Cross-posted at MyDD. I hope that's okay.
There's been a small amount of controversy surrounding what former Sen. Bob Kerrey said Monday about Sen. Barack Obama. What did he really mean? With the help of a few probing questions, I think I've figured it out. Please join me after the flip.
This is a little bit long, so bear with me. First is the text as to what Kerrey said, and second, the questions that cleared up my confusion:
Bob Kerrey on Barack Obama, in an interview:
The fact that he's African American is a big deal. I do expect and hope that Hillary is the nominee of the party. But I hope he's used in some way. If he happens to be the nominee of the party and ends up being president, I think his capacity to influence in a positive way without spending a penny the behavior of a lot of underperforming black youth today is very important, and he's the only one who can reach them.
"It's probably not something that appeals to him, but I like the fact that his name is Barack Hussein Obama, and that his father was a Muslim and that his paternal grandmother is a Muslim. There's a billion people on the planet that are Muslims and I think that experience is a big deal... He's got a whale of a lot more intellectual talent than I've got as well."
Later, on CNN:
"But I've got a very high regard for Senator Obama. And the question that I was asked was, you know, he ought to be qualified. You ran in your first term in the Senate, as well. And I think that he is qualified.
"And the two things that I like very much about him, that I think will add a tremendous amount of value if he becomes the nominee and gets elected, is the fact that as African-American, he can speak in an authentic way to underperforming black youth who, I think, will follow his example.
"And, secondly, I do -- there is a smear campaign going on and people acting as if he's an Islamic Manchurian candidate. And I feel that it's actually a substantial strength. He is a Christian. Both he and his family are Christians. They've chosen Christianity. But that connection to Indonesia and a billion Muslims on this Earth, I think, is a real strength and will add an awful lot of value in his foreign policy efforts...
"It's something, by the way, I've told Barack Obama when I've met with him. It's something that I've spoken about before. So this is not something that just sort of came out of the head birth out there in Iowa. I thought about it a great deal. I've watched the blogs try to say that you can't trust him because he spent a little bit of time in a secular madrassa.
"I feel quite the opposite. I think it's a tremendous strength, whether he's in the United States Senate or whether he's in the White House. I think it's a tremendous asset for him."
Okay, here are the questions:
1. The general tone of these passages is
(a) complimentary
(b) apparently complimentary, but in fact a devious slandering of Barack Obama
2. The adjective "Muslim", when used accurately, is
(a) neutral or positive in nature
(b) derogatory
3. What does Kerrey mean when he says he has a "high regard" for Obama?
(a) That he holds Obama in high regard.
(b) That he does not hold Obama in high regard.
4. When Kerrey says of Obama, "He is a Christian. Both he and his family are Christians. They've chosen Christianity," he is trying to imply
(a) that Obama is Christian.
(b) that Obama is Muslim.
5. When Kerrey says, "there is a smear campaign going on and people acting as if he's an Islamic Manchurian candidate," he means to imply that this allegation is
(a) false
(b) true
6. Generally, the word "smear", when used in the above manner, implies that the sentiment expressed is
(a) unethical and sleazy, reflecting poorly on the person who says it
(b) factual
7. The name Hussein (or Husayn) is most properly known as
(a) a descendent of the Prophet Mohammad and a revered figure in Shia Islam
(b) a religious or racial epithet
8. When Kerrey says that "He's got a whale of a lot more intellectual talent than I've got as well," he means that
(a) Obama possesses an exceptionally strong intellect.
(b) Obama is an Islamic Manchurian candidate.
9. If you wanted to emphasize that a school, or madrassa, was a breeding ground of religious fanaticism and hatred, you would describe it as
(a) fundamentalist
(b) secular
10. When Kerrey uses terms like "tremendous amount of value", "substantial strength", "tremendous asset", "real strength" to describe Obama's background, he is suggesting that this is something he should be
(a) proud of
(b) ashamed of
11. It should be noted that Kerrey made these comments while endorsing Hillary Clinton. What is the most likely explanation for these comments about Barack Obama?
(a) He admires both candidates and sees great value in both of them.
(b) Since it is only possible to admire one candidate at a time, these comments must be in fact read as entirely contradictory to their stated meaning.
12. Which do you think is more likely to be, in Kerrey's view, one of the most important problems our country faces?
(a) Widespread irrational fear and misunderstanding between the United States and the Muslim world
(b) Possibility that Barack Obama will become president.
Scoring: Give yourself one point for every time you answered (b).
If your score is between
0 - 6: You are an idiot who should not be allowed out of the house alone.
7 - 12: Congratulations! You are ready to become a political pundit.