Obama's turban: Playing dress-up old hat for [Barf Alert!]

chicagotribune.com ^ | 2/26/08 | Tribune staff and news services

[melt]

As the Democratic presidential contestants battle toward a possible resolution in the March 4 primaries, it doesn't take much to set off the campaigns and commentators. On Monday, it only took an 18-month-old photograph of Barack Obama dressed as a Somali elder during a visit to Kenya.

Where it came from

The Drudge Report, a news and gossip Web site, posted the photo Monday and said it was being circulated by "Clinton staffers." But Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for Hillary Clinton's campaign, said: "I just want to make it very clear that we were not aware of it, the campaign didn't sanction it and don't know anything about it." Site operator Matt Drudge did not say where he got the photo. Is he credible? Well, he broke the Monica Lewinsky scandal in 1998, but he also has delivered such bogus information as a false 2004 report about a John Kerry "intern problem."

Not unusual -- but controversial

In this case, no one questions the photo's authenticity. Visiting U.S. officials often wear native attire to show respect for local cultures. But the sensitivities are intense in this case, because Obama is wearing a turban. In December, two Iowa volunteers for Clinton resigned after forwarding an e-mail that falsely said Obama is a Muslim possibly intent on destroying the U.S. Obama is a member of the United Church of Christ.

Obama aide: It's 'fear-mongering'...

[melt]

How did this photo become a part of the conversation? Hey, that's a really snappy turban with an Obama/Osama under it... isn't it?

[LdSentinal]

Obama looks like a Al-Queda foot soldier in that uniform.

Allah Akbar!

[Pinetop]

the turban is a sign of Muslim faith.

[weegee]

LIES

They say it came from Drudge but it appeared in a tabloid paper LAST WEEK.

Drudge didn’t have the scoop. He gave the story legs.

[syriacus]

There's another picture of Barack, from a 2004 USA Today article

llinois Senate candidate's family in Kenya chose life in the slow lane

[weegee]

Matt Drudge did not say where he got the photo. Is he credible? Well, he broke the Monica Lewinsky scandal in 1998, but he also has delivered such bogus information as a false 2004 report about a John Kerry "intern problem."

I guess this is an admission that the Swift Boat Veterans told the truth because the "dirt" of the 2004 campaign is they alledge Drudge made some kind of allegation about Kerry and an intern.

Is that anything like the Nyet Times putting a story about McCain and a lobbyist's "inappropriate relationship" on the front page?

[RedStateRocker]

I wonder if a Rovian type trap is being set.

Let conservatives rush in and damn Obama for wearing those clothes and then turn around and bash us with innumerable pictures of various Republicans dressing in local attire. And then appeal to the general public who, I’m willing to bet, do not find anything shocking a politician wearing silly outfits (Rudy anyone?) or really give much of a damn. They’ll turn it around to make conservatives look like ethnocentric bigots. At least that’s what I’d do if I were running Obama’s campaign- defuse the ‘Hussein’ meme up front and set a little trap.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

A caller from Kenya and living for years in the San Francisco area told radio host Brian Sussman (KSFO) that the Obama family are really Somalian. The famous photo is apparently Obama dressed in Somalian nomadic garb.

According to the CIA book on Somalia there is one religion there, Sunni Muslim.

I mention this because of posts arguing that in Kenya Muslims are a mere ten percent of the population. Well, the CIA fact book confirms that. But those Muslims are mostly in the north bordering Somalia and other countries with much larger Muslim populations.

Nothing wrong with that except -- Kenya being only ten percent Muslim means nothing vis-a-vis the Obama family.

[LdSentinal]

Except that most Republicans aren't named HUSSEIN, which is as Muslim as you can get.

HUSSEIN Obama is an Islamist.

[melt]

[ARE SOLE]

I read B. Hussein Obamas Baby Daddy decided to become a Muzzie?

Regards

[melt]

And the hits just keep on coming. If these fotos are "smearing" Barack--- why did he look so satisfied posing for them?

[RedStateRocker]

Not arguing that, my point is that jumping on this, as with the ‘Osama/Obama’ meme is, I would bet, more likely to back fire than to fire up the majority.
Believe me, I loath Islam plenty, but in tactical terms I think this is a trap.

[TigersEye]

Why are the lefties doing so much explaining about his Muslim dress up pics? It’s no big deal right?

[kitkat]

From USA Today:

Obama’s father:

***He died in car crash in 1982, leaving three wives, six sons and a daughter. All his children except Malik live in Britain or the United States. One of the brothers died in 1984.***

ALSO:

***Their paternal grandfather, Onyango Hussein Obama, was one of the first Muslim converts in Nyangoma-Kogelo, Malik said. However, not all of his descendants are Muslim, Malik added. Barack is Christian.***

[napscoordinator]

***He died in car crash in 1982, leaving three wives, six sons and a daughter. All his children except Malik live in Britain or the United States. One of the brothers died in 1984.***

Gosh and they thought Mormans had messy marriages. This will put Thomas Jefferson (possible child out of marriage), JFK (possible affairs), Clinton (BJ in Oval Office) look like romper room.

[syriacus]

If these fotos are "smearing" Barack--- why did he look so satisfied posing for them?

Good question.

[frankjr]

[kitkat]

Still more about Obama’s father. Daily Mail, today, 2/27/08

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=431908&in_page_id=1770

Claims he was a bigamist, and wife beater.