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Obama Pushback On the Drudge Photo Flap

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February 25, 2008 6:33 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller and Steve Portnoy Report:

In a radio interview with WAOI in San Antonio, Sen. Barack Obama commented about the photo on the website Drudge Report showing him dressed in traditional Somali attire.

"Everybody knows that whether it's me or Senator Clinton, or Bill Clinton, that when you travel to other countries they ask you to try on traditional garb that you have been given as a gift," he told WAOI, "The notion that the Clinton campaign would be trying to circulate this as a negative on the same day that Senator Clinton was giving a speech about how we repair our relationships around the world is sad. We are going to try to stay focused on what will make a difference in our foreign policy, including bringing the war in Iraq to an honorable end."

He noted that he believes Americans are saddened when they see "these kind of politics."

"The notion that they would try to use this to imply in some way that I'm foreign, I think is, you know, unfortunate," Obama later told Dallas/Ft. Worth radio station WBAP.

"These are the kinds of political tricks and silliness you start seeing at the end of campaigns," Obama said in an interview with the ABC Radio affiliate.

In addition, Obama campaign surrogates pushed back in a conference call this morning with reporters.

General Gration, one of Obama’s foreign policy advisors, was on the trip with Obama in 2006 to Kenya where he donned the garb.

"We try on Christmas gifts sometimes that we may not want to keep but we do it to be a grateful recipient," Gration explained, "Barack Obama did what any leader would do, accept the gift, hospitality and token of friendship."

Susan Rice, anther top advisor to the campaign, recalled that President Clinton had done the same thing in his administration and said this is "ironic" timing on the day that Senator Clinton gives a foreign policy speech.

Rice called the picture's notoriety on Drudge to have the "very intention to be divisive," and says it promotes the idea that that the culture of other parties of the world are worthy of ridicule.

Both surrogates said they have yet to hear a denial from the Clinton campaign that they pushed this photo to Drudge.

February 25, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (232)

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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???

Posted by: Mhill | Feb 25, 2008 7:41:02 PM

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.

Posted by: hopesprings52 | Feb 25, 2008 7:44:01 PM

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…

Posted by: y001 | Feb 25, 2008 7:44:46 PM

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.

Posted by: Adam | Feb 25, 2008 7:44:53 PM

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?

Posted by: Adam | Feb 25, 2008 7:46:56 PM

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.

Posted by: Leo | Feb 25, 2008 7:47:58 PM

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

Posted by: gnarler | Feb 25, 2008 7:48:34 PM

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?

Posted by: Kay | Feb 25, 2008 7:50:34 PM

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.

Posted by: Lee-Ann | Feb 25, 2008 7:53:00 PM

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!

Posted by: Carl Lollis | Feb 25, 2008 7:53:00 PM

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.

Posted by: Perry | Feb 25, 2008 7:54:00 PM

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.

Posted by: Don | Feb 25, 2008 7:56:14 PM

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.

Posted by: JPB | Feb 25, 2008 7:57:06 PM

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

Posted by: Hershey | Feb 25, 2008 7:58:15 PM

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

Posted by: Miguel | Feb 25, 2008 8:00:39 PM

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

Posted by: Kay | Feb 25, 2008 8:01:55 PM

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

Posted by: Dem in Chicago | Feb 25, 2008 8:02:20 PM

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.

Posted by: Maisie2008 | Feb 25, 2008 8:02:43 PM

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.

Posted by: Adam | Feb 25, 2008 8:05:24 PM

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.

Posted by: Wa | Feb 25, 2008 8:06:41 PM

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