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Blog Controversy (What Else?): Did Obama Give Hillary Clinton The Finger?
Iraq. The economy. Terrorism. Foreclosures. Taxes. Education. These among the issues facing the U.S. but a new firestorm has started sweeping the blogosphere via a You Tube embed: Did Democratic Senator Barack Obama give Democratic Presidential nomination rival Hillary Clinton the finger?
Did he try to signal it to the crowd? Wasn’t that a knowing look? And, it stands to follow, since he did this (an assumption some are already making — so each viewer is urged to watch the video) doesn’t it therefore mean he lacks class and should immediately apologize? And — not said yet — shouldn’t this disqualify him from the Presidency if he refuses to admit it? And, if he won’t come clean and admit it, shouldn’t he resign his Senate seat?
See the video below. To my mind, this is totally in the eye of the beholder. Republicans and Democrats who are vehemently anti-Obama are looking for things now to discredit him — just as Obama’s supporters and looking at things to discredit Clinton and McCain supporters are looking for things to discredit Obama and Clinton. Welcome to 21s century seek-and-destroy politics.
Once again, American politics boils down to seemingly discussing anything but actual issues that impact the country and the peoples’ pocketbook. But you judge for YOURSELF:
We mentioned this item in our Around The Sphere roundup. But now it has moved to a major newspaper’s blog…which means it will be on TV and most assuredly the partisan cable talking head shows.
So American politics has now moved to a stage where LITERALLY every gesture is analyzed and given the worst interpretation on it — as if unconfirmed suspicion equals reality.
Here’s a list of a cross section of sites commenting on this “issue” so far. Most sites that contend he was giving the finger are pro-Clinton and Republican sites (but then pro-Obama sites would deny it even if it proved to be true). Note that some bloggers on the left and right are skeptical:
The Democratic Daily
The Campaign Spot
Balloon Juice
Taylor Marsh
Ed Morrissey
Red State
No Quarter
Don Surber
Corrente
Talk Left (a must read pro-Clinton blog that seriously analyzes issues and dismisses the allegation)
No More Mister Nice Blog
The Divine Democrat
Chicago Ray
FOOTNOTE: Candidates don’t usually give other candidates the finger.
However, some believe the Bush administration has done to the United States what the gesture commands.
18 Responses to “Blog Controversy (What Else?): Did Obama Give Hillary Clinton The Finger?”
The bird
Do you think it was unintentional? Look at the grin on his face.
The blogosphere needs a big helping of Georgia Peach Cobbler and a dollop of homemade vanilla ice cream today. Because they obviously are in a cranky mood to see “flipping the bird” in this.
SHEESH!
1. I've seen Obama do this before. He is not giving the finger but, it's a just a habit of his to scratch his face a little while mocking someone.
The Clinton koolaid drinkers forget that their beloved Bill does this as well. So do alot of pols when doing a routine.
2. This is a created controversy by the paranoid ramblings of Taylor Marsh to stir things up. The woman is crazy and has lost most of her credibility. She is now seen as a Clinton shill who lost he
*BRAIN EXPLODES*
Good Grief! Who cares?
Just to prove that the blogosphere is beyond cranky, here is a link (I can't believe I'm posting this) to the “bird flip” frozen in time:
The Two-Finger Bird Flip
Did I miss something? Two-fingers is “flipping the bird”? Damn! I thought I was connected to pop culture.
I scratch my face with my middle finger. Why? Because it's the longest finger. Good God, I never knew I was flipping people off!
Elrod, you're such an a**hole!
Good grief!
Someone seriously needs to tighten up the sleeves of Taylor Marsh's straight jacket.
I know I know. I just rubbed my eye because of a dry contact lens…with my MIDDLE FINGER! I should go blind.
Birdgate!!
I demand a special prosecutor!!
To paraphrase “Billy Madison”, this manufactured controversy is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. Everyone in this discussion thread is now dumber for having listened to it. I award no points to whoever came up with it, and may God have mercy on their soul.
I wonder if people realize what obsessing over things like this does to one's self, let alone the political community. I mean this for all political persuasions and supporters. Sitting around dwelling on whether someone said the wrong word or raised the wrong finger ultimately drags you down mentally and emotionally. If you think it's just funny and move on in life, that's fine, but to get worked up about it and freak out that someone “like him” might be in a position of power… it just makes you bitter and, if taken to extremes, full of hate. Anger has its uses, but it's also quite an overwhelming emotion and can take you over if it isn't directed at a target that's temporary and worthy of it.
Ha -Ha! This site made a game out of it already http://www.fyrebug.com/?p=5520 it's called Obama salutes Clinton
I have never seen anything so ridiculous in my life.
Barack Obama is too much of a gentleman to ever do
anything like that.
What level will people stoop to???????????
Sometimes politicians get a little ltchy and sweaty and have to scratch their face, even our current president.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVynnbx1Xsc
Holy Micro-Parsing.
Base what you see on One camera angle of a flat view in a 360 degree world.
?head scratch
stop giving Hannity notes.
I watched it with the sound off. He scratched his face, sort of unconsciously. Then he made a loose fist and a mocking face. Then the clip was over. This doesn't even deserve our attention.