Obama's Turban Photo
Photos of Barack Obama in traditional Somalian dress, including a turban, appeared on the Drudge Report this morning, and reporters and bloggers have justifiably spent the afternoon investigating Drudge's claim that it came from a Clinton staffer and parsing the campaign's response. A couple of points aside from that bear emphasis:
As reported by Raw Story, the photos had already appeared in a supermarket tabloid (under the headline "Obama's shocking al Qaeda Link") and right-wing message board Freerepublic.com, which also featured a photoshopped and oh-so-clever "Sen. Osama Obama" pic in the comments.
As was eloquently put in a Chicago Tribune op-ed on Sunday:
Let's face it, those who hatched the Muslim Obama rumors would not have bothered had it not been for a political and cultural environment in which demonizing and marginalizing Muslims generally goes by uncontested.
Regardless of who's behind this, it's silly to argue that it doesn't play on bigotry and fear, and it bears mention that this ugly stunt says as much about America as it does about any given mudslinger.
Comments
TheRoot.com has an interesting and on point analysis of the current Obama story in the wake of Bush's return from five African countries.
One thing that particularly stands out about the article is the argument of white privilege. Bush returns from Africa on a "diplomatic" tour and the mainstream media barely covers it. Yet, when this issue arises -- a son connecting with his ancestors -- this issue is quite avidly discussed by several different news media outlets.
though i appreciate the way most news outlets have interrogated this story (questioning intent behind the release of the photo, etc...), it remains telling and unsettling that it's OK for us to go to Africa to "help the impoverished" but questions arise when a political leader goes to his family home to rediscover his cultural heritage.
Check out the piece at: www.theroot.com/id/44980
Posted by: monet | February 26, 2008 04:24 PM
It is truly sad that these photos can be used as an attack. It always stings when I hear about the "Obama Muslim smear." Even though Obama is a Christian, it speaks to what a sad state we're in that any insinuation of being Muslim or somehow "foreign" (or both in the case of this photo) is meant to attack.
Posted by: Beth | February 27, 2008 01:18 PM
Barack Obama and other high profile politicians are attempting to limit the right to use on-demand, short term financial assistance. A number of cities and towns are also attempting bans on the industry, with several more attempting to follow suit. American citizens from all across the nation are fighting the legislation hoping to have their voices heard to prevent the abolishment of the payday loan industry. Regardless of the hundreds of thousands of potential jobs lost, these politicians are encouraging the elimination of this matter generally for personal political gain.
Posted by: Payday Loan Advocate | October 7, 2008 02:05 AM