A scientist who named a new species of parasite after President Obama defended his decision, and said that it was meant to honor Obama, not insult him. "Before you accuse me of being some kind of hater, racist or worse — as plenty have — let me be clear: I absolutely intended it as an honor," retired biology professor Thomas Platt wrote in the Washington Post late Thursday. . . Platt named his new species Baracktrema obamai, which is a flatworm that lives in the blood systems of the hosts they inhabit.