A name is just a name, right?
One of the problems candidates running for any office have to deal with is what their supporters say, especially when it is caught on tape. While the supporter might have the candidate’s best intention in mind, they can indirectly create a firestorm that the candidate must address publicly in the hopes to quench it before it gets out of control. In this election cycle, all three current front-runners secretly wish they could go back in time and place a muzzle on some of their supporters.
For starters, Hillary Clinton had to work at resolving some comments made by her husband which could be interpreted as being racist. Barack Obama had to tiptoe around the unsolicited support he’s received from Louis Farrakhan and his anti-Semitic views. And now, John McCain has Bill Cunningham.
For those that you aren’t tuned into the news, Bill Cunningham is a radio host out of Cincinnati, Ohio who was asked to attend and address a campaign rally for McCain. Before McCain entered the building to make his address to his supporters, Cunningham stated the following:
“Now we have a hack, Chicago-style Daley politician who is picturing himself as change. When he gets done with you, all you’re going to have in your pocket is change.”
“At some point in the near future the media — the stooges from the New York Times, CBS the Clinton Broadcasting System, NBC the Nobody But Clinton network, the All Bill Clinton channel ABC, and the Clinton News Network — at some point is going to peel the bark off Barack Hussein Obama.”
While in text it doesn’t sound too bad, the delivery has a much different meaning. Cunningham referred to Obama as “Barack Hussein Obama” three times, with each time emphasizing his middle name in a derogatory term. Why? It is just a continuation of the same slant against Obama to label him as a Muslim sympathizer. While for most “normal” people, there is nothing wrong with Muslims as a general population, just as there isn’t with Jews, Christians, Mormons, Hindu, and all others. No, what they are trying to do is like Obama with the radicals, such as Islamic terrorists and Middle Eastern dictators – namely Saddam Hussein.
The problem with this flawed attack is it just exposes this small population for being xenophobic and bigoted. Obama is named after his father who comes from a Muslim background. Would these same “talking heads” be stressing Obama’s middle name if it happened to be “Washington” or “Reagan?” Or what about if his name was “John Sidney McCain?” (Yes, McCain’s middle name is “Sidney.”)
So what is the end result of these cheap playground attacks on a man’s given name? Just more respect for the man they are trying to tear down. Many in the public don’t like immature bullying on others, especially for things that they have little control over. After all, you know that these same people would be picking on him if he legally changed his name to something that sounded more American, right?
So please folks, I encourage all of you to rise above such nonsense and let these talking heads know that they are only making fools of themselves. There is no room for these low attacks on a person’s name and heritage.
For some additional reading, check out these sites:
Google News – “McCain Disavows Comments About Obama”
The Guardian – “Far right rejects McCain after Obama apology”
FOX News – “McCain Scrambles to Control Backers”
CBS News – “Could McCain’s Apology Hurt His Standing With Conservatives?”
Salon – “Are Barack Obama and John McCain hypocrites?”
For some additional reading across the web, check out these blogs:
Hot Air – “McCain’s Sister Souljah Moment?”
Crooks and Liars – “Bill Cunningham says McCain campaign told him to throw out the Red Meat”
Writes Like She Talks – “Mike DeWine gave Bill Cunningham instruction that led to right with McCain?”
The Carpetbagger Report – “As much as I appreciate McCain’s denunciation of Cunningham…”
Hicktown Press – “Radio Host, Bill Cunningham Gets Humiliated by John McCain”
