Photo of Obama in African garb emerges as Clinton renews attacks

From the International Herald Tribune:

A flap erupted when some Internet sites on Monday posted a photo of Obama in Somalian garb, including a white turban. When the Obama campaign charged that Clinton aides had leaked the photo - taken during a 2006 trip to Africa - the Clinton campaign manager, Maggie Williams, tried to turn the matter back at the Obama team, even though her camp has not denied any role in distributing the photo.

"If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed," Williams said in a statement. "Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely."

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Right. There was a head-cover flap about Hillary a few years ago when she was visiting some Muslim country. So yeah, the Clinton campaign is absolutely correct when it points out that this kind of apparel multiculturalism is not only not a big deal in terms of, I don't know, patriotism, but quite the reverse, it is an important ritual for national leaders. On the other hand, I wouldn't put double-dealing past the Clinton camp at all. That is, it would not be surprising to find out for sure that they're playing both sides of the street on this, reaping whatever benefit that might come from Texas and Ohio Democrats abhorring this Obama image, while at the same time saying that it's all very cool and well to dress that way.

I mean, no less than Bill himself, with a wink and a nudge, was trying to connect Obama to a much more controversial African-American politician, Jesse Jackson, after the Illinois Senator beat Hillary in South Carolina. The Clintons have no problem with race-baiting and ethnic slur if it stands to help them out.

On the other hand, Drudge, who first posted the photo, is a well documented lying asshole, which is why I'm not quite sure who's to blame for this bullshit. I am sure of this: whoever is to blame, the Clinton campaign sees this as some much needed help. But bullshit it is. It is also a big sign of how our political discourse rarely rises above elementary school thinking. This kind of photography gotcha-game is pathetic. You can do anything you want with images, making actual ideas and debate irrelevant.

Consider these pics.

Obama is secretly in the Taliban:



Hillary Clinton pretends to be classic Tina Turner by giving head to a microphone in front of the bathroom mirror:



Ronald Reagan fathered a love child in a bestial relationship with a chimpanzee:



John Kerry is a Teletubby:



Mike Dukakis starred in military fetish gay porn back in the 70s (just look at that looong gun!):



George Bush and Vladimir Putin are Willy Wonka:



George Bush has a huge Robert Plant sized cock:



Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld once met in person with US ally Saddam Hussein:



Well, okay, I guess that last one is pretty much on the mark. But you see my point, I'm sure. People respond to images much more strongly than they do to words: it is the height of irresponsibility that both the press and political establishment would destroy the discourse utterly necessary to a democracy such as ours by playing this game.

I have no idea how to stop this shit.

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