For nearly 30 years during presidential campaigns people have referred to the candidate of the opposing party using their middle name. It has been particularly prevalent during conventions. I remember Teddy Kennedy hammering Reagan referring to him as Ronald-Wilson-Reagan. During the 1992 Democrat convention Bush senior was referred to as George-Herbert-Walker-Bush. The Republicans even did it, calling slick Willie, William-Jefferson-Clinton. This gives a condescending tone to the speech. It can also be a way of mocking said candidate.

The along comes Obama. Suddenly HIS middle name is off limits. It's racist to use it. It's hate speech. The press is all over anyone using it, before they even look at the context. IF references to Islam precede or follow then it probably fits the fear mongering tactic, otherwise it probably is the tactic referenced above.

IF Obama is really a skilled politician, he needs to get the press to back off and show it isn't an issue for him. Allowing the press the attack the Republicans is politics of the past and fear mongering. Obama is just using the press as a proxy. Obama needs to quit hiding behind the skirt of the press like a toddler hides behind his mommy's skirt because that big stupid meany head is picking on him. He needs to prove once and for all he can reach across lines and connect with the "other side" and say it's ok if you use my middle name as long as it's not in a prejudiced context. His name was given to him by his father, he should be proud of it.


Mr. Obama:

If there are no "Red States or Blue States" as you said in 2004 then your name is

Barack Hussein Obama

If we are "to break from the politics of the past" then your name is

Barack Hussein Obama

If there is Hope your name is

Barack Hussein Obama

If there will be change your name is

Barack Hussein Obama


Barack Hussein Obama

Then why don't I know John McCain's middle name?

jh Wrote:Then why don't I know John McCain's middle name?

The Democrats are too focused on their own battle. Are you so young you don't remember Teddy Kennedy's speech in 1984 where he kept repeating Ronald-Wilson-Reagan. You don't remember 1992 more that one Democrat referring to Bush as George-Herbert-Walker-Bush? Surely you remember the Republicans referring to Bill Clinton as William-Jefferson-Clinton?

Are you freaking obsessed with Obama? The last 20 threads you have started are about attacking Obama. Give it a freaking break already. I don't like the guy, but geez.

Once again, it's so funny that all the conservative media types have been bashing Hillary for months, but now she's probably not going to win. So they are on it double-time to bash Obama.

ETSUfan1 Wrote:Are you freaking obsessed with Obama? The last 20 threads you have started are about attacking Obama. Give it a freaking break already. I don't like the guy, but geez.

Once again, it's so funny that all the conservative media types have been bashing Hillary for months, but now she's probably not going to win. So they are on it double-time to bash Obama.

This is the Spin Room, Hillary is history, McCain is boring at this point, so that only leaves Obama to pick on. Maybe Ralph Nader???

jh Wrote:Then why don't I know John McCain's middle name?

His full name is John Sidney McCain III.

THE NC Herd Fan Wrote:For nearly 30 years during presidential campaigns people have referred to the candidate of the opposing party using their middle name. It has been particularly prevalent during conventions. I remember Teddy Kennedy hammering Reagan referring to him as Ronald-Wilson-Reagan. During the 1992 Democrat convention Bush senior was referred to as George-Herbert-Walker-Bush. The Republicans even did it, calling slick Willie, William-Jefferson-Clinton. This gives a condescending tone to the speech. It can also be a way of mocking said candidate.

The along comes Obama. Suddenly HIS middle name is off limits. It's racist to use it. It's hate speech. The press is all over anyone using it, before they even look at the context. IF references to Islam precede or follow then it probably fits the fear mongering tactic, otherwise it probably is the tactic referenced above.

IF Obama is really a skilled politician, he needs to get the press to back off and show it isn't an issue for him. Allowing the press the attack the Republicans is politics of the past and fear mongering. Obama is just using the press as a proxy. Obama needs to quit hiding behind the skirt of the press like a toddler hides behind his mommy's skirt because that big stupid meany head is picking on him. He needs to prove once and for all he can reach across lines and connect with the "other side" and say it's ok if you use my middle name as long as it's not in a prejudiced context. His name was given to him by his father, he should be proud of it.


Mr. Obama:

If there are no "Red States or Blue States" as you said in 2004 then your name is

Barack Hussein Obama

If we are "to break from the politics of the past" then your name is

Barack Hussein Obama

If there is Hope your name is

Barack Hussein Obama

If there will be change your name is

Barack Hussein Obama


Barack Hussein Obama

I hope you truely aren't THAT stupid(but then again, as I have commented before, Marshall is not exactly known for education excellence). The Neocons are using his middle name for one reason and one reason only-it is Hussein. Not only does the name remind people of Saddam but makes the public uneasy thinking he is actually is a Muslim. I still hear people calling in on Washington journal saying they won't vote for Barack because they think he is a Muslim. This is what the neocons want.

RobertN Wrote:I hope you truely aren't THAT stupid(but then again, as I have commented before, Marshall is not exactly known for education excellence). The Neocons are using his middle name for one reason and one reason only-it is Hussein. Not only does the name remind people of Saddam but makes the public uneasy thinking he is actually is a Muslim. I still hear people calling in on Washington journal saying they won't vote for Barack because they think he is a Muslim. This is what the neocons want.

I really hope it doesn't turn into that type of campaign. Both McCain and Obama have run positive campaigns for the most part. If people start pulling the race card out on Obama, then someone else will pull out the age card, "crazy POW" (originally used by Karl Rove in 2000), and Keating Five references on McCain.

RobertN Wrote:I hope you truely aren't THAT stupid(but then again, as I have commented before, Marshall is not exactly known for education excellence). The Neocons are using his middle name for one reason and one reason only-it is Hussein. Not only does the name remind people of Saddam but makes the public uneasy thinking he is actually is a Muslim. I still hear people calling in on Washington journal saying they won't vote for Barack because they think he is a Muslim. This is what the neocons want.

I really hope the American public isn't that "stupid". How many times has the press, Obama, and about a million other democrats explained his background publicly? The kind of person that doesn't know Obama isn't a Muslim by now isn't going to vote for him anyway.


Barack Hussein Obama's heritage does include a Muslim father. It's the truth and if he has any skill as a politician and is serious about reaching across lines this is his chance to show what he's made of. You can't accuse someone of hate speech for speaking someone's name. If their name has negative implications they need to show skill to defuse this situation. Reaching across lines means finding ways to defuse issues not beating your opponent over the head with the Political Correctness Club. Has Joe Lieberman ever accused anyone of anti-Semitism for saying his last name? That ties him to the Jewish faith and potentially Israel. There are lots of people that hate Jews, Neo-Nazis, Skinheads, Muslims all hate Jews. When people say his last name these people will never vote for him.

Obama made a veiled reference to McCain's age in a speech when Obama said "We should thank John McCain for his fifty plus years of service to this nation." The leftwing Democratic Socialists at CNN, NBC, etc. didn't say two words about this.

But let me get this straight, are you stupid enough to think Obama wasn't calling attention to McCain's age? Do they only teach leftwing political science at NIU?:ed:

THE NC Herd Fan Wrote:

RobertN Wrote:I hope you truely aren't THAT stupid(but then again, as I have commented before, Marshall is not exactly known for education excellence). The Neocons are using his middle name for one reason and one reason only-it is Hussein. Not only does the name remind people of Saddam but makes the public uneasy thinking he is actually is a Muslim. I still hear people calling in on Washington journal saying they won't vote for Barack because they think he is a Muslim. This is what the neocons want.

I really hope the American public isn't that "stupid". How many times has the press, Obama, and about a million other democrats explained his background publicly? The kind of person that doesn't know Obama isn't a Muslim by now isn't going to vote for him anyway.


Barack Hussein Obama's heritage does include a Muslim father. It's the truth and if he has any skill as a politician and is serious about reaching across lines this is his chance to show what he's made of. You can't accuse someone of hate speech for speaking someone's name. If their name has negative implications they need to show skill to defuse this situation. Reaching across lines means finding ways to defuse issues not beating your opponent over the head with the Political Correctness Club. Has Joe Liberman ever accused anyone of anti-Semitism for saying his last name? That ties him to the Jewish faith and potentially Israel. There are lots of people that hate Jews, Neo-Nazis, Skinheads, Muslims all hate Jews. When people say his last name these people will never vote for him.

Obama made a veiled reference to McCain's age in a speech when Obama said "We should thank John McCain for his fifty plus years of service to this nation." The leftwing Democratic Socialists at CNN, NBC, etc. didn't say two words about this.

But let me get this straight, are you stupid enough to think Obama wasn't calling attention to McCain's age? Do they only teach leftwing political science at NIU?:ed:

Joe Lieberman? That is the most rediculous thing I think I have heard. Then you claim thanking someone for his service to the country for 50 years is even comprable? Wow. Just wow.

RobertN Wrote:Joe Lieberman? That is the most rediculous thing I think I have heard. Then you claim thanking someone for his service to the country for 50 years is even comprable? Wow. Just wow.

So I just want to get this straight, it's ok to say Lieberman's name when campaigning against him which will prompt certain people not to vote for him, but not Obama's??? Ok, no double standard there...

My real point is Obama isn't really serious about trying to be a bridge builder. Apparently I'm not the only one that has noticed this.

Obama: A thin record for a Bridge Builder

Lieberman is his last name and if you are anti-semitic, hearing his name once will cause you not to vote for him.

RobertN Wrote:The Neocons are using his middle name for one reason and one reason only-it is Hussein. Not only does the name remind people of Saddam but makes the public uneasy thinking he is actually is a Muslim. I still hear people calling in on Washington journal saying they won't vote for Barack because they think he is a Muslim. This is what the neocons want.

The Neocons?

The fact is yes, parts of the republican, and democratic party as well, are saying his middle name to try and generate doubt. They're playing on people's fears.

Just like John Edwards did when he said if he and Kerry were elected people like Christopher Reeve would walk again.

Just like the ad that implied if you elect GWB another black church will burn.

Just like the Willie Horton ad back in 1988 that left you with the impression if Dukakis was elected rapists and murderers would flood out of our prisons like a tidal wave.

Just democrats like to paint republicans as racist and ruled by big business while republicans seek to pain dems as soft on national defense and baby killers.

This is a contest for the highest office in the land and the most powerful office in the world. Both sides will do anything and everything to try and win it.

To try and say the tactic is unique to one side is as ignorant as it is intellectually dishonest. And to cry foul when you see it is just bad.

This is how politics has been done since the foundation of this country. People play for keeps and look for any advantage.

Is it right? No. Will it change? Never. Get used to it.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy used his middle name probably by his own choice. Likewise LBJ.
Jimmy Carter?
Fritz Mondale often went by his nickname.
Michael Dukakis?
Bob Dole?
Al Gore?
John Kerry?
John Edwards?
I honestly can't recall ever hearing Ronald Reagan's middle name before.
George Herbert Walker Bush's middle name was used for effect in painting him as an elitist with a silver foot (nee spoon) in his mouth.
Jay Danforth Quayle was used for similar reasons in the same election.
William Jefferson Clinton was used a lot... I'm not sure why.
Richard Nixon's name was used.
You are being highly disingenuous if you think that using Obama's middle name is not being used for a specific effect.
Since you brought up Lieberman and he was a prominent candidate in 2000, what's his middle name?

You make a reasonable point that it is a fairly common practice, but not universal. You also fail to address the context of each case. Most used their middle name as the candidates choice - a couple for derisive effect.

I don't like Obama in this election at all, but I'm not so stupid that I don't realize it's appealing to base and vile emotions to use his middle name for effect at this point in history.

the other Greg Childers Wrote:I really hope it doesn't turn into that type of campaign. Both McCain and Obama have run positive campaigns for the most part. If people start pulling the race card out on Obama, then someone else will pull out the age card, "crazy POW" (originally used by Karl Rove in 2000), and Keating Five references on McCain.

These are all legit issues on McCain. Nothing wrong with this..