Why do some refer to Barack Obama as Barry?

[demmiblue]

Yes, I googled and briefly read an article chronicling the name transformation. However, I am now even more perplexed as to why anyone would call him Barry! Any insights?

[donheld]

1. It's a dis

At least here at DU. You never see anyone who likes Barack use it.

[LSparkle]

6. Yeah, I guess they'd see it as "elitist" to return to your given name

rather than "Americanizing" it.

:sarcasm:

[Mezzo]

17. His friends and family call him Barry. It's in his books, I believe. He wanted Barack when he got

older. Kinda like ditching Charlie for the more grown up Charles.

I don't think it's a dig necessarily because it IS what people have called him without insult.

[dchill]

26. Right.

It's still a dis. And you know it.

[Mezzo]

46. I don't consider it a 'dis' at all. It's the TRUTH, and certainly better than 'fucking whore'. Thx

[dchill]

50. You're right - "Barry" IS better than "fucking whore."

It's still a dis - especially in a thread title. You can't deny that.

[Bucky]

67. I think he dropped the "Barry" when Manilow sold out & started working for The Man

I'd drop my own "nomme de nette" if I ever thought Buck Owens was going to sell out to The Suits. Or rather, come back to life and sell out to The Suits.

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dionysus]

58. dupe

[Bake]

68. Yeah, probably racist too.

Except that's what he went by in high school. You've seen the high school yearbook picture, I'm sure.

Bake

[rodeodance]

31. it was during his early college years--Barry was a 'white' name.

[Qutzupalotl]

It was his high school nickname.

Why does it always have to be about race with you?

[Alexander]

87. Rodeodance apparently has some sheets that aren't used for the bed.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mezzo]

47. Barry is NOT a "white" name, it's an abbrev. of Barack. Stop stirring shit. It's Barack for short

You guys on both sides are getting a little nutty.

[Bucky]

70. Barry is ABSOLUTELY a white, sell out name. Any brother going by Barry MUST BE a Tom or an Oreo

Um...



Uh...



Well...

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/04/02/Barry_080401104914659_wideweb__300x375,1.jpg

Okay, my theory isn't perfect

[CreekDog]

76. how do you know this?

:shrug:

[Bucky]

35. It was coined by his mom and he used the name Barry until college

It is in no way disrespectful. Why are some men called Bobby as kids, but Robert as adults? Why does my own mother call me "the ingrate" now, but when I was a kid she called me "the cancer who ruined my life"? Because sometimes names change when we get older.

[Mezzo]

49. This is EXACTLY what I said upthread, and was told it is a 'dis'. LOL. Some are going nuts.

:popcorn:

[ieoeja]

60. It *is* a dis.

When they were little boys, my nephews were called Jimmy, Johnny and Joey.

As men they are called Jim, John and Joe. Were I wanting to yank one of their chains today, I would call him by his childhood name, in effect calling him a child.

That is why the Obama haters use Barry on DU. They mean it to demean him. They call him a child, his supporters Obamababies or Obabies, refer to themselves as "the adults", etc. It is simple name calling.

Sort of like Limbaugh calling the party "Democrat" and the people "Democratics". Childish name calling intended to get under the skin. When it does get under the skin they make fun of you for being too sensitive. It is debate that rises no further than middle school level.

[niyad]

64. what do you call the people who call hillary "whore", for example, and

her supporters shillbots, etc? or is that part okay?

[ieoeja]

75. Freepers and trolls n/t

[Araxen]

2. They are trying to be overtly racist.

I dunno really, just a guess.

[LisaM]

3. They shouldn't be doing that.

I am a Clinton supporter, but I don't like it. We should respect the names people choose to use. It would be like calling Mohammed Ali "Cassius", IMO.

[Cant trust em]

29. That's the example I was thinking of too

I don't quite know what it is about Obama, but it's like they want to take some thing away from him. There are so many cross-currents of racism floating around him that I'm not sure how to read this.

[Adelante]

4. They think they're being cute

Or something :shrug:

[Yael]

5. Because they are idiots and think its "funny"

[blm]

7. Arrested Development? Emotional Immaturity?

Plain old.... DICKS?

Plain old.... MEAN?

Take your pick. They're all true.

[baldguy]

8. It was his nickname in high school.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/18/181128/082



Like EVERYONE wants to remembered for their high school days.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. Yeah, but Randi Rhodes got in trouble for using Clinton's HS nickname.

:shrug:

[cliffordu]

16. ROFLMAO !!!!!

Fuck, man that's good. I wish I'd have thought of it.... :rofl: :rofl:

[IsItJustMe]

21. LOL Good one.

[baldguy]

24. "Frigidaire"? It fits.

[tridim]

27. Ouch.

;)

[LTR]

38. What? "Goldie?"

As in "Goldwater Girl?"

[Adelante]

63. Oh, God, I didn't want to laugh

But I did :rofl:

[goldcanyonaz]

71. Wow. I highly doubt she was ever referred to by that name.

[Lucky 13]

84. BURN!

[tridim]

20. I love that yearbook pic of Obama playing hoops with Jackie Earle Haley

:)

[JVS]

9. Because they're bitter about their candidate losing.

[americanstranger]

10. An attempt to belittle.

If you can't beat the guy, just ridicule him. They seem to enjoy it. I guess it beats looking at the delegate count.

- as

[hisownpetard]

12. None of the above. That's what he was called when he was little - it's a nickname derived from

"Barack." Apparently, he didn't start going by his given name until, I believe, he was in college.

So people who knew him back in the day still call him Barry, much like siblings still call each other by the nick-names
they were called when they were younger.

I go by "Susan" as an adult, but my big brother still calls me "Susie."
And I let him get away with it.

[HardWorkingDem]

13. Probably because he used to go by Barry...

But what is even more laughable is one of the newsweeklies had a cover story about this and the name change is nothing more than "Bobby" becoming "Robert" or Dick becoming "Richard."

Kind of like when boys age and take the adult version of their name.


Eddie - Edward
Mikey - Michael
Becky - Rebecca

[2rth2pwr]

14. They are racist pigs.

Anytime you call a black man Barry, it's a code word.

Code for what, I don't know.

But unless you call him by his given birth name it's racist, unless you use his middle name, which is also considered racist.

You're just better off calling him The Messiah.

[phrigndumass]

23. I'd rather call him Mr. President

[mckeown1128]

41. Nice Rush tactics you just used...

Exagerate then attack the candidate based on the exageration you've created. Rush would be proud.

[eleny]

15. A Republican-like tactic - like saying "the Democrat Party"

[mirrera]

18. High School, it is no big deal.

I have a cousin who I have known as William my whole life. All the friends he grew up with called him Billy or Bill. It means nothing.

[DarienComp]

19. Because they're assholes?

[stellanoir]

22. He was known as Barry prior to going to College and then chose to use his full first name.

I've a cousin who's first name is Barry. It was his mum's maiden name.

Still people who don't know Barack from pre college days shouldn't be calling him by a nick he transcended and grew past long ago.

[2rth2pwr]

33. How dare they?

Shillary, Hillaryous, Billary, Fucking Whore!, Bitch, etc, etc..

[stellanoir]

44. Chill

It goes both ways.

"Barry Hussein Osama" we've heard far more often than those equally disrespectful and inaccurate characterizations.

Unfortunately there are always those who will appeal to the lowest common denominator.

I've never uttered any of them.

So there.

[niyad]

69. funny, I never heard "barry hussein obama" until you used it just now, but I HAVE heard all the

vile, vitriolic names used against Sen. Clinton ad nauseum on these boards, to the point where I have to check to make sure I wasn't somehow switched to that other site.

[stellanoir]

72. I was surfin' on the car radio today between local and national stations.

I heard it on a local station.

So dumb.

[cottonseed]

25. They are consumed with hate.

These mostly are those that have passed so far towards becoming Republicans that their hate for Obama basically consumes them.

[crankychatter]

28. anglicization is as common as rain - look deep and keep scraping

projection, reflection, illusion

direct everyone's energy to a puzzle that doesn't exist

[Cant trust em]

30. But that's his choice, not posters on DU

There's something going on here. I'm not sure what it is, but there's something.

[crankychatter]

39. I've got ALL the dirt... serious business... but I won't be posting it

because as long as the MIC and MSM despise him, he's my man

My African American Family is fully versed in every conceivable detail of Senator Obama's life... to include endeavoring to fill in the blanks...

They are not high on Obama...

It's fascinating stuff... for private discourse and conjecture...I'm not giving the opposition a single hint.

peace to ya... I mean that

[Cant trust em]

59. Good for you. Just keep that info in your back pocket

That's the train that I've been on. There are plenty of opportunities to bash democrats in GDP. I've decided that I'm only going to be positive from here on out.

[demmiblue]

74. Is this comment to me?

Anglicization was common for those immigrating into the US (was being the operative word). However, I don't see how this relates to Barack Obama's wish to be called Barack, instead of Barry. Why not call him by his given, and chosen, name?

I really don't understand your comment about, "projection, reflection, illusion," as it has nothing to do with my OP.

[crankychatter]

82. yes Barry is mildly desultory but not racist AND

Many people STILL simplify and Anglicize their names...

... so it's easier for the English speaking ear...

my Vietnamese friends... African friends etc...

the High School moniker is just being used by opponents in a bit of a "sneery" fashion

and they may be HOPING it inspires a subtle, internal reaction, in other people already pre-disposed to ethnocentricty, anti-islamic, or racist sentiments... but I think it's just a tad nasty

But it's not like the above... and really not that big of a deal...

mho... my comprehension is OK... but if you think I misunderstood you, fine...

it wouldn't be the first time

I don't think it's actually important enough to get into or argue about

[Deep13]

32. Because he writes the songs that make the whole world sing.

:evilgrin:

[Terran]

34. Clearly it depends on WHO calls him "Barry"

People with an agenda who don't know him personally do it out of sheer rudeness. It's not racist, it's just an attempt to call attention to the change in the belief it will somehow make him look bad.

But an earlier poster nailed it: like calling Muhammad Ali "Cassius"--it's just disrespectful.

[RichardRay]

37. For the same reason some folks talk about 'Malcom Little'

and with just about as much hope of getting away with it face to face. It's a drive by.

[Jed Dilligan]

40. It's a new way to infantilize him,

now that they've got the memo that "boy" is too obvious.

[LowerManhattanite]

42. It's a diminishment...

He was called that as teen and in college (twenty years ago)—a name he has since dropped after moving into public life. It's infantilizing (done o make him appear young and unready) and also a cheap dig in calling him something OTHER than what he has made a specific choice to be referred to by.

For awhile, certain idiots threw out “B.O.” (which was taken from Fox News' now-thankfully-cancelled “Half Hour News Hour”) which I think they have reluctantly had to let go of under pressure from the Mods (about the use of shitty nicknames as pejoratives). They've since switched to “BHO” and “Barry” and “Barackie” and hyping his Arabic middle name “Hussein”.

They're pissed at him over their own candidate's missteps and are lashing out immaturely.

Thus the “Neener-neener-Barry-Barry” crap.


“Kids...what's the matter with kids to-day!”

[demmiblue]

43. Wow... you guys are fast!

I was not really talking about close acquaintances who grew up calling him Barry, I was wondering why some call him Barry on this board. From what I understand, he took back his birth name in order to honor his roots.

I can see that this wasn't really a productive question. Whoops!

:shrug:

[Chalco]

45. Try reading his autobiography. He used to go by that name

and maybe close associates still call him that. I can't imagine there's any ill intention.

[Deep13]

51. As a general rule, I tend to avoid books written by the candidates.

They're not exactly unbiased. Just sayin'.

[Chalco]

80. I agree, but a friend recommended it and to be polite I did.

I could see that he is an excellent writer and saw his struggle with being black and white. It was moving. However, I could also see that although he was bright he did not have much experience. He was a community organizer and at least for the duration of the first autobiography (Dreams of my Father) he was pretty much just in training. Didn't accomplish much. He is a very bright guy who writes and speaks well.

[Arugula Latte]

48. OMG! He had a nickname and then he used his given name and

that is just WRONG according to supporters of Hillary Rodham I mean Hillary Rodham Clinton I mean Hillary Clinton I mean back to Hillary Rodham Clinton oops I mean Hillary.

[demwing]

52. It diminuitive

And meant to be a mild insult.

[CakeGrrl]

53. They call him "Barry" on these boards now to insult him

People who know him well, like his h.s. coach on "Real Sports", may still refer to him that way, but every post on these boards where they use that nickname is to slam him - like the tabloids referring to Michael Jackson as "Jacko".

[intaglio]

54. Same people as use is would cry scream and moan

at calling Sen Cilnot; sorry, Mrs Bill; sorry Hilly Rodham; Oh, you know, the Goldwater Girl,

Hillarity Clintoon

[BlooInBloo]

55. I assumed he went by that as a youngster to have a more "American" name...

... And I assume people call him that now as dogwhistle-derision to say how "non-American" (white) he is.

[YOY]

57. Because of the Clinton handbook's illustrated example of how to fight:

[goodgd_yall]

61. To show disrespect

When you intentionally call someone by a name other than the one they want to be called by, it's a show of disrespect.

[lumberjack_jeff]

62. It's dimunitive. Like "Georgie" or "George Jr.". n/t

[GoesTo11]

65. It's like when right wingers refer to the "Democrat Party"

Smirking and denying that it's disrespectful. Immature name games instead of issues. That kind of thing.

[DangerousRhythm]

66. They think it's clever.

It really isn't.

[Forkboy]

73. It's their concept of clever, such as it is.

[DS1]

77. because they're obnoxious fucks

[jefferson_dem]

78. Nasty racial slur.

They (only freeper till now) refused to call Barack to his more African-sounding name. It's a way of mocking his multi-racial lineage.

[CreekDog]

79. if someone asks to be called a certain name and you call them otherwise

you are showing disrespect for them.

people can choose what name they prefer to be called and everybody should respect that. people of mixed racial background are the only ones that should be deciding what race or races they consider themselves a part of.

and all you "Barry" folks, I didn't notice you calling Jackie Speier by the name "Karen" which is her given name. She took "Jackie" as her confirmation name (in her teens).

Now knowing that, wouldn't it be disrespectful if you insisted on calling her "Karen" instead of Jackie? I mean, who are you to decide better than the person who has the name?

I'm sick of this garbage. (oh yeah and Billary and Hill is wrong too)

[JoFerret]

81. We should refer to ALL candidates by their prefered names(s)

This includes John Mccain.

And you friend need to return to some other universe and ask your question there.

[JerseygirlCT]

83. That was his childhood nickname. He has the same first name

as his father - and as a child, they chose to "Americanize" it to Barry.

As he grew into adulthood, he chose to revert to his given name.

It's not a big deal.

[Irreverend IX]

85. I don't know why racists would call him Barry...

Seeing as it's a "normal" Anglo name. I figure they'd try to play up the foreignness of his name with stuff like "Barack Hussein Osama."

[John Kerry VonErich]

86. Gimme a break

First people got offended when someone calls Bill Clinton "Bubba", now it's Barrack Obama being called "Barry", like its the n word. If it's a code word, then what is it, if you don't know, than it is not. What next? The catholics of DU would get offended if someone calls Pope Benedict "Benny"?!?