Another McCain-Palin Introducer Declares "Barack Hussein Obama"

For the second time in three days, the speaker at a McCain campaign rally used Barack Obama's middle name "Hussein" in a demeaning fashion to ignite the crowd.

Speaking in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Bill Platt, the GOP chair of Lehigh County, twice referred to "Barack Hussein Obama" minutes before John McCain and Sarah Palin were set to take the stage.

Watch the video:

On Monday, a local Florida sheriff preceded Palin's speech by declaring: "On Nov. 4, let's leave Barack Hussein Obama wondering what happened."

McCain has distanced itself from the deliberate and malicious use of Obama's middle name in the past. When a conservative radio talk show host first discussed Barack "Hussein" Obama in February, the campaign said it was inappropriate and not reflective of the race they are seeking to run.

But it is hard not to notice how rabid the crowds have recently become at McCain events and how demonstrative they have been in their disdain for Obama. In addition to introductory speakers raising the Senator's middle name in the form of an insult, audience members have screamed out, during recent events, "terrorist," "treason," and "kill him," when the Illinois Democrat's name has been discussed.

Speaking on MSNBC, Bill Burton, Obama's national press secretary, responded to the episode with the following statement.

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"People try to use it as an epithet, as a way to stir up feelings about Sen. Obama that are negative," he said. "But they ultimately have nothing to do with our challenges that we are facing right now."

UPDATE: The McCain campaign condemns the remarks. For Obama supporters and others, however, the issue is more about whether McCain will be proactive about this stuff as opposed to reactive.

"We do not condone this inappropriate rhetoric which distracts from the real questions of judgment, character, and experience that voters will base their decisions on this November." --Paul Lindsay, McCain-Palin spokesman

Later in the same event, McCain referred to Americans as his "fellow prisoners." Watch:

Comments

[TheyCalledMeSandN]

he should just fall over and shut up...

[rebelrebel]

Let's just start referring to John SIDNEY McCain. Now, Americans elect people named John, and George, and even Lyndon. But Sidney?

And let's not forget Sarah LOUISE HEATH Palin.

Of course, the Obama campaign would sound a little silly talking that way --- which of course is the whole issue. The only reason McMuffin's campaign wants to remind of you of Obama's middle name is to scare people.

At this point I think people are scared enough over what's going to happen to the economy. McMuffin has no real ideas, just wants to buy up mortgages and have a spending freeze at the same time.

[TheOpus]

classic

[JacksTiger]

This is one of the most hate filled campaigns I can remember. Not since the campaigns of George Wallace, or Spiro Agnew (pointy headed bureaucrats, nasty nabobs of negativism) can I remember a major candidate trying to stir up the negative passions (also known as hate) from the electorate. If we go back further in history following World War I in Germany, Hitler also did the same thing. For someone trying to 'reach across the aisle' for a consensus with this nation's problems, this is an odd way to go about it.

[Maverick49]

Being an Independent, I try very hard to look fairly at all of the mainstream parties' candidates. For the life of me, I cannot fathom WHY the Republican voters in this country chose John McCain as their candidate for the Presidency. The man is totally LOST when he gets out into the "real world". He may wind up being the next POTUS but that will happen ONLY if the registered Democratic voters do not turn out to vote. If he doesn't win it, I think he may as well make plans to soon be retiring to one of his many homes - the man is SUNK, and he sank when he chose Palin to be his running mate.

[naeldwyck]

it's because the party is lost after years of Rove/Cheney/Bush

[MsYellowDog]

I maintain it began with their slavish devotion to/hiding behind the coats of Ronald Reagan. Their agenda was much advanced in his administration,particularly the second term when he himself was beginning to become helpless.

[sarale23]

Last time I checked, Obama's full name was Barack Hussein Obama. And the guy said he was proud of it (rightly so). Then, what's the problem with addressing him by his full name? Is it insulting if you say John Sidney McCain, instead of just John McCain? Of course not. So what's the problem, then?

[mrsmdressup]

If you have many conservative faces, you should know the answer to that.

[CBS]

You know.

[RobertAndropolis]

For all you other similarly self-delusional types out there: you goddamn know what's wrong with using Obama's middle name as an inciting agent, so quit the false ignorance.

[maggsa]

Yes there is nothing to be ashamed of your name however they are:
1. Saying he hangs with terrorist therefore he is a terrorist
2. His middle name is "Hussein" therefore he is Arab
3. The next link will be he is an Arab Muslim Terrorist
4. Final character assassination is he was involved with Bin Laden and caused 9/11
Look middle America are going to take it on face value and believe it. Democrats should attack Palin and McCain hard on this because 4 weeks is a long time to the election.

[peterperfect]

When ever anyone says what you just said, we know what you mean.

[feo]

Sydney? Har-dee-har-har. What's Palin's middle name, something catchy like Tractorpull?

[rebelrebel]

Her full name is Sarah Louise Heath Palin.

Sounds a little too sugary, if you ask me. Probably comes from Switzerland, where they make all them thar chocolate bars. And speak French.

[arrowpg]

How terribly exotic!!

[BigHeadTodd]

Maybe it's because all of his "friends," my friend, are or are about to be "fellow prisoners?"

[oandjoe08]

this is all they have left. McBush and the repubs can't debate issues so they are grasping at everything and anything. It's over McBush, "that one" is going to be president!!

[patrickgarret]

What do you expect from the party of old white men? They are scared to death. They are about finished.

[feo]

Easy Pat; this old white guy is strictly Obama. Fer shur.

[rebelrebel]

I'm actually white and old, if 54 counts as old. And I'm proud to say I have never voted for a Republican for President.

Of course, compared to J. Sidney McMuffin, I'm a spring chicken.

[MsYellowDog]

Unfortunately,Bush/Cheney and their neocon drones have left time bombs all over the bureacracy,which they very much(wrongly)politicized during their tenure.We may never get it corrected.

[pandaemonia]

ageism and racism, what site am I on? Oh yes, the left's limbaugh...

[LAThinker]

They are desparate and the only thing left for this bancrupt campaign is to appeal to lowest of emotions Anger and Hate

http://www.ucubd.com/Index.aspx?id=805&cid=3160

[medi22]

Even though the McCain campaign's intent may be to scare people from voting for Senator Obama, they are also creating a climate that does not exactly welcome Muslim and Arab American participation in the national elections. And it confirms perceptions outside this country that leading U.S. "policymakers" still have little or no respect for Islam, Muslims, Arabs, or the Arabic language.

Sen. Obama also has also failed to stand up loud and clear on this issue. The McCain campaign is inciting hatred, sending out all kinds of subtle, and not-so subtle, signals that words and actions like this speak for "real America" and are just fine and dandy. The Obama campaign should continue to press hard with investigations. This kind of stuff goes beyond election trash talk. It's a threat, to everyone.

[Pegi]

The only reason for them to use obama's middle name, is to incite hatred and bigotry. That is IT!!!! how despicable are they? how low will they go? I hope the secret service is investigating this nonsense inside and out!! Voters, put an end to this hate and fear mongering on november 4 for once and for all!!

[tds1273]

Still, to me at least, the most disturbing thing about the other recent H-bomb drop, was that the Sheriff did it while in full uniform. Even if the middle name thing was not an issue, military men and women are not allowed to espouce political points of views in uniform(and probably even stricter rules that that), police officers(as well as firefighters, emts, etc...) should be held to the same standards. If you want to talk politics fine, but take the badge off before you do.

I also found it mildly disturbing that the race baiting, southern cop had a freshly shaved head. Nothing against shaved heads in general, but in all context it was just that much more creepy.

[RobertAndropolis]

I thought they said the cop was the chief of police. Little wonder what kind of force he lords over and what qualities he looks for in a cadet. I felt a chill when he said Hussein and nodded to the ravenous croud. Someone ought to investigate this guy, who spends all his time lifting weights and shaving his head. Vic Mackey?

[iamhagrid]

Blessed handsome one seems very fitting. The television media should educate people of the meaning and it will turn around on the ones that use it as a disparaging remark.
As for McCain: We have already done everything Bush set out to do in Iraq.Saddam is gone. AlQueda never was a threat there, and the Iraqi gvt. should take care of their own problems. We are throwing good money after bad. Let's get out now.