My, my, I go away for a couple of hours and people here are going nuts over a photograph.

[bklyncowgirl]

First of all, I can understand the Obama camp being pretty angry that this thing was shunted around by Clinton operatives until it was finally picked up and run with by Matt Drudge. Since Hillary Clinton has not denied that her campaign did it you can pretty much assume that they did. Was it approved at the highest levels or was it a couple of volunteers who got carried away? Who knows.

As for Obama's consternation, it's perfectly understandable. No one wants to see objectionable pictures of themselves floating all over the world wide web. However, the thing is, he doesn't look like a terrorist in this picture--unless terrorists are wearing golf shirts, loafer and chinos under their white robes these days. He does look like a dork.

Now looking like a dork isn't a crime unless you are running for President. Remember Dukakis in the tank, Bush senior throwing up on the Japanese Prime Minister, Kerry dressed in a radioative proof suit at a nuclear power plant looking like a six foot condom.

Sure there is the ongoing right wing smear that Obama is a closet Muslim. Somehow a picture of a candidate playing dress up and looking thoroughly uncomfortable in the process is probably not going to prove that to all but the true knuckle draggers--and the true knuckle draggers are not going to vote for a Democrat anyway. What it does do is damage his aura of "Presidential Manner" his gravitas if you will--and this is a serious matter for a candidate.

Perhaps Barack should have gotten rid of the golf shirt and chinos and just worn the outfit as it was meant to be worn, bare chest naked legs and all. Having seen that picture of him on the beach he could probably pull that look off and it might even help him with the women's vote and a significant portion of the male vote as well.

Like the man said, this is indeed "Silly Season"

[Ytzak]

1. This is only the beginning...

If you think people are nuts now, wait until all the oppo research and outright lies pop up over the next 8 months. The Democratic candidate is gong to be utterly beslimed by every photograph, story out of context, and lie.

The question, of course, is will the average American have enough grip on reality to see them for what they are.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Yes, things are going to be crazy in November.

Republicans are going to be trying to smear Obama as a terrorist and a muslim.

God, it'll be completely different!+

[bklyncowgirl]

4. Whoever the Democrats nominate will be smeared--that's just a given.

It'll be interesting to see how Obama handles this. The question is was this Clinton or a Republican pre-emptive strike.

I personally don't think this dorky picture is going to make much of a difference in the Democratic primaries.

[tridim]

6. This photo trumps them all

McCain embraces the World's #1 terrorist.

[DemzRock]

2. I think you hit the nail on the head... n/t

[Bluerthanblue]

5. "I reached out my hand in friendship and unity"....

I agree that if indeed the Clinton campaign had "clean hands" she would be very clear to say exactly that.

Just as when she was asked if Obama had snubbed her at SOTU- she didn't answer the question- she parsed it so that she could play on the sympathy and outrage.

Each day my inability to TRUST anything that Hillary may say is true- only grows.

I hope with everything she is not the nominee- and does not become president. I'd like to be able to at least believe that our next president wasn't using the public-

peace~