Maybe you’ve been following it or maybe you haven’t but in some GOP circles, Obama’s full name is being mentioned. In case you don’t know, let’s get it on the table: it’s Barack Hussein Obama.
Here at The Brody File we like to cut straight to the chase so let me ask you a question. Does his full name REALLY matter to you and if so why? Would it be enough to not vote for the guy? I’m extremely curious what Evangelicals think about this. Leave your comments here.
I’ll have some comments on this below but read first from the Knoxville News Sentinel as to what the Tennessee GOP is now doing:
Tennessee Republican Chairman Robin Smith says she stands by the state party's use of "Barack Hussein Obama" in party criticism of the Democratic presidential candidate - even though John McCain says it's inappropriate.
McCain, holding a big lead in the Republican presidential race, Tuesday apologized for criticism of Obama by a radio talk show host who introduced McCain at a rally. Asked if it was proper to refer to Obama by using his middle name, the Associated Press reports that McCain replied:
"No, it is not. Any comment that is disparaging of either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is totally inappropriate."
"The Tennessee Republican Party today joins a growing chorus of Americans concerned about the future of the nation of Israel, the only stable democracy in the Middle East, if Sen. Barack Hussein Obama is elected president of the United States."
The release cites Obama's support from Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan and other controversial figures.
Smith said today that McCain's comments do not change the state party's stance and the state GOP will continue to use Obama's middle name. That's no different than saying "Hillary Rodham Clinton" or "Richard Milhouse Nixon," she said.
"John McCain has to be elected. Robin Smith doesn't," she said. "We have a duty to inform the Republican base."
The whole article is here.
Is it really a duty to inform the Republican base about his name? What are they informing the base about exactly? That he’s a closet Muslim? Not only is that a stretch but Obama has denied it repeatedly. In an interview he did with me a month ago, we chatted about those Muslim emails that are out there about him. Watch that clip here.
The problem here for the Obama campaign (and they know it) is that a name is a very powerful thing. Just check any psychological survey and you’ll find it to be true. So these stories about his name are not only a distraction, they could be downright toxic to the campaign. It’s also not going away anytime soon.