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Matter of Opinion

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  3. Middle name "Hussein" -- don't forget that

Middle name “Hussein” — don’t forget that

This press release via the Tennessee Republican Party Web site is ridiculous on many levels. The mention of Obama's middle name. The picture of him in "Muslim" garb (which is "clarified" at the end as Somali tribal garb) and the guilt-by-association riffs.

But the part that really screams "Hack!" is this quote:

"You don’t even have to go outside Obama’s campaign to find advisers who are anti-Israel,” said Bill Hobbs, communications director for the Tennessee Republican Party.

And who got that quote from Bill Hobbs? Just scroll to the end to discover that it is ... Bill Hobbs! Good thing he was available for comment.

"Just how dumb does he think people are?" asked Gary Crooks.

(via Political Animal)

UPDATE: The photo has been removed from the press release. And so has the middle name "Hussein". Wonder if he'll remove the self-quote, too.

Meanwhile, there is a tiff between the Obama and the Clinton camps over who supplied the photo to the Drudge Report.

What is your reaction to the photo? Will it really bother people?

UPDATE NO. 2: A radio talk show host in Cincinnati invoked "Hussein" along with other "red meat" before an appearance by McCain.

When McCain came on stage, he repudiated the comments. Good for him.

(AP photo)

A Matter of Opinion is really a matter of three opinions – those held by the people responsible for the opinion pages of The Spokesman-Review. Check in regularly to find out what they’re up to, what they think and where they differ and to joust with them if you want.