and C list right wing bloggers are still hitting “hussein” as hard as they can and noting the youth and stamina of the Liberal candidate as a “disadvantage.”
I’m coming over to the belief of many of my colleagues that the GOP convention could actually be a disaster for McCain and a coronation at the same time. Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee could make the GOP convention what everyone in the right wing blogosphere so hoped the Democratic convention would be a fractious disaster.
14. phnx | June 29th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Congratualtions Rico Hussein, adopting the Islamic name Hussein is the first step in you conversion process.
It is common for converts to Islam to choose an Islamic name on conversion however it is not seen as compulsory.
Probably the most well known example is that of boxer ‘Cassius Clay’ changing his name to ‘Muhammad Ali’ when he converted to the Islamic faith. Another well known case of a convert to Islam changing his name is that of famous pop singer ‘Cat Stevens’ who adopted the name ‘Yusuf Islam’ after becoming a Muslim.
So may Allah be your guide and Muhammed (pease be upon him) be your teacher.
(Sarcassm off)
What do you morons really hope to accomplish?
15. neocon | June 29th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Sarah,
Your post, honestly, could not be more pathetically and embarrassingly wrong. Have you ever even listened to one of his speech’s? Linked below is his speech to NALEO.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/mccains_speech_to_naleo.html
I can appreciate your opposition, but at the very least, try and debate from a position of knowledge and not propaganda. That drivel may seem enlightened with the collectively brain damaged people at the pitchfork, but here it just serves to expose you.
have a nice day
peace, neocon
16. neocon | June 29th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
“What do you morons really hope to accomplish?” - phnx
LMAO
17. bongoman | June 29th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
There are people on the right who emphasise his middle name in a”dog whistle” kind of way:
http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/dictionary/dog_whistle_politics/
18. neocon | June 29th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
This energy stance dwarfs anything Obama currently has on the issue. I guarantee a McCain win.
John McCain - But the lasting solution to all the problems associated with our dependence on foreign oil is to begin in the term of the next president the most ambitious program ever to reduce our demand for the fuel that is a powerful inflationary force in our economy; is causing our climate to change with all the unimaginable problems that creates; and is ransoming our future to regimes that care little for our values or our security. We need to unleash the competitive forces of the free market to encourage clean alternatives — wind, solar, tide, nuclear, and clean coal. But to really achieve energy security, we must address the area where the demand for oil is the greatest the way we fuel our transportation system. I have promised a plan, which I called the Lexington Project, for the place where America’s war for independence began, which will encourage the investment and innovation necessary to wean our cars, buses, and trucks off of our complete dependence on gasoline. This will take time, but the longer we wait to begin, the longer it will take to achieve. It is an ambitious plan, but I am confident that our industry and entrepreneurs, and all Americans are up to this next great challenge in our history. The genius, hard work and courage of Americans have never failed us, and will not fail us now.
19. neocon | June 29th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
bongo,
Those people represent the right just as much as the pitchforkers do the left.
20. Rico Hussein run III | June 29th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
ph Hussein nx III: What do you morons really hope to accomplish?
Which “morons” would those be? I assume it is those that think names are irrelevant, because that’s all I’m trying to say. I thought I made myself very clear. Moreover, it appears that everyone agrees with me except you and perhaps neo Hussein con III. Given the individuals involved I think I’m safe in saying that it’s not about partisanship. It’s about, well… how do I say this gracefully… Let’s just say you were the one that brought up morons, not me.
21. Rico Hussein run III | June 29th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
By the way, ph Hussein nx III, I’m not turning Muslim. If anything I’m turning Japanese. LOL! Okay, not really. I just thought we needed a musical interlude.
22. neocon | June 29th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
“…it appears that everyone agrees with me except you and perhaps neo Hussein con III.” - Rico Hussein
9. neocon | June 29th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
The middle name of Hussein is just deliciously ironic considering that most liberal would prefer that Saddam Hussein still be in power.
That being said, this is a complete non-issue.
Presumptions are the building blocks of ignorance
peace, neocon
23. Rico Hussein run III | June 29th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
16. neo Hussein con III | June 29th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
“What do you morons really hope to accomplish?” - phnx
LMAO
Perhaps I was too hasty to presume the source of your mirth. It seems pretty obvious to me, but let’s assume I’m wrong. Let’s assume your mirth is due to some unexplained and unrelated cause, and thus you really do think this is a complete non-issue. If that’s the case, I apologize. And if so, welcome to the Club of Morons — and shame on you for throwing phnx under the bus. At any rate, it now appears that only phnx is the only one that isn’t a member of the Moron Club. At least according to phnx. If we were to poll others I suspect we would obtain different results. Polls suck, lol!
24. neocon | June 29th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Wow. A little defensive aren’t we?
I believe phnx was also making light of this issue, hence my reply. It appears you are the only sensitive one. I couldn’t give a damn what his middle name is, it’s the least of my concerns considering so many other valid reasons not to support him.
peace, neocon
25. phnx | June 30th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Rico,
More that a little sensative. What happened to the Rico who used to post reasoned arguments? Has BDS finally taken hold or are you just in the throws of Obamania? Does he give you chills running up and down your legs like Chris Matthews? Or are you not that far along into the swoon?
How about a defense of his policies rather that nonsense.
26. Swooner - Not | June 30th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I could care less about his middle name. Its his lack of experience, his strident anti patriotic arrogance, his keynsian economic lunacy and his wonderful friends (Ayres, Wright Clark) who frighten the hell out of me.
27. Ricorun | June 30th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Kahn, why try to be reasonable when talking about nonsense? And like I said, a Cult of Anti-Personality is just as silly as a Cult of Personality. So no, I don’t swoon. But neither will I attack the man for “reasons” that only make sense to the senseless.
28. Ricorun | June 30th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I said Kahn, I meant phnx. I apologize to you both.
29. Danish Artist | June 30th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Wow, if these people had any real balls or commitment they change the name legally. But, like liberals is the promise that counts not the content or results.