Rove: Don't "Hussein" Obama

The Atlantic ^ | 2/27/08 | Marc Ambinder

[pissant]

No less an authority figure than Karl Rove has warned Republican operatives from demagoguing Barack Obama's middle name.

At a closed door meeting of GOP state executive directors in late January, Rove said the safest way to refer to Obama would be to use his honorific, "Sen. Obama."

"The context was, you're not going to stimatize this guy. You shouldn't underestimate him," one of the executive directors said. Rove said that the use of "Barack Hussein Obama" would perpetuate the notion that Republicans were bigoted and would hurt the party.

Rove also said that Republicans should refer to Hillary Clinton as "Sen. Clinton," rather than "Hillary."

Right wing figures are set to ignore Rove's advice. Rush Limbaugh used Obama's middle name more than a year ago, and Ann Coulter regularly uses the middle name, once calling him "President Hussein." So does Michael Savage, who once asked whether Obama was a "so-called friendly Muslim" or one more "radical."

[E. Cartman]

It’s because he doesn’t want the left to start “Sidneying” McCain.

[Sig Sauer P220]

Who didn’t/doesn’t live in a third world country.

We're on the verge of becoming one.

[calcowgirl]

Hey Rove—SHUT UP, already!

[sitetest]

I agree with Mr. Rove.

And I hope in every interview he gives with every lamestream media outlet, especially those on live TV, he points out how he is encouraging all Republicans not to mention that Mr. Obama’s middle name is “Hussein,” and that we should all refrain from calling Mr. Obama by his full name, Barack Hussein Obama.

Further, I think that all Republican spokesmen, candidates, commentators should frequently discuss publicly that we Republicans are beneath the sort of behavior to refer to Mr. Obama as Barack Hussein Obama.

[colorado tanker]

Fair is fair.

Fair is an alien concept in politics, and Rove knows that.

The media are already in high dudgeon about Hillary's (very mild) "attacks" on Obama and have circled the wagons around him. The are itching to throw the "racism" charge, you just know it.

The Republican campaign will have to be very positive, drawing distinctions but avoiding anything that would make Obama look sympathetic or a victim.

[ARE SOLE]

Rove is not out of touch. He may not be the best policy advisor, but he knows how to win elections. The proof is in the results.

With respect, President Bush barely won office against two certifiable idiots. Those elections were way too close. Rove is not all that.

Regards

[stuartcr]

I don’t think they’ve changed, I think they are the way they’ve always been...we just didn’t know everything there was to know about them.

[stuartcr]

Perhaps he doesn’t view what you see, as real battles...

[stuartcr]

You’re not allowed to say stuff like that here...obviously, they were MINOs.

[stuartcr]

Isn’t his name associated with his father?

[stuartcr]

Freeper loyalties can sometimes look like a windvane...

[stuartcr]

I’m betting he wouldn’t bold the middle name.

[exit82]

“Without the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Kerry would probably be President today. Rove is a legend in his own mind. Bush entered office with a Rep controlled Congress. He is leaving with a Dem controlled Congress and a GOP in disarray thanks to appointing folks like Martinez as RNC chairman and trying to push amnesty down our throats. Karl Rove has been a disaster for the GOP and conservatives in particular.”

I agree with you 100%. In the month after the Dem convention, before the GOP convention, in 2004, it was the Swifties that set the table for the elction in the midst of a COMPLETE GOP VACUUM.

Bunch of vigilantes, according to Bush and Rove.

[SlayerOfBunnies]

It’s because he doesn’t want the left to start “Sidneying” McCain.

McCain *is* the left.

[mjolnir]

My bet is that Americans don't like hearing someone being disrespectful of any other American and especially don't want to hear quasi-leaders of their party acting and talking like twelve year olds. Grown people will make decisions on the issue. To think Karl Rove is out of touch is a bit laughable.

Well said, HawaiianGecko. One of the reasons President Bush beat Senators Gore and Kerry was because Bush was much less of a jerk.

However, Senator McCain could have disagreed with Cunningham less gracelessly, said something to the effect that while he appreciated the latter's enthusiasm, he wanted the campaign to be focused on ideas rather than names.

[Czar]

"This is how Rove lost us the Republican majority. He is really out of touch."

Ah yes, the "brilliant" Mr. Rove, the father of "compassionate conservatism" and "new tone in Washington". That has really worked well for Bush, hasn't it, as we view a GOP in tatters, unlikely to recover soon if ever.

[mountainbunny]

i agree with rove here. we will gain nothing by emphasizing his name. we need to attack his politics, which are radical enough, and leave his name out of it. it is superficial and will only make us look bad.

Yes. It is making us look silly and insubstantial. But that isn't going to stop anyone. We'll have at least 4 years to complain about it starting in November if this is all we have. Karl Rove is trying to say that we have more to offer, but why should anyone listen to him? What's he ever done?
/s

[FrankR]

"...At a closed door meeting of GOP state executive directors in late January..."

"...Rove said that the use of "Barack Hussein Obama" would perpetuate the notion that Republicans were bigoted and would hurt the party...


They're going to call Republicans "bigoted" anyway...that's what they do, that's what they always do.


"...Rush Limbaugh used Obama's middle name more than a year ago, and Ann Coulter regularly uses the middle name, once calling him 'President Hussein.' So does Michael Savage, who once asked whether Obama was a 'so-called friendly Muslim' or one more 'radical.'."...


How does a closed meeting of the GOP executive directors marching orders from Rove affect Limbaugh, Coulter, or Savage?

[FrdmLvr]

Gee, Carl. I thought we were just honoring Barak Hussein Obama by equating him to John Fitzgerald Kennedy. You know, like Camelot.

[ZULU]

Right. Rove is a LOSER. The less we see and hear from him, the better.

McCain doesn’t have to make an issue of Barack HUSSEIN’s name, just operatives. And he should respond the same way Barack HUSSEIn responds to inquires about Calypso Louie’s endorsement of himself.