Most despicable attack of campaign season

Aren't you all sick of this?  Hillary Clinton must be really cynical to believe that the only way to climb back into the race is to smear her opponent to the point that it will hurt him in the general election.  Today her campaign leaked a photo that shows Barack Obama wearing a traditional Somali garb during a visit to that country.  The Obama Campaign fired back:

"On the very day that Sen. Clinton is giving a speech about restoringrespect for America in the world, her campaign has engaged in the mostshameful, offensive fear-mongering we've seen from either party in thiselection. This is part of a disturbing pattern that led her countychairs to resign in Iowa, her campaign chairman to resign in NewHampshire, and it's exactly the kind of divisive politics that turnsaway Americans of all parties and diminishes respect for America in theworld."

Even for the Clintons, I am surprised they dropped to this level.  What on earth were they thinking?  This supplies the McCain campaign with all they are looking for to rally the right-wing conservative base.  Obviously the Clintons are more concerned with helping themselves than their party or their country.  I will never vote for another Clinton as long as I live -- and this is coming from a life-long Democrat.  Their era is near an end.

Comments

[Jon]

Oh so she is behind it? I saw the photo just a few minutes ago on another site but I didnt read what it was about until I came here. Personally thought "Hey that outfit looks kind of cool!" But I've always had a soft spot for traditional dress of all kinds.

I know that many people will have the opposite reaction and I know what the intent was in bringing this up. I was already to the point of not voting for Clinton. I can't even say this surprises me, if this works though I will be done with American politics.

As bad as Clinton is the country or more accurately a significant portion of it is xenophobic to its core so that makes it just as responsible. For instance I can't tell you the number of times me or one of my family members have debunked the Obama is a Muslim myth.

Even after I do it seems that many of the people I talk to are disappointed that they can't hate him based on his religion anymore. Its one reason I really get nervous about mixing religion and politics.

I hope that as in South Carolina this blatant xenophobia is rebuffed. Images are powerful though so this might go the other way, I think it all depends on his response and media play. If he doesn't come out screaming like she did but instead adds context to the photo which was no doubt a cultural exchange of some sort he might be ok.

[granny]

I don't think we've even begun to be as sick as we're going to get.

It may be "the most despicable attack of the campaign season" - yet. But I'm betting this isn't even the tip of the iceberg compared to what McCain is going to start shovelling after the candidate is chosen.

I wonder if we've even imagined ~

[demostrat]

This is a sad day for the Democratic party. The Clinton campaign is disgraceful. I have zero respect left for the Clinton's. Zero...............

[RJ]

Todd, what do you make of this article on Obama? He may say "change and hope" a lot, but it is starting to seem like he is just another politician for sale. Cut and paste the link below to read the article. RJ.

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/02/26/the-odd-triple/

[granny]

Wow. I barely got that first comment on line before the "introductory remarks" for McCain were delivered in Ohio today, by a local "news" caster. uh-uh-uh! Get your HAZ-MAT suits ready folks, this is going to be ugly.

[bacalove]

Barack Obama has had the kitchen sink thrown at him, throwing out his middle name in a negative way, accompanied by a picture of Obama dressed in Somali garb, at the same time being endorsed by Farakhan -- it's called "Got-Cha" politics, which is the worst kind of politics which only tends to divide and incite fear, it's called divide and conquer.

However, Obama can be of use to America by addressing the need of some to sow divisions and exploit our differences, instead of building on that which unites us, and "The world can use him too, with his reach to the Muslim nations and his middle name making it impossible for the US to walk away from one of the biggest foreign policy blunders in history. A restructuring of this overall policy is due after the demolition of the World Trade Towers. Some people think it's cool to be cynical. They deride those who show overt respect, admiration, and optimism. Those who still believe they can make a difference. Those who know they have power. This campaign has proven that cruelty is no longer desired as political style in the United States. The people now have a choice. A choice between magnifying the negatives or using the positives. I will say this. Obama has the potential to be one of the greats, but only if the people participate in molding his leadership. That's the task at hand. He, himself, invites others to recognize his faults not letting them interfere with the work. You can see how the people's support has molded him already in his quick evolution from weak debating events to the beautiful, strong, elegant, debate he delivered last night.." From: Blogger, J.M., Raging Universe.

We cannot afford to continue to ailenate our allies and friends in the Middle East, to continue to incite hatred and hostility, with no end of wars in sight. There are many leaders with the name Hussein in the Middle East which are our allies such as King Jordan Hussein. America the world is watching.

Hillary Clinton, a consumate actress, represents the old-time party politics, the politics of distort, smear, tear and division. She likes to Fight while Barack likes to Unite. Through this whole campaign, Clinton has been Denounced for being Karl-Rove Republican like which she nows tries to throw off on Camp Obama. We all know who has engaged in a negative campaign. It is about the Past or the Future, that is our Choice!