Wondering why the photo is such a dirty attack?

Because the majority of those who see it will do so via circulated emails that claim to have further evidence Barack Hussein Obama is a Muslim plant hellbent on the destruction of America.

To get an idea of the knee-jerk fear this photo inspires in much of middle america, take a look at the comments about it on the foxnews website: <link>

From my very rough estimate, nearly 50% of those who are commenting are using the photo as "proof" that Obama is a Muslim. And those comments are being made WITH an article above it that explains the context in a surprisingly fair manner.

If this photo did indeed come from an HRC staffer (and judging by the campaign's unwillingness to issue a denial, I would say it probably did), it was a desperation move. In the short run, it backfires on Hillary by making her look Rovian to Democrats. So the Obama nomination is virtually sealed. But in the LONG run, this is just the sort of attack that will keep Obama from attracting such large numbers of Republicans and Independents. The possibility of turning the South and Midwest blue becomes a lot more challenging.

It's a swiftboat all right. It just won't sink him until the general election.

I don't think this hurts Obama as much as it hurts Hillary. In a way having this photo of Obama looking uncomfortable in Somali tribal garb come out now is probably a good thing. Maybe it will give people time to educate at least a few people from the south on a couple of points and maybe even open the minds of at least some of them.

I hope that anyone who was on the fence about Hillary will realize what a negative, sleazy, disgusting campaign she has run and vote for Obama instead.

I also received a faked photo of "Obama failing to honor the flag"--I have received this several times. He has responded to the "unpatriotic" charges but it is clear that it is sort of like "Whack -a-Mole"--it just keeps popping up here and there. There are people trying to fabricate something every day. Now from the Republicans as well as the Clintonistas.

It's always right around this time in the election cycle that the Republicans start to convince me that if the people are stupid enough to vote for them then the people deserve them.

I agree. I had a friend send me that e-mail with all the "proof" that Obama was a died in the wool Muslim. It went through each point, and at the beginning of the e-mail it stated "All of this is verified by Snopes.com". So, I looked it up on Snopes and it took all of a few seconds to find Snopes blasted the whole story. A few seconds! I guess some people would rather climb a tree and lie than stand on the ground and speak the truth. I e-mailed that friend back and told them that maybe he should fact-check things like this out before he sends it to 50 some-odd people. He responded by saying "well, I still don't trust Obama." LOL. I wrote back and said I don't trust people who would be so vile as spin an incredibly long yarn aimed at falsely assassinating a man's character.

From there, even a month later one of my parents got this e-mail and forwarded it to me. Doesn't anyone check facts? Nope, even if the link to scratch the lie is provided RIGHT THERE in the e-mail and they couldn't be bothered to check it out! So far, the most I've seen conservatives do is make bad jokes or stupid word-play (Hitlary, where there's not even a germ of anything to tie her politics to one of the biggest monsters of the 20th century). Occassionally one will argue that all Obama or Clinton would do is tax and spend. I don't see Bush, the son of a billionaire, being someone who is exactly spend-thrifty...and when you look that the National Debt and the mounting cost of war, soaring gas prices since his tenure, etc. as being even a close model to conservatism.

In so many ways I am a fiscal conservative. This is my perspective, and call me on this if I'm wrong anyone, but a true conservative doesn't look at this so called "stimulus package" as free money, or even an excuse to go out on a shopping spree. Anytime extra money comes my way (job raise, cost of living increase, tax refund..which is actually MY money) I look at it as an excuse for me to bump up my savings toward mine and my wife's retirement, or college fund for or kid. Yet I have these friends that love to throw that bully-style dirty word "LIBERAL, or libby or dem, whatever" who are already cashing in on that buying flatscreens, etc. Conservatives indeed.

So, this year my voting strategy is simple. I will vote with Americans who share the most rational views, and not desperate party stalworts and ideology-centered extremists. This is my strategy (if you wanna call it that): Based on the interactions I have with people on the subject of the elections, both in my personal, professional, and internet/media exposure, I'm going to vote for the person based on the behavior of their supporters. I have to say, and I certainly do not intend this as a broad sweeping message, but the neo-conservatives and even the more traditional conservative republicans aren't really fairing well, and haven't for some years. They are nearly as whiny and bitchy as politically correct ACLU morons that they so dispise in my estimation. And this is the impression I get based on my own family right on down to the people who post on this board. I'm not perfect, I'm sure you could logically tear this theory appart and say it's dumb, but I'm doing what works for me and based on my experience, and I'd like to know what other independent thinkers do to decide who becomes president and what works for them. Especially when, like myself, no candidate really makes you do backflips. : )

Mr. Smiling Man,

That sort of informed and rational thinking from conservative voters is exactly what the Obama campaign is banking on with it's 50 state strategy.

The idea is that enough conservatives are disillusioned with the Republican Party's hypocrisy (big gov't bush, etc.) right now that they will be willing to cross the aisle and vote for a Democratic "uniter" in November.

I just hope other conservatives find the Republican strategy of calling everyone with a D next to their name a "dirty tax and spend liberal" as tired and insipid as you do.

Red state Republican (voted for W twice, wince), now a registered independent ready to cast my first ever vote for a Democrat for President in Barak Obama. I have even made a donation to his campaign, and yes, I have all of Rush Limbaugh's books!

"a few people from the south"? Yes, our gamboling hordes have had time between various unspeakable acts to contemplate this image, and though the cognitions are like gun blasts to the mind, we realize that Obama may not be a covert Qutb ideologist and Islamic radical aiming his shotgun of malice at our fair nation. The people of the south, given time, will come around. With your help.