Candidate Obama attacks madrasa smear (Hillary joins Obama in attacking conservative press)

Guardian Unlimited ^ | Friday January 26, 2007 | Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington

[DBCJR]

Candidate Obama attacks madrasa smear

The Democratic senator, Barack Obama, has launched an aggressive counter-attack against rumours that he is a Muslim and was educated at a madrasa in Indonesia.

In an interview with a Chicago television station, Mr Obama denounced what he called a "climate of smear", intended to scupper his run for the White House in 2008. "When I was six, I attended an Indonesian public school where a bunch of the kids were Muslim, because the country is 90% Muslim," he said... The furore over Mr Obama's ethnicity - he is the son of a Kenyan father, whom he describes as a secular Muslim, and a white American mother - erupted just as he announced he was running for the White House [by whom? My understanding is Hillary]. It has had a renewed life in a media war, with CNN attacking Fox for repeating unattributed allegations made in a rightwing online magazine... But rumours that would ordinarily have remained in the blogosphere gained some credibility this month when an online magazine said Hillary Clinton's campaign was investigating Mr Obama's Muslim heritage. Ms Clinton's campaign has condemned the story as an attack on both Democratic leaders.

[DBCJR]

Hillary has joined ranks with Obama in pointing the finger at conservative media, "The Vast Right-wing Conspiracy", when she started the issue about her closest rivavl in the primary. If Steve Dooce (Fox)could have just reported Hillary's raising the question without editorializing, we could have sat back and watched the two front running Dems tear each other apart. When conservative media got in the frey, Obama stepped back & pointed the finger at them, rather than Hillary. Obama made a shrewed move. While Hillary may be about 40% in the polls to Obama's 20%, he is gaining from her attrition. Looking at the % difference between the two over time, his momentum could easily take her by New Hamphire. Hillary has split the party going for middle ground. Her support of Iraq will hurt her in the primary.

[sageb1]

Told ya! It was just too obvious.

[MichiganMan]

How would this be different than the Wilie Horton issue that Bush got blamed for starting when actually it was Gore that first used it to tar Dukakis?

[EagleUSA]

Hillary has joined ranks with Obama in pointing the finger at conservative media....
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This is a hoot of hypocrisy. Someone should take copies of the last six years of the NYT and dump them on Hitlery and Osama Obama's doorstep for them to read. Then let us see if they want to say the word "smear"....

[Mo1]

Those who didn't see this coming .. raise your hands


It's up there with Maureen Dowd making fun of Obama's ears and MSNBC blaming Rush for it

Pay Attention Folks ... it's all about sound bites

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

This is classic Clinton politics. What's funny is that Obama is too stupid to realize he's being used.

[tioga]

Even Obama is afraid to take on Hillary. LOL

[stm]

The idiocy and hypocrisy of both these über-morons never ceases to amaze me.

[sageb1]

So, let me get this straight...Obama and Hillary think accusing someone of being Muslim is a smear campaign? ;)

[isthisnickcool]

HEADLINE: HILLARY AND OBAMA AGREE THAT ISLAM SUCKS.... /or something like that

[1066AD]

furore over Mr Obama's ethnicity

Umm, religion don't they mean ?

[Hodar]

One of the stragegies Stalin is credited for (and the Clintons repeatedly use) is to declare an enemy is doing something wrong, illegal or unethical; while doing it yourself.

For as your enemy is now in a position of defense; you are now gaining the benefit of being on the offense, and remain free to do what he cannot.

"Politics of Personal Distruction", "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy", "Republican Culture of Corruption", and "Rascist" to name a few.

[stm]

"It takes a village(idiot)"

[alrea]

If Steve Dooce (Fox)could have just reported Hillary's raising the question without editorializing,

bingo

[Miss Didi]

Hilly old girl, we saw it coming way before you even thought of it. Gee, don't ya think we know you by now?

[etradervic]

Hillary's smear campaign against BHO was uncovered. Now she has to play damage control and divert attention from the Clintonistas.

[alrea]

Even Obama is afraid to take on Hillary

most journalists also are very careful when speaking of ms clinton

[TexasCajun]

"You've learned well grasshopper! "

[Polybius]

So, let me get this straight...Obama and Hillary think accusing someone of being Muslim is a smear campaign? ;)

If I were a Muslim, I would be totally outraged at this insult to Islam by Obama and Hillary.

"Paging CAIR. Paging CAIR. Outraged demonostrators needed in Aisle 3"

[EndWelfareToday]

Hillary's team has questions about Obama's Muslim background

Great article. Basically calls Osa.. errr, I mean 'Obama,' a liar.