It's Time for Barack Obama to Call Out Jon Stewart. Who is with me!?!

[Tom Rinaldo]

Jon Stewart just took the malicious racial and religious smears that the Right Wing will try to use to bring Obama down and made them viral. He openly injected America's fear of Islamic extremist terrorists directly into the 2008 Democratic Presidential contest, going so far as to throw in a thinly veiled direct comparison between Barack Obama and Adolph Hitler on top of it. And he chose to do so on a mainstream TV network - not the piddly Comedy Channel, when Stewart knew that hundreds of millions of people of every political persuasion, from all walks of live, would intently watch and hear him do so. Here are Stewart's disgusting and repulsive remarks:

"You have to give Barack Obama credit, he's overcome a great deal. Not just he's an African-American. Barack Hussein Obama is his name. His middle name is the last name of Iraq's former tyrant. His last name rhymes with Osama. That's not easy to overcome. I think we all remember the ill-fated 1944 presidential campaign of Gaydolf Titler. It's just a shame, Titler had so many good ideas. We just couldn't get past the name. And the moustache."
http://politicalhumor.about.com/b/2008/02/25/jon-stewarts-oscar-jokes.htm


I took just did a google search and got 44,600 hits by combining "Titler" and "Stewart". It's out there now people, it's all over the world. Why is Jon Stewart doing Karl Rove's work for him? Has Barack Obama scheduled a news conference yet to expose Jon Stewart's role in these vile attacks? I hope Obama cuts him off at the knees when he does. This can not be allowed to stand.

[loveangelc]

1. I thought it was funny...

[grantcart]

7. Ill save him some time 'gotcha'

[Tom Rinaldo]

44. You were quick. n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

81. Oh, so YOU were joking, too?

Disregard my response below if so.

[Tom Rinaldo]

83. No problem.

But I did respond and point you to a quick post you can read to see the partial logic behind this madness.

[Coexist]

2. it was a really funny joke that made attacks on fear of his name funny

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

3. If you're not joking, I'm gonna hurl...

nt

[bicentennial_baby]

4. He's joking

[Radical Activist]

9. A little too deadpan

for me to catch.

[Tom Rinaldo]

31. I'm actually pretty good at total deadpan satire

I don't use it often because to make it work well it can only be off a few degrees from actual reality. I get most of my practice with children, telling outrageous stories as if they were the total truth - and then I keep making them crazier and crazier until it is impossible for them not to know that I was kidding, and then they have a lot of fun catching me do it :)

[Cant trust em]

104. Deadpan is tough to pick up on the internet

especially when it's posted in a place where people say crazy non-sensical shit all the time.

[Tom Rinaldo]

110. Can't argue with that!

But I really wanted to see how many people would make the case that what Jon Stewart did helped Obama, not hurt him, and lots of people did. I figured the majority would, I thought maybe a few would get upset at Jon (but hardly anyone did) and I figured maybe half the readers would figure out what I was up to (and I was way high on that estimate).

Maybe it's just me, but the reactions have been fascinating. It was interesting that most of the people who reacted negatively to me thought I was an Obama supporter but most of the people who bothered to make the case for how Stewart was helping Obama by his routine were also Obama supporters, while most Obama supporters have spent the day here angry that a photo of Obama wearing traditional African clothes is in some way being circulated, while the Obama campaign has been calling attention to that.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

25. Great. Now I've got milk coming out of my nose...

That was a hysterical line last night.

And I mean hysterical in the unisexual sense, of course...

[pamela]

99. "hysterical in the unisexual sense"

:spray: :rofl:

[Radical Activist]

Oh come on.

Its satire. The name issue is out there. Stewart is doing Obama a favor by pointing out how silly it would be to vote against Obama based on his name.

[SteppingRazor]

5. On the contrary, I'd like to thank him for making these attacks look as totally ridiculous...

as they really are. Nice job, Jon! :thumbsup:

[AtomicKitten]

12. I agree.

[Patsy Stone]

63. That's correct

He just showed one billion people the stupid attacks being circulated against Obama and, in the process, diffused them.

[LizW]

6. Well, Jon Stewart is obviously a racist.

Under the bus with him, I say.

:sarcasm:

[IowaGirl]

127. I want to go under.....

that bus with him! Life would be so much funnier down there!! Jon really is a great American hero. He treats everyone equally irreverently--definitely no racial prejudice there. It really does poke fun at the stupidity of anybody making out that Obama is undesirable because of his name. This really could help Obama and make some people realize that their prejudices about names are ridiculous.

[cali]

8. He was poking fun at bigots. Simple as that.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

10. sorry, I disagree. Jon Stewart isn't doing any such thing

and its not Obama's style to attack in the manner in which you speak.

Its smarter to have a sense of humor in this.

[GodlessBiker]

11. Oh, stop. It's funny. Gaydolph Titler. Couldn't get past the name, and the mustache.

[Barack_America]

13. So the anonymous Clinton staffer who sent the e-mail to Drudge was joking...

...that negative stories about Obama, such as that one, should get more coverage?

Man, that went right over my head.

Hahahaha, I get it now....no wait, I still don't. :shrug:

[rodeodance]

32. Was Jon the staffer do yah think? Lets blame it onto him

[Tom Rinaldo]

37. Hmmm, he did show an uncanny ability to foresee this controversy

and he knows lots of people in politics. Proof enough for me!

[JimGinPA]

Obama Has Been On The Daily Show A Couple Of Times...

Proving he has a great sense of humor. So do I.


:rofl:

[Alhena]

14. I say let people get it out of their systems now ... by November hopefully

peoples' minds will have advanced beyond the junior high level.

[Occam Bandage]

15. So, this picture was distributed for light-hearted comedic value?

[anigbrowl]

16. Obama supportes understand comedy when they see it.

Try looking DU threads on 'SNL + witch'.

[Yael]

17. That is hilarious!

Gaydolf Titler :rofl:

Better to bring it out and position it as funny than to hide from it and position it as scary.

[rodeodance]

18. i do not know if BO has scheduled a news conference. but seems not many agree with your OUTRAGE

Has Barack Obama scheduled a news conference yet to expose Jon Stewart's role in these vile attacks? I hope Obama cuts him off at the knees when he does. This can not be allowed to stand.

[scheming daemons]

19. Jon Stewart did Obama a great service...

...he made all future attacks by the right about Obama's middle name look totally ridiculous.

He has effectively inocculated Obama against that particular charge.


Jon Stewart should be hired by the Obama campaign. In front of 300 million viewers, he destroyed a GOP talking point.

[Faygo Kid]

20. I thought it was pretty funny. Ridicule is the best weapon against attacks.

"Gaydolf Titler??" Chill - it was legit political humor, and pretty funny.

[solara]

21. Step away from your computer for a few minutes and breathe... surely you are not serious???

I sincerely hope that you were writing satire.


INVESTIGATE IMPEACH INDICT IMPRECATE INCARCERATE :patriot:

[TwilightGardener]

22. LOL! "Gaydolf Titler". That's just funny.

[Tom Rinaldo]

23. Congratulations to posters #5, #14, #17, and #4

BINGO. You got it.

[Harry Monroe]

24. Jesus, Lighten Up!!!

Stewart obviously did it as a joke, not as a veiled comparison to Hitler. He was pointing out that Obama's middle name is Hussein, and the comparison was between Saddam Hussein and Hitler. Hussein is a common name in the Middle East. The moderate King of Jordan was King Hussein. His son now rules Jordan (His name escapes me).

Better get used to this. Since Obama's middle name is Hussein, expect the Republicans to get all the mileage they can out of this; the Muslim connection of his name (his father was a Muslim Kenyan), notwithstanding the fact that Barack Hussein Obama is a Christian. But they'll be playing to the most ignorant of their base who will believe any lies that the party tells them.

[Harry Monroe]

29. Furthermore, I believe it is smart that we preempt the Republicans

...and use his middle name whenever possible, instead of burying the fact that his middle name is "Hussein". This will have the effect of making everyone familiar and comfortable with it.


Say it loud. HIS NAME IS BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!

Big deal!! So what!! Whoop de fucking doo!! Etc.

[Kokonoe]

26. We are at the fear, danger, hate, step of change.

It's just the next step of change. LETS ENJOY WATCHING HISTORY

[yellowcanine]

27. I thought it was kind of funny and kind of lame at the same time. It would have been a lot funnier

after three or four drinks, that's for sure.

[Common Sense Party]

28. Good grief. Lighten up, Francis. It's called humor.

Not especially brilliant humor--typical for Jon Stewart.

But it's humor. Not slander. Not "vile attacks".

If you're saying that a presidential candidate is never to be the subject of jokes, I think you're being unrealistic.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

30. ROFLMAO!!!!! First I've Seen Of This. Goddamn Is He Fuckin Funny.

Gotta love Jon!!!!!

:toast:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

33. hahaha under the fucking Obama bus with you Jon !....

[Tom Rinaldo]

34. If you think the reactions to this OP here are interesting

You should read what happened when I posted this at Kos :)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/25/162740/997/875/463904

[TheDonkey]

35. It's satire, I think it is fine. I won't laugh when Hillary brings this up during tomorrow's debate

"Not only change you can Xerox, but he's our generation's Gaydolf Titler! SHAME ON YOU!"

[Tom Rinaldo]

42. You know, Stewart was right about Titler

He really was a progressive thinker. Few today remember that his platform back then called for a chicken in every microwave oven.

[AZBlue]

60. You're funny!

You could write for Jon Stewart!

[Bucky]

36. :o)

bravo!

[gateley]

98. Bucky - that's brilliant! nt

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

133. Stealing...

[From The Left]

38. Obama Should Go Southside on Jon Stewart

That would shut his ass up.

[Redstone]

39. Uh, Jon Stewart's show is a COMEDY show. Funny, jokes, that sort of thing. In case you didn't know.

Redstone

[VolcanoJen]

40. Actually, I thought he really disarmed the "Hussein Obama" smear...

... with that "Gaydolf Titler" line. I've been using it all day.

I thought his joke just drove home the point about how ludicrous it is to criticize a guy because his name rhymes with some bad guy, you know?

:shrug:

[Tom Rinaldo]

43. I think so too. And that is one reason why I wrote this OP

Stewart dealt with it effectively.

[IndianaGreen]

41. It was the Oscars

and he did pick on everyone.

[Tom Rinaldo]

46. Sure.

And he also called the whole world's attention to Barack Hussein Obama's full name, spelling out exactly what is so familiar about Obama's middle name.

There he said it. THAT IS THE POINT.

It has to be confronted directly, one way or another. Trying to shame or blame opponents for calling attention to that stuff MIGHT be effective in a Primary campaign where no one wants to support someone who either is, or is being accused of, being mean to a fellow Democrat. It WILL NOT work for Novemeber if Obama is our candidate.

The way Stewart preempted the negative sting is a useful example. Complaining about mentions of Obama's middle name may win Democratic sympathizers in a Primary contest, but it would make Obama look weak to many non Democratic core voters, and it would do NOTHING to defuse the attack.

If anyone really believes that the electorate won't know Obama's middle name, or the fact that he has muslim relatives in Kenya, by the time it's time to vote in November they are seriously deluded. And it they don't know that the public already knows that Obama is African American and that his last name sounds like Osama, they are certifiable.

[IndianaGreen]

50. Jordan's King Hussein was a peacemaker

He even left his chemotherapy so that he could attend a peace conference.

[Tom Rinaldo]

56. EXACTLY

It does no good for Obama to be upset about anyone knowing his middle name (unless he gets to score points against the Clinton campaign for "telling" anyone).

It would have been absurd to think it would not become common knowledge before November if it isn't already. And if it wasn't already Jon Stewart just made sure that a few hundred million people knew it.

Hussein is an honorable name and it is Obama's middle name. If HE acts like it is something to be ashamed of other people will think so too.

[mythyc]

45. This entire thread is proof positive for

how few people actually read the discussion before chucking their two cents into the pot. It's proven to be a joke from the first response people! what conscientious democrat would attack jon stewart anyway?

great joke, you had me goin there till i read the google search part... ;-)

I agree, perfect strategic move on Jon Stewart's part....

[Tom Rinaldo]

47. That was actually the Google search I used to find the quote, lol

It was an after thought to work that line into the OP. That is the accurate number of hits I got by the way.

[mythyc]

71. that hillarious =) ... fool me once... n/t

[NorthernSpy]

48. I disagree. I think that bit helped to ~neutralize~ the dogwhistle tactic...

... by showing how it works, and adding humor.

[GOPBasher]

49. Sorry, but that's funny. He's actually making fun of bigots.

It's satire.

[ellisonz]

51. I don't think you're even an Obama supporter.

[Tom Rinaldo]

53. Did I ever remotely ever pretend to BE an Obama supporter?

I am very out front about being a Clinton supporter - I'm just not an Obama basher - there's a difference.

So why did you make that observation?

[ellisonz]

59. So why should we care what you think Barack should do?

Why is your tactical judgment anything other than stirring shit?

Like we don't get John Stewart. Methinks Hillary gets the worst of his wit.

[Tom Rinaldo]

62. How do you think Obama should deal with people who use his middle name? n/t

[ellisonz]

68. It's a joke. One of the oldest in the book.

Why do you assume I'm offended by the fact that his name is Barack Hussein Obama Jr.?

Barack is derived from the Hebrew word baruch, meaning "blessed." Hussein means "beautiful child." Obama is a common Luo surname.

Barak is a biblical name: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barak

I mean really, this whole his name is so and so he must be crap is really overplayed. Most people really aren't that stupid and the one's who are wouldn't vote for a Democrat anyway.

[Tom Rinaldo]

75. I don't think you are offended nor should you be nor am I nor should I be

THAT is the frigging point. EMBRACE it. There has been far too much teeth gnashing everytime someone says Barack HUSSEIN Obama as if that was some kind of secret smear attack on him. It is an accusation I have seen MANY Obama supporters make in the past, calling it an underhanded means to trick the public into worrying that Obama had ties to radical muslim terrorists.

If the Obama camp is so hyper sensitive to that, and to a photo of him being honored by a tribal elder in Africa who gave him traditional clothes to wear, it starts to LOOK like where there is smoke there is fire. Deal with it openly, like Jon Stewart did. It is the defensive reaction to it that gives any of this any potency as an attack.

[ellisonz]

92. I'm not.

But I call tell the difference between facts, jokes, and smears.

[Mooney]

52. Get used to it

This is going to happen all the time.

[NYCGirl]

57. What's going to happen all the time? Comedy? I certainly hope so. NT

[Tom Rinaldo]

58. My Point! Thank You! n/t

[LucyParsons]

54. My mom called me right when he said that and said the same thing

"How many people watching this didn't even know what his middle name is and will now not vote for him? I can't believe Jon Stewart just did that!"

I agree. I am calling Jon Stewart out for caving on the writers' strike. I have been boycotting both Stewart and Colbert, and so are many other people I know. They had a chance to take a stand and prove their satire had teeth, and guts. Too bad.

[Libby2]

65. I'm betting zero.

[IowaGirl]

132. Anybody that stupid....

probably wasn't going to vote for anybody anyway.

[onenote]

55. You should submit this to the Onion. Really.

You had me going. I really thought you were being serious.

[Tom Rinaldo]

61. There is a serious message here about hypocrisy though

When grass roots activist flipped out when ex Senator Bob Kerry praised Barack Obama in a speech in Iowa, they flipped out when he mentioned Obama's middle name - not because of negative things Bob Kerry said that day. Everyone agreed that all his actual words were positive except Kerry said "Hussein" and he said "madras"

Well Jon Stewart said African American, "Hussein", and Osama, in rapid sequence last night - except he did it in front of 300 million viewers, not 300 rally attendees in a story later read my maybe 3 million people.

So where exactly is the scare in the bogey man "Hussein"? Or Osama either? Stewart just spelled out Obama's muslim heritage word for ward. If those viewers didn't already know that Hussein was Obama's middle name Jon Stewart just told them. And he told a whole lot more voters that then Bob Kerry ever did by speaking about Senator Barack Hussein Obama. Stewart made it into a joke as opposed to something that seems to need to be covered up. When people act angry when something is revealed one tends to assume that they did not want you to find whatever it was out. It starts looking like something that they wish they could cover up. That is not the way to deal with this one folks. Jon Stewart knows what he is doing, and he is no enemy to Barack Obama.

[Lilith Velkor]

64. Gaydolf Titler!!!

:rofl:

[Tom Rinaldo]

66. A great under appreciated American. finally he is starting to get

the recognition he deserves.

[Lilith Velkor]

67. Word. Up.

:patriot:

[OzarkDem]

69. Great post, thanks!

It does put things in perspective.

Is John Stewart going to be attacked now?

[Catchawave]

70. Sounded like he was diffusing the RW smears

I saw nothing offensive about that :shrug:

[Tom Rinaldo]

76. DING DING DING

Catchawave, I FULLY agree with you, but I made a deadpan satiracal post in order to get people to argue at me that the best way for Barack Obama to defuse any smear campaigns against him based on his name or allegations that he has connections with radical muslims is to talk about it openly; sometimes with humor, sometimes by asserting the positive of America having a President with the credability and good will shown him to win the admiration of the vast majority of the world's one billion Muslims who are NOT extremists.

I am saying that if Jon Stewart can stand in front of 300 million people and deliver THAT monologue, without Obama's chance to become President going down the tubes, there is no reason why Obama can't say "nice photo isn't it?" when a picture of him being honored in Kenya comes to light.

[Honeycombe8]

72. Oh, it was just a joke. And it was showing his silly the Obama comparison to Hussein is.

I don't know if it worked, but I don't see it as a big deal.

[Kaylee]

73. Nah, I find that more funny than anything. nt

[last1standing]

74. Take a deep breath and let it go slowly, man.

I'm supporting Obama but this is a joke. Nothing more, nothing less. You don't think the average Neanderthal hasn't already put Obama's names together and thought the same thing? If anything, Stewart's doing Obama a favor by getting it out there and making light of it. That's a lot better than persecuting anyone who dares mention his name and having it ferment in silence.

Relax and remember this will all be over eventually.

[Tom Rinaldo]

78. I'm sorry that the deadpan approach roped you in

Please go back and read some of my other posts on this thread.

[sfam]

77. Dude, you really need a sense of humour, and a bit more on the comprehension scale...

I REALLY hope this is a fake post. If you think this was a racist attack on Barack, you really need to work on your comprehension skills.

This is a fake snark - right? right?

[Tom Rinaldo]

79. Right. Read post # 76 for starters

But don't stop there. The OP is snark, but not simply snark for the sake of snark

[Blue_In_AK]

80. Jesus Christ, it was a fucking JOKE!

Damn, you guys are testy.

[Tom Rinaldo]

82. Please read the post above yours, and...

which guys do you think I am?

[Blue_In_AK]

86. Boy, am I red-faced...

I thought you were one of those super-sensitive Obama supporters who gets all totally offended when anybody says anything even remotely negative about him. You know the ones... I see so many of them here, I'm afraid I reacted to your post in a knee-jerk fashion. My sincerest apologies, sir. :blush:

[Tom Rinaldo]

89. Don't worry, I set you up in a way for that

I thought people would be more free to explain whatever they really felt about this if I framed the OP the way that I did rather than trying to deliver a lecture to one side or another.

To be honest, though I support Clinton I know there is an excellent chance that Obama will be our nominee. I am sincere in thinking and saying that those who want to help Obama have to stop acting like it is a mortal sin to mention his birth given middle name or acknowledge anything about his mixed heritage. By setting up Jon Stewart, who almost all of us really love, as the fake target of my "outrage", I thought maybe people would be free to unhinge themselves from knee jerk reactions to this topic.

It's been kind of interesting :)

[Blue_In_AK]

91. I agree.

This is a funny thread, funnier now that I understand where you're coming from. I tend to favor Hillary a bit more than Obama myself, although both were my last choices.

It's hard to come into GD: P these days with all the rancor. I keep trying to stay out of it, but I keep getting sucked back in.

[MagsDem]

84. Get used to it

If you can't handle that, you're going to be crying in your beer when you see what the rethugs are going to do. I can't believe you Obama folks have conned yourself into believing the media is actually going to let a black, liberal, with muslim roots win. Not a chance in hell. But hey, you will all have your Hillary hate to keep you warm the next 8 yrs.

[Tom Rinaldo]

85. Hint. I'm a Clinton supporter

This OP has resulted in lots of Obama supporters explaining to me why it was not only fine but helpful for Jon Stewart to openly joke about and make reference to Obama's muslim heritage. And I have happily agreed with each one who does.

[elixir]

87. Just caught this and I'm surprised that it took a while for the sarcasm to be noted.

[Tom Rinaldo]

90. I put it up at Kos also and the range of reactions was amazing there

But someone posted this:

"Subtle doesn't pay well on KOS these days"

To which I responded with this:


"That's part of why I did this the way I did

If the only things that register for us when this nominating contest is over are boiling hot and freezing cold, we will all be insufferable dogmatic zombies walking around with our knees constantly jerking."

[Danger Mouse]

88. missed it, but it sounds like it was funny to me.

gaydolf titler. :rofl:

[Tom Rinaldo]

93. So most DUers assumed that I was seriously outraged at Stewart with this OP

and it didn't matter who people supported, Obama, Clinton, or neither, there wasn't anyone who joined me in being "outraged" about what Jon Stewart said in front of an audience of several hounded million people.

It didn't matter that Jon Stewart brought up Obama's race as a potential liability. It didn't matter that Stewart hammered the similarity between the names Obama and Osama. It didn't matter that Stewart made a point of mentioning Obama's middle name, and it didn't matter that he directly drew the connection between Barack Hussein Obama and Saddam Hussein.

It also didn't matter that Jon Stewart didn't "defend" Obama around any of this. He didn't say a word about how unfair it is to link Obama to Islamic enemies of the United States through word association. He never said that Obama is a Christian, he never said most muslims are peaceful. Jon Stewart simply connected all the dots that everyone has been fearing that the Republicans will try to connect against Barack Obama, and that so many Obama supporters have been furious at the slightest suggestion that the Clinton campaign might try to call attention to.

Jon Stewart stood there on prime time TV in front of a viewing audience of several hundred million people and just laid it all out there. And it was funny. No blood no foul EVEN THOUGH Stewart called attention to exactly what so many Obama supporters are afraid someone will call attention to, Barack's funny muslim sounding name.

People said "Oh Jon Stewart is a comedian, he means Obama no harm". And of course that is true. Several months ago when similar words were said - but less blunt ones actually, by Bob Kerry in Iowa people said "string up the bastard Clinton surrogate" because he was a politician and the assumption was that he DID mean Obama some harm. But the truth remains the same; No blood no foul. It wasn't a negative attitude by Bob Kerry that some people were concerned about here before, and it wasn't a positive attitude by Jon Stewart that made people not to be concerned during his Academy Awards intro.

Words are words and words have power. Either it is a problem to remind the public that Obama has Hussein as a middle name or it is not. I say it is NOT but only IF Democrats and Barack Obama don't act like it is something that needs to be covered up as much as possible. It is that attitude, almost a shameful attitude, that brings with it political problems. It signals to the public "we really would prefer to avoid talking about or revealing that aspect of Obama's life". And the type answer that attitude almost always triggers off is "Why? What do you have to hide?"

We had no outrage listening to Jon Stewart making fun of Obama's heritage as a liability because in our hearts we know that it isn't, if we don't ACT like it is. I think the Obama campaign could use a little more humor and a little less outrage the next time someone "distributes" a photo of Obama in Africa "looking like a Muslim". I think that is how to make a potential liability go away.

[polichick]

130. "Oh Jon Stewart is a comedian, he means Obama no harm."

Yes, it's all about the INTENT of the person behind the piece or tactic ~ did the person who distributed that photo "mean Obama no harm?" What kind of audience was it played to?

Sorry, your argument doesn't work.

[Tom Rinaldo]

134. The harm was postulated to be repeated references to Obama's Muslim heritage

including innocuous ones slipped into otherwise non eventful nuetral comments, such as simply addressing Barack Obama as Barack Hussein Obama instead. I saw plenty of outrage over that here in the past; "Why did he mention Obama's middle name? Obama doesn't even use his middle name?!?".

I am talking about the generic form of outrage, not those cases where lies are literally being told about Obama. The claim was made that merely mentioning an objective fact - Obama's middle name, was done because when people hear Obama's middle name spoken, they automatically suspect Obama must be a Muslim and therefor Obama must be soft on terrorists. I have seen that expressed on DU often. In fact in some cases the obvious tip off that someone supposedly means to do Obama harm is simply the fact that a person mentioned Obama's middle name in a situation where they did not have to. Of course that is exactly what Jon Stewart did, to the max.

If someone like Ex-Senator Bob Kerry delivers a speech that is full of praise for Barack Obama but which intentionally acknowledges Obama's mixed heritage, how is that doing Obama harm? And if it is, why didn't Jon Stewart do Obama harm in front of hundreds of millions?

Actually I realize that this is a fine point for debate and it can be argued from several angles, but my larger point is, whether or not someone has or will attempt to do Obama harm by linking him to Islamic associations, since that can easily be done, has been done, and will continue to be done, the best way to deal with it is through calm open pride and humor - not through outrage when no lies are being spoken or shown.

[polichick]

142. The intent and intended audience remain the point...

Obama supporters would be remiss not to out the Clinton campaign or Republicans when they intentionally drop names and/or photos for the purpose of influencing those who might be fearful. I don't see such outings as "outrage" ~ but simply as necessary oversight.

[Tom Rinaldo]

145. Why is "oversight" not directed toward the Right?

That is where real attacks on Obama will come from. Supposed below the belt "attacks" on Obama now in the primaries wound Clinton more than he. We know a "certain" photo was published nationally almost three weeks ago in a direct attack on Obama. And the regulars at Free Republic lit up over it - chatting among themselves about how someone needed to get that to Rush, AND DRUDGE as soon as possible:

Dated 2/24/08 Free Republic. Regarding the "Obama Photo"
Has anyone sent this to Sean, Rush or anyone else?...this needs to get out.



151 posted on 02/24/2008 3:35:12 PM PST by mystery-ak (gopachy.com)
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 150 | View Replies >

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To: bannie
Good Job, it needs to get to Drudge,M.Malkin,Debbie Schussel etc....I want to see his explanation on this.

152 posted on 02/24/2008 3:43:08 PM PST by cmsgop ( You go to da box..... you feel shame)
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 148 | View Replies >

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: mystery-ak
Amen to that!



153 posted on 02/24/2008 3:44:32 PM PST by cmsgop ( You go to da box..... you feel shame)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975275/posts?... ;page=151


The live part of the link takes you to the start of that thread. The posts I copied for you here are on the page numbered 151 to 200.

These things are going to keep happening. It won't stop if Obama beats Clinton and she endorses him. The General Election is over 8 months away. The Republican attack machine has barely begun to rev up. When it comes on full force he won't be able to score sympathy points from Democrats against a primary opponent. Obama has to find an effective way of dealing with these types of "smears" that have a factual base - even if the "facts" are being spun wildly and/or used visciously by an enemy. Jon Stewart pointed to one effective way to handle it.

[robbedvoter]

94. Indeed! Everyone knows Stewart is paid by the Xklintoon machine! he just showed

his true colors! And revealed the aliance between the Clintons and Gaydolf Titler!
Well spotted, Tom!
:rofl:

[RoadRage]

95. I'm an Obama supporter.. I saw the bit.. I laughed..

I thought it was pretty tounge-in-cheek... and I don't think Stewart was trying to hurt Obama.. but rather point out how stupid people are to make assumptions based on a name.

I didn't see it as a negative or a positive... i just saw it as a joke that "is".

Fact: The guys name is Barack Hussein Obama... you can try to ignoor it and hope it goes away (it won't), or you can have fun with it.. make light of it, and make others comfortable with it so it goes away (it will). I think Stewart was actually doing the latter in that case.

[Tom Rinaldo]

96. If a few more posters had made the point you just did:

"Fact: The guys name is Barack Hussein Obama... you can try to ignoor it and hope it goes away (it won't), or you can have fun with it.. make light of it, and make others comfortable with it so it goes away (it will)."

I wouldn't have broken down and made the long serious post that I just did above, lol.

Thanks for saying it so well.

[gateley]

97. You're GOOD! I bought it. nt

[femrap]

100. Jon Stewart has been saying

disgusting things about women since he could talk....but no one ever batted an eye.

Jon Stewart is a pig.

Did you see the Oscars last night? All women are good for is having babies.

AIPAC must be on his writer's staff.

[alcibiades_mystery]

101. You forgot the sarcasm smiley

Oh dear God I hope you forgot it...

[Tom Rinaldo]

102. :) I didn't forget BUT it is Sarcasm. By post number #23 I was admitting it

And those first posts people were making came fast and furious! If you take the time to read most of the posts on this thread I explain why I didn't clearly tip my had sooner.

But if I didn't immediately know this was sarcasm, and I came across this from someone else, my reaction would have been the same as yours :)

[Seabiscuit]

103. Someone obviously doesn't understnad Jon Stewart's sense of humor.

He wasn't insulting BO. He was mocking the right-wingers who are the ones making a big deal of BO's name.

[Tom Rinaldo]

105. More like someone doesn't understand my sense of humor :)

Today DUers aren't making a big deal out of BO's name, only his picture.

[Seabiscuit]

108. LMAO!!! You sure got me!

:rofl:

I didn't even check to see it was you, Tom who put up the OP.

[rhett o rick]

109. The best way to defuse an issue is to bring it out your self. The British

tried to insult the Americans by calling them Yankee's. Instead of being insulted the American's adopted the name. The right wing can't wait to make fun of Obama's name. If John Stewart does it with humor, it leaves nothing for Billy O to do.

[Tom Rinaldo]

111. Yep. And I once flew my freak flag high! :) n't

[rhett o rick]

113. What ever. nm

[rhett o rick]

137. Tom please see my post 136 below. nm

[rhett o rick]

106. Good grief. Now I have heard everything. You will make anything divisive won't you. Good friggin

grief. You are doing Karl's work. You are spreading divisiveness, you are making this a big deal. Stir up the mess.

[robbedvoter]

114. Or rather, Tom is catching your hysteria in the sharp barbs of HIS satire

[rhett o rick]

136. If Tom is being satirical in his post, either I am not sharp enough to get it

or it was a bad job of satire. Satire only works if the audience gets it. I will admit that I am on a short fuse for all the hysterical attacks on both candidate. If this was satire and I missed it, I do apologize for my ignorance and over reaction.

[Tom Rinaldo]

138. No need for an apology at all

I cut this one very close to the bone - aiming for a very tight parody. I am a big fan of "This Is Spinal Tap" by the way - but I know this OP was more subtle than that. I was looking for a double take reaction. I know that if this were not an "interactive media" - something that invites discussion, there is no way it could have "worked". But to me the discussion was more thought provoking precisely because it was hard to tell if I was being serious.

Actually, I didn't quite realize at first exactly how deceptive this parody of outrage was. If I realized that I would have posted a disclaimer in one of the first post replies at least.

[rhett o rick]

139. Thanks. "This is Spinal Tap" is one of my favorites. Scary. lol. nm

[mdmc]

107. Jon Stewart RULES!

God bless him!

[robbedvoter]

115. Tom rules more! You've been pwned!

[mdmc]

143. say it ain't so

:cry:

[Political Heretic]

112. I'm not with you, and I'm an Obama supporter.

It makes us look "small."

It was a joke. He trivialized the stupidity of it. Obama responding to it suddenly makes what is a total NON-STORY into a huge story.

Let it go.

[HuffleClaw]

116. 'disgusting and repulsive' ??? more like downright funny

especially considering he is lampooning republican attacks.

[Tom Rinaldo]

117. So what is more effective?

Blastng anyone who in any way brings up anything that reminds voters of Obama's heritage for their "repugnant behavior", or defusing any concerns about it through humor?

[deadlyaj]

118. joke

He was joking

[Tom Rinaldo]

120. Who? Me or Jon Stewart? Or both? n/t

[polichick]

119. He was poking fun at those who have made an issue of his name. nt

[Tom Rinaldo]

121. Who? Me or Jon Stewart? Or both? n/t

[polichick]

122. Jon Stewart. nt

[polichick]

123. dupe

[Tom Rinaldo]

124. Which? Your post or my post? Or both posts? (I cooldn't resist) n/t

[jeffrey_X]

125. He's making fun of the people that actually think those are serious issues.

Relax.

[robbedvoter]

126. Actually, Tom is very relaxed. HE is making fun of people who are overly defensive

on everything and against everyone (i.e Paul Krugman?) who is seen as not totally endorsing BO.

[Tom Rinaldo]

129. My real feelings on this are in post #93 above if you want a short cut

That's most of them anyway, I made some other real comments in other replies also.

[davidinalameda]

128. I thought it was funny as well

[Tom Rinaldo]

135. Me Too! n/t

[themaguffin]

131. He was HELPING Obama

[joeybee12]

140. Now I get it....

it's...:sarcasm:

[Tom Rinaldo]

141. Any other serious discussion about the points I raised in post #93?

...to give one example. Or are we done? :)

If so thanks for playing along and my apologies to anyone who feels burned by being taken by this. I really thought I would be totally outed earlier and it could lead to an interesting conversation. It did in part anyway. Thanks again.

[Tom Rinaldo]

144. One post debate kick from the road n/t