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.