Just Call Me Hussein

My name is William, but when I was a kid, most people called me Billy.

My last name, well it isn't really Gunfighter, in fact, it starts with a J.

Try being an adolescent boy with the initials "BJ"... it wasn't fun.

People try to make your name mean something to them, and sometimes they try to make your name mean something to someone else.  Here is a recent example of this:

Recently, one of Senator John McCain's political surrogates, went on attack against Senator Barack Obama at a rally in Ohio, by playing the Rovian fear-mongering, race-bating game.  He did this by referring to Senator Obama as Barack Hussein Obama every time he mentioned the man.  Why did he do this?  It isn't because Obama's middle name is Hussein (even though it is), he did it in order to instill fear and discipline within Republican voters (many of whom are beginning to flock to Obama).   The Republicans aren't alone in this.  A few months ago, a senior member of the Clinton campaign was let go because he did the same thing (way to go, Hillary).

Look, if the 2004 election should tell us anything, it should tell us that people can be scared into voting a certain way.  George Bush successfully scared enough people about terrorism to keep him in the White House for another four years.  Fear works.  It really does.  The problem is that fear alone won't lead to political success when the fear-monger is bereft of ideas.  Therein is my point:  Calling Senator Obama by his middle name will not change him into some scary terrorist; it won't make him a Muslim, it won't make him likely to sell your children to Osama Bin Laden; it won't diminish his skills and abilities, and when Barack Obama is President of The United States (which he will be, folks, better get used to that) it won't make him any less able to lead this nation.

The Republicans have no ideas, which is why they are on the path to nominate a relic of the middle of the 20th century.

Senator Clinton's campaign has ideas, but no ideas on how to form an attractive, coherent message, which is why her campaign is foundering.

I guess all either of them have left is fear.

Look,  My name is William, my friends call me Bill, my parents still call me Billy (but don't expect me to answer if YOU try it).  You can call me Hussein... or anything else for that matter, and it won't change who or what I am.  I'll still be a husband, a father, a soccer coach, and a Sunday School teacher.  I'll still be the friendly guy that people automatically start conversations with or ask for directions, even when I'm not in uniform.  I'll still be the blogger who posts pictures of food (which I promise to do again soon).

The People of the United States are flocking to Barack Obama's banner, not because of fear, but because he has ideas, because he is attractive, because of his ability to draw people together, and because he has vision.  Call him Hussein all you like, and that won't change anything.

Given the choice between fear and hope for a better future, my choice is clear, and no amount of calling him Hussein in order to appeal to our most base, and ugly values will change that.

Adelante!

GF

****NOTE**** If you are interested, stop over and see my friends at MOMocrats, they are spreading the news about the "Husseining" of Barack Obama at their website... perhaps you'd like to join in.

Comments

[Glennia]

I just call you "awesome." Thanks for the link! We'll add you to our family of Husseins.

[jen of a2eatwrite]

Is it just me, or is this campaign even dirtier than usual?

[Gunfighter]

Oh, just you wait, Jen... it hasn't even gotten ugly yet.

[Travis Erwin]

As you say, it is a shame it comes down to such vile tactics as fear mongering.

[zackattack]

Honestly, I think Obama's own camp is sending out this erroneous information. Why? Because it's a way for him to play devil's advocate with himself. Who else would know what his middle name was, except his camp?

Their strategy seems to be rooted in striking down arguments before they arise.

[Gunfighter]

Zack,

I think you ought to take a real good look at where your information comes from.

Obama's name is a matter of public record.

[Heather]

Oh Bill, I have to admit I snickered (how do you spell that word anyway?) at the "BJ" initials. But I'm a juvenile like that. I'm going to guess that people don't tease you about that anymore.

I get so tired of the political attacks. I'm trying to tune it out so I don't get so "disenchanted" that I don't even want to vote.

I know I won't be helping put the first woman in the WH though.

[Lady M]

Gunfighter Hussein, sir - I had a question about the etiquette of flags, and if anyone knows the answer, you do. Mind taking a look?

http://nupboard.blogspot.com/2008/03/any-flag-etiquette-experts-out-there.html

[Janet]

I notice you didn't tell us your middle name. Perhaps we should all go by our middle names for a while as a protest.
Your friend,
Therese

[Terri ~ Your Republican Buddy]

This is what has been bugging me about Obama .... besides him backpeddeling on NAFTA ... I am not being direpectful or anything like that, but this is my thought....

Obama claims that he was AGAINST the IRAQ war from the beginning, while Hillary Clinton voted FOR the Iraq war.

The current occupation of IRAQ began on March 20, 2003.

Obama served in the ILLINOIS SENATE from 1997 to 2004.

What United States Intelligence reports on IRAQ and Al Qaeda, would President Bush have shared with an Illinois State Senator?

What official-public-action/vote, did Obama make to demonstrate his rejection of such reports and President Bush’s intentions to begin the invasion and war against IRAQ?

IMHO,
The IRAQ war ousted Saddam Hussein, and continues today with the stabilization of the fledgling Democracy now in place there.

[Gunfighter]

Terri,

You don't have to be a serving Senator to know that the intelligence used to justify that war was "cooked" You only had to be paying attention.

As for your own support of the war... do you think that Iraq is more stable now, than before we invaded and destoyed the country's entire infrastucture? Do you think it was worth the lives of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians? Do you think that it was worth the lives of thousands of our soldiers?

Careful... there's a cool aid stain on your shirt. Purple. How lovely.

[Terri ~ Your Republican Buddy]

How'd you know purple was my favorite color... ;-)

everyone read/heard the same thing ...
and they voted to go to war ...

that was my point ...

but Obama wasn't even there to hear what was told to them ... "What United States Intelligence reports on IRAQ and Al Qaeda, would President Bush have shared with an Illinois State Senator?"

Sidebar: I am NOT convinced that the WMD weren't moved to Syria.. geez, they had a year to move it ... or bury it... whatever...

supposedly the intelligence was wrong...
I don't think anyone lied...

You see on the news all the time... little clips of Hillary agreeing w/ it all.

Like I've said before... I am sad we are there. I hate it that we are at war...
but I would sure rather they get the terrorists while they are over there than over here.... and they are succeeding.

[Terri ~ Your Republican Buddy]

Just wanted to run back over w/ my purple top (it is purple) to tell ya..

you know I love ya more than my luggage and I love talking pollyticks with you..

Our cardiologist called me yesterday morning b/f work to discuss pollyticks...
we talked
about Obamaleot and Juan McCain. It's fun.. he usually has us come in 15 minutes early so we can talk... he's always saying...
"I don't want to end up fighting w/ you guys!!" It's just fun talking w/ someone on the "other side"... I don't know very many Dems!