2008 Election - Monday, February 25, 2008 12:01 - 1 Comment

Obama “Dressed”

So, here we are, greeted on a Monday morning by such nonsense as this:

Obama Accuses Clinton of Smear Campaign after Circulating Photos of him Dressed as ‘a Muslim’

Barack Obama’s campaign chief today accused Hillary Clinton’s aides of “shameful offensive fear-mongering” by circulating a smear photo designed to trick voters into once again thinking the black presidential hopeful is a Muslim. David Plouffe claimed members of the former First Lady’s team had e-mailed an image of the Democratic frontrunner dressed in a tunic and turban. Mr Obama, who was raised as a Christian by his white mother despite his Kenyan father being Muslim, has been dogged for months by claims he is secretly following the Islamic faith.

I’m sure you’ve seen the photo by now, but if you haven’t, it’s here.

It didn’t take long to assume the truth in the narrative that the Clinton campaign circulated the photo. Maggie Williams, who recently took over the Clinton day-to-day strategy, all but implicated the organization with her non-denial denial.

Enough. If Barack Obama’s campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed. Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely. This is nothing more than an obvious and transparent attempt to distract from the serious issues confronting our country today and to attempt to create the very divisions they claim to decry. We will not be distracted.

Politics is ugly, to be sure. And this stunt is just that - a Clinton quick chump hit to Obama’s knees in an attempt to gain political footing. After the debate in Texas last week, the media picked up on what many saw as a conciliatory gesture by Hillary signaling that she knew her ‘08 presidential aspirations were coming to a close. That was the last thing the Clinton campaign wanted. The proof of this was revealed this past weekend, with Hillary suddenly turning from a state of reflection to a state of fury to blatant sarcasm. Let us not forget the ‘do anything to win’ mentality of this bunch.

Informed and engaged voters need less than 1 minute to see through this game and see the absurdity in it. We take a look at Obama in his Somali garb and realize it’s nothing more than ceremonial appeasement to a constituency. Yet, both campaigns know that the average voter doesn’t know squat. They’re impressionable. They’re fickle. They’re shallow. They vote for the candidate who color matches their clothing. They get excited over the candidate who plays a saxophone on late night television. We know these types. They’re paper thin.Stories like this wouldn’t gain traction if it weren’t for the gullibility of the average American. Want a presidential election that focuses on the issues? Want substance? You won’t find it as long as the “man on the street” refuses to become interested.

The real story here is the epidemic vacancy of the electorate.