Comment from Josh Hammond
Time: February 26, 2008, 8:47 am

Even though there is mischief in this photo, if I were Obama I would have let it pass. The mischief, of course, is that this tribal dress goes to the rumors of Obama being a Muslim. Unlike the photos below, no one is suggesting that Bush is a cross-dresser or a clown. Well maybe a clown.

I’m impressed with the Obama team’s quick response, unlike Kerry’s. But there are some things that get worse with the response. Barack needs to avoid raising to all the bait that is out there.

Comment from timr
Time: February 26, 2008, 9:26 am

Josh, So you are saying that when something comes up that either Clinton or the repigs can point to to advance their meme that Obama is a muslim, he should just ignore it? Didn’t ignoring crap like this get Kerry into the big black hole of, if he isn’t denying this kind of thing it must be true?

Comment from Josh Hammond
Time: February 26, 2008, 9:49 am

Timr, Obama has a way of dismissing a charge without inflaming it. For example, when Clinton went “after him” about “plagiarism” he just dismissed it as part of the “silly season of politics”. He could have addressed this “dress up” in the same manner without going after implied motives and having someone on his staff accuse the Clinton staff. He could have said something like “I was honored to visit the land of my fathers, and I look forward to doing it again as president.”

Comment from Leftcoast
Time: February 26, 2008, 3:13 pm

As far as I know, no one in the Clinton campaign ever said, “it wasn’t intended as a smear.” That’s a headline writer taking liberty with the situation. Maybe some rogue smartass five levels below Wolfson and Penn thought this was a good idea which is why Hillary’s having a hard time flatly denying this. But this just doesn’t feel like an official or even subtle Hillary move–she’s rather rant right at you than do this shit. I think it’s coming from outside, maybe Pugs, maybe some rogue jerk with an email account. Either way, it’s stupid and ineffective for the Dems. It doesn’t really soil Obama nor does it promote Hillary. What is does is gives McCain’s 527s another visual…

Comment from Josh Hammond
Time: February 26, 2008, 5:50 pm

Lefty, I’m sure there is a visual of McCain doing his RUSSIA vodka thing. And the last shoe on the Ketting Five and babes has not been tossed into the ring.

Comment from Pollie
Time: March 1, 2008, 2:57 pm

Ain’t no disrespec man. It’s dis dem darkie dumbocrats diggin on dat dawg, bro.