Obama Photo Whodunit
An internet posting of a simple photo of Sen. Barack Obama today became the best example yet of how the Democratic presidential campaign has turned into a nasty and bitter fight as Sen. Hillary Clinton sinks from the inevitable nominee to an also-ran. It all started early today when the Drudge Report posted the picture of Obama in a tunic and turban while visiting Wajir, a rural area in northeastern Kenya in 2006. It was standard stuff, apparently, as visiting dignitaries typically try on the local garb, our friend Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Matt Drudge wrote that the photo was being circulated by Clinton staffers in an apparent attempt at fear-mongering. Said his sources: "Wouldn't we be seeing this on the cover of every magazine if it were HRC?" the standard reference to Clinton.
So was it a Clinton plant? We attended a bacon and eggs breakfast with two Clinton staffers during which the just-released idea was raised. In one breath, a campaign spokesman denied knowing about the photo then followed the theme of Drudge's source and blamed the press for giving Obama a free ride. The proof: Saturday Night Live says so. "First," said Phil Singer, "I find it interesting that in a room of such esteemed journalists that Mr. Drudge has become your respective assignment editor. But be that as it may, I mean look, I don't know about this photo. I don't think, I hope, that anybody on our staff is responsible for this. I have no reason to suspect that they are. So I will say for myself that I know that I knew nothing about it, and I assume our campaign knows absolutely nothing about it, and that it's outrageous and ridiculous. Having said that, I find it to be a reflection of one of the problems that has gone on in the overall coverage of this campaign." He went on to describe a Politico story of Obama's ties to 1960s radicals then said, "As far as I can tell there was absolutely no follow-up on the part of the Obama traveling press corps." Then he told the press to keep digging because even Saturday Night Live thinks the press has been too easy on Obama. "I would encourage all to ... continue the vetting process of Senator Obama, which has been woefully inadequate in my view during the course of this campaign, and I think that's a point that has been certainly backed up by a Saturday Night Live skit."
Next enter the Obama campaign, which blasted Clinton's team: Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said in a statement: "On the very day that Senator Clinton is giving a speech about restoring respect for America in the world, her campaign has engaged in the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we've seen from either party in this election. This is part of a disturbing pattern that led her county chairs to resign in Iowa, her campaign chairman to resign in New Hampshire, and it's exactly the kind of divisive politics that turns away Americans of all parties and diminishes respect for America in the world."
Then, without taking claim for the photo, Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams socked Obama for sounding ashamed of the photo. "If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed. Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely."
So was the photo a Clinton plant or not? Let's hope Saturday Night Live can answer that on Weekend Update next Saturday.
Tags: politics | presidential election 2008 | Barack Obama | Hillary Clinton
Tools: 
Share
|
| Comments (16) | Print
Reader Comments
Recession meeting with Cogress was great.
after meeting with the congress and having the republican jumping up and down out of their seats was like you being in church and you were delivering them their salvation . I really got a kick out of seeing the pain on John Mcain face . I had a name for him when he was running against you . I wrote to his campaign and told him that he was wasting time and vote because he will never win . And instead of wasting the vote on himself to cast it on you . I believe he did. But his facial expression when you were delivering made me laugh . And I say to the television show him again and they did as they had heard me. But I like to say To our President Barack Obama I have never been so proud in my life as I am now . I am broke and jobless and have no customers for my Buisness but I will like to say you are doing a wonderful job as I always knew that you would make a great president and I never stop believeing in you. I know you will have America up and ruinning again before you leave out of the White House in the next Eight Years. You will be President for our next election and I will comapign for you again .I am so proud thatI did. I forgot about all of my problem that I face every day because I know it was worth every minute and every event That I attend and Gave. I was thrown out on the streets evicted from my Apartment but I kept right on knocking on doors to get their votes. I gave all my time and dedication to your campign because I believed in you and still do. I told all Hilliary supporters that she was going to go broke and she did. And so did I but I still was praying that God get her out of the way. And he did so I guess that is truth what they say be careful what you ask
God for . Because after praying that Hilliary went broke so did I . But it was worth every pray I sent up. Because now I am seeing the result from you being our new leader. I began to see what my mission was for . I began to see why I had so much faith in you. The minute I heard your voice the Minute I jump on your campaign Trail. I will alway be proud of you . I have never been involved in politic before in my entired life until I got involve with your campaign and I met a lots of people I never knew but it was as I had known them all of my life . I must say you are the smartest man I have ever met. But I have never met you in person but it seem as I have. You have a warm and gentle spirit. I have a business but no customer and I been joggling from day to day and sometime it get real tiresome don't know where you are going to get your next dime from . I have been fire for having a heart attack from my job because I had a heart attack due to taking some Robitussin. Due to a cold . Now I am sueing the company who made it and having a hard time getting a lawyer to represent me . We are now in federal Court. But I still have time to tune in to you wherever you are. I want to thank you for your time and patience . Brenda J. Burch Ga.
Recession meeting with Cogress was great.
after meeting with the congress and having the republican jumping up and down out of their seats was like you being in church and you were delivering them their salvation . I really got a kick out of seeing the pain on John Mcain face . I had a name for him when he was running against you . I wrote to his campaign and told him that he was wasting time and vote because he will never win . And instead of wasting the vote on himself to cast it on you . I believe he did. But his facial expression when you were delivering made me laugh . And I say to the television show him again and they did as they had heard me. But I like to say To our President Barack Obama I have never been so proud in my life as I am now . I am broke and jobless and have no customers for my Buisness but I will like to say you are doing a wonderful job as I always knew that you would make a great president and I never stop believeing in you. I know you will have America up and ruinning again before you leave out of the White House in the next Eight Years. You will be President for our next election and I will comapign for you again .I am so proud thatI did. I forgot about all of my problem that I face every day because I know it was worth every minute and every event That I attend and Gave. I was thrown out on the streets evicted from my Apartment but I kept right on knocking on doors to get their votes. I gave all my time and dedication to your campign because I believed in you and still do. I told all Hilliary supporters that she was going to go broke and she did. And so did I but I still was praying that God get her out of the way. And he did so I guess that is truth what they say be careful what you ask
God for . Because after praying that Hilliary went broke so did I . But it was worth every pray I sent up. Because now I am seeing the result from you being our new leader. I began to see what my mission was for . I began to see why I had so much faith in you. The minute I heard your voice the Minute I jump on your campaign Trail. I will alway be proud of you . I have never been involved in politic before in my entired life until I got involve with your campaign and I met a lots of people I never knew but it was as I had known them all of my life . I must say you are the smartest man I have ever met. But I have never met you in person but it seem as I have. You have a warm and gentle spirit. I have a business but no customer and I been joggling from day to day and sometime it get real tiresome don't know where you are going to get your next dime from . I have been fire for having a heart attack from my job because I had a heart attack due to taking some Robitussin. Due to a cold . Now I am sueing the company who made it and having a hard time getting a lawyer to represent me . We are now in federal Court. But I still have time to tune in to you wherever you are. I want to thank you for your time and patience . Brenda J. Burch Ga.
to obama
you are a greate leader!!!
i wish you to bring a change in all over the wold
i'm temesgen from ethiopia
if possible write soon1!!
i love u.
advertisement
