- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Pre-Rally Speakers Invoke Obama’s Middle Name
October 08, 2008 10:01 PM
ABC News' Imtiyaz Delawala reports: Two pre-rally speakers in the last three days have invoked Sen. Barack Obama’s middle name “Hussein” in their warm-up speeches at McCain and Palin events, prompting the campaign to distance themselves from the remarks.
At a pre-rally speech in Bethlehem, PA today, Lehigh County GOP Chairman Bill Platt referred to the Democratic presidential candidate twice by his full name, Barack Hussein Obama. Critics charge that such references wrongly imply that Obama is Muslim, when he is in fact a practicing Christian. While Hussein is a traditional Arabic name, Obama was named after his Kenyan father who shared the same name.
The McCain campaign sought to immediately distance themselves from the remarks today, which were made well before Sen. John McCain and his running mate Gov. Sarah Palin had arrived at the event.
As McCain spoke to the crowd of thousands at the indoor rally, the McCain campaign released a statement, saying. “We do not condone this inappropriate rhetoric which distracts from the real questions of judgment, character, and experience that voters will base their decisions on this November."
In a pre-rally speech on Monday in Estero, Florida, Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott also referred to Obama by his middle name, telling the crowd of nearly 9,000 Palin supporters, “On Nov. 4, let’s leave Barack Hussein Obama wondering what happened,” prompting loud cheers from the crowd as Scott walked off stage. Scott’s remarks came as part of a string of warm-up speeches while Palin attended a private fundraiser in nearby Naples, FL, over an hour before she had arrived at the event site.
According to the Fort Meyers News-Press, an investigation has now been opened into whether Scott violated the Hatch Act by engaging in political activity while on duty and in uniform. The local ACLU and NAACP chapters have also asked for an apology.
Scott, who became sheriff in 2005 and is currently up for reelection, says he does not regret his remarks. “I absolutely, unequivocally don’t regret saying it,” Scott told the News-Press on Monday. “In order to be a speaker at this event, I had to give my full name — Michael Joseph Scott — to the Secret Service, even though I’m the sheriff of Lee County. So why would I apologize? Is there some kind of double standard here where I have to give my full name, but I can’t use his?”
“Unless he changed his name, my position hasn’t changed,” said Scott of Obama. “It seems very clear to me that people have one of three stances on this thing: There are those who dislike it, there are those who like it, and there are those who think it’s a whole big deal about nothing, which is where I stand.”
October 8, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (594)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Web Archives Confirm Barack Obama Was Member Of Socialist 'New Party' In 1996
In June sources released information that during his campaign for the State Senate in Illinois, Barack Obama was endorsed by an organization known as the Chicago "New Party". The 'New Party' was a political party established by the Democratic Socialists of America (the DSA) to push forth the socialist principles of the DSA by focusing on winnable elections at a local level and spreading the Socialist movement upwards. The admittedly Socialist Organization experienced a moderate rise in numbers between 1995 and 1999. By 1999, however, the Socialist 'New Party' was essentially defunct after losing a supreme court challenge that ruled the organizations "fusion" reform platform as unconstitutional.
After allegations surfaced in early summer over the 'New Party's' endorsement of Obama, the Obama campaign along with the remnants of the New Party and Democratic Socialists of America claimed that Obama was never a member of either organization. The DSA and 'New Party' then systematically attempted to cover up any ties between Obama and the Socialist Organizations. However, it now appears that Barack Obama was indeed a certified and acknowledged member of the DSA's New Party.
From the October 1996 Update of the DSA 'New Party':
"New Party members are busy knocking on doors, hammering down lawn signs, and phoning voters to support NP candidates this fall. Here are some of our key races...
Illinois: Three NP-members won Democratic primaries last Spring and face off against Republican opponents on election day: Danny Davis (U.S. House), Barack Obama (State Senate) and Patricia Martin (Cook County Judiciary)."
http://web.archive.org/web/20010306031216/www.newparty.org/up9610.html
http://politicallydrunk.blogspot.com/2008/10/web-archives-confirm-barack-obama-was.html
Posted by: LightSeeker | Oct 8, 2008 10:12:17 PM
What's wrong with that??????
Do you want more names?????
Barack Hussein Obama......
Barry Soetoro.....
Best choice is:
McCAIN/PALIN '08
Posted by: Nicholas | Oct 8, 2008 10:16:30 PM
This is dishonest:
“In order to be a speaker at this event, I had to give my full name — Michael Joseph Scott — to the Secret Service, even though I’m the sheriff of Lee County. So why would I apologize? Is there some kind of double standard here where I have to give my full name, but I can’t use his?”
They are doing it to spread fear and suggest that Senator Obama is somehow "foreign" and "dangerous" - no other reason.
Posted by: Wiscon108 | Oct 8, 2008 10:17:04 PM
The lack of respect, or really their disdain they show Obama is telling. It speaks to the fringe, which is becoming all their campaign is about anyway.
Posted by: MIguy | Oct 8, 2008 10:23:22 PM
That's alright as long as McCain uses his middle name "lying POS". AT least that what I hear most often, John "Lying POS" McCain said today, etc.etc.
Posted by: JR | Oct 8, 2008 10:24:51 PM
Barack Hussein Obama - The man who is afraid of his own middle name.
What a wimp!
PUMA! McCain/Palin 2008 - In lieu of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"No self respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party which ignores her sex.” - Susan B. Anthony
Posted by: LeeLee07 | Oct 8, 2008 10:27:32 PM
John McCain served on the board to the U.S. chapter of an international anti- Semitic terrorist group that supports ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America. John McCain is a terrorist sympathizer who condones the murder of innocent civilians.
It’s true, see for yourself at usatoday.com
Posted by: Fairfax | Oct 8, 2008 10:28:16 PM
I would much rather be known as Hussein than "Sydney". Sydney is a girls name. Ive always thought mcCain is a closet homosexual.
Posted by: Jo | Oct 8, 2008 10:31:09 PM
SO WHAT if your offended by his middle name you won't vote for him anyway. Boo freakin' hoo!
Posted by: hmn | Oct 8, 2008 10:31:24 PM
gObama! Nothing but lies being posted here by losing Republicans!
OBAMA/BIDEN '08
Vote for Change!
Posted by: PropagandaRefuter | Oct 8, 2008 10:31:38 PM
What I find that is hard to understand, Is that neither canadate can lower taxes, increase or decrease spending. that is the house of rep. responsibility. I find that Obommas statement the he wants to use a knife instead of an ax to trim the budget sounds real good but the President does not have line Item vetos. Why are they so bent on making miss leading statements. Are they afraid to break the mold and lay blame on the real problem and that is the house of reps. Would It wake the nation that the controlling party is really the blame for the current problems, but wanting to try to impede a lame duck president and cause all the cauous and step back and point the finger at President Bush and say it is his fault. People wake up we were attacked and wall street fell like a rock but came back and reached all time highs just a few monts ago. Now we have a very bias news media that does not present issues but views and is trying to dictate what opinions americans have. Presenting polls that does not reflect my views. I have not recieved one poll call nor have I talked with anyone that has. I believe that the news media are going to find out about the “silent majority” will not accept the bogus and outright blaint liberal views that is being touted as progress in the name of change.
Cheers, Rex
Posted by: rex | Oct 8, 2008 10:32:04 PM
Your right McCain is a lying piece of s**t, and so are his supporters.
Posted by: SemperFi | Oct 8, 2008 10:34:07 PM
The McCain campaign meekly denounced the "Hussein" stuff, so they consider that off limits. Yet somehow connecting Obama with "domestic terrorists" - when there are no facts to back it up - is OK...
Posted by: matt | Oct 8, 2008 10:35:11 PM
Hussein is Obama's middle name. That is a simple fact. Stop reporting such idiotic stories! Be a journalist for once. We are sick and tired of ABC reporters whinning about everything not pro-Obamaish! True unbiased,fair journalism is dead at ABC. A sad group of opinion givers work there!
Posted by: mom4USofAmerica | Oct 8, 2008 10:43:19 PM
Hussein is Obama's middle name. That is a simple fact. Stop reporting such idiotic stories! Be a journalist for once. We are sick and tired of ABC reporters whinning about everything not pro-Obamaish! True unbiased,fair journalism is dead at ABC. A sad group of opinion givers work there!
Posted by: mom4USofAmerica | Oct 8, 2008 10:43:29 PM
Don't you honestly think it's more important who the VP is for Obama?
Posted by: Marcus | Oct 8, 2008 10:55:51 PM
These stupid republicans are more concerned with someones name then they are concerned for America.
Under pressure of being 11% and 120 electoral votes behind, the true colors of the republicans are showing through: Racism, bigotry, facism.
Barack Hussein Obama has won this election. His 11%/120-electoral lead surpassess any presidential election in history.
Why does Obama have this commanding lead? Because republicans have sickened America with their lies, racism, bigotry, facism, deceit, and raping of the American people.
The rotting, stinking corpse of republican ideology is gasping and spewing blood and feces. Expect more of the same for the next 4 weeks.
Posted by: clifton | Oct 8, 2008 10:56:02 PM
So what this is the stupdest thing ever, if you don't like your middle name, change it!! If not stop whining about it. If he becomes President they will use it on inaguration day, it will be on the invitations, it will be on the television screen, it will be used to swear him in. If you have a problem with people using the name given to him by his parents maybe he should not be running for President, this is lunacy and idiotic that no one can use his name.
Posted by: kim | Oct 8, 2008 11:00:39 PM
These stupid republicans are more concerned with someones name then they are concerned for America.
Under pressure of being 11% and 120 electoral votes behind, the true colors of the republicans are showing through: Racism, bigotry, facism.
Barack Hussein Obama has won this election. His 11%/120-electoral lead surpassess any presidential election in history.
Why does Obama have this commanding lead? Because republicans have sickened America with their lies, racism, bigotry, facism, deceit, and raping of the American people.
The rotting, stinking corpse of republican ideology is gasping and spewing blood and feces. Expect more of the same for the next 4 weeks.
Posted by: clifton | Oct 8, 2008 11:01:27 PM
Yep Clifton - blood and feces about sums up your candidate .. is he home holding hands with Murtha degrading our troops??
Posted by: Cindy | Oct 8, 2008 11:04:13 PM
Post a comment



