RoboCall trashes Barack HUSSEIN Obama:

[AtomicKitten]

January 19, 2008
Read More: Barack Obama

Robocall trashes "Barack Hussein Obama"

The Obama campaign has released a recording (mp3) it says came from a Nevadan's answering machine of an anonymous robocall that criticizes Obama for taking money from special interests while repeating, four times, his rarely used middle name: "Hussein."

"I'm calling with some important information about Barack Hussein Obama," the call begins, before saying that "Barack Hussein Obama says he doesn't take money from Washington lobbyists or special interest groups but the record is clear that he does."

After mentioning his full name once more, the call concludes:

"You just can't take a chance on Barack Hussein Obama."

Click here http://obama.3cdn.net/f9a25fca23f464dd07_8rdmvbduw.mp3 to listen to the campaign's recording of the call.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0108/Robocall_trashes_Barack_Hussein_Obama.html

[KennedyGuy]

1. Ummmm..what is Obama's middle name?

[MonkeyFunk]

4. I guess

we're supposed to pretend it's "Dave"

[Bonobo]

5. Sorry to see you reduced to defending that, MF.

On edit, I hope you are simply not responding because you are shamed.

[MonkeyFunk]

80. No Bonobo

I went out to the store for awhile. If you're curious about what I'm feeling, you can always communicate with me via PM.

I'm not "defending" it. I'm saying that using his name is not a dirty trick. It's hardball politics, sure, but it's not unfair, and it's not over the line. AND... nobody's shown me that the Clinton campaign was responsible for it.

[Tom Rinaldo]

39. If Barack doesn't commonly use his middle name himself

other Democrats shouldn't use it in referring to him either. But on the totem poll of negative campaigning doing so falls pretty low on it. It is a fact and it is a fact that Republicans will make sure that the American public knows about soon enough if Obama becomes our nominee if they haven't figured it out already.

I don't approve of it but I am not naive either. If his middle name hurts Obama win Democratic primary votes it will hurt him win more votes than that in the General Election if he can not effectively deal with it. It will be put in play by Republicans.

[TwilightZone]

58. The intent is clear, of course.

I agree with your assertion. If DUers get this worked up every time his middle name is invoked, DU is going to need some defibrillators once the GE starts, should he be the nominee.

[DearAbby]

52. Oh sure, My Parents consulted me for my middle name

I just wanted to be called AGNES in the worst way :sarcasm:

[Bonobo]

55. I agree. "Agnes" is a tough one to deal with.

Mine isn't so great either. It's "Saul". Blech.

[DearAbby]

63. Whoever

is behind this, is playing the lowest human nature. All the candidates should be denouncing this tactic, I dont care which party they are from...but I wont hold my breath

[Auntie Bush]

84. I think most Duers denounce that tactic. But not when it's against Hillary.

Then it's OK because we're all so used to sh**ing on Hillary a thousand times a day. It's par for the course. Now Obamaites have to get used to someone saying something negative about him and it hurts. But they will just have to get used to it...it's a looooong primary.

[Bonobo]

2. I guess the Clinton camp will likely scream "Sour grapes" or "Whiner" again...

[Diane R]

3. So, do the Clintons really represent YOUR values? Not mine.

[sufrommich]

8. Has there been proof that has linked it to the

Clinton campaign? C'mon,this could have come from anywhere.

[TwilightZone]

6. Just to be clear...are you complaining about the use of his middle name or the content of the ad?

If it's the former, you might want to get used to it. If he wins the nomination, you'll hear it repeated ad infinitum.

[TheWraith]

15. The fact that it'll be repeated doesn't mean it's not race-baiting.

It also doesn't mean we should approve of other Democrats using Republican tactics to attack our own.

[TwilightZone]

17. Please provide a link showing the source of the calls.

Thanks.

[Bonobo]

19. puh-leeze.

[TheWraith]

22. I hope you're not trying to get cute with me.

This call clearly only benefits the Clinton campaign. If they don't want to be associated with it then they need to make clear that they had nothing to do with it, neither did any of their affiliated groups, and that if any group associated with them was responsible they will cut all ties with that group immediately.

The alternative, of course, is that Republicans are interceding in our primary to try and get Hillary the nomination, because they look forward to running against her.

[TwilightZone]

26. As you noted, a possible source is the Republicans.

To date, I have seen no evidence either way.

By the way, how is using someone's middle name race-baiting? Islam is a religion, not a race.

[TheWraith]

37. See my #32, and why the hell aren't you condemning it? NT

[TwilightZone]

66. I challenge you to show me one single word I said that was condoning this ad.

[Bonobo]

67. .

I apologize for calling you an 'a-hole"

But... your behavior is rather atrocious.

[TwilightZone]

70. My, how mature.

Take a look around. You'll find it.

[Bonobo]

71. I looked. You would need a team of lawyers with magnifying glasses to find it.

[TwilightZone]

74. You know...if you throw this big a fit every time Obama's middle name is used...

You're never going to make it through the GE. If he wins the nomination, it's all you'll hear.

By the way, if you'd bothered to read my first response to the OP, that was the entire point I was trying to make. You and your fellow hyperbolic pal are the ones who turned it into a dissertation on race.

[Bonobo]

77. Just to be clear, is this where you "condemned it"?

" Just to be clear...are you complaining about the use of his middle name or the content of the ad?


If it's the former, you might want to get used to it. If he wins the nomination, you'll hear it repeated ad infinitum."

[Auntie Bush]

86. Whyyyyyy? It might get your Wrath? lol

:rofl: if I do say so myself. Slaps self on back.

[Bonobo]

18. Why is this not being condemned soundly, Wraith? It is unambiguously wrong. nt

[ArkySue]

20. Race baiting?

Hussein is a "black" name now? I thought it was a Muslim name.

[Bonobo]

Are you seriously defending that call? Whoever it came from, are you defending it?

[ArkySue]

72. No, I'm questioning

the assertion that it's race baiting.

[TwilightZone]

23. That's correct. In addition, Islam is a religion, not a race.

[Bonobo]

25. Same question. Are you defending it?

[TwilightZone]

54. Not at all.

Do you see anywhere that I did?

Are you defending the unsourced assertions that the Clinton camp was responsible?

[Bonobo]

56. No, I am not. It is not a foregone conclusion that her camp is behind it.

[TwilightZone]

69. To be clear, the intent of the ad is obvious.

It is intended, of course, to create animosity. The problem I have is in assuming that the Clinton camp *must* be responsible, even in the absence of evidence to the contrary.

The Clinton camp is not the only one that would benefit from this type of antagonism.

[TheWraith]

27. I can't believe I'm actually seeing DUers defending this call as legitimate. NT

[TwilightZone]

31. Bullshit.

Show me where I have done any such thing. I asked for a source. You changed the subject and made it a personal issue.

If you can't back up your assertions, don't make them.

[Bonobo]

34. No where does the OP says it was from Clinton.

Can you condemn it or not?

[TwilightZone]

44. The person I responded to wasn't the OP.

How about you butt out of a conversation that you can't keep up with?

[Bonobo]

47. No problem.

Now fuck off.

[TheWraith]

35. I haven't made any assertions. You're the one suggesting that these calls aren't a smear. NT

[TwilightZone]

40. Wrong. Read what you wrote.

"It also doesn't mean we should approve of other Democrats using Republican tactics to attack our own."

So, you're not asserting that the source was a Democrat?

[TheWraith]

60. When one Democrat in a primary is attacked, it's logical that it came from another Democrat.

Whether that means a rival or a supporter of a rival, it's a hell of a lot more likely than Republicans getting into things just for fun.

[TwilightZone]

64. I disagree.

I think that the Republicans have an equal, if not greater, motivation to generate animosity with something like this. Continuing an intra-party war is certainly in their best interests. It may be their only chance.

[Tom Rinaldo]

79. Consider this

These robo calls are getting a lot of attention on political message boards like this one, and even in the mainstream media. The actual calls may have hurt Obama, but no one knows how many were made. It could be thousands. It could be dozens. Those receiving them could also have included some voters who got pissed that someone was running a robot call smeer operation against Obama, pushing them more toward rather than away from Obama as a result. But let's say for the sake of discussion that those actual calls hurt Obama more than they could possibly have helped him with the people who received them.

But the secondary media market effect, which includes us, is very damaging to Clinton since one of the things that she has to overcome is an impression with many that her campaign is more likely to employ dirty tricks than those of her opponents. I could make a claim from that Edwards had the most to gain by this, for example, or even Obama if outrage against Hillary is predicted to help him more than having his middle name mentioned in print a few more times.

Even if either of those paranoid conspiracy theory were true, neither the official Edwards nor Obama camps would have to know about any of it in advance. Any rogue volunteer with some campaign savy could arrange for a small number of such calls to reach known supporters of Obama who likely would get outraged and inform the media and the official campaign that they were happening. It would not be hard to figure out who to call to increase the liklihood of one or more such calls getting taped.

There literally are millions of Americans swept up now in the emotions of this primary campaign. This type of potential dirty trick is not something that would require an FBI agent to arrange.

[jefferson_dem]

65. Nevermind.

Carry on.

[AtomicKitten]

81. *

[TheWraith]

32. Actually, Hussein is an Arabic name that's become common for Muslims and their descendents.

Sort of like how you see a lot of Irish names among people who are Catholic, but whose families haven't had any ties to Ireland for a hundred years, if eer.

And frankly, even if you were right, I fail to see how Muslim-baiting is any better than blatant racism. If Republicans were running this call, would you still be defending it?

[babylonsister]

7. Just who would benefit from this?

:think:

[Tom Rinaldo]

24. Well if the tables were turned and this was a call about Hillary being a Goldwater Girl

I bet a majority of posters here would say the Clinton campaign staged a series of those calls to win sympathy votes once they came to light.

That in fact was the reaction to the "Iron My Shirt" protesters; and I saw quite a few threads on DU speculating on how the Clintons might try to steal one or more elections before any votes actually were held.

In an atmosphere like that the easiest way to smeer Hillary would be to stage a dirty trick that it looked like her campaign would benefit from.

I am not saying the above scenario is likely, but though I think it isn't, it becomss much more plausible by the day if not the hour. It would be pretty damn effective.

[Bonobo]

28. I think, Tom, condemning the call should be something EVERYONE agrees with, no?

Wherever it came from, no one should stoop that low. We should all condemn it.

Could it be a set up? Yes. You're right.

But first, we should have no trouble agreeing that it is one of the lowest things possible.

[Tom Rinaldo]

43. Absolutely. I do not approve of them no matter who was making them.

They are low, but unfortunately I think we both know that they aren't the lowest thing possible. That however by no means makes them acceptable under any circumstances.

[Bonobo]

49. Thanks. For some people, getting an admission like that is like pulling teeth.

[sufrommich]

30. Do you realize where one could go with that question?

It makes Clinton look shady,it benefits Obama and Edwards .It benefits the republicans because they can point to more Clinton dirty tricks. The conspiracy theories are endless,it's just stupid to decide you know it's Clinton because you dislike her enough to want it to be.

[AtomicKitten]

83. hmmmmm ...

[Bonobo]

9. What this thread proves: There is NOTHING that would shame some Hil supporters.

[City Lights]

16. And they'll be crying the loudest when these same tactics are used against

her should she win the nomination.

And I've got my violin ready for 'em.

[Hieronymus]

10. A pretty lame argument .. how many people use their middle name?

[Bonobo]

11. What are you arguing. It was unclear from your statement.

Do you think repeating "Hussein" 4 times in about 20 seconds was normal?

[Lucinda]

13. I do!

But the robocalls were still awful.

[Lucinda]

12. There were robocalls in Michigan telling Dems their primary was cancelled

Lots of nasty robocalls out there.

[Bonobo]

14. That excuses nothing. Hillary should condemn it or she's supporting it.

It has been recorded. There is no dispute that it happened.

If it did not come from her camp, she should condemn it.

[sufrommich]

21. Was it done in her name?

This is ridiculous.I understand disliking Clinton for whatever reason,but this constant blaming for all the evils out there is loony tunes. Do you have any proof whatsoever that the Clinton campaign is behind this?

[Bonobo]

29. Ok. How about this. I don't know where the call came from! Can you condemn it now?

[sufrommich]

36. I never condoned it! ! Jesus.

[Bonobo]

42. Then it should be easy. You just say something like...

"Boy, that is one of the lowest, sleaziest, dirtiest thing I've ever heard. I sure think that was wrong."

or something like that.

I never said you condoned it. I just asked you if you condemned it.

[sufrommich]

50. I condemn it along with the threadbare accusations

that Clinton is behind it .Both are equally sleazy as far as I'm concerned.

[Bonobo]

53. I cannot disagree with you that it COULD be a setup.

But it should NOT have been so difficult for even those of us here at DU on opposite sides to agree that it was a sleazy robo-call WHOEVER it came from.

That's all I'm saying.

I tell you what, if there is a similar thing done against Hillary, I pledge to try to be consistent.

[sufrommich]

61. Similar calls will be made against all Dem candidates...

with the exception of McCain,the repugs sure seem to get a lot less than we do though .Interesting,no?:tinfoilhat:

[hayu_lol]

48. A partial answer in two parts: Few living people managed to pick the names ...

that they choose to go by. Usually, aside from professional names chosen by apt talent agents, parents name their own children. Obama uses the names his parents gave him and so does Hillary.

As to the phone calls, this has cropped up since 2000. For the most part, it was done by the Repugnants not only to attack Dem candidates but to fool large groups of Dems about the date and time for them to vote, and/or precinct changes. It is much more likely to be Repugnant generated than it would be for our candidates to do this.

It is very much in the Rovian playbook and Tom DeLay's bag of tricks.

There are those here who WISH it to be Hillary generated.

[Bonobo]

51. Funny, I never heard you explicitly condemn it in there.

Lots of gobbledygook about parents naming their kids and references to the 2000 campaign, but nope, I doublechecked, no condemning.

[cali]

33. cui bono?

seriously, who benefits from this? The clear answer is Hillary. Do I think her campaign was directly behind this? I don't know, but if not it was likely someone or some group supporting her.

[sufrommich]

46. The clear answer is whoever your personal biases cause

you to believe it is. Nothing more or less. This is the worst kind of blind fury accusation,no facts just prejudicial scorn directed toward the candidate of choice.

[gulliver]

38. It's awful, but the last thing Obama needs is Clinton denouncing it.

Think about it.

I don't think for a minute official Hillary supporters are behind this. Regardless, I don't think Obama wants Clinton picking up the mike and denouncing it. That just makes Barack Hussein Obama a headline, and it admits the injury it causes. It doesn't matter that it is unfair. Obama doesn't need the headline, and he doesn't need to look like a victim.

Obama needs the media to defend him on this one, and I would not advise him to hold his breath. This attack is out there, and it works extremely well among ignorant, knee-jerk assholes. Welcome to Earth politics. The Republicans and media crucified Gore over a sigh.

Obama folks need to realize that we are living among a large bunch of people whose idea of political rhetoric is almost indistinguishable from a monkey's. They are going to chatter and screech and throw poop, because that is what they do. Obama himself knows it. Half of his job is winning over people who are politically nuckin futs.

[Sparkly]

45. True.

Imagine if Clinton picked up a mike and said, "It's awful that robocalls are saying the name 'Barack Hussein Obama' over and over."

Half the people would be saying "Why is she repeating it?! She's just giving it more airtime!" and the other half would say, "Why is she implying there's something inherently wrong with the name 'Hussein,' is she a bigot?"

[Bonobo]

57. Good point.

[Sparkly]

41. The name must have a negative effect on some people

if just saying it is intended to discredit him. (I don't know what the "special interests" claims are.)

I think his campaign should get out in front of this EARLY, especially if they're looking ahead to a general election campaign. It may be the old "Define yourself before you let your opponent define you." They need to embrace the name Hussein somehow and make it a positive. If the name alone becomes a "smear," it's a problem.

[Tom Rinaldo]

62. They don't even need to make the name positive

They only have to make the act of putting emphasis on a middle name that Obama does not use himself seem like an unfair and underhanded action. The name Hussein can become positive to a certain percentage of open minded Americans. But closed minded Americans will either be turned off by it or have sympathy for Obama that the name was given to him at birth when no one knew that Saddam Hussein would someday become an enemy of America. Any effort to routinely call Barack Obama anything but Barack Obama should be flagged as not coincidental. Most Americans don't expect to be refered to by their first, middle, and last name. They can connect the dots with minimal help.

Obama can say he is proud of his full name because he understands the proud heritages it encompasses, but isn't it curious that only HIS middle name keeps getting repeated by political commentators and no one else's? What's that about (hint, hint)?

[Sparkly]

68. I find that tricky though...

If his campaign calls use of his middle name a smear, couldn't it seem that they identify a problem with it?

I realize its use isn't coincidental, but I think the campaign needs to neutralize it somehow.

[Tom Rinaldo]

73. This is what all those high paid campaign op people get paid high for...

...coming up with the right nuanced way to turn the use of Obama's middle name by his opponents into a net positive for Obama. Sometimes it takes the right touch of humor, as when Ronald Reagan turned around attacks on him over his advanced age by saying about Walter Mondale; "I refuse to use my oponents youth against him".

They need to make a decision one way or another how to approach it, but I don't think failing to deal with it out front is a winning strategy. My gut tells me that they will not look defensive by seeming to identify a problem regarding Obama's opponents using his middle name against him. We are talking about it here. The media picks up on it also like in the case of these robo calls. It is common sense that his middle name naturally carries a negative conotation to some voters.

Please believe me, I'm not saying that the following specifically is the type of approach that would work in this case, but everyone has heard the ad slogan; "With a name like Schmuckers it must be good". The only commonality I am trying to point to is that that company recognized that their name was a potential liability and came up with a strategy to deal with it openly. They didn't just ignore the issue and hope it wouldn't become a problem.

[depakid]

59. Jefferson (or Diane or Rodham) vs. Hussien

It would be laughable, except that the American electorate IS so shallow that it'll end up being effective....

[DemBones DemBones]

75. Does Obama ever use his middle name?

Does he use his middle initial? Or does he simply go by the name "Barack Obama"?

I'm just curious. Lots of people decide for one reason or another not to use their middle names, or to use their middle names and not their first names.

The robo-calls were probably engineered by the GOP to hurt Obama and to hurt Hillary, by letting people think her campaign was behind them. They are sick bastards, you know.

[FlyingSquirrel]

76. Pure and simple fact of the matter is that the Repugs are gonna use this

And it will just increase a hundredfold if he's the nominee.

[Bonobo]

78. kick

[oasis]

82. Obama should have an ad campaign that highlights his middle name "Hussein".

Get it out there so it doesn't seem like he's got something to hide.

[Cha]

85. There's this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SnQOdEXbNQ