Obama Stands Accused of Conduct Unbecoming a Presidential Candidate [Updates: Chicago Tribune, more MSM]
By SusanUnPC on April 17, 2008 at 9:03 PM in ABC News, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
I cannot believe that the official campaign for Barack Obama put this video on YouTube to show off the candidate. 1) His language and behavior on this video are juvenile, and 2) He flips off Hillary Clinton in the video.
I cannot recall hearing such whining in my life from the mouth of a major candidate. This man is incapable of withstanding criticism or handling difficult questions. He is not only defensive and inept in his excuses, but he is also petulant — and then he delivers “below the belt” attacks on Hillary Clinton, while condemning such tactics. Which is it, Barack? Are you for or against attack tactics? Or does it only work one way? And is that because YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH, mister (to quote Jack Nicholson, a Hillary Clinton supporter).
See, this is the problem I’ve always had with Barack Obama compared to Hillary Clinton or John Edwards. Obama is not a “buck stops here” kind of leader (whereas Clinton and Edwards clearly are). Obama can’t take the heat, and he can’t take the jabs. He wimps out and then he whines. It was plain, last night in the Philadelphia debate, that he can’t take the pressure of bruising questions. And it’s even worse in his rally speech here today, where he tries to pin the blame on everyone, from the debate moderators to Hillary, rather than on his own pathetic performance last night.
Further — as you’ll see below in a short clip, just below this longer video — he flipped off Hillary in a “street” sort of way. But it is undeniable — I have asked several people to confirm — that he indeed did give Hillary the finger, and it’s clear from the audience reaction that he did so.
And here’s the short clip that shows Obama giving Hillary the finger:
MSM & BLOG UPDATES:
- The Chicago Tribune’s blog, Swampland has the video up, and notes: “And that’s the part of the videotape, courtesy of Fox News, where viewers need to pay some attention to the hand that Obama raised to his face, and the finger with which he scratched it.”
- The same video is also up at the Baltimore Sun’s site. That video, at both newspaper sites, provides a clearer angle of Obama’s finger as he makes the gesture. We are working to get that video up at YouTube.
- The L.A. Times blog, Top of the Ticket, has video and this headline: “Barack Obama makes a one-fingered gesture while speaking of Hillary Clinton.” (Read the LAT story.)
- ABC News has video but doesn’t point out the gesture he’s making — however you can see two women behind him, to your left, who “get” what he’s doing, and laugh and whisper about the gesture.
- Taylor Marsh writes, “Obama Gives Clinton the Finger?.”
- Memeorandum lists more blogs linking to the Tribune story.
See also: Red State blog’s “Talk about no class: Barack Obama gives Hillary the middle finger“:
After losing the debate tonight, Obama gave Hillary the finger today. I don’t know if he intended to do that hand gesture in his pause while talking about Hillary, but it is obvious the crowd thought it was an intentional raising of the middle finger. …
(Thanks for the link, Lyn.)
Someone I know and respect, who’s both a highly successful businessman and a streetwise person, says definitively that Obama was giving Hillary the finger.
This is conduct unbecoming a presidential candidate.
This is Barack Obama’s “Macaca Moment.”
If the MSM ever covers this, Barack Obama is through.
He SHOULD be through for his inability to handle tough questions and for wimping out. He should be through for his associations with terrorists and shady businessmen and a taxpayer-bilking slumlord. He should be through for his 20-year association with a minister who hates America. He should be through for his and his wife’s lack of pride in being Americans. He should be through for his racist remarks about “typical white people” and smalltown white people who “cling” to guns and religion.
By god, if the Democratic party is stupid enough to nominate this not-ready-for-prime-time candidate who can’t take the heat, they deserve to lose in November.
*************************
Comments are now closed.
Please see the new, clearer video of Obama flipping Hillary off in Susan’s new diary:
Clearer Video of Obama Giving Hillary the Finger & Hillary’s Own, Mature View
Someone needs to copy this video if able, and have it available before it is taken down from the net!
This guy is simply the most repulsive person in political history and he shouldn’t just be disqualified, but he should be banned from the Democratic Party!
If he isn’t, then Dean is condoning Obamas actions and is a preview of the new Democratic Party!
Change Unity and Believe…….how about Trash Obama, that is all you are!
I’ve got it backed up.
This is seriously going too far.
This HAS to have legs, as well as fingers.
better angle right here:
http://www.mydd.com/comments/2008/4/18/102120/357/8#8
I await a retraction with baited breath.
Any day now…two fingers, folks. Look at the screen captures.
Do others get the impression that although Obama is 48 years old, he acts a bit cocky in an immature frat boy way? Reminds me of someone in the White House. Please, America wake up and put an adult in the White House!!! I can’t take it anymore.
back up this one as well.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/04/obama_fingers_a_gotcha_debate.html
it clearly shows what he’s doing.
That’s the same video that is up at the Chicago Tribune blog. I’m adding your link to the story. Thank you.
It IS a much better video. We’re working to get it up on YouTube.
What an absolutely sickening performance.
In December I was up in Manchester Vermont and attended John Edwards’ town hall meeting. What a difference. Only issues and substance.
The difference is depressing.
Thanks Truthteller - you are so good at this.
Everytime I go to one of your You Tube pages, it seems like the number multiplies exponentially.
back up the CBS version, posted by scan at Taylor Marsh’s blog.
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4025010n
The woman sitting next to the podium (in the brown shirt), @ :44 secs. - looks like she’s saying “no, no, that’s not right” and shakes her head. Does anybody else see that?
And - the two women at each end of the back row - they both wince.
perfect angle here.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/04/obama_fingers_a_gotcha_debate.html
it’s very obvious what he’s doing.
Classy!
Now, that was a very presidential thing to do, right??? This guy is despicable!!! He should step down from the race and resign his senate seat as well!!! STOP OBAMA NOW-YES WE CAN!!!!
YES WE WILL STOP HIM!
>>> Now, that was a very presidential thing to do, right???
Der Shrub is prone to public use of this gesture.
It’s made it to the LA Times
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/04/obamaflipsoffcl.html
Susan, I agree 100% - there is no doubt whatsoever that some folks in the crowd knew exactly what he did, and he himself couldn’t contain himself moments later.
If the press does something unexpected, by covering this widely and fairly, Obama is finished.
John
SluggoJD
I think you have to much time on your hand if you watch every obama video for when he scratches his face to say he flipped someone off. Don’t even start on whinning Clinton takes the cake, and McCain can’t remember to whine. So your negatism only embarces my motivation to make this man the president thanks.
This is what a teenager does when they insult a teacher and need deniability.
It’s pretty obvious stuff. No doubt old Obama has been on the receiving end a few times at Uof C.
sadly, i think the party will indeed nominate this clod. and not only does that mean that dems deserve to lose in november, it means that we will.
in my view, if this asshole is the candidate, losing in november is the only acceptable outcome.
The saddest part of all this is that thousands more brave men and women will die in Iraq because of Dean, Pelosi and Brazile in supporting this piece of trash and giving the GOP a smooth ride ito the WH in November!
It isn’t the faulting of Clinton or anyone else, this guy is unbecoming a person to hold any sort of elected office!
The Senate Ethics commitee had better hold a hearing right now and haul Obama’s ass in front of it and demand an immediate apology to Senator Clinton and demand Obama resign immediately!
Best suggestion I’ve heard all day!!! Thanks!
I just came across this petition and I signed it!
“Pledge to vote against Obama in the General Election”
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/pledge-to-vote-against-obama-in-the-general-election
susanUnPC, what do you have to say about this - voting against Obama in the general? Don’t you want unity within the democratic party?
I refuse to be pinned down about this right now. I’m letting everyone keep guessing about what I’ll do. The Democratic party and the superdelegates had better start WORRYING about the millions of unhappy Democrats like me who REFUSE at this time to commit to supporting this pathetic excuse of a candidate.
When I think back on the rich array of candidates we had at the beginning of the primary season, I am sick that this hack has gotten to the front of the pack.
So I refuse to make it easy for the dopes in the DNC. Let ‘em sweat.
Susan, as someone hinted about the lack of quality the DNC puts up, do you think that they don’t even want the presidency? It would seem that they sabotage their candidates; support the one who will surely be crushed and crush the one who could win.
if the democrats put this character up, it has lost its collective marbles. It will be a sign that this country is a lost cause.
We can’t go to Canada at this time, but I probably will go independent.
You’re trying to apply a rational thought process to this group, and you shouldn’t.
Think San Francisco elite, think Khalidi, and the “hip, educated” PLO, drinking tea with Obama, and blowing up average Israeli citizens.
I mean, same with Cheney, but you have right wing businessmen taking bribes, or facilitating the sale of arms to those people.
How can you say such a thing after witnessing what is shown up on youtube about Unity and Dean’s comments again today?
Why should anyone answer such a question when the question comes out of a blog on such a defining matter?
Your logic Bubbleboy is beyond any reasonable form of thought process at all!
I don’t know about Susan but if the party nominates this man it’s no longer the Democratic Party to which I have given my time, effort and money for almost 50 years. That being the case, I can say in good conscience I am not obliged to support its candidate.
I am going to give you my answer: Unity is as unity does. I won’t vote for him. Period. This is just what he would call “silly season” elevated to a lynch mentality. Like Chicago politics are more gentile than they are in DC?
Does he think that people are as stupid generally as the misguideds who follow his campaign? PLEASE ….
At least Cheney had the guts to leave no doubt. BOBO the clown is just too cute. Well, not for me.
I dont think he’s cute either, he’s
ugly to me.
Maybe if Democrats refuse to support this nominee in the GE, should BO, G-d forbid, be our nominee, then perhaps we will show the world that the rank and file of the party care more about decency and competency than about winning for the sake of winning. We do our party no favor at the state and local levels in the short and long term by putting a childish, snarly, petulant whiner at the top of the ticket.
Great calamities ensue when people blindly follow without heeding one’s conscience.
Done - pass this link around!!!
I also signed the petition. Felt good.
This is so bush of snObama. Isn’t there a photo of bush flipping the bird — on two different occasions.
Several people have mentioned that they similar personality traits in snObama and bush Jr.
This guy really can’t handle the stress of being Prez — what he needs is a good SHRINK — a.s.a.p.
And don’t you just know the Republicans are watching this and loving it?
Well, no Unity pony for me. If that thing is the nominee (I won’t call him a man-he’s not grown-up enough for that title) this Dem is voting otherwise; McCain, write-in Hillary or whoever else is on the ballot.
The republicans should remember they lost three wars.
And then they should try to figure out why.
It ain’t happening, I’m not impressed.
Or worried.
heh.
He was definitely flipping the bird at her, a woman, who is a fellow senator and a former first lady. What an as***le?
What will he do when he has to deal with an international crsis for God’s sake? Have a tantrum in the Oval office? Cry? Scream obscenities? He is just so unprepared and immature. He has too many character flaws. If he’d done anything more than run for office since being elected to the senate, we’d already have seen plenty of this behavior!
NO, that’s Bush, Cheney, the republicans, and their generals.
And damn, aren’t we a better country for it?
hehehehe.
Cheaters can’t lead, cheaters can’t handle it, can they?
Is it too much to ask for an adult in the White House for a change?
And, you are so right that Obama just whines like a kid when he gets criticized. So does Move-on. I just got an indignant message from them about the debate and how unfair it was. Not a peep when Obama was getting all the media breaks. And speaking of Move-On, it was Hillary who voted against censuring them for the “General betrayus” article. Obama? Yeah, absent. Talk about betrayal!
I received an email from Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting about how bad the debate was complete with addresses for ABC and Gibson so we could send a letter of complaint.
My response was to Unsubscribe from thir service.
I did exactly the same thing!
I don’t unsubscribe from them or Media Matters because they tell me what they see. But I’ll keep tabs for you so you don’t have to.
and they had no problems with Hillary being piled on the first 18 debates? it would be funny if it wasn’t so serious
I got an email from “Credo” which is Working Assets (ala Ben & Jerry’s guys) with the same BS. I unsubscribed and told them NOT to assume that every progressive is in the tank for Obama. their email was about how awful the debate was and that they should have focused on ending the war. I told them if they were so concerned about bringing the troops home, they should be endorsing HIllary, the only candidate with a plan and the military endorsements to back it up.
I unsubscribed, too.
It’s just some 527 trying to make money, following the trends, not really reading them, just following them.
Wow.
Send this video to Elizabeth Edwards - she will understand, and not stand for this insult!
Sad. So sad.
obama will never be elected president
Agree. It won’t happen.
I agree with you both. It’ll be McGovern all over again if he’s the nominee.
BUT ! We still have a shot to make Hillary the nominee.
She’s got the fight in her to give her all in a race against McCain and I firmly believe that she can beat McCain. (And McCain knows that — that’s why he’s saying right now that he’d rather run against her.)
McCain has contempt for Obama because of how Obama screwed him over in Senate dealings — see the Washington Post on that. However, McCain both respects and likes Hillary Clinton. He fears her far more because he KNOWS she has the goods.
I don’t get it — McCain wants to lose?
McCain is saying now that he wants to run against Hillary because he hopes that some Democrats (I won’t point any fingers at who that might be) will FALL for that line — and vote for Obama because they assume McCain is being honest with them and really fears Obama.
It’s a common trick. Say you prefer the candidate you most fear. In the hope that that will weaken them amongst the group that will be voting for them.
Joe Scarborough mentioned today that he went to a Republican event last night and people everywhere were telling him “off the record” that they would much rather run against Obama and that this has become crystal clear to the only in the past 6 months. Hillary is too tough, they aren’t confident they can knock her down. It might be nice to do a post on this with Joe’s clip, I believe he said it on Morning Joe and Gregory’s show in the evening.
never say never.
Several people have ondered about Obama touching his little finger to his cheek in the same area he touched his middle finger, around the same time and wonder if the LITTLE FINGER has any meaning as a Sign or Signal..
My research indicates the LITTLE Finger extended like that by itself is the same INSULT used in CHINA..as the middle Finger extended else where..
Also, the Little Finger Extened by itselt in INDIA..is a sign of KATTI, or Broken friendsip,or a sign that person is angry or will no longer speak to You..
I suspect there are other signs and meanings for
extending the little finger..One can assume that obama probably has learned the meaning of Hand Signs..and gestures among various peoples and cultures..
My Impression of the Video of obama during the Finger gestures..is that since he was talking about Senator Clinton and the debates, and was apparently upset and using mocking tones at that time, that it is possible the finger gestures were intended as a deliberate sign or gesture..
I thought an extended pinky was how an effeminate gay man drank tea.
Oh, it WAS a secret signal…
I see he bussed the crowd in again. They always shout the same shit and hoot.
What a con man this guy is.
i agree he is a con man!
dean and pelosi are out of their minds
What an arrogant little shitheel. Self-destructive, too. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Hell videos of Bush giving the finger were all over the net. Didn’t stop them from covering for him either.
Has anybody been watching Fox News lately? Out of the 2 hours of O’Reilly and Hannity and Colmes I would say about half the time has been dedicated to bashing Obama for the past 2-3 weeks. Tonight, with the exception of 1 segment, all of H&C was pure Obama bashing, and it really wasn’t unfounded or all that outrageous.
This guy is dead on arrival come the general election. Good job Democrats!
And Hannity hasn’t even begun to scratch the surface.
Once it’s the Dem vs. Rep that’s when the sparks will fly, as then Hannity et al can concentrate the laser on their enemy.
If it’s Obama, with his whining about Hillary (who’s playing powder puff football with him) being unkind to him, he won’t last 2 weeks before his polls plummet; because like with Gore with his irritating sighs, folks will remember and grow tired of a whiner — quick!
Here is a cbs video I found with a bit of a different angle that shows two people behind him actually commenting on it at the time!
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4025010n
I love the older gentleman to the left of the screen in the blue shirt who does not applaud, shout or cheer at all. He just sits there.
Even if the MSM gets this video, Obama will be able to deflect if as he always does.
His campaign is the epitome of the coarsening of American society. And his followers are some of the most hateful people I have ever met.
I used to say if McCain was elected President I would move to Canada. Now I am thinking if Obama is nominated I will move to Canada.
Do he and his followers think they can behave this way in the General? Obama’s criticism of the media in this video guarantees they will turn on him in the General. They would have anyway because they always do and they love McCain. But now, he has done himself in.
He wouldn’t have the balls to flip off McCain, he flips off Clinton b/c he doesn’t have any respect for her.
Yeah it’s really tough to flip off a woman. McCain would knock him on his keester.
BTW Barry, why doncha flip her off to her face? You don’t have the balls.
If they do, they’ll remember a history lesson about Gore’s sighs, and the consequences!!
And you can tell thats what they are commenting about how???
I imagine your talking about the two lady’s in the back row??
Cause if you are…..
Mercy….
I wish you were here, cuz you wouldn’t have any doubt that I was giving YOU the finger … loud and proud.
He should sell snake oil in the lobby.
you know this will somehow be Hillary’s fault.
Of course it is. And if the bitch would just quit, we could all finally live happily ever after, just like Obama said we would.
Well, the Stupid Bitch Needs To Quit so Dean and Brazile can pull their asses out of the wringer about FL and MI.
There’s a funny list on Hillbuzz.blogspot.com, Clinton Rules and Obama Rules which basically say that if Hillary is nominated and loses, it’s all Hillary and her supporters’ fault, and if Barack is nominated and loses, it’s all Hillary and her supporters’ fault. I suddenly feel so POWERFUL.
He’s such a whiny baby…I sure hope the whining is his “Howard Dean yee-haw/Al Gore sighing” moment.
…and by the way, I would be THRILLED to take credit for helping Obama lose.
Hi Uppity! *waving*
What is he running for- President of the 8th grade????
The man has lsot it- completely lsot it! He is so arrogant and believes he has already won that he doesn’t feel the need to be cautious.
God help us!
Not the 8th grade - kindergarten.
Yes somebody has just stolen his sand molds
I am not surprised at all. He and his supporters have been acting this way for too long but Pelosi gang don’t care b/c they finally can use him to stop the Clintons.
exactly right, just to stop the clintons. does obama know that he is being used? what a joke. he is so self assured b/c it is in the bag already, they told him from the beginning he would get the nom. How else can you explain the absolute disregard for fair play and arrogance?
right … general election be damned. Only the bitter little people suffer.
I just don’t understand how we got here. Trashing the last Democratic president and his wife has become the accepted modus for running as a Democrat. The Clintons have supported so many of them gave seed money for bloggers and talk shows and this is the way they are rewarded. I don’t get it am I missing something.
Especially considering the party was in the crapper till Bill Clinton came along. What a bunch of slugs.
Agree….The party was the loser party until 92. If Obaby gets elected millions of both pivate and public money will be spent by republicans to take him down….I guess it will be called the Chicago project and it probably won’t take as long to do it. Jeeeeeeezus he is a Putz. No wonder Dean likes him.
I would love to see a send up of BOBO’s speech notes from yesterday since obviously without detailed speaking topics and directions he is the hollow suit.
Do you think AX has to write “brush should?” “finger nose?”
The FINGER is something that Dean may truly identify with. Just doesn’t have the guts to do. So BOBO is the true puppet.
What is he running for- President of the 8th grade????
The man has lost it- completely lost it! He is so arrogant and believes he has already won that he doesn’t feel the need to be cautious.
God help us!
Listen to his petulant, immature WHINING! Hillary is mean to me, wah, wah, boo hoo.
If Obama thinks THIS is rough, how would he cope with McCain and the Republican slime machine come general election time?
Answer — he WON’T.
Frankly, I’m sick of Democrats nominating people who don’t recognize these Republican attacks and fail to respond to them until it’s too late. That’s the real reason I prefer Clinton — she’s already been accused of everything up to and including murder, yet she still defeats the competition.
He had two fingers raised in the CBS video. Another non-issue fabricated by desperate people.
Try again.
You are out of your mind. His first gesture uses a pinky. Then he deliberately raised his middel finger, pauses in his delivery, and rubs his cheek.
I HAVE DONE THIS SAME THING when I have wanted to send a message to friends/associates when I thought someone was a fuck.
And the crowd certainly knew what he meant. He intended to convey “fuck you Hillary”…and he did.
Growin’ up we called this move “hurt d-lert”.
deliberately raised his middel finger, pauses in his delivery, and rubs his cheek.
I could say he was acting like a 12 year old b**?
That is who some in this tortured country, wish to elect. oops bitter, oops I mean, “I was 8″..(still is in many ways.)