The "Native Clothing" Two-Step [Hillary supporter Rep. Tubbs Jones calls Obama "native" African]

The New Republic Blog (The Plank) ^ | 2-26-08 | Christopher Orr

[GraniteStateConservative]

1) The Clinton campaign is accused of circulating a photo of Barack Obama wearing Somali garb on a visit to Africa, and declines to deny that someone on the campaign may have been responsible.

2) The Clinton campaign says that, regardless, there's nothing wrong with Obama's wearing that clothing, and that it's absurd to call it "divisive."

1) On "Morning Joe," Hillary supporter Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones says that the Clinton campaign would not "condone" the circulation of such a photo, and that "I would not personally have done it." But she adds,

2) "I have no shame, or no problem, with people looking at Barack Obama in his native clothing, in the clothing of his country." [itals mine] For any dim enough to have missed her implication, seconds later she brings up peoples' right to wear "the clothing of their nation" yet one more time. (Video below)

At this point, it seems to me there are really only two plausible interpretations: Either Stephanie Tubbs Jones is an imbecile, and the Clinton campaign is enormously unlucky that it keeps looking as though they're trying to paint Obama as an exotic, probably Muslim foreigner. Or the Clinton campaign is trying to paint Obama as an exotic, probably Muslim foreigner, and they think they can get away with the smear as long as they add, "not that there's anything wrong with that."

At this point, I'm afraid I know which I believe.

The Vid

[boxerblues]

PING

[NeoCaveman]

At this point, it seems to me there are really only two plausible interpretations: Either Stephanie Tubbs Jones is an imbecile,

Oh, she is an imbecile. No doubt about it.

[libh8er]

What what Stephanie Tubbs’s “native” country is. The Cameroon ? Congo ?

[jmaroneps37]

This whole thing couldn’t be better if we were writing it for the rat. How long will it be until some “insider” rats start anonymously crying ( on condition of not names) about how they are stuck with an unelectable candidate?

[boxerblues]

and we get to claim her as a hometown imbecile

[libh8er]

“What what” = Wonder what

[boxerblues]

You need to go take a peek over at DU they are thinking about going over to the dark side and voting McCain lol

[muawiyah]

But a big part of the problem comes from Hillery's "native costume":

[marinamuffy]

I must say, I am enjoying the ‘Rat infighting and race baiting immensely.

[NeoCaveman]

“Gypsies, Tramps, and Theives” - The Clinton Years.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Here's Hillary wearing the native garb of the Island of Lesbos

[RightWhale]

Hillary!08 is funny, a great comic. She should be considering her 140 IQ and jolly nature. She says the costume picture is nothing, that she has dozens more of herself in such native garb since she has travelled so much more than Obama and always tries on the local costume with photo op and all. 80 countries, you know, much more than Obama. Ready to start being President on the first day, too, unlike Obama who would wait until the next day.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Here’s Hillary wearing the native garb of the Island of Lesbos

That is damn funny!.....

[Verginius Rufus]

Her native country is Mauritius, home of the dodo (erroneously believed to be extinct).

[Intimidator]

Getting really desperate they are.

[Redbob]

There's a long tradition of showing candidates in their "native" garb:

Mikey Dukakis

John Effin' Kerry

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Dodo, Lesbo.....You say tamato, I say tomato...

[Verginius Rufus]

What the Democrats don’t want to admit is that they are wary of nominating a Lesbian for the second time, since it didn’t work out so well in 1988. (Michael Dukakis’ ancestors were from Lesbos.)

[dead]

There's riots in the streets!