If the Clinton camp didn't think this was an issue, why would they release it? Hmmm.
I wonder what the next attempt at a cheap shot is going to be. Regardless, this will damage her standing in the democratic party and all 35 years of her "experience" will matter little the next time around. She's just going to be perceived as a poor loser and a cheap-shot artist. Hard to fundraise and get grassroots support with that label.

I supsect the Obama camp leaked the photo. Isn't it a coincidence that it appears the day after Louis Farrakhan gives a long speech extoling the virtues of Obama? And look, the tactic worked--all the blogs today are abuzz with negative comments about Clinton on the assumption that she released. There is barely a mention of Farrakhan's virtual endorsement of Obama, which is exactly the way the Obama people like and planned it.

Hillary and her gang are losers...

The sooner they exit the stage the better...

It's like offering a drink to an alcoholic and then proclaiming there's nothing wrong with liquor. "Why is this offensive?" Clinton asks. "Oh we wear Muslim outfits all the time, and no one thinks anything of us?"

I'm proud of Obama, how he handles himself in crisis. It's obvious what the Clinton camp is doing. They call it harmless but they are disenfranchising legions of Obama voters who will remember this. It's too bad for her that she could lose the election, even if she wins the nomination, because of the people she's insulted. I have no loyalty to putting such a person in office, who would smear and lie about it. I'm against putting dishonest, mean people into office. If you think she won't be divisive in the large election, look how divisive she is the primaries!

We'll see who leaked it soon, I suspect. There's a report in the NY Times that it was a specific staffer, who denies the report.
What does Obama have to gain by leaking it himself? I'm sure he's going to want to distance himself from Farrakhan, but with the polls being as they are the campaign is essentially over. No reason to take any risks that could backfire at this point.

Also, Obama people would want a diversion on the day Hillary gives her big foreign policy speech--again no one is talking about her speech, because all the talking heads and blogs go on and on about this stupid picture. Think about it people, why would Hillary make a big deal about that picture knowing full well that she and Bill frequently donned the clothing of other cultures while visiting other countries. Let's get on with the real issues in this campaign!

More of the old-style, drive-by, smash-and-grab politics, and another Clintonian play of the race card. Karl Rove would be proud.

"Shame on you, Barack," hell! Shame on YOU, Mrs. Clinton!

Time to end it, America. Time to end it.

Clinton can't figure out why anyone would be concerned about this, and Obama is acting like he's under attack. And all this is based on taking Matt friggin Drudge at his word, with no evidence. This is absolutely pathetic.

Why is Obama claiming that this is being circulated as a negative? What's the negative? Obama is saying the same thing Maggie Williams said, minus one thing, which is why is the Obama campaign trying to divert from the issues? That's what I'd like to know. Get on with the campaign.

What's the negative? Uh ... how about playing on the Muslim fears people have?
Duh!!!!!
A cheap shot. Obama doesn't need to use distractions ... the race is essentially run. It's either from Clinton or McCain, and McCain would have saved it for later.
Wake up ... Clinton's campaign is desperate and scummy.
But at least it's good practice for November.

My bad ... meant to say the"race is essentially won."
Screaming kid in the background ... my apologies.

I was going to post the same thing but someone beat me to it. Is it not strange that the news today should be the big endorsement of the Nation of Islam leader for Obama, calling him the hope for the world, yet we are being diverted once again from this topic to a silly photo.

Every media house is on this photo and not one concern over this endorsement by Farakhan,once again the Obama camp is skillfully avoiding the Muslim links, bringing the focus on Hillary, and the media is happily going along with this game.

This Nation of Islam endorsement is a lot more dangerous than a silly photo yet no one seems to be concerned at all.

Yeah ... vote republican. And get 4 more years of this miserable economy, war and everything else that goes with it.
Or you can vote against someone based off of their middle name, color of their skin and "muslim" heritage. (By the way, Obama's dad was an atheist by the time Obama was born, not that it should matter.)

None of us has to play on Muslim fear the Muslim leaders are endorsing Obama, do you really feel they will endorse McCain or Hillary. People endorse persons that they feel are willing to hear their views and take their side in matters when the chips are down.

They all endorse candidates when they think that candidate will give them a hearing and the fact of the matter is the Nation of Islam endorsed Obama and no one else, there must be a reason for that.

Hillary with six Generals during her foreign policy speech in Washington DC is a demonstration of the militarism of Bush and McCain. Votingfor Hillary is voting for the same Bush-Cheney wrong international policies. Showing this picture of Obama in traditional clothes is a desparate stape but demonstrate racism in the Clintons' side and is an insult to the whole Africa not only to the African Americans, Somali or Kenyan people.

Both camps are up to dirty politics, anyboday that thinks otherwise is crazy. Obama is just as bad as Clinton is, this is NOT CHANGE, this is not new politics and this will not produce the change that Obama is talking about. I'm sorry, he has run a negative campaign when he needs too just like she has. Let not all get on out high horse and pretend that this doesn't happen with both candidates. GET REAL!

I agree Obama is just as wicked in the smear game but the funny thing is the Republican are longing for the day for Hillary to drop out, with the help of the media they are sure doing a great job at making that happen, but it will backfire on them because they are going to build up Obama so much in the eyes of the public that even the great GOP will not be able to stop him when they are ready.

First of all, what is the big deal about this photo? Is Obama ashame of his culture? He has always made it known that his father was from Kenya. So why is he taking the time to explain the picture? After all, remember is message has transcended race and gender. Not only does he have the majority of the black vote, but he has white men too. So how can this photo hurt him. Anyway, has it been proven that the Clinton campaign actually released this picture. Maybe they don't think that it deserves a disclaimer. It is wonderful how open minded people are without knowing for sure. It shows off Obama's skill as a unitifer to have Democratics pitted against each other. Way to go Big O!!!

Also, I would like to know what is his thoughts on Louis Farkan endorsement of him?

I'm beginning to suspect that David Axelrod, Obama's campaign director, is the one who sent this photo to Drudge. It makes absolutely no sense in the world that Clinton would do it, since she would almost certainly be villified for it. But as we can see, she didn't have to do it. Mr. Axelrod knows damn well that the media will claim she did anyway. Doesn't anyone else find it suspicious that anytime the news cycle isn't working for them, they pull out one of these dirty tricks and claim Clinton must have done it? Sounds just like the Robert Novak flap of a couple months ago. Obama and his minions are repugnant and will do anything to win, particularly the race-baiting, as we have seen.

This guy is the biggest whiner since George "Blame it on the Clinton Administration" Bush. And man-o-man, what a bunch of hypocrites the Obama supporters are. When Hilary complained about the pimping Chelsea remark, all the Obama people (and the media) said for her to get over it. When the Obama camp started the whole Clinton is a racist thing and Hilary complained, Obama's cult said for her to get over it. Then why is that Obama never has to "get over" anything? I swear, when this guy mixes the kool-aid, you idiots will fall over each other for a cup, won't you? Obama whined that he didn't know who he was running against, Bill or Hillary. Then why does he continue to run against Bill? Because he knows he can't really compete with Hilary. Good strategy? Yes. Phoney politician? Yes, again. Attack Hillary on Nafta and then support it himself. Claim you were against the war in Iraq but vote to fund it repeatedly and the Patriot Act too. Steal whole speeches and claim they are your own. You know, I almost hope he does win. But then again I said that about George Bush and "I told you so" really isn't as sweet as I thought it would be. One last thing: how much does someone get from the Obama camp to get up at the break of dawn, scour the internet and then write trash about Clinton? Talk about being pimped out.

I think the hillary campaign is lying. Such a ashame to do anything dirty to win an election. Is this the kind of leadership we want at the white house
HHH-NO???

Excuse me but I don't get this story. The photo of Sen. Obama in local garb was made on an official visit and is part of the public record. What's the story here? Similar pictures are in the public record regarding many visiting officials. Why is the Obama camp outraged exactly? The press always has the option of printing or not printing matters in the public record.

sj: "Is it really true that Islam leader endorsed Obama? And calling him the hope for the world?"

I agree with you when you suggested that the Obama camp is skillfully avoiding the Muslim links, bringing the focus on Hillary,

I am an Asian bilingual and by using my other language skill, I read a lot of rumors about Obama, including his long and strong tie with Muslin. Unfortunately, most Americans still know nothing about it, but they have decided that they will elect Obama as their president. Best luck to all of us…

I don't understand why people have such a hard time believing that Hill-Dog released this photo. Her campaign had more than one opportunity today to deny releasing the photo and have yet to do so. I'm convinced that Hillary has some campaign people on the board blogging. It's pretty evident that she was attempting to stir the pot in regards to the propaganda e-mails and other things being circulated that Obama is a Muslim; this photo was an attack.

Farrakhan
Hussein
Osama
Obama
U figure it out.

Seriously? Real intelligent... John McCain and John Gacy have the same name? Are we to believe that if we had to McCain's house we're going to find bodies in his crawl space because his name is John?

I have been warning people for sixteen years about how the Clintons care about one thing--themselves. As a Republican in Texas, I proudly voted early for Barack Hussein Obama and will go back for the caucus on March 4.
Thank you, Senator Obama, for doing what Republicans could not do since 1991.

I have a photo of Bill Clinton in a nehru jacket.

I don't think her campaign had anything to do with this! I believe all the Obama supporters need to take a deep breath and CALM DOWN!! You people border on irrational.
What is so bad about the picture, anyway? Is the Obama camp emberassed about this? I wonder why?

Hillary is trying to cover all bets. She "leaked" the photo to stir up the fears of terrorist or Muslim ties, but she asks why would he be embarrassed by this. I've worn local dress myself when overseas. Do not trust this woman. She will do anything to get elected and we will soon see just how low she will go!

I am a supporter of Senator Clinton and even I have to admit that I'm ashamed that she is making an issue of this.

The sickening thing about this flap is that it once again reveals Hillary Rodham Clinton to be of the sleaziest, most repellent figures to enter the national political scene in the last hundred years, and that includes the two headed monster Cheney-Bush. The sooner she is swept away and forgotten the better off the nation will be. It is a shame that Senator Obama has to run against someone so vigorously unprincipled.

Just another confimation of the Clinton "sleaze factor." He'll do anything to be in the White House again. She'll do anything to ride his coattails.

Someone needs to sit HRC down and advise her to get out of the race with dignity.

Her campaign ran off the rails a mile back. Now she's running over anything in her path. There's no strategy or purpose, just endless cheap shots.

In the words of Hannibal Smith from the "A Team," "I love it when a plan comes together"
Devoid of principles and with only plagerized quotes,these two phonies show how intellectually bankrupt the Democratic party really is

Hillary - Not then, not now, not ever!!!

Why should she have to deny this? I believe you people will hate anything/anyone who does not believe in the GREAT ONE!!!

Stay classy barack! You will win the primary and the general election!

The more Hillary stays in the race the more crazy she seems. First she's honored to be on stage with Obama on Thursday night. Then she is ranting about him on Saturday. Next she calls the millions of his supporters delusional on Sunday. And finally she compares him to George Bush on Monday while simultaneously sending out photos that suggest Obama's heritage as being un-American somehow. With each passing moment, she's looking unstable and inconsistent---not the kind of qualities that I look for in a President.

It has nothing to do with "believing in the great one" and everything to do with a blantant attempt at hate mongering and fueling the racist groups in this country that can't get over the fact that Obama's middle name is Hussein. Luckily the American people have advanced to a point where the majority of us are smart enough to see through this. Hillary is truly a disgusting human being and I'd be ashamed if she was responsible for cleaning my toilet let alone being the President of the United States.

Does Barack have to debate Hillary? I think he should back out of the upcoming debate. What's the point? We know what's coming. She is really going to throw real mud at him this time. I'll be surprised if she doesn't charge and pounce at him like a cat. The way she was hissing "shame on you Barack" this past week is a sign that she has become frighteningly unhinged. For the sake of his message, and since he has a lot more to lose, he should just say that's it, I am not talking to you Hillary. He has this thing won anyway. She is just dragging this out hoping that he stumbles.

Obama supporters are so silly if Drudge has concrete proof that this photo came from the Clinton camp why are they not putting the said email up on their web site just as they did the photo??

It cant be that Drudge all of a sudden cares what the Clinton camp thinks now, and it sure is not that they are afraid of Hillary, so why no proof??

The only two options for their reluctance is one the email came from the Obama's camp to divert the Farakhan endorsement, or this photo came from the Republican to sink Hillary.

Hillary supporters keep screaching Obama's camp released this photo to divert attention away from a Louis Farrakhan "endorsement".

Actually Hillary's goon squad probably saw this as a no brainer to yet again "try to" paint Barack as a muslim:

photo + Farrakhan = must mean Barack's a muslim

...very sad.

Frank
Chicago
Obama '08

I agree Wa... Let her continue to rant and rave like a lunatic... by herself.

The important thing is that NONE of YOU focus on "what's NOT being said". As in "How will you PAY for that, Senator" or "What income is considered 'rich' to you, Senator"...

But yeah, the BIG story here is "Who on earth could be trying to distract you" so I can win votes, because [I] am "nicer" or willing to "give" more...

SJ... not drinking your kool-aid.

If she didn't do it and has had every opportunity to deny it then why hasn't she? Explain that to me?

I support Clinton make any issue of it. Don't you think Obama attacked her on 'electibility' is worse than this? His speeches were like brain-wash preaching as if he was the choosing one and you had to follow him and having faith in him.... He preaches that he was more electible than Hillary...

The fact will proof if he ran against McCain. The result would be the worst of Democrats' election. Worst than McGovern.

I can be anything I want. I can hate anyone I want. I don't dislike the man because HE belongs to an openly racist church OR HIS SUPPORTERS are venom spewing pawns. I dislike the man because he does not believe in my values. He does not believe in wearing an American flag. His wife is questioned because of her patriotism. When he gets into the White House--or they going to remove the American flag because he doesn't believe in it. I DO NOT TRUST THIS MAN! I could care less what you both think of me!!!!!!!!!!
I will NEVER vote for Obama.

Well enlighten me then which was the last Christan leader did the nation of Islam endorse??

Better yet tell me of any candidate in the world that has no Muslim links that the Nation of Islam ever endorsed, or any Muslim fraction for that matter.

They never endorse anyone other than one of their own.

Yeah Maisie, over the last three days her behavior has been more like "Sybil" than like a head of state. That's for sure. But then again, McCain is just as bad as she is. I should know I worked for his campaign in 2000. I'll vote for ANYBODY but him. Please if nothing else, don't vote for John. Hilliary is just irrational, McCain is UNSTABLE... Please America, do NOT let him get in a conference with a world leader. He makes Khruschev look like a zen diplomat!!! PLEASE keep him away from the button, FAR away!!!

Claire C- Then why is Obama beating McCain in all the polls?

Opinion is nothing when you can't support it with facts.

Once again MSM is having fun with its not like drudge doesn't hand feed them this is so unreal we started out united and now are party is so split don't kid yourself we will not unite in Nov. women have waited just as long for someone to run we are raped baby's are cut out of us we are used and killed in greater numbers every year we work for less and still get very little respect in this mans world.

Go Hillary!

So enlighten me SJ. Are you saying Obama is a muslim because the nation of Islam endorsed him? Because I don't think that is how that works.

Photo should be a non issue then if he is ahead in all the poll and going to win this beating both Clinton and MaCain.

Obama supporters should be laughing at this rather then hitting every blog on the net to rant and rave as if this was the biggest crime ever committed.

Get over it just as you advised Hillary to get off the "pimping" remark and the Rezko photo, stop crying in your beer and move on .

What you should be asking is why would the Nation of Islam endorse any candidate running for the President of the USA, I think that would be the bigger question not if Obama is a Muslim or not.

As our commander-in-chief in waiting, Barack Obama, said, the Clinton campaign would want the world to believe that the people who live in the 22+ states that he has won are delusional. It is clear, very clear now, who the delusional(s) are. To intends and purposes, Barack has won this nomination. Hillary should just gracefully step aside.

Who is "MaCain".

Americans are so simple-minded, for a nation such as yours(self proclaimed intelligence) you guys sure do fall short in the common sense category, it used to be amusing but now it's simply ludacris, common-sense isn't so common after all....a photo surfaced with BO in some foreign garments and everyone's taking something that shouldn't be an issue at all..as a leader and travelling to a foreign country you should pay respect and try to establish a good relationship regardless of where you are and who you are, a lot of nations envy you guys but now-a-days it's what is to be expected from you guys when you guys display and encourage such ignorance...god bless America and nowheres else:D

People act like they aren't sure the Clinton people got the photo on the Drudge site. Here's what it says on the Drudge site

"This morning a photograph of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., dressed as a Somali Elder during a 2006 trip to Africa was posted on the Drudge Report.

Drudge claimed "stressed Clinton staffers" were circulating the photograph over the weekend, one of them writing, "Wouldn't we be seeing this on the cover of every magazine if it were HRC?"

She has really gone over the top now. This is her attempt to play the loathsome "fear card" the Bush gang is so famous for...like people are so stupid they are going to look at it and go "oh, my, he looks like he is part black, that's too scary for me!" She has lost; she doesn't know how to lose gracefully; she is an embarrassment to the Democratic Party. March 4th and the end of "HillBilly" can't come soon enough for me.

Let's all vote for Nader!

I SWITCHED PARTIES TO VOTE FOR OBAMA.

GO BAMA GO!!

HILLARY, DILLARY DOCK,
THE WITCH HAS RUN OUT THE CLOCK.
THE CLOCK WENT BAM ...
AND OBAMA IS THE MAN

GO BAMA GO !!!

One Farrakhan endorsement does not make an Islamic trend, for pete sake's. If anything it speaks to Obama's moderating effect on Farrakhan and not Farrakhan's ability to suddenly radicalize a US Senator. Proportion, poeple!

The use of the photo is in exceptional poor judgement considering the odd timing and obvious reference. Media hounds, please go digging. If it turns out it really was from a Clinton staffer, it ought to be shouted from the rooftops-- Hillary cannot manage a lemonade stand, let alone the White House, and belongs instead in a remedial middle school.

When Obama wins, you will have to bow at my feet.

It is WOAI not WAOI, show some respect for San Antonio!

Let me try this one more time. For all the patriotic Hillary supporters, please "caucus" with your candidate and let her see the writing on the wall in "your own voices." That this thing is over, and for the sake of the country you should all fall behind Obama. I don't know what else you are waiting for. Don't be fooled by the so-called fire walls. The Obama flames have already penetrated those walls.

I now know why I dislike O'bama", as an LSU fan I don't care too much for anything with the words "bama" in them.
Geaux Hillary!

Cheap, common and slimy, I'm glad she's not going to be our foreign policy adviser in any capacity.

How painful to watch a woman that I once respected and voted for in the NY Senate race from such heights one can fall.

First of all, Bonny, Kay had that coming. It's not Adam's fault, she had little knowledge of the story and it showed through her foolish yet forceful responses (as if she had stayed abrest of the story). Secondly, the Clintons were never in office. Bill was. What did she prove being first lady? If you're going to claim that, then there has got to be some explaining to do over NAFTA. Second, Tory, You seem to be an educated bloke, and i assume youre english since you use the name tory... oh so clever. You have put us Americans and our generalized prejudices in out place, with your far greater over-generalized prejudice. Well done sir. I'm afraid I'm not as smart as you, and thus am unable to end my post with a quote from a chris rock movie. I will settle for John Stuart Mill; "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."

Read the painting on the wall. Obama's father was a muslim, he belongs to a seperatist church, that happens to call Louis Farrakhan a great man.Louis Farrakhan endorses Obama. Open youre eyes America. You Think the Republicans are going to play nice.

..."So the Obama campaign comes out with a memo about unnamed "Clinton staffers" who sent out an e-mail? Who are the staffers? Who did they send the e-mail, too? Just who is checking out the facts here?"

How hard is it for you to understand that it was DRUDGE who said the photo came from the Clinton staffers? You know, the DRUDGE guy that put said photo on his website...

If Osama Barrack Hussein Obama wins the election prepare for the worst years America has seen since Jimmy Carter.
The real enimies of America are from within and they are called liberal democracts.

Ah, the power of suggestion. We don't know for certain whether the Hillary camp did in fact do this. Course the damage is done in some people's eyes. Obama should be ashamed of himself and his campaign folks. He's committing the same old political tactics he claims to despise. He's really not that special.

i CANNOT BELIEVE AMERICA IS EVEN THINKING OF ELECTING A MUSLIM. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DENY OBAMA IS. YOUR ONLY KIDDING YOURSELF. READ THE FACTS.
BECAUSE IF HE SHOULD BECOME PRESIDENT, GOD HELP US,THE AMERICA WILL WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED. HOW UNAMERICAN OF US.

Look...if Obama is sooooo proud of his heritage then what's the big deal then with this photo? It's a real pic isn't it? not doctored, not phony. Obama is misleading the public when he he has no ties to Islam or his muslim heritage.

In fact, in 2006 he was in Kenya visiting his cousin from his father's side - Railia Odinga, who is leader of the ODM. This is the same party responsible for the torching of hundreds of people in Kenya around New Year's. Why ISN'T the media asking Obama about his muslim heritage a little more. I think if he's going to be president, Americans should know ALL about his background.

This Nation of Islam endorsement is a lot more dangerous than a silly photo yet no one seems to be concerned at all.

I'm concerned. Take your choice between a Muslim and Communist. Dems know how to pick them.

jeez

BARACK OWNS!NO DUH! IS IT THAT HARD?

I will never vote for Obama.

Members of Hillary's staff leaked this to Drudge, because they assumed that a right-winger like Drudge would play up the "Obama is a Freaky Foreign Muslim" aspect to it.

Because after all their "experience" with him, the Clintons still don't understand how Drudge thinks.

Instead Drudge played up the "Hillary Clinton will stoop to anything to win" angle. And the Clintons unskilled attempt at gutter politics backfired horribly.

How many people on the Hillary campaign have had to resign or step down in disgrace for either incompetence or sleaze, in just the past two months?

Who hired a staff of cronies and yes men?

Who decided that the lesson of the Wisconsin primary was "negativity works"?

Who is ready to lead on day one?

Connie
You think we are stupid tou have always been for Obama. You are a Cultist ready to drink Kool-Aid

In addition to explaining this photo in the Druge report, Obama should ALSO explain why there's a photo of his foreign policy advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski with Osama bin Laden. Google it folks it's out there.

I was a Hillary supporter but now she is showing her true colors I am not sure abut her any more. Hillary camp release of this photo is over the top for me.

What was going through Barack Hussein Obama’s mind when he put this outfit on? Obviously he knew there were photographers there. So what did he think he was getting out of it? Was it one of those overseas visits that politicians put on their background sheet to make it ‘seem’ like they have foreign experience?

HRC said she’s put on traditional attire of other countries – out of respect?

But, I am not a supporter of ANY politician putting on another culture/country’s traditional clothing. So if someone like Barack Hussein Obama goes to Scotland can I expect him to put on a kilt? There was a picture of President Bush floating around today of him wearing some kind of kimono thing. (Forgive me I don’t know what it’s called) He shouldn’t have put it on.

Should a politician wear a Native American Indian Headdress too? What about when they go to Germany, Greece, Poland, Hawaii? I guess my hubbie wouldn’t have minded if Chelsea had visited a luau. What if BHO had visited Germany in 1941? I wonder what he would have worn…

Someone from BHO’s camp said he was just being a good visitor. Ok, so when the royal family from Saudi Arabia comes to the US, do they wear a suit and tie, ‘just to be a good visitor.” No! What about a woman from their country, do they ‘adopt’ western wear for the day because they are just being a good visitor? No!

Does wearing these types of outfits make a US ELECTED OFFICIAL any more capable of understanding these other nations? Do these ELECTED OFFICIALS understand the struggles better? No. So why do it at all? These things can backfire and make a US ELECTED OFFICIAL look silly.

If I was Scottish and he wore a kilt, I’d be embarrassed first and “possibly” insulted second. BE WHO YOU ARE AND BE AUTHENTIC.

Kathy is right. It is unamerican to elect a muslim because of his religion. That first amendment to the AMERICAN CONSTITUTION is only supposed to extend so far. No Jews, no muslims, and absolutely not under any circumstances are we to elect a dirty lutheran. I believe those were the unamerican clauses in the first amendment. Look em up.

If they had the proof that the Clinton camp did this it would be ALL over the internet. I see nothing wrong with them circulating this picture. It's either a great honor or they wish to sweep this all under the carpet.
I say, it's time for Obama to start anwering real questions.