"John Sidney McCain"
| Thu Feb. 28, 2008 7:37 AM PST
Quick thought. I think Obama should combat the increasing use of his middle name by right-wingers and some portions of the official Republican Party by making a joke out of it. Whenever referring to John McCain from now on, Obama should use McCain's middle name, Sidney. And he should really hit the emphasis on Sidney — the stupid among us will hear vaguely feminine undertones; the intelligent among us will see the absurdist joke. Most of all, it will likely disarm Obama's critics and make them look silly.
Think you know a better way Obama can handle the issue? Let me hear it in the comments.
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Comments
Submitted by NewMexiKen (not verified) on Thu Feb. 28, 2008 8:11 AM PST.
McCain had no more say in his middle name than Obama did in his ? or you did in yours. What's the point?
Two wrongs make a right now, do they?
s/Obama supporter
Submitted by NewMexiKen (not verified) on Thu Feb. 28, 2008 8:11 AM PST.
McCain had no more say in his middle name than Obama did in his ? or you did in yours. What's the point?
Two wrongs make a right now, do they?
s/Obama supporter
Submitted by NewMexiKen (not verified) on Thu Feb. 28, 2008 8:11 AM PST.
McCain had no more say in his middle name than Obama did in his or you did in yours. What's the point?
Two wrongs make a right now, do they?
s/Obama supporter
Submitted by capt (not verified) on Thu Feb. 28, 2008 8:27 AM PST.
Um, BHO's full name is:
Barack Hussein Obama Junior
Family names are part of a proud tradition in all families and being named after your father has never been anything but honorable.
Just ask John Sidney McCain III?
Submitted by capt (not verified) on Thu Feb. 28, 2008 8:34 AM PST.
Add:
Hussein is an Arabic name which is the diminutive of Hasan, meaning "good" or "handsome".
Commonly understood as "beautiful boy"
More King Hussein of Jordan than Saddam Hussein.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but that's not the point. Tossing it back makes the whole thing look silly. LIke in the last debate where he unemotionally said that he both rejected and denounced. It's the first time I ever HEARD an eye roll. The same would happen if he said Sydney.
Bad idea. You're giving into the conservative frame that his name is important. The middle-name tactic is self-destructive for the conservatives, as it portrays them as racist and petulant (even Karl Rove has told them "don't do it"). Let them use the middle name, don't stoop to their level on this one.
Submitted by capt (not verified) on Thu Feb. 28, 2008 9:17 AM PST.
"It's the first time I ever HEARD an eye roll."
Good one!
I think it is a great idea.
However tone is very important due to the previous comments. If the tone is "attacking" then two wrongs don't make a right, it will be snide and ugly.
While as joke, light hearted it will be the water off a duck's back. More bullet proofing in the Obama way.
It makes their attack look small and juvenile... which it is.
Submitted by Legacy on Thu Feb. 28, 2008 9:36 AM PST.
All --
Check this out.
"Obama should be proud to be named Hussein"
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/02/28/hussein/
Submitted by capt (not verified) on Thu Feb. 28, 2008 1:54 PM PST.
Thanks - excellent piece.
"Obama should be proud to be named Hussein"
Juan is always putting out some very good stuff.
There's nothing wrong being named Hussein, any more than having a Finnish name in this mainly anglo-saxon world.
The far larger problem is this two-horned wild bastard with world savior syndrome. If you don't know what I am talking about, I can tell you that one of the horns like to torture people as well, not mentioning ignoring past human rights agreements (think Geneva), and has as buddies nations to which send those that it wants tortured. Besides Saudi Arabia is not a democracy - if it was such a problem that Hussein was not 'democratically elected', why the heck not attack the Saudis as well...
Submitted by Stewart Dean (not verified) on Fri Feb. 29, 2008 6:54 AM PST.
And while they're at it, they should refer to McCain's party as the Repub party to return the favor of calling the Democratic party the Democrat party
Hey! You guys aren't wearing your lapel pins!!! Disgusting!!! I mean really, this is an election year!
Can you all be that insensitive to this really serious campaign issue? The economy is tanking, the war is raging, there's a terrorist under every bed. And there's not a single lapel pin in sight! I'm Gonna tell Uncle Rove!
Submitted by steve (not verified) on Sun Aug. 31, 2008 3:54 PM PDT.
what an immature comment. Is this how democrats always debate. by insulting someone on there name. reminds me of grade school..grow up.
talk about the issues, not the name
children on this site///grow up
Submitted by laurie (not verified) on Sat Sep. 6, 2008 12:19 AM PDT.
Let's launching the phrase "Sidney Creep" into the blogesphere ... defined as the increased use of McCain's middle name in stories, blogs, etc. to allow McCain related PAC's and other groups to later use Obama's middle name in ads, etc. and claim it's common practice for Presidents. Some on the web have noted the campaign's use of "John S McCain" at the convention and rallies since Palin was announced ... no doubt a more subtle way to roll out this strategy.
There is nothing wrong in what your parents named you. Obama's name is no different, right? Then why when a sheriff in Florida used it: Barak Hussein Obama, it was such a travisty? He has since been under fire for using someones full name? Obama's full name.. Looks like Obama is the one that has a problem with useing his own name, or does he think his middle name will persuade voters differently?? Tell us..
