MyDD :: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa

Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey

by CardBoard, Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 09:41:15 PM EST

Ok, so there was a minor flare up today about Bob Kerrey saying 'respected' that Barack had a Muslim father and his middle name was Hussein. Thank you Bob for reminding us. I didn't really say anything earlier, but this afternoon on CNN he went a little further. In fact he just spread Fox News lies about Barack Obama. And, apparently he respects the Fox News lies too- how sweet. If Kerrey respects Obama so much, and is so interested in using his endorsement day to talk about him, he should have just endorsed Obama. Question, Can't the Clintons and their scum-bag Cronies just go away?

"KING: Well, you have to know when you're about to say something like that, that some will twist it, especially in this age of the Internet and blogs. Did you think about that before you talked about it, or is it Bob Kerrey saying this is what I think; I'm going to say it?

KERREY: No, it's something -- by the way, I've told Barack Obama when I've met with him. It's something that I've spoken about before. So this is not something that just sort of came out in the (inaudible) out there in Iowa. I've thought about it a great deal. I've watched the blogs, try to say that you can't trust him because he spent a little bit of time in a secular madrassa.

I feel quite opposite. I think it's a tremendous strength whether he's in the United States Senate or whether he's in the White House. I think it's a tremendous asset."

Btw. What the Hell is a "Secular Madrassa?"

Tags: Bob Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama (all tags)

Permalink :: 49 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

Just another attack by the Clinton camp that she'll be able to apologize for in a few days.

The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country. ~RFK

by Vox Populi on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 09:46:18 PM EST

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

Why would he need to apologize? He just used Obama's name while complimenting him.

If Obama doesn't like his middle name, he should take that up with his parents rather than assume that Americans are going to leap to bigoted assumptions when they hear it used.

I doubt Kerrey or Clinton has to apologize for this one. It's not a gaffe.

by arkansasdemocrat on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 09:51:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It wasn't too much (none / 0)

when Kerrey said his full name and talked about his Muslim father - even though he had the facts wrong. It was a bit odd, for him to stand there giving an endorsement and begin talking about Obama's muslim heritage.

But, what put it over the line was the madrassa comment later in the day...after it became know that he probably shouldn't have said the earlier comments... because the madrassa comment is completely untrue. I mean it would be like one of Obama's endorsers saying they respect Hillary because she got away with White Water, or hung tough during Paula Jones, ect.

Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.

by CardBoard on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 09:54:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama attened a secular (none / 0)

school that most diplomats kids attended. It was not a madrassa, which has religious backing, I guess I attended a baptist madrassa. It is just a republican meme

Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.

by CardBoard on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:01:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I keep think ou folks and morons (none / 0)

like jake tapper cant get any dumber - but I keep getting proven wrong!!!

Many people do not realize that madrassah does mean 'school' in Arabic. Kerrey's comments clearly include the term secular, something he would not have said had they been intentionally malicious.

Bobs not "anti mulim. His son moved over to a poor muslim country to practice medicine when he got out of med school for crissakess.

Senator Bob was trying to give Obama good and needed advise. When I read it I wished he had kept his mouth zipped - cause it was VERY GOOD ADVISE!!

Obama says those years give him special experience that would help him as president. But it does seems instead to regular that his campaign is HIDING something.

NOW THATS REALLY, REALLY BAD!!!

The Obama campaign should listen to Bob, not you silly fools.

But Im sure glad they dont seem to be!!!

They seem to think the name of the game is working with the media and making hillary look bad, like you silly, silly fools try to....

But to regular americans, its all gonna be about what is he hiding...

Oh well, Obama, you can always try again in 2020 or maybe 2024...

Offend the Media - Vote for Hillary!

by Seymour Glass on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:09:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I keep think ou folks and morons (none / 0)

He should have said "secular school." You don't use one English word and another Arabic. That's just stupid and there's obviously a reason he did it.

by Progressive America on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:10:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I keep think ou folks and morons (none / 0)

d-u-m-b

Offend the Media - Vote for Hillary!

by Seymour Glass on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:26:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I keep think ou folks and morons (none / 0)

People actually seem to think that someone of Bob Kerrey's stature would be willing to use his endorsement day to deliver a cheap hatchet job at the direction of the Clintons. What can you say.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:29:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I keep think ou folks and morons (none / 0)

Like Bob Kerrey has ever been known for taking direction from ANYONE!

Sometimes I think the people on the blogosphere are clueless about Democratic Party politics and personalities. Kerry has always been a lone wolf.

by hwc on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:38:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

have u gone stupid too? (none / 0)

Many people do not realize that madrassah does mean 'school' in Arabic. Kerrey's comments clearly include the term secular, something he would not have said had they been intentionally malicious.

Bobs not "anti mulim. His son moved over to a poor muslim country to practice medicine when he got out of med school for crissakess.

Senator Bob was trying to give Obama good and needed advise. When I read it I wished he had kept his mouth zipped - cause it was VERY GOOD ADVISE!!

Obama says those years give him special experience that would help him as president. But it does seems instead to regular folks that his campaign is HIDING something.

NOW THATS REALLY, REALLY BAD!!!

The Obama campaign should listen to Bob, not to silly fools.

But Im sure glad they dont seem to be!!!

They seem to think the name of the game is working with the media and making hillary look bad, like the silly, silly fools here try to....

But to regular americans, its all gonna be about what is he hiding...

Oh well, Obama, you can always try again in 2020 or maybe 2024...

Offend the Media - Vote for Hillary!

by Seymour Glass on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:42:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: have u gone stupid too? (none / 0)

"Have I gone stupid"? Arguably, stupid is a good word for the sort of person who doesn't realize I"m agreeing with them!

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:45:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

oops (none / 0)

where there is that.

this really s quite insane.

i was pissed tha bob gave them such good advise and praise.

these folks will attack and destroy anyone who stands in their way.

poor bob. he doesnt deserve this. he ha been one of the most effective at fighting bush in the last 7 years and this is how THEY repay that debt?

and then they cry and bitch about how mean the clintons are. what fakers.

anybody, anybody, anybody.

Offend the Media - Vote for Hillary!

by Seymour Glass on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:06:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

Go ahead with this line of thinking. If you don't understand "dog whistle politics" you probably belong somewhere else.

The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country. ~RFK

by Vox Populi on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:08:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

as usual , 100% wrong

so consistently incorrect, its staggering

Offend the Media - Vote for Hillary!

by Seymour Glass on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:08:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

A fact and a compliment is not an attack (none / 0)

by dpANDREWS on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:47:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

From Wikipedia regarding madrassas:

In the English-speaking Western world, the word "Madrasah" has come increasingly to signify radical Quranic schools connected to Islamist movements, although this -- as is made clear above -- is far from the meaning of the word. The word madrasah literally means "school" and does not imply a political or even religious affiliation.

I guess Bob Kerrey did know what he was talking about after all.

by arkansasdemocrat on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 09:46:43 PM EST

Haha (none / 0)

guess so

Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.

by CardBoard on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 09:47:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (2.00 / 1)

The Obama supporters sure prickly about any discussion of Obama's middle name, his Muslim background, or his coke problem.

He wrote about all of these things in his two autobiographies. What's the big deal?

by hwc on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:20:30 PM EST

I can't tell (none / 0)

if you are serious or not

Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.

by CardBoard on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:23:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

HWC, that is such bullshit and you know it.

As much as you Clintonistas rail on Rove, to have the innuendo fly out of team Clinton is pure trash....

by chicagogene on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:23:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (1.00 / 2)

I keep think you folks and morons like jake tapper cant get any dumber - but I keep getting proven wrong!!!

Many people do not realize that madrassah does mean 'school' in Arabic. Kerrey's comments clearly include the term secular, something he would not have said had they been intentionally malicious.

Bobs not "anti mulim. His son moved over to a poor muslim country to practice medicine when he got out of med school for crissakess.

Senator Bob was trying to give Obama good and needed advise. When I read it I wished he had kept his mouth zipped - cause it was VERY GOOD ADVISE!!

Obama says those years give him special experience that would help him as president. But it does seems instead to regular that his campaign is HIDING something.

NOW THATS REALLY, REALLY BAD!!!

The Obama campaign should listen to Bob, not you silly fools.

But Im sure glad they dont seem to be!!!

They seem to think the name of the game is working with the media and making hillary look bad, like you silly, silly fools try to....

But to regular americans, its all gonna be about what is he hiding...

Oh well, Obama, you can always try again in 2020 or maybe 2024...

Offend the Media - Vote for Hillary!

by Seymour Glass on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:27:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

What? Are you denying that the Obama supporters are prickly?

I don't think that's BS. I think it's a fair characterization of Obama supporters reacting to a little heat in the kitchen.

by hwc on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:33:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (1.00 / 0)

Than why should the Clinton's be sensitive of Bill Clinton's habit of inserting cigars into interns. I mean, it's part of his recorded past...why not discuss for no apparent reason?

"Well Hillary, I looking forward to you advising me as well." - Barack Obama

by General Sherman on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:24:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

Rope. Tree. And You...swinging

"Well Hillary, I looking forward to you advising me as well." - Barack Obama

by General Sherman on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:35:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

Well, that would be a semi-legitimate except that it's Hillary Clinton running, not Bill Clinton.

People who use her husband's infidelities to attack Hillary Clinton confound me. Are you saying that a woman running for President can't have an identity and voice of her own, separate from her husband?

I doubt that's what you specifically intended, but it's strange for someone to cry foul when a respected party elder compliments your candidate and in so doing uses his middle name, and then, in reply, attack's another candidate's husband.

by arkansasdemocrat on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:18:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

Be careful.

"Well Hillary, I looking forward to you advising me as well." - Barack Obama

by General Sherman on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:22:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

Well, that would be a semi-legitimate except that it's Hillary Clinton running, not Bill Clinton.

Are you serious? He campaigns more than she does.

by Will Graham on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:22:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

upgraded because of unfair 0 rate

Rise, Hillary, Rise

by sepulvedaj3 on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 09:54:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I thought Barry wore his coke use as ... (none / 0)

As a badge of courage?

It is a strength, right? Obama used marijuana and cocaine as a young adult. My take is he and his campaign think that is a strength of his so why are people so upset when others mention it? Why else would Obama mention it to kids?

Same with Indonesia, with - if I amnot mistaken - the worlds largest Muslim population for a single country. Obama is quite proud that he went to a school there. So why the heartburn among his supporters?

by dpANDREWS on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:51:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I thought Barry wore his coke use as ... (none / 0)

Because they know the general state of the country but won't directly admit that this stuff will hurt in the general election.

No longer a Democrat, now proudly an independent voter!

by Ga6thDem on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:11:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I thought Barry wore his coke use as ... (none / 0)

Forget the general election. Obama knows that his cocaine problem will hurt him in the primaries.

by hwc on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:17:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

I told you so. Hillary is making a comeback. Her hate-mongers coming with her too!!!!!!

Now Bob Kerrey is promoting hate, division. Orchestrated by Clintons, can you believe it?

What a bunch of low-class people? Why don't they focus on Hillary's strengths and positive side?

They are really trash.

by win on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:51:16 PM EST

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

This was a hatchet job. Kerrey got off all the buzzwords Mark Penn told him to say: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa, etc. [I'm actually shocked he wasn't able to squeeze in a cocaine reference.] I hope he was promised a plum spot in Hil's cabinet, or at least an ambassadorship in a cool, rich country.

Bob and Mark: I tip my hat to you fellows. Well played...

by Will Graham on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 10:54:32 PM EST

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

It's a smear. Plain and simple.

by rikyrah on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:00:21 PM EST

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

I thought he said his father was an atheist -me too-- is he now a muslim- what's up with that.

NY TIMES ENDORSEMENT: "Mrs. Clinton is more qualified, right now, to be president.... She would be a strong commander in chief."

by reasonwarrior on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:19:26 PM EST

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

I think Bob Kerrey mixed up some of Mark Penn's talking points.

by Will Graham on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:23:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

See, this would be so easy for Obama to deal with. He just needs to give a speech saying that, although his father was a Muslim, Obama himself was raised as an atheist and remained and atheist all through his stoner days until his political advisors in Chicago told him he should join a Christian church.

by hwc on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:48:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

Obama has clearly said his father was an atheist, though- he said his paternal grandfather was the muslim- he said his mother was a christian but he also said they all attended mosque when he was young- it's a bit confusing- do christians go to mosque. I would like Obama better if he had stayed an atheist- his emphasis on christianity is creepy to me so I would not care if he was a muslim or a christian- both to me are nonsense.

NY TIMES ENDORSEMENT: "Mrs. Clinton is more qualified, right now, to be president.... She would be a strong commander in chief."

by reasonwarrior on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:55:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

If all the other candidates addressed their opponents using their middle names would make the Kerrey smear plausible. Nobody can name Biden's, Dodd's or Huckabees. I know that some people think Hillary's middle name is Rodham.

Low point for Kerrey. He was the guy in '92 that said once the primaries moved south "they would open Clinton up like a boiled peanut".

by riverred on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 11:59:06 PM EST

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

He used the middle name because he was making a point about the middle name! Good Lord.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 12:09:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

you used to object to this kind of baiting. now you endorse it?

I really don't understand how that is an attack; lol. ~ by Jerome Armstrong

by jello on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 05:30:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

I see a very, very obvious difference between this and the casual, gratuitous dropping of the middle name that some of the posters here engage in.

Bob Kerrey seems to like Obama. Many Democrats who don't support Obama seem to like him a lot and hope he has a future within the party. The insistence of some Obama supporters on drawing a hard and fast line between those who are "with us" and those who are "against us" is an unfortunately defensive overreaction.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 09:21:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

you can't be this blind.

I really don't understand how that is an attack; lol. ~ by Jerome Armstrong

by jello on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 12:01:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

steve has chosen a side (none / 0)

obviously. not suprising. everyone else has.

it's a little annoying when people aren't honest about it...but whatever.

by JoeCoaster on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 10:02:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

No need to get angry Obama supporters.
The Hillary camp would not be doing this if they felt they were winning. They can see the writing on the wall and are now trying to insult the intelligence of the democratic primary voters.
The obama campaign is not rattled and the days of this kind of politics in the democratic party are numbered.

by joachim on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 12:19:38 AM EST

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

I agree with you Joachim. I think Obama knew the Clinton machine will self-destruct.

by win on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 12:31:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (1.00 / 0)

why should the Clinton's be sensitive of Bill Clinton's habit of inserting cigars into interns. Huh?

by win on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 12:32:26 AM EST

Re: Hussein, Muslim, Madrassa - Kerrey (none / 0)

BTW, this was a quote from General Sherman above.

by win on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 12:51:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

ThinkProgress weights in ... (none / 0)

Note to Kerrey: Barack Obama never attended a "secular madrassa" -- an inherently contradictory term because a madrassa is, by definition, a religiously-based school. The claim that Obama attended a madrassa didn't come from blogs, but rather from right-wing outlets. Insight Magazine, a right-wing magazine tied to the Washington Times, first reported in January that Obama attended an Islamic madrassa school as a 6-year-old child. Fox News then amplified the smear.

by JoeCoaster on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 10:11:01 AM EST

You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.