Clearly, They'll Say Barack Obama Is a Muslim

After a solid week in which John McCain has epically failed to take the headlines off Barack Obama's trip to the Middle East, and how the prevailing message has been about how, you know, maybe it would be OK if U.S. soldiers finally came home fer chrissake, I am now lining up the next plan of attack.

I mean, it goes without saying that the GOP is taking this thing seriously. Even Bob Freaking Novak recent said, "Sources close to Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign are suggesting he will reveal the name of his vice presidential selection this week while Sen. Barack Obama is getting the headlines on his foreign trip. The name of McCain's running mate has not been disclosed, but Mitt Romney has led the speculation recently."

Hear that? The McCain campaign is so unbelievably nervous that they are actually thinking of dumping the biggest possible news they have for the whole campaign right now, weeks before the Democratic National Convention. As they said in the old days, it appears they lack the courage of their convictions. This gives Obama more time to announce his own candidate, knowing that he always has the time between the Democratic and Republican national conventions to gather favorable press. Hell, at this point, he should just announce his own VP candidate the day after McCain's, just to make the man blow his top.

So, like I said in the introductory paragraph to this event, I'd like to take this moment to call out the next far-right tactic before they even try it. Earlier today (Or is it yesterday? Jesus, but there's a crazy time difference), Barack Obama met with the leaders of Iraq. They all seemed to OK Obama's plan for pulling troops out of Iraq. So, let me say this now before any moronic, asinine troglodyte on the right does it: "The fact that the Iraqis backed Obama's plan clearly shows that he's a Muslim. There's just no way they would ever agree to it otherwise, right?"

Look for this argument soon at a right-wing outlet near you.

Comments

[Thorn]

Only cranks have said Obama is a Muslim. No one remotely associated with McCain has gone within a hundred miles of that bullshit. The only high-profile pol who did some damage was Hillary Clinton, with that "as far as I know" remark.

[Dan Sweeney - Huffpost Blogger]

Hmmm ... usually, I stay out of the comments posted on my blog entries, but since this one is wrong on several levels, including a mistake about the entry itself, I feel I should address it.

First, it's simply false that "no one remotely associated with McCain has gone within a hundred miles of [calling Obama a Muslim]." More accurately, that should read "no one associated with McCain has come within a hundred miles of calling Obama a Muslim and not been thrown under the bus by John McCain." Bill Cunningham springs immediately to mind, but there are other examples.

Second, my blog entry itself never suggests that McCain or anyone directly associated with his campaign will use Obama's meeting with Iraq's leaders to spread the Obama-as-Muslim smear. I said that the smear would be spread by "moronic, asinine troglodytes on the right." So, the only way you can suggest that my post predicts that McCain would spread that lie is if McCain were, in fact, a moronic, asinine troglodyte. I don't think I'm quite ready yet to use such language in describing the Republican presidential candidate, but hey, you said it, not me.

[patricklee5150]

Hey, Dan, YOU'RE THE MAN! I am huge fan of Huffington Post! This is where I get most of my political news! You all are awesome! Keep up the great work. And thank you!

[PKM]

I guess what you're saying is that we're all Afrocentric Muslim communists with liberation theology sentiments when all the illusions are stripped away ;) .

The McCain camp really does not know how to handle the Obama media blitz. Watching it from afar when Hillary was battling Barack was one thing, but now the McCainites are catching the full brunt of the headline-capturing assault.

From the last few big contests, we probably can expect the old McSame Republican tactics involving some shady 527 group that may still be doing its research digging into Obama's past.

It's a good thing to get all this security stuff aired out early so it doesn't become a big deal when more people start to tune in on the election.

[GonzoFactor]

In January, Obama said that we should go after Al Quida in Pakistan. In February, the Bush administration lambasted the idea as stupid and damaging to the dignity of the Pakistani government. In March, the administration had a strike launched into Pakistan that killed a major Al Quida bigwig. Clearly, Obama is Bush.

[XME]

Correction: clearly Bush is an Obama wannabe in denial! = )