Comments on: Karl Rove To GOP: Cut The Stuff About “Hussein” Obama http://themoderatevoice.com/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/ An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:29:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: templestark http://themoderatevoice.com/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-149822 templestark Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:51:55 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/#comment-149822 Jeffrey Dahmer/ Jeffrey Dahmer/

]]> By: templestark http://themoderatevoice.com/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-149821 templestark Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:49:59 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/#comment-149821 Ted Bundy. Ted Bundy.

]]> By: kritt11 http://themoderatevoice.com/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-149820 kritt11 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:10:33 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/#comment-149820 The intent of using Obama's middle name is obviously to smear him in the worst way possible, so I agree with Ryan that its ludicrous to say that its no big deal. Clinton was called Slick Willie- not William Jefferson Clinton by opponents, and who even knows the middle names of McCain or Hillary? If Obama's middle name was Franklin or Thomas- would Cunningham have repeated it incessantly? The right wing knows that there are some who are so ignorant that they believe that Obama is a Muslim and maybe more would think he's a terrorist with a middle name like Hussein.<br><br>Also, its no accident that serial killers are called by all three of their names. The intent of using Obama's middle name is obviously to smear him in the worst way possible, so I agree with Ryan that its ludicrous to say that its no big deal. Clinton was called Slick Willie- not William Jefferson Clinton by opponents, and who even knows the middle names of McCain or Hillary? If Obama's middle name was Franklin or Thomas- would Cunningham have repeated it incessantly? The right wing knows that there are some who are so ignorant that they believe that Obama is a Muslim and maybe more would think he's a terrorist with a middle name like Hussein.

Also, its no accident that serial killers are called by all three of their names.

]]> By: ryan http://themoderatevoice.com/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-149819 ryan Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:25:39 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/#comment-149819 "It could be argued Rove was talking strictly as a political realist, and wasn’t expressing some newly dominant gene that suddenly made him a nicer guy"<br><br>I don't think there is any doubt that this would be a hard argument to lose. If the "Hussein" name-calling was helping the Republican cause then Rove wouldn't be asking his party to back off. Instead, with the exception of the hardcore talk-radio crowd, everyone views this line of attack as being on par with the name-calling found in most elementary school cafeterias, and that may even be demeaning to some of the more creative schoolchildren. If this brand of childish name-calling continues then it will allow the Democrats to frame the election as one of a party that's serious about governing the country, and one that is a bunch of immature, bitter, and possibly racist obstructionists - that has got to be a nightmare scenario for the Republicans, who only fifteen years ago swept into Congress as the party of competence and ideas.<br><br>Also, for those "arguing" that saying someone's middle name is no big deal, COME ON. EVERYONE sees through this line of attack - whenever a talk radio host says Barack HUSSEIN Obama (and they always emphasize the middle name), there is absolutely no one in this country who doesn't understand the allusion to certain Middle Eastern dictators that is being made. To illustrate with a counter-example, it's the same as if a left wing host always referred to the current Vice President by putting a strong emphasis on his first name; it would be stupid, insulting, and ultimately something that damages the speaker's credibility. “It could be argued Rove was talking strictly as a political realist, and wasn’t expressing some newly dominant gene that suddenly made him a nicer guy”

I don't think there is any doubt that this would be a hard argument to lose. If the “Hussein” name-calling was helping the Republican cause then Rove wouldn't be asking his party to back off. Instead, with the exception of the hardcore talk-radio crowd, everyone views this line of attack as being on par with the name-calling found in most elementary school cafeterias, and that may even be demeaning to some of the more creative schoolchildren. If this brand of childish name-calling continues then it will allow the Democrats to frame the election as one of a party that's serious about governing the country, and one that is a bunch of immature, bitter, and possibly racist obstructionists – that has got to be a nightmare scenario for the Republicans, who only fifteen years ago swept into Congress as the party of competence and ideas.

Also, for those “arguing” that saying someone's middle name is no big deal, COME ON. EVERYONE sees through this line of attack – whenever a talk radio host says Barack HUSSEIN Obama (and they always emphasize the middle name), there is absolutely no one in this country who doesn't understand the allusion to certain Middle Eastern dictators that is being made. To illustrate with a counter-example, it's the same as if a left wing host always referred to the current Vice President by putting a strong emphasis on his first name; it would be stupid, insulting, and ultimately something that damages the speaker's credibility.

]]> By: StockBoySF http://themoderatevoice.com/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-149818 StockBoySF Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:40:20 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/#comment-149818 Kritt, I think you've got it right. Nothing for me to add. Kritt, I think you've got it right. Nothing for me to add.

]]> By: templestark http://themoderatevoice.com/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-149817 templestark Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:45:25 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/#comment-149817 Easy for Karl Kissame Rove to say.<br><br>By the way, WTF? It IS his middle name and so from either of the four "sides" what the hell is the deal? William Jefferson Clinton. Walker. Delano. Hussein is a fairly common name across a large swath of the world. BFD. Use it, it is his middle name and facts are scarce in this world.<br><br>And by the way Hillary's middle name is Saddam, so really let's call it even 'kay? .... OK, it's really Diane but that's not funny is it? <br><br>- Temple Easy for Karl Kissame Rove to say.

By the way, WTF? It IS his middle name and so from either of the four “sides” what the hell is the deal? William Jefferson Clinton. Walker. Delano. Hussein is a fairly common name across a large swath of the world. BFD. Use it, it is his middle name and facts are scarce in this world.

And by the way Hillary's middle name is Saddam, so really let's call it even 'kay? …. OK, it's really Diane but that's not funny is it?

- Temple

]]> By: PaulSilver http://themoderatevoice.com/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-149816 PaulSilver Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:55:42 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/#comment-149816 Thanks for this Joe,<br>This afternoon I made an online contribution to McCain, even though my preference is for Obama or Clinton, to acknowledge his honorable leadership and example to the Conservative community. It makes my skin crawl to hear the hate, fear, and belligerence of too many of the champions of the right.<br>I also make contributions to the Republican Leadership Council for the same reasons. I respect conservatism, just not the popular form of it. Thanks for this Joe,
This afternoon I made an online contribution to McCain, even though my preference is for Obama or Clinton, to acknowledge his honorable leadership and example to the Conservative community. It makes my skin crawl to hear the hate, fear, and belligerence of too many of the champions of the right.
I also make contributions to the Republican Leadership Council for the same reasons. I respect conservatism, just not the popular form of it.

]]> By: kritt11 http://themoderatevoice.com/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-149815 kritt11 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:50:09 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/#comment-149815 Karl is right about this one. He realizes that Rovian tactics aren't going to work against a candidate like Obama. The GOP already had the perception of being somewhat insensitive to minorities, and does not have enough registered voters to win if they alienate moderates and Indies. Rove is smart, because he saw that the media turned Clinton's negative attacks into latent racism, hurting her chances in South Carolina. If nothing else, he is capable of changing tactics.<br><br>Karl may also have noticed the exodus of voters from the GOP, and realized many were tired of its angry, hate-filled rhetoric. Karl is right about this one. He realizes that Rovian tactics aren't going to work against a candidate like Obama. The GOP already had the perception of being somewhat insensitive to minorities, and does not have enough registered voters to win if they alienate moderates and Indies. Rove is smart, because he saw that the media turned Clinton's negative attacks into latent racism, hurting her chances in South Carolina. If nothing else, he is capable of changing tactics.

Karl may also have noticed the exodus of voters from the GOP, and realized many were tired of its angry, hate-filled rhetoric.

]]> By: DLS http://themoderatevoice.com/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-149814 DLS Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:37:37 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/#comment-149814 Karl Rove and Dick Morris, in Washington forever. Karl Rove and Dick Morris, in Washington forever.

]]> By: Slamfu http://themoderatevoice.com/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-149813 Slamfu Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:23:58 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/#comment-149813 Time, not the Times. Time, not the Times.

]]> By: Slamfu http://themoderatevoice.com/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-149812 Slamfu Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:23:31 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18063/karl-rove-to-gop-cut-the-stuff-about-hussein-obama/#comment-149812 Rove is going to retire from the frontline and go civilian on us. He's already semi regular at the Times. My guess is he'll end up the Henry Kissinger of electioneering. <br><br>"Hey, weren't you the guy that started all that ....."<br><br>"Yea yea yea, but everyone respects me now for some reason." Rove is going to retire from the frontline and go civilian on us. He's already semi regular at the Times. My guess is he'll end up the Henry Kissinger of electioneering.

“Hey, weren't you the guy that started all that …..”

“Yea yea yea, but everyone respects me now for some reason.”

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