Obama Supporters Adopting Middle Name "Hussein" As Their Own

New York Times:

Emily Nordling has never met a Muslim, at least not to her knowledge. But this spring, Ms. Nordling, a 19-year-old student from Fort Thomas, Ky., gave herself a new middle name on Facebook.com, mimicking her boyfriend and shocking her father.

"Emily Hussein Nordling," her entry now reads.

With her decision, she joined a growing band of supporters of Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, who are expressing solidarity with him by informally adopting his middle name.

The result is a group of unlikely-sounding Husseins: Jewish and Catholic, Hispanic and Asian and Italian-American, from Jaime Hussein Alvarez of Washington, D.C., to Kelly Hussein Crowley of Norman, Okla., to Sarah Beth Hussein Frumkin of Chicago.

Jeff Strabone of Brooklyn now signs credit card receipts with his newly assumed middle name, while Dan O'Maley of Washington, D.C., jiggered his e-mail account so his name would appear as "D. Hussein O'Maley." Alex Enderle made the switch online along with several other Obama volunteers from Columbus, Ohio, and now friends greet him that way in person, too.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[sef2121]

People are not understanding that Hussein is a name of massive historical importance in the Muslim community and it does not have "little meaning" as someone said here. Hussein= son of Ali, grandson of the prophet Mohammed and a figure of major importance in Islam, particularly among the Shia. The battle of Karbala, where Hussein died (in Iraq no less), is one of the historical reasons that explains the Sunni-Shia divide and hostility to this day. In a time when American relations with the Muslim world MUST be ameliorated by our next president, it is all the more crucial for young and old supporters of both candidates to try and grasp some of the cultural differences that exist in the world today. I support Obama now that the he is the nominee and I am glad that his supporters can spot a Republican attack when they see one, but saying that Hussein has no meaning as a name is just plain wrong. Obama should go to a Mosque (he so far refuses) and he should embrace his middle name (and put it on the ballot) as a way to show the Muslim world that we are serious about peace and recognize that Islam, like my own Judaism and like Obama's own Christianity, is a religion of peace made up of mostly MODERATES. By treating the attacks on his middle name as a "Muslim smear" he is demonstrating the exact politics-as-usual that he so vehemently rails against.

[MsLiz]

That won't get him any votes in Alabama. The Muslim world doesn't vote. Let's use some other symbolic manipulation to persuade the Muslims to support Obama. First, let's get him elected.

[sef2121]

You wanna make a bet? Michigan has one of the largest Muslim populations in the country and Obama is polling low there...it is swing state that he must win. How can you say they don't vote? I recommend that you spend a day in Brooklyn's Muslim neighborhoods on election day and then revise your opinion.

[learnsomething]

You guys are funny.

Kelly Hussein O'Keefe

[teasley]

How very chidish.

[teasley]

Sorry, missed the l, should read "How very childish." But you knew that.

[MsLiz]

I thought you were chiding the Husseins.

[obamanation31]

Please check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7gtfqsRShY

[kellygrrrl]

excellent link

thank you

JA is brilliant

[kellygrrrl]

GeorgeHusseinWBush

[beboy]

It worked out ok for Saddam.

[fedupsquared]

Yeah, okay, I guess ..., if you're a freakin' sadist.

[tel8034]

I LOVE IT!!! ............. What a GREAT way to emphasize that the IRRELEVANT OBSESSION of the Republican­s/Racists/­Fear-monge­rs/FAUX News is JUST PLAIN STUPID.

Have any of the "Hussein's" come together to produce an ad yet?

That would be as effective as the "Why I Will Vote Republican" Ad

Thousands of "Husseins" coming out of the woodwork !!!!! .............FAUX New would certainly blow a few blood vessels (hopefully those which would prevent their mouths from opening).

[luvobama]

I am changing every member in my household's middle name to Hussein. Even our pets.

[WatchIt]

I am happy to sign my name as Hussein. No problem. --Joshua Hussein

[bygollymissmolly]

Posters over at Think Progress have been doing this for a long time now.

[jade7243]

VERY OLD NEWS. Those of us who have supported Obama from the start, added "Hussein" after any number of incidents where his former rival's surrogates and the media tried to make an issue of not only his name but the "double triple secret" Manchurian Muslim candidate and dubious "connections" were made an issue -- including front page stories by otherwise reputable sources like the Washington Post.

Hussein as a middle or last name? Ancient Chinese secret... Calgon.

[pilgrim7]

Young people. Gotta love 'em. As an older person, I admire their enthusiasm and their show of contempt for the shameless bigotry of Bar a c k. H u ss e in Ob.a. ma's detractors.

PilgrimHus.sein7

[el8usa]

In Foreign policy and diplomacy ... it'd be smart to use that middle name... but McCain is Jealous of that.
Jealous because of his thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that occur when McCain realize that a valued relationship in foreign diplomacy threatened him (his WAR dream)... since with a middle name like Hussein, his rival would be the best choice for to be the President capable to handle with the US foreign diplomacy.

I understand McCain... because he has to compete with an unconventional and outstanding candidate whose personality feet everywhere... because of the heritage of his multi-racial and multi-cultural background ... This US candidate has everything McCain hasn't... and it's hard not to be jealous of him.

Jealousy contains anger, sadness, mental states; a type of anxious insecurity of a man like McCain followed by the perception of threat from the new generation.

But if... this can make McCain feel better... either I, do have the Multi-cultural EXPERIENCE of Obama ... BUT I'M NOT JEALOUS.... reason why I VOTE for HIM.... So, McCain, how will you face the 21st century?

So, McCain who's going restore the Image of America?
The World is already waiting for him ... to talk about Global warming... not WAR !

[harriscrl3]

Its to show some ignorant and racist Americans there is NOTHING in a name except maybe if your name is Bush. Whenever you hear that last name associated with anyone RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!

Carol

[xcrunner77]

How about "Who's Sane"?

i.e. Barack Who's Sane Obama?

i.e. Barack Who Is Sane Obama (compared to John "Who's Crazy" McCain?)

[4wehttam]

LOL, good one.

4wehttamHussein

[Cookie100]

Geeze, leave it to MSM to right on the story.
Signed,
Andrea Hussein Davis
who has had this name for over a year!
way to go Times