Developing: Have they Beaten Obama Already?

Looking for thoughts and comments on this point of view. I am not a troll, I am not right wing. But I must ask you kossacks: can Barack Hussein Obama really win with that name?

When I type out that full name, Barack Hussein Obama, I am not doing so with that snakey rethug smile on my face, winking to the trash out here. But there are people who will simply question Obama in a racist ugly way just by slyly and drippingly pronouncing his full name. Its too easy as a right wing tactic. It won't be something that only fringe wingnuts will be doing, it will be  regular rightwingers in business, sports and talk TV.
   
Barack Hussein Obama. Fuck. Don't the Democrats need someone who is UNASSAILABLE??? the bastard rethug army will just pronounce his name. They'll just say his name emphasizing Huuh-sayne, with visions of scary muslim terrorists and dictators flashing in their creepy smiles.

I consider myself (and most daily kossacks) to be media-literate, intelligent people, above the subtle propaganda of FauxNews et al. But not every american voter is like that. Scary racist overtones may haunt Obama. Have they beaten him already?

•  It feels like I have a pimple growing

  UNDER my nose...like, if I could remove my nose it would be right there.

  by ablington on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 11:57:16 AM PDT

  •  Three words

    "Harold (wink) call me."

    There are some racists voters that won't vote for Obama because of his name.  They will never admit it, but that's the fact.  

    A guy like John Edwards has got a shot at taking some of the Southern boarder states - VA, TN, NC, MO, KY, or a conservative state like IN.  

    by deepsouthdoug on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:15:44 PM PDT

    •  Electability!

      It's a magic word! It's a word that means everything! Electability! Say it again! Three times, fast! Electability! Electability! Electability!

      Border states! Electability!

      Racism! Electability!

      Funny names! Electability!

      Wheee!

      by zenbowl on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:22:43 PM PDT

      •  Obama, Akaka, Crapo, Enzi, Eshoo, Fattah, Flake..

        see my diary response to this "concern" for more.

        by jab on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:50:00 PM PDT

        •  Boner

          Boner, in my country, is pronounced "Bayner," children.

          by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:51:14 PM PDT

    •  Ford got 48% in Tennessee, and Obama

      is much more charismatic than him.

      by Geekesque on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:37:20 PM PDT

      •  Don't think Obama's more charismatic than Ford

        Many 'pundits' said Ford ran the best campaign in the country this year.  He was ahead in the polls at the time 'Harold call me' came out.  

        by deepsouthdoug on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 01:11:21 PM PDT

        •  "Harold call me" hammered at Ford's biggest

          drawback--he was a 36-year old bachelor living in the Bible Belt.  That subtracts from the public's perception of a man's gravitas.

          by Geekesque on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 01:12:59 PM PDT

•  well...

  I thought there was a plurality of idiots in this country when we elected Bush as president.

  However anybody with a shred of intelligence will realize how stupid this comparison is, and I dare say it will backfire in the face of the GOP spin machine, much like it did this past election.

  by danger durden on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 11:57:49 AM PDT

•  Yes,

  and lets not nominate hilary because she is a woman, and not nominate edwards b/c he is a trial lawyer, and not nominate vilsack b/c no one knows him, and not nominate clark b/c he has enimies in the military.  Let's nominate the best fucking person, screw the Right Wing Noise Machine.

  by Jambro on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:00:44 PM PDT

  •  i understand your comment, but...

    is Obama the 'best fucking person'? is he a JFK-in waiting figure or a centrist who must please everybody?

    by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:10:47 PM PDT

    •  why don't you ask him?

      in the meantime, drop this name shit. It's old already.

      by zenbowl on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:13:47 PM PDT

      •  Its old already?

        Your going to wish its old already. It is Sad. these people will come after Obama if he goes after the presidency. it has only begun.

        by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:23:49 PM PDT

        •  No shit, Sherlock

          They come after everyone.

          by zenbowl on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:27:40 PM PDT

        •  Who do you want to be nominated?

          I'll give you their new middle name.

          by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:33:49 PM PDT

    •  So is that your real issue here?

      You think he is a centrist who must please everybody? Cuz, if it is, please write a diary about that, and deleted this trollish crap about Obama's middle name.

      by jj32 on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:19:24 PM PDT

      •  ding ding ding

        we have a winner

        by zenbowl on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:23:01 PM PDT

    •  We are not even close to deciding who...

      the best fucking person is.   However, its incredibly stupid to knock someone off the list because we suspect the right wing will go after them.  Its just stupid.  My point was that you seem to be knocking him off the list b/c the right wing will use his name against him.  So, lets knock Hilary off b/c she's woman, etc.  That is not how we should be picking our nominee.  If so, then lets just all switch to the republican party and maybe, just maybe, they will stop bashing us!

      by Jambro on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:37:12 PM PDT

  •  hey - don't nominate any Dem

    They're all LIBERALS! And they'll use that against them.

    by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:13:41 PM PDT

    •  also

      make sure not to nominate any politicians. Those guys (and gals) have a really bad rep).

      by zenbowl on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:14:29 PM PDT

    •  Wait - can they do that?

      Hardly seems fair...

      by nightsweat on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 01:07:36 PM PDT

  •  Oh

    and dont nominate John F. Kennnedy. He is Catholic, he cant win. Oh, wait never mind..

    by jj32 on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:21:21 PM PDT

•  those who would make a mockery

  of his name for cheap political points are so shrill, partisan, and desperate that i doubt the left will stand much for it.  in fact, obama has probably thought long and hard about how to deal with his name, he's just not bothered to start firing all cylinders yet.  

  other thing - i think this also wreaks of rovian tactics that the electorate pretty much rejected 11/06.

  by sedrunsic on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:01:00 PM PDT

•  Thank you for your CONCERN. eom

  by Geekesque on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:01:00 PM PDT

•  You're a loon.

  by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:01:45 PM PDT

  •  Im hurt.

    i really am. Im not crazy or a bird though. I mean well.

    by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:08:08 PM PDT

    •  You can't mean well when you don't mean anything

      I'll twist my head back into place and reply to you like a serious person, fwiw: Does decency and intelligence and wisdom mean anything to you? do YOU think that a person shouldn't become president because of a middle name? If not, and my head is twisting again, then why would you even begin to buy such dull logic yourself? I can see no answer but trolling, and that's because I'm too nice to call you dumb.

      by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:12:32 PM PDT

      •  I think a middle name shouldn't matter a lick...

        goddammitt. and I don't buy their dull logic. they have no logic. they play evil games on people, they manufacture threats, they manufacture consent. i am not dumb or a troll. pleasse have a little decency yourself. my intentions are only to find out what you think. will the racist people succeed in smearing obama?

        by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:22:08 PM PDT

        •  But you fail to see that this diary means

          exactly that you have bought the logic. I don't think you're a troll anymore. You've stuck around too long. But listen, please: Good commenters here had replied to you well. One pointed out that anybody who wouldn't vote for Obama because of his middle name very very very likely wouldn't vote for him in any case - because he's a Dem. And black. And liberalish. So it makes your question ridiculous, while serivng the Right Wind liars and racists who want "Barack HUSSEIN HUSSEIN HUSSEIN Obama" repeated as many times as possible in association with questions like this.

          by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:27:56 PM PDT

          •  The 2008 elections are still far off...

            I buy your point about not perpetuating rightwing noise. But the time to talk about these things would be now. Not right before the 2008 election. Maybe once the dem candidate is chosen, you can tell people to shut up. i will shut up and get behind that person.

            by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:34:43 PM PDT

            •  There is no time that is right to

              talk about whether Obama's middle name should even be considered a good subject for debate. There's just not.

              by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:42:06 PM PDT

              •  We all know its not a fun f***in subject...

                to debate. it is a subject that will be debated anyway. even if people wish it would go away. racism is part of our world. part of rightwing tactics is subtle racism.

                by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:47:11 PM PDT

                •  It's not about "no fucking fun"

                  it's about "dumb." I'm not calling you dumb, so don't be defensive. I'm callaing your diary's premise and content and conclusion dumb. We all do dumb things sometimes.

                  by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:50:11 PM PDT

•  Canadian, eh?

  When I type out that full name, Barak Hussein Obama, I am not doing so with that snakey rethug smile on my face, winking to the trash out here.

  you might as well be ...

  Just what kind of "trash out here" do you expect to be "winking to", posting this on DKos? I'll give ya a hint: DavidSirota doesn't read much beyond his own postings here ...

  by wystler on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:03:02 PM PDT

  •  i mean out here in cyberspace, in the world.

    i give full respect to everyone (almost) on here. The dailykos crew is one of the most intelligent, meaningful, discussion groups on the web. I lurked forever on here and always will probably.

    by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:07:00 PM PDT

•  my name...

  is "mayan" - I'll never get elected.  boohoo.

  by mayan on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:04:05 PM PDT

  •  But with "Apocalypto"

    Mayans are hot, hot, HOT this holiday season!

    by howth of murph on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:07:09 PM PDT

    •  hot mayan on mayan action! don't tell rick! n/t

      by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:08:39 PM PDT

    •  My prescience...

      is the stuff of legend!!

      by mayan on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:27:51 PM PDT

•  I am not a dog. I am not a labrador retriever

  I am not trying to get PhillyGal banned from this site. But I must ask Kossacks: Aren't cats stupid? And disgusting? And don't they have ugly whiskers?

  Woof. I mean - bye.

  by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:07:40 PM PDT

•  You sound Nixonian.

  "I am not a crook troll."

  by Mike S on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:08:46 PM PDT

  •  hey Neil Young is on your sig....

    I thought Canadians couldn't talk on DailyKos. maybe they can only sing?   ...deck the halls...

    by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:16:26 PM PDT

    •  Canadians can't talk?

      Can I ask you what you do and how old  you are? Well, I just did.

      by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:20:50 PM PDT

      •  Umm, no

        I wouldn't tell you what I do and how old I am. I don't trust you. You are kind of a creep. with your mean comments n'all.

        by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:41:54 PM PDT

        •  There's a difference between "mean"

          and "creepy," just to say. Wanting to take somebody  out of the political process because of their middle name is, in my book, creepy.

          And it's not meanness. It's honest frustration.

          by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:44:23 PM PDT

          •  Honest frustration?

            I can understand that. But your comments reek of deliberate misunderstanding. Where did I say I want to take Obama out of the process? Im just asking some questions, facilitating some discussion.

            by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:54:11 PM PDT

            •  When I prove this comment wrong

              will you admit it?

              You accuse me of "deliberate misunderstanding." You base this on this: "Where did I say I want to take Obama out of the process?"

              THAT is just wrong.

              Here is what you wrote in this diary:

              Barack Hussein Obama. Fuck. Don't the Democrats need someone who is UNASSAILABLE???

              You're gonna tell me now that you didn't mean with that that Obama shouldn't be the nominee? IThis is getting weaker and weaker.

              by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:59:59 PM PDT

•  Doesn't matter

  if they've already beaten "Barak Hussein Obama."  My senator's first name is Barack. Next time you write a diary attacking someone for their name, try spelling it correctly.

  by danielbiss on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:10:50 PM PDT

  •  Has spellcheck already

    decided this election?

    by zenbowl on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:12:36 PM PDT

    •  Yeah,

      more proof that Bill Gates is going to pick our next president. Maybe FromCanada can to write a diary about that next?

      by danielbiss on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:18:24 PM PDT

  •  My bad on initial spelling of Barack.

    admire your vigour. kick ass attitude.

    by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:14:20 PM PDT

•  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  That's the funniest shit I ever heard!

  Anybody who wouldn't vote for Barack Obama because his middle name is 'Hussein' wouldn';t have voted for the guy because he's black, he's liberal, or any other of a host of reasons.

  It's a non-issue and a non-starter. It's desperation by the right to try and sew seeds of doubt in the Democratic PArty.

  Hell, remeber Rove claiming Dean was the one they really wanted Democrats to nominate and Dems ran scared? Kerry was the guy they wanted all along!

  - Albert Einstein

  by Walt starr on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:15:24 PM PDT

  •  I'm Not Sure, But

    I just have a feeling too many people won't vote for someone extensively referred to as "Hussein"... don't you?  I don't have that feeling about someone being black or a Democrat, but it gives me an ill feeling.

    by Nulwee on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:20:58 PM PDT

    •  Your 'concern' is noted n/t

      - Albert Einstein

      by Walt starr on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:25:05 PM PDT

  •  So true

    Anyone who wouldn't vote for him because of his name was already planning on not voting for him because he's black.

    by sunshineonthebay on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 01:12:29 PM PDT

    •  And Barack Obama said as much

      although he said it most eloquently and said it had to do with his politics.

      You just can't make this shit up. To honestly think that Democrats would fall for this "Barack Hussein Obama" crap is laughable. Hell, at the rate the extremists are playing this up and ginning it up on left wing blogs under the guise of 'concerned Democrats', his middle name will become a net asset within six months!

      "Oh yeah, you don't like his name? How about my name? It's Szewicz (or Weinstein, or McKinsey, or Guiteriez or any of a host of other names)."

      Americans can relate to somebody taking shit because of the name they were born with because at some poiunt, the vast majority of Americans took shit because of their name at some point in their life!

      - Albert Einstein

      by Walt starr on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 01:29:29 PM PDT

•  George Felix Allen

  Barack hussein Obama.

  It fun for so many to to use Felix, now it isn't so funny?

  It is clear that it will used in debates, it would be stupid not to. Btw, the switftboating liars got 300k fine..

  by allmost liberal european on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:17:58 PM PDT

  •  Crap

    It fun..

    Oh God.

    Let me try again.

    It was fun..

    by allmost liberal european on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:19:09 PM PDT

  •  I will add this

    http://www.dailykos.com/...

    George Felix Allen was used in over 20 diaries.

    by allmost liberal european on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:34:02 PM PDT

  •  Big difference: Allen was ashamed of and tried

    to hide his Jewish ancestry.

    I doubt we'll see Obama lie about and explode with anger when confronted with his Muslim ancestry.

    by Geekesque on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:36:16 PM PDT

    •  Heritage?

      Felix is a name for a , well, pussy. That has nothing to do with his "heritage". That man has several issues :)

      Hussein is not a good name for a politician in America these days. But perhaps that group (those who think his name makes it impossible to vote) would not vote for a black man. Or a "liberal".

      I'm not comparing them, I'm just pointing to the behavior here.

      Did you hear about Roy Moore (the nut judge), he was saying that Ellison  (Hakim Mohammed) should not be seated!

      by allmost liberal european on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:42:04 PM PDT

      •  The name "Felix" is associated with Jewish

        heritage.

        On the bright side, he's no Robinette!

        by Geekesque on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:44:59 PM PDT

        •  Ok, didn't know that

          Hmm, that can be used against me :)

          I made a very different connection, but as i said: he has issues. (At least he eats ham!)

          by allmost liberal european on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:50:20 PM PDT

    •  He also tried to hide the fact

      that he was from Southern California, while he was playing the "real world of Virginia" card. And that his being a politician in Virginia had something to do with a youthful fascination with the Confederacy. And that he hung out with other people, as governor, who had such a fascination with the South's racist past that went far beyond youthful indiscretion.

      It's near impossible to say anything about George Allen without dredging up everything. It's all connected. I really doubt Obama's heritage and background has anything that nasty to cover up.

      by cville townie on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:56:56 PM PDT

•  What 40+Plus Year Old

  do you know who is both unassailable for some reason and interesting enough to become President?

  by Nulwee on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:19:17 PM PDT

•  Bam

  Kick It Up A Notch.  Or Bush is "Inssein" whats the big deal

  by monstersofid on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:24:41 PM PDT

•  all the more reason TO nominate him

  The voters I want will see any attempt to mock him because of his name as trash.

  by Jordan LFW on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:32:50 PM PDT

•  He's still just platitudes and smile, no issues..

  Nobody has ANY idea what he stands for on any issues that matter.

  He's charismatic, smiles, and says lots of Oprah-ish feelgood platitudes.

  THAT IS NOT ENOUGH!

  Either he starts talking about what he thinks about hard issues, right now, or find another candidate, not windowdressing crowdpleasers.

  by Loboguara on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:36:15 PM PDT

•  Yeah, we need a war hero...

  ... who can't be nailed on national defense.

  by Bob Johnson on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:36:59 PM PDT

  •  Hey FROMCANADA

    Read this! Read this! And jj32's commet about the "real issue" up top.

    Read them and grok them and the result should be: "D'oh! Wow! They're right! the middle name thing is silly, because they'll go after any nominee with anything at all! My bad! I was being silly! Carry on!"

    by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:47:05 PM PDT

    •  Actually, I read Bob Johnson's comment...

      It was witty and on-time. your comments however, are arrogant and pestering.

      by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:50:22 PM PDT

      •  Witty and on-time?

        What does "on-time" mean? And it wasn't meant to be witty, it  was meant to be a refutation of your diary.

        by Little on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 12:53:12 PM PDT

      •  I like that

        Bob Johnson, when you run for office, use that slogan:

        Bob Johnson: Witty, and on time.

        by zenbowl on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 01:04:29 PM PDT

•  Question for jewish voters

  Would Jewish-Americans not vote for Obama because his middle name is Hossein?  Because the right and racists weren't going to vote for him anyway, so the jewish vote is the only one I can see being affected by his name.

  by sunshineonthebay on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 01:16:23 PM PDT

•  Well, since you asked...

  Have they Beaten Obama Already?

  Um, no.

  by mffarrow on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 01:48:48 PM PDT

  •  um..

    um...
    uhh...
    ok.

    by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 01:58:11 PM PDT

•  Barack can't win....

  Apparently those of you rooting for Barack Obama have never spent any time in the south, or in many other parts of this country. I'll let you in on a little secret. There are Americans who don't like black people, brown people, or any other minority for that matter. I've met people in Texas who think slavery should legal again.

  Barack is by far the most qualified candidate to run for President, and I'd cheer for him. But I think that would be a futile, if not dangerous, thing for him to do.

  by pinkhighway on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 01:52:52 PM PDT

  •  A lot of these people have never traveled south..

    you're probably right. kossacks have been attacking me beacause i am pointing out racism in the south. they are pretending it doesn't exist.

    by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 01:56:52 PM PDT

    •  Racism is alive

      Our point was that those people would be voting republican anyway.

      by sunshineonthebay on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 02:10:24 PM PDT

  •  I have secret, too

    Brown people running for Senate were once "unelectable."

    Brown people learning to read were once "lynched."  

    If Obama is qualified to run, and he wants to run, then why should the existence of racism, not just in the South, stop him?  You don't have to vote for him if you don't think he'll win.  But if you don't want brown people to run for office because non-brown people won't like it, um, isn't that also racist?

    by mffarrow on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 02:00:20 PM PDT

    •  And my (brown) family

      is from the Deep South, so I don't think I can be accused of pretending racism doesn't exist.

      I can be accused of not believing that racists should dictate my democracy.

      by mffarrow on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 02:02:02 PM PDT

      •  racists do dictate your democracy, in many cases.

        sometimes good people dictate and sometimes bad. i wish obama the best of luck against everything they throw at him. i fully denounce all racism. we all come from one organism, one life.

        by FromCanada on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 02:06:28 PM PDT

        •  That's true

          Many bad things do dictate our democracy, including racism.  My point is that  we do a disservice to our democracy by allowing that to happen.  The notion that Democrats must appeal to the worst in ourselves in order to "win"presupposes that a successful election would be a victory in that case.

          I am not just referring to a Southern Strategy to appeal to racists. I mean pandering to gay-bashers, nodding to faith-based initiatives, failing to uphold the Constitution, and failing to protect our military in an effort to look "tough."  All of these things have happened, and been supported by Democrats, to be more "electable."  Maybe it will win an election, but at a very high cost.  Some Republicans, and some Democrats, are finally starting to see the true cost to our nation of chasing electability by appealing to our worst selves.

          by mffarrow on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 02:16:03 PM PDT

          •  It's because politics has turned into a business

            It's no longer about doing what's good for America.  

            by sunshineonthebay on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 02:18:40 PM PDT

          •  Great comment

            I love to see people who have their minds made up to go forward without 'pandering'. IMO that has been the democratic party's problem. Michael Moore was correct that the average american is more liberal than we give credit for. The democrats should tell the truth, and show courageous leadership.

            by FromCanada on Thu Dec 14, 2006 at 09:35:12 AM PDT

    •  I would vote for him..

      but I just don't think he would win. Racism is just too rampant, not just in the south but all across the country.

      Isn't the right strategy to nominate the person who has the greatest chance to win? Or do we want another repub President?

      by pinkhighway on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 02:07:54 PM PDT

      •  What's worse, racism or sexism?

        Are racists also sexist?  In which case they wouldn't vote for Hilary either.  Or are there racists who are not sexist?  And sexists who are not racist?

        by sunshineonthebay on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 02:12:31 PM PDT

•  When Katrina happened...

  I was on vacation and watched the news coverage from a lounge TV, when I overheard some people who were from west Texas exclaim with joy and satisfaction that so many black people had perished and were being run out of their homes. "Thank God. Those niggers are absolutely worthless people." That was their comment, verbatim. I was nauseous.

  I don't think they would vote for Obama under any circumstances.

  by pinkhighway on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 02:21:19 PM PDT

  •  There are racists in the north too

    Ever been to Massachusetts?

    by sunshineonthebay on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 02:28:05 PM PDT

•  Yes, I know. They're EVERYWHERE...

  That is exactly my point.

  by pinkhighway on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 02:35:04 PM PDT