Surprise, Surprise — Barack Obama Is Not Above Playing “Politics” In His Quest For The Oval Office

Guess what, “offended” Righties this evening? EVERYBODY does it. That’s right, if it could cost votes, advisers are likely to rearrange the “background” and “foreground scenery” during a photo-op if it looks “good”. Apparently Barack’s campaign gurus thought it might not look too “appealing” to some voter-types to have a couple of Muslim women in garb body hugging and smooching on ole’ “Barry” in a photo-op. Or, SOMETHING to that effect. I might be mistaken on some of the details of the latest “Barack bru-haha” but you get the idea.

What did I mean by “everybody does it”? Want a name? How about Bobby Jindal — governor of the Great State Of Louisiana and possibly — Señor Panama John McCain’s running mate on the Republican ticket. See, Bobby is of Indian descent, for those few who might not yet know it. He had lots of Indian American fans in Louisiana, and at least on ONE occasion, according to a G.O.P. insider of the highest order, who is like an uncle to me (yes, the arguments are long, fun and interesting), his Indian American fans were the first to show up for one of his speeches, and of course, crowded the front two rows to hear their “hero” stump for the governorship. They were invited to move. “Voluntold”, we call it in the military. Back. Way back. And spread out from each other so as to blend better into the crowd. These confused Bobby Jindal fans were assured it would help their “hero” get elected, so they hesitantly complied with the campaign director’s “suggestion”. This occurance is, indeed, a FACT.

The (Right Wing) Politico sums up the “Barry O-Bomber Versus The Muslims” incident thusly, and surprisingly, somewhat fairly up to a certain point:

Muslims barred from picture at Obama event
By BEN SMITH

Two Muslim women at Barack Obama’s rally in Detroit on Monday were barred from sitting behind the podium by campaign volunteers seeking to prevent the women’s headscarves from appearing in photographs or on television with the candidate.

The campaign has apologized to the women, both Obama supporters who said they felt betrayed by their treatment at the rally.

“This is of course not the policy of the campaign. It is offensive and counter to Obama’s commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton. “We sincerely apologize for the behavior of these volunteers.”

Building a human backdrop to a political candidate, a set of faces to appear on television and in photographs, is always a delicate exercise in demographics and political correctness. Advance staffers typically pick supporters out of a crowd to reflect the candidate’s message.

When Obama won the North Carolina primary amid questions about his ability to connect with white voters, for instance, he stood in front of a group of middle-aged white women waving small American flags.

On the Republican side, a Hispanic New Hampshire Democrat, Roberto Fuentes, told Politico that he was recently asked, and declined, to contribute to the “diversity” of the crowd behind Sen. John McCain at a Nashua event. …”

“Obama supporters”, they call themselves. BUNK. The Indian Americans who reluctantly complied with the campaign staff of Bobby Jindal, although not mostly happy with the requests to be moved from the front of the aisle and to be spread out were TRUE Jindal supporters and my proverbial “hat” is off to them for it (pun intended, of course). These so-called “deeply offended Barry supporting Muslim women”, let’s just say — aren’t as big of “fans” of Barack Obama as they are portraying themselves to be. If they were, they’d completely understand and not only that, they’d have volunteered to help boost Obama’s public image themselves. I’m just sayin’…

I think I just caught a “whiff” of Señor McCain drifting in the breeze.

***

Other blogger reactions…

Marc Ambinder: “… of course there is a sensitivity within the Obama campaign anything that fuels the rumors that Obama isn’t a Christian. …”

The Impolitic (Libby Spencer): “… We all know the seating at these events is staged for every candidate. That’s just politics and it’s hard to fault the volunteers for wanting to protect Obama from another round of wingnut screeching about his Muslim supporters. It was a difficult call. …”

Wonkette (Adult language): “… The Obama campaign has denounced those two volunteers, both of whom are now en route to New York City, where briefcases of $100,000 in unmarked bills drawn from Bill Clinton’s presidential library fund await them at a Penn Station locker.”

Hot Air: “… In fairness, I doubt this is official campaign policy. For one thing, I dimly recall seeing women in headscarves in the audience behind him during some speech earlier this year and being impressed, given the grief he’s gotten from the Muslim rumors. …”

Don Surber (Tongue-in-cheek “LOL of the day”, as only Sir Don himself can dish out): “Finally, Obama gets tough on Muslims. Give a point to Obama. …”

Below The Beltway: “… Well, to be frank about it, I think that the Obama campaign is treating the “Obama is a Muslim” lie — let’s stop calling it a rumor, okay ? — as a smear because the people who are spreading it intend it as a smear. …”

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