Posted on 02/26/2008 3:52:09 PM PST by jdm
Apparently, John McCain doesn't like the asinine emphasis on Barack Obama's middle name any more than Obama himself. After talk-radio host Bill Cunningham introduced McCain at a Cincinnati rally, the presumptive Republican nominee apologized for the disrespectful tone taken by his emcee:
McCain wasn't on stage nor in the building when Cunningham made the comments, but he quickly distanced himself from them and the talk show host after finishing his speech. McCain spoke to a couple hundred people at Memorial Hall in downtown Cincinnati.
"I apologize for it," McCain told reporters, addressing the issue before they had a chance to ask the Arizona senator about Cunningham's comments.
"I did not know about these remarks but I take responsibility for them. I repudiate them," he said. "My entire campaign I have treated Senator Obama and Senator (Hillary Rodham) Clinton with respect. I will continue to do that throughout this campaign.
McCain called both Democrats "honorable Americans" and said "I want to dissociate myself with any disparaging remarks that may have been said about them."
Asked whether the use of Obama's middle name—the same as former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein—is proper, McCain said: "No, it is not. Any comment that is disparaging of either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is totally inappropriate."
Some will ask what problem there could be with saying the candidate's full name. After all, Cunningham and others aren't making up names for Obama; Hussein is his real name. How can that possibly be "disrespectful", in McCain's own words?
The intent makes all the difference. Those emphasizing the middle name want to drive home the heritage of Obama, specifically his father. It seeks to extend the urban myth of Obama's supposed Muslim identity. The name "Hussein" has other connotations as well, a not-so-subtle link to Saddam Hussein, one of the worst dictators in recent times.
None of this is subtle, and anyone professing innocence of these intentions are either lying to us or lying to themselves. If we need to refer to Obama, his last name will suffice, or Senator Obama, or Barack Obama. Using the full name three times in an introduction makes it quite clear that the speaker wants to invoke a less-than-intellectual response to the likely Democratic nominee.
McCain rightly disassociated himself from that kind of politicking. Given that Cunningham represented his campaign at this event, McCain made the right decision to apologize for the speech and to categorically reject the tactic. He wants to win the election by remaining on the high road, not by appealing to fear and dislike. McCain just passed his Sista Souljah test, but his staff will have to do better to avoid these tests in the future, as Allahpundit points out.
You will be waiting even longer for another Freeper to care what you think. Danegirl.
Cunningham isn't running a political campaign and by the looks of it neither is McCain. An overblown sense of anointment laced with a liberal love fest maybe, but not a Presidential campaign. Heck, maybe McCain is maneuvering for a cabinet post in the Obama Administration. He could be El Jeffe of La Migra. I'm sure that would tickle you and your illegal gardeners pink.
The check-pants crowd has never understood that. That's part of the reason they always lose.
and don't think of an elephant.
LOL! It only took Tadslos less than a minute to reply.
McPain wouldn't want to offend any one of his elitist friends in the U.S. senate ... particularly a 'rat. This same emphasis was put on Obama's middle name (Hussein) at a Hillary rally earlier in the campaign season by none other than former senator Kerrey of Nebraska ... it was considered nothing more than a political tweak by the liberal MSM. Of course Kerrey is a screaming liberal so it's OK ...
McKennedy is a weak tool. Apologizing for something that HE DID NOT SAY????
what a POS.
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I kinda like that Barack thing. Reminds me of Kazakstan. Didn't Hussein star in some movie about that country recently?
yitbos
That doesn’t mean he cares.
Whoa, McCain slams Osama.
yitbos
So what’s a good stock right now?
The more and more it looks like Hussein may be elected.....NONE!!!
“Sista Soulja” moment? Hardly. Just another McCain knife to the back of another conservative.
Actually, Barack (sometimes spelled Borack, Baraq) is the name of Mohammed’s winged horse. You can look it up on Google. Just Google Mohammed and horse. Honest. Too bad Cunningham didn’t bring up that one today.
Anything said during a candidate’s campaign appearance reflects on him. McCain is wise to distance himself from this kind of attack.
Clinton lied to get elected. McCain is trashing those telling the truth in order that he will look good losing.
Dane, would you take offense if I called you a loud cheap leftist?
CQ Morrissey, jumping the shark for McCain, again.
How embarrassing.
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