Why the Drudge / photo thing matters.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

This is a short primer for those who are claiming, truthfully or not, that they don't understand why Drudge publishing the photo, and the accompanying story, is causing such a stir. This will, I hope, be my last word on a very silly matter.

1) There is nothing inherently wrong or bigoted about the photo.

2) Nobody knows whether or not the Clinton campaign "pushed" the photo to Drudge. All we have in that respect is the assertion of a known liar.

3) Regardless of whether the photo is being pushed by Drudge himself, a Freeper, or the Clinton campaign is not relevant when it comes to determining WHY the photo was published.

4) The reason the photo is being published, and what makes people angry, is that it is quite obviously being published to push the discredited rumor that Obama is a Muslim. There is no other conceivable reason for this photo being "newsworthy" if it can even be called that.

5) There is nothing inherently wrong with being a Muslim.

6) There is, however, something very very wrong with lying about a person's religion in order to spread a racist conspiracy theory that he is an America-hating Manchurian candidate for al Qaeda. It is playing to bigotry, pure and simple.

7) Even if someone in the Clinton campaign did push this to Drudge, there is no way of knowing, based on the information available, that this is an official tactic of the campaign. It could have been the work of one relatively low-level staffer - even a volunteer.

Now, the Obama campaign and some Obama supporters on here have come out and blasted the Clinton campaign for this, which either means that they have more information on its origin than Drudge has published or, more likely, that they are attempting to use it to put the Clinton campaign on the defensive - to make them look "despearate." They likely know that the Clinton campaign cannot simply come out and deny Drudge's rather vague assertion because it could be technically true. So the Obama campaign is very probably being disingenuous in this respect, hoping to get a good news cycle out of this before the Clinton campaign can check the veracity of Drudge's story.

On the other hand, the Clinton campaign has asserted that there's nothing wrong with the publication of the photo. But they know damn well why it's being published, and they know why it's wrong. They wouldn't have fired that staffer who was pushing this crap earlier if they didn't know and understand why it was wrong. So in that respect they are being disingenuous as well, as are the people on here who are supporting this ridiculous claim.

[aikoaiko]

1. What photo?

[tyne]

2. If they didn't do it

they would have said so.

Frankly, I don't even want that woman to have any part of the Dem party.

[CPschem]

3. All good points

which is why I'll hold judgement UNTIL the facts come out. And I think they will soon enough.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

4. dupe - 13th or 14th thread on this one topic, distracts from Hillary's losing streak

stop playing into the game.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

6. This isn't a dupe.

Unless you'd like to suggest that all posts on a similar topic are duplicates. I decided to post the OP because most of the rest of the threads on this issue were flame fests.

[bigtree]

5. Yet this is a Drudge invention being spread and exploited as truth

I find it extremely offensive that right-wing propaganda is being used as a legitimate source from which to base attacks on the Clinton campaign. Despicable.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

7. The Clinton campaign would not be having this problem...

...if certain of her supporters had not waded into this particular mire in a rather public way on at least two previous occasions.

[CPschem]

8. All she has to do is deny it.

...still waiting.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

10. How do you truthfully deny something this vague?

The Drudge piece was vague enough that it could be completely true, yet completely meaningless from a bad-for-Hillary perspective. It's like saying "An employee of General Motors" sent it. Campaigns are huge organizations, and the candidate and his or her immediate staff often have little idea of what's going on three of four links down the chain of command.

[DURHAM D]

11. Bull shit - her campaign has suggested posting pics of Hillary in native attire. eom

[Cant trust em]

9. I disagree with point 7

If it is a low-level staffer or a volunteer it still reflects negatively on her campaign. I'm willing to wait until more facts come in, but if it is the case that this photo has been pushed by her campaign then this is terrible regardless of the seniority of the offender.

[MethuenProgressive]

12. It was in the National Enquirer (3 million readers) weeks ago. Why blame Clinton??

[JackORoses]

14. do you deny that Hillarite staffers sent this photo specifically to reporters?

If you cannot do this, then Hillary is to blame.

Her campaign has not been able to deny they are responsible.
Off the record, they are admitting it may be possible.

Please own up to your candidates desperate and repulsive tactics.

Would Bill Richardson approve of attacking someone based on race and religion?
I think not.

[MethuenProgressive]

17. "Would Bill Richardson approve of attacking someone based on race and religion?"

Of course not. And despite the success of the Obama's Swiftboating of the Clintons on race, they have still, and never would, and never will attack anyone based on race or religion.
You've been played.

[JackORoses]

20. So, you deny that Hillary staffers sent this photo out?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

16. Because being pissed off at the National Enquirer would make you look silly?

However, someone from a campaign actually using the Enquirer's bullshit as ammo for a campaign is ugly.

[MethuenProgressive]

19. Bill and Hill have paper routes! Yeah, that's the ticket!

Kids.

[Johnny__Motown]

13. If she can't control her staff in a campaign how can she be president? you made a false argument

trying to dismiss it as coming from some low level staffer

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

18. This happens in almost every campaign.

Some dumbass, overzealous staffer goes too far on attacking the opposition and get shitcanned. I would be mighty surprised if exactly the same thing didn't happen to Obama if he felt the need to go as negative on Hillary as she has on him.

[C_U_L8R]

15. It's not the photo.. it's the inferences they are making.

For instance, does this photo say Hillary is all tired out? Who's to say, right? ; - )


This whole thing is silly.. and it pretty darn obvious who's desperately pulling out every trick in the book.
Well right back at ya.