The Hussein Dilemma

Much of the news cycle over the past few days has focused on Barack Obama's middle name. At a rally for John McCain, radio host Bill Cunningham repeatedly referred to "Barack Hussein Obama," adding a series of disparaging comments for which McCain had to apologize. Yesterday, the Tennessee Republican Party defended a press release in which they used Obama's middle name while suggesting he was anti-Semitic. Even Jon Stewart joked about Obama's name during his opening monologue at the Academy Awards.

The Obama campaign has responded aggressively to tactics that suggest he may be a Muslim-in-disguise, letting very little time elapse before releasing a statement. When it comes to his middle name, however, he rarely offers an answer beyond accepting an inevitable apology.

But opinion makers, sympathetic to Obama, are not lockstep with the campaign, often drumming up serious media attention in the aftermath of the utterance of "Hussein." Keith Olbermann was critical of Jon Stewart for having joked about Obama's name at the Academy Awards, asking how rightwing talking points could have entered his monologue. Others have sounded similar notes. But their swift reaction to condemn the use of Hussein is actually perpetuating the story they mean to extinguish. Such a posture, by those who can influence the narrative, screams, "This matters."

If it matters, every time it's uttered, it will make the news. When it does, the name Hussein will be repeated again and again, drumming up those uncomfortable feelings that Obama has, so far, succeeded at pushing into the shadows.

The Obama campaign needs to respond. Ignoring the attack will prevent the campaign from controlling the tempo and pitch of the story. Responding aggressively will bring unwanted attention. Instead he should use a disarming humor to dismiss the story, producing a sound bite with laugh-track included.

Obama can turn these events into a new line in his stump speech, one that will make him seem all the more genuine to his supporters. With a touch of self-deprecation, he can cite the embarrassment with which so many can empathize, the plight of a bad middle name. He can be playful, even sarcastic, making the line a common refrain. In doing so, he can ensure that any future such news coverage will include his remarks.

Obama must also take ownership of his name, saying it with comfort and ease. If "Hussein" is treated as forbidden ground, its invocation will be that much more severe. In the same way that Americans grew comfortable with the name Obama, they too can grow at ease with Hussein -- as long as they're allowed. Ultimately, if Obama and those who support him can dismiss the issue for its smallness, the stories will diminish.

Comments

[wilhelmR]

Jon Stewart made an ass of himself. He is not ready for the Oscars: Uneducated for a worldwide audience. He is Ok for hillbillies.

[ErinG]

Hussein is a “bad name?” Let’s say that the consensus is: You’re a jerk. Then, Dylan is a jerky name?

[LordKelvin]

Since Obama's Foreign Policy Strategy will be based on "talking to everyone", his middle name will be his TRUMP CARD in negotiation with Iran to stop its nuclear research.

DOGITO, ERGO SUM.

[naijaman]

"With a touch of self-deprecation, he can cite the embarrassment with which so many can empathize, the plight of a bad middle name."

Errr...no, Obama's middle name is not a "bad middle name", it's a common name in Arabic and middle eastern countries. Just because YOU think it's a bad name does not make it so. Why should Obama be punished for the name his parents gave him 47 years ago?
So he should accommodate bigots by apologizing for his name?

Get real.

[jcandrsn]

Totally agree with the assessment. He needs to just shrug it off as the meaningless attack that it is. Include it in the "comedy" portion of his stump speech that has previously included John Edwards and Hillary Clinton's "weaknesses" and Hillary's voting for legislation she doesn't want passed.

I think that there are definitely some on the right (who tend to have radio shows, hmmm....) trying to turn his middle name into some sort of liability since there happened to be a certain dictator named Hussein (who wasn't even around when he was named 40+ years ago). News flash: His first name is Barack, and his last name is Obama. I had never heard either of those names before the senator from Illinois became popular. Anyone uncomfortable with Hussein is probably uncomfortable with those names as well. These attempts are pointless, play to the lowest common denominator of humanity, and will likely carry no water. I mean, if we voted on middle names, surely neither Richard Milhous Nixon nor Rutherford Birchard Hayes would have been elected.

[plutorage]

Obama's middle name - Obama just needs to do what he has been doing. His middle name is Hussein because it was the name given to him by his parents. He does not need to invest anything further at all in his name. Don't worry, Obama knows how to handle this situation. He's doing fine.

As we know, Mullah Rove has issued a Fatwa to the faithful on this subject, declaring that Obama should be called Senator Obama. The Republican National Califate has issued a similar declaration.

The record is there.

[biglover]

What if all the Obama supporters file petitions to make their middle names Hussein.

[naijaman]

Most of the online community on his website's blog have added "Hussein" to their handles.

Gotta love it!

[biglover]

Obama should be proud to be named Hussein

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/02/28/hussein/print.html

[Plowboy]

Let's forget real issues and talk about names. A rose is a rose is a rose. and an onion is well, you know.

My old maternal grandfather might have become president but his name was Adolf Tecumseh Medina.
And to make matters worse, his father-in-law was Vladimir Ahmed Arnold.

But none of that would have mattered if old Gramps hadn't said the wrong thing.

He said, "this is America where equality and justice rule, where we don't discriminate against people because of race, religion, or ancestory." That was -- and is -- proof of a weakness in observation. So he lost -- and deservedly so.

I am not running for anything because namers matter.

-- Aladin Baines Hoover.

[BeyondKen]

Walker
Jefferson
Herbert-Walker
Wilson
Earl
Rudolph
Milhouse
Baines
Fitzgerald
David
S
Delano
Clark

[Doofus]

So, 'Barack' is ok. 'Obama' is ok. It's 'Hussein' that's the problem?

Yeah, right. It is REALLY too bad that we don't even get to pick
our own names, ever. Why couldn't he have been 'Fred C. Dobbs'?

But you're right. Is it too late to substitute 'Lincoln', or perhaps 'Roosevelt'?

[psfurlong356]

My idea: demystify the words by rendering them harmless. Be proactive. We say "there's nothing wrong with the name Hussein (means handsome in Arabic) but there is something wrong with race baiting and fear mongering in a political campaign." I love the name Hussein it's as common as "Dave" or "Bob" Barack Bob Obama ;)

[bobdob]

If I was Obama, I'd put the name on my posters. "Barack Hussein Obama for President". He has nothing to explain, no reason to respond. And I'd start referring to John McCain as "John Sidney McCain".

This is kindergarten-level garbage. Obama should point that out every chance he gets.

[replyguy]

I agree. But your missing the point. Why are the Liberals afraid to use whole name? And why do the attack someone who does?

[psfurlong356]

great post.!

My idea: demystify the words by rendering them harmless. Be proactive. We say "there's nothing wrong with the name Hussein (means handsome in Arabic) but there is something wrong with race baiting and fear mongering in a political campaign." I love the name Hussein it's as common as "Dave" or "Bob" Barack Bob Obama ;)

[biglover]

Actually, I think everytime Obama gets a chance he should bring up Osama Bin Laden and discuss the fact that we dropped the ball and let him go and also refer to the Bible as his name Barak and Hussein appear in the bible a gazillion times. Both names are good semitic names.

[Preya]

But this stuff scares me. I hope there aren't enough xenophobic bigots in our country to bring Obama down. And all this talk of the white male swing vote. They picked Obama over Hillary; but will they pick McCain over Obama? I think the Obama campaign needs to develop a better strategy to deal with bigoted attacks.

Newsweek has an interesting article about the Obama "brand" and the safety it projects; people are already trying to undermine that image with pictures and words; the campaign needs to more fiercely defend its "brand."

[Cautious]

"Obama must also take ownership of his name, saying it with comfort and ease."

This is fucking idiotic. BFD what his middle name is. Only a very very ignorant person would think that this is worth any attention at all.