# Another unpleasant Obama association **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 15, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982 "2008-10-15T01:01:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/121 "2008-10-15T11:44:26Z")
You know, both Barack and Michelle Obama appeared on the Colbert Report, and Stephen Colbert shot a guy in his audience. Three times!!! ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/122 "2008-10-15T11:50:49Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Too true. Too true. But still, some are worse than others, as is evidenced by their respective tax plans. With the policies all sides are endorsing right now, calling Obama socialist for his tax plan is like calling him a commie because you once saw him wearing red and drinking vodka. It’s small potatoes. > [@](#): > > I need to get more info on Odinga. It might very well be more benign than presented. I’m not saying it necessarily is, but it might be. IOW, you cannot explain how an association with Odinga makes Obama more liberal or leftist. You’re just seeing Obama in the same room as a bad man and saying this fits a pattern without considering what patter and what it says about Obama. I’ll give you a free hint: It would be a more effective smear to say that Obama accidentally lent Odinga legitimacy without necessarily endorsing him. Tie this to his offer to meet with other bad guys, like the leaders of Iran. See? Now you don’t have to research Odinga’s position on the left-right spectrum. > [@magellan01](#): > > It shows the type of people he is drawn to. Alinsky. Ayers. Wright. And now Odinga (which, based on some issues brought up earlier in the thread, I would like to look into more). How was he “drawn to” them? Obama was still a young man when Alinsky died, they never met. A community organizer cannot help but be influenced, directly or indirectly, by Alinsky’s works. He literally wrote the book on the subject. Using some of Alinsky’s tactics is not necessarily an endorsement of Alinsky’s overall worldview. Ayers is an important figure in school reform in Chicago. He’s a member of several mainstream groups active on that topic. If you are also involved in school reform (say, if you’re a politician or political organizer), you will work with Ayers and serve on some of those same committees and boards. Again, this is not an endorsement of Ayers’ views and actions in the 1960’s. Odinga was a Kenyan political figure. Obama could have met with him for no reason other than curiosity about the man. The only person on your list that Obama actually \*\*chose \*\*to associate with was Wright. And we can debate about how little or how much Obama actually agreed with him. Conservatives seem to think that people should completely shun and attack everyone who’s not as patriotic or as they are. That Obama should have walked out on Wright the first time Wright criticized this country, or that he should have refused to sit on a board that would have Ayers as a member. Likewise, that he should refuse to negotiate with foreign leaders that haven’t already capitulated key points. I think that’s naive, silly, and in the latter case, dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/123 "2008-10-15T12:00:36Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > **magellan01** has decided to accept Corsi as some sort of beacon of truth, first gullibly swallowing his lies about John Kerry in his co-authored Unfit for Command and now his dishonest hatchet job on Obama. I wonder if he’s on the same page with Corsi in these instances. They’re from a source with the same level of respect as the Washington Times, as well, so I’m going to assume he is “troubled” by them. > **[Home 2024 \* WorldNetDaily](https://www.wnd.com/?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=57678)** > > A Free Press For A Free People Since 1997 [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php/index.php?pageId=57354](http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php/index.php?pageId=57354) > **[Home 2024 \* WorldNetDaily](https://www.wnd.com/?pageId=56479)** > > A Free Press For A Free People Since 1997 > **[Home 2024 \* WorldNetDaily](https://www.wnd.com/?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=56177)** > > A Free Press For A Free People Since 1997 > **[Home 2024 \* WorldNetDaily](https://www.wnd.com/?pageId=45737)** > > A Free Press For A Free People Since 1997 Just when I was about to vote for McCain, along come these troubling associations. Thank goodness for this straight-shooting Corsi fellow. ---
**Author:** ![Martiju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@Martiju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martiju)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/124 "2008-10-15T12:04:31Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > Conservatives seem to think that people should completely shun and attack everyone who’s not as patriotic or as they are. That Obama should have walked out on Wright the first time Wright criticized this country, or that he should have refused to sit on a board that would have Ayers as a member. Likewise, that he should refuse to negotiate with foreign leaders that haven’t already capitulated key points. I think that’s naive, silly, and in the latter case, dangerous. Absolutely right in my view - not even being willing to sit down and talk to your opponents is how you end up with potential or real conflict. You’d think that the lessons would have been learned by now really. And **magellan** , as one who has no involvement in US politics, I think I can be non-partisan enough to tell you that this (and countless other similar) threads serve only to highlight how desperate some are getting. Seriously, even given the obvious lack of basis of this ‘article’, you ought to be able to come up with something better than - association, pattern, Obama bad! That’s grade school stuff at best. Why not read through and present a reasoned argument, ie. ‘What does this tell us, if anything, about Obama? What is the real story behind this?’ - as opposed to half-cocked theories which you must realise will be shot down by the fifth post? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/125 "2008-10-15T12:24:07Z")
Even William Kristol is getting disillusioned by the lack of success of the negative associations game. In his column today he urges McCain/Palin to dump the current campaign strategists, run free as happy warriors and appeal directly to the People in town hall and half-hour address settings, stressing the danger of letting a liberal Democrat run amuck with his kin in Congress. Yep, that’d be a dramatic turn from the current strategy. I kind of like the image of tremulous Republicans walking hand in hand through the Dark Forest of Declining Poll Numbers, chanting to keep their spirits up: _Rezko and Ayers and Wright, oh my! Rezko and Ayers and Wright, oh my! Rezko and Ayers and Wright, oh my!_ Run faster, children!! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/126 "2008-10-15T14:38:56Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I think they both are. The Post is further to the left, the Times further to the right. But I don’t hold that further to the right equals less credible. No, it’s not because it’s “further to the right.” It’s because it’s owned by a fucking cult leader. It would be like using [Narconon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narconon) for drug addiction. In answer to **GIGObuster** pointing out that the guy’s a nutjob 9-11 conspiracy theorist: > [@](#): > > First, I don’t agree with that assessment. But more important, it has nothing to do with my OP. Like hell it doesn’t-it proves the guy’s a nut and he’s not a very trustworthy source. And you “don’t agree with that assessment”? So, you believe [this bullshit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Corsi#9.2F11_theory)? :dubious: Or hey, what about [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Corsi#North_American_Union_theories): > [@](#): > > Corsi claims that “President Bush is pursuing a globalist agenda to create a North American Union” a theoretical continental union of Canada, Mexico and the United States, that will supplant the United States. :rolleyes: Pull the other one-it’s got bells on it. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/127 "2008-10-15T14:44:06Z")
This Corsi guy has “association problems” with himself. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/128 "2008-10-15T14:51:57Z")
I wonder if our esteemed OP has reflected at all on the fact that not a single one of the SDMB’s other erstwhile conservatives has seen fit to come in and back him up on this quixotic argument, and that he is being left to twist alone in the cold, bitter wind of reality. Even the ridiculous windmills in the ACORN thread attracted more than one enthusiastic tilter. This, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/129 "2008-10-15T14:52:53Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > This from someone who uses media matters as a cite. Okay. You can join **Dio** in moving along…there’s nothing to see here.:rolleyes: How 'bout [Snopes?](http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/50lies.asp) See #4 on the list. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/130 "2008-10-15T14:54:32Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > This Corsi guy has “association problems” with himself. [Indeed.](http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080901/blumenthal) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/131 "2008-10-15T15:14:30Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I don’t think 9/11 deniers are necessarily untrustworthy. I think they’re 100% flat-out wrong, and maybe even a bit deluded about the issue. But I don’t think they’re lying about what they believe. It can be demonstrated pretty conclusively that they are not mistaken and are in fact deliberately lying. Open a new thread if you’re interested. We’ll talk. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/132 "2008-10-15T15:21:06Z")
A hundred thirty one posts and nobody has stated the obvious? Remember, these are people who “create their own reality”. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/133 "2008-10-15T15:37:39Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > I wonder if our esteemed OP has reflected at all on the fact that not a single one of the SDMB’s other erstwhile conservatives has seen fit to come in and back him up on this quixotic argument, and that he is being left to twist alone in the cold, bitter wind of reality. Even the ridiculous windmills in the ACORN thread attracted more than one enthusiastic tilter. This, not so much. If it helps, I can fill in. “ **magellan01** is doing just fine against the liberal pile-on by himself. He doesn’t need support.” ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/134 "2008-10-15T15:54:38Z")
You know, if Republicans had spent even half the time vetting potential Veep choices as they’ve spent on the Democratic Presidential candidate, they might not have ended up with Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/135 "2008-10-15T16:55:16Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Actually, I would not attribute this particular silliness to McCain. I meant “McCain” in the allegorical sense. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/136 "2008-10-15T19:17:50Z")
Perhaps I’m still not getting it - once elected, a U.S. President has to cosy up to all kinds of scummy foreign types. Even if the OP’s story was 100% true and Obama spent the better part of a week with one of Africa’s innumerable dictators and wannabe dictators, what’s the big deal? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/137 "2008-10-15T19:39:35Z")
The big deal? You kidding? Corsi has had the courage to rip the mask from Barrack Obama’s face, and reveal the truth! He is, by paternal heritage, a member of the Luo tribe, and, as such, is under the direct command of his tribal chieftain! Now, if that chieftain orders his subject to ship him a few boatloads of white women to sate his depraved lusts, Obama will be obliged to obey! (In the Luo tongue, his “beee(click)otches”) See, all of this stuff from the Obama campaign about his being an Arab is just a cover-up, a distraction to take your attention away from the horrid truth. Now, I’m not a native here, but I am pleased to live in MN with its abundant wealth of long-stemmed Nordic beauties, with a make-up budget of about $5 per year, each. And if Mr Obama thinks he’s going to be shipping any of them off to Africa to pound laundry on a flat rock, he can have them when he can pry them from my cold, dead…ah, hand. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/138 "2008-10-15T19:41:51Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > That’s a rather loose standard. Couldn’t it apply to any well-traveled government official? After all, the world is full of odious characters. In fact, wouldn’t you want a President to know how to deal with these people? For a while the Republicans had the perfect candidate in Sarah Palin, but then she went and met some world leaders, so she’s now tainted, too. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982/139 "2008-10-15T20:54:37Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Perhaps I’m still not getting it - once elected, a U.S. President has to cosy up to all kinds of scummy foreign types. Even if the OP’s story was 100% true and Obama spent the better part of a week with one of Africa’s innumerable dictators and wannabe dictators, what’s the big deal? Hey, we’re not talking Papa Doc, Saddam Hussein or even Pierre Trudeau. This here is a badass Marxist Negro. It’s an _association_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-unpleasant-obama-association/467982.md?page=6)