Dull thoughts on a shiny, shiny world.

Political nicknames are a popular pastime. Australians all know who Little Johnny, Mad Mark or Saint Kevin are. Americans are familiar with Clint-in and probably others I don't know straight away.

But what's behind these names?

I've recently noticed there seems to be a bit of a movement for opponents to refer to US presidential candidate Barack Obama as Hussein. In some ways it makes sense, as it is his middle name and lots of people are referred to by their middle name.

I guess what bugs me is that there seems to be the assumption this should be offensive. Little Johnny is offensive - it's blatantly referring to his physical size and generally weedy world view. Clint-in refers to his sexual exploits. Hussein is just a very common Arabic name. Is being Arab funny and offensive in modern America, or am I missing something?

Looking at Obama and his policies, there seems to be so many better options available, ranging from Obamaba (doop-doop-de-do-doop, Obamaba!) to Peacemonger Pete to the Bringer of Hope.

Why, Americanistas, do you go for the Hussein? Is there an element of humour in it I'm not picking up? Is there more to it than an attempt to attribute to Obama whatever loathsome qualities you seemingly attribute to Arabs?


Comments (Page 1)
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on Jul 27, 2008

Calling Obama - Hussein is just ugliness.  I guess it's a way to try to say he is a terrorist, not to be trusted etc.  At the very least a way to question his character and draw a parallel between him and Sadam Hussein.  It is absolutely meant as an insult in every way.  No one is innocently just using it "because it's his middle name".  I am not an Obama supporter and I find it offensive. 

on Jul 27, 2008

I find it about as offensive as the left using McSame for McCain, just a war of words. meaning nothing in the end. It just shows what side you chose.

on Jul 27, 2008

I find it about as offensive as the left using McSame for McCain, just a war of words. meaning nothing in the end. It just shows what side you chose.
  I think Hussein is more offensive than McSame and I am not for Obama. 

on Jul 27, 2008
I find it about as offensive as the left using McSame for McCain, just a war of words. meaning nothing in the end. It just shows what side you chose.


Sure Modman, but what do you think is the implied meaning behind it? Is Hussein a funny/offensive name to call someone? If it is, is there more to it than the Arab connection?

The reason I'm asking is that I'm tempted to simply write off anyone who uses it as little more than a fairly unoriginal racist (Osama is so much easier, and it rhymes!).

I'd like to think there's a better reason behind it all.
on Jul 27, 2008

Calling Obama Hussein is just offensive, but it's not like namecalling doesn't come with the job.

on Jul 27, 2008

cactoblasta
If it is, is there more to it than the Arab connection?

Now what the Democrats did to Jindal during the Lousiana Governor race was just as bad as this but you wont find many mainstream media peeps harping on what they did like you hear for Obama. Why did they always call him Piyush when he goes by Bobby?  There is no historical or current reason to do that.  They too were just calling him by his real name.

It is dirty to call Obama Hussein cause it is trying to make people think of Saddam Hussein. Just like it would be if someone had the name Adolf. But trying to make people think of a "bad" person isnt racist, its just dirty.

 

 

 

 

on Jul 27, 2008

Well most of the comments on this article proved the reason why some here like using Hussein when talking about Obama.

First of all let me say that if calling a man by his middle name, regardless of the reason, is a bad thing then all of you are ridiculous. It's his middle name people, it's not like we are adding anything to it like Cactos "Little John" example.


The reason is not that the name Hussein is used to insult him (hello, it's his middle name if anything his mom would be to blame), it's the people who get offended that are the target of this kind of "Name calling". Any of you ever had a word that would get you mad every time someone called you that name? Ever wonder why people kept calling you that name? Because it bugged you, the same as it does those who think this name is offensive.


What I do wonder though, why do those who find this offensive find it offensive? Is it because they are the ones who actually think that his middle name being Hussein is disturbing but are too afraid to admit it and instead play the guilty card because he is black, has a Muslim name and they don't want to offend either?

You all need to grow up already. His middle name is being used against the whinners and not against Osama, I mean Obama himself.

on Jul 28, 2008

CharlesCS
.The reason is not that the name Hussein is used to insult him (hello, it's his middle name if anything his mom would be to blame), it's the people who get offended that are the target of this kind of "Name calling". Any of you ever had a word that would get you mad every time someone called you that name? Ever wonder why people kept calling you that name? Because it bugged you, the same as it does those who think this name is offensive.

Um ya, My Bio logical grand father on my momside name was Adolph.  He didnt go about as Adolph cause people would give ya a hard time if he did.... same with an Iraqi that has the name Saddam atm.....people do treat you bad if you are associated with certain people or even just reminded of them. Adolph was a common German name before people branded it as a reminder of Hitler.... how many people are named Adolph today... why arent they? Cause it would be a bad mark against em.

Yes, your going to have to have a thick skin if your unfortunate enough to have one of these types of names... how ever it doesnt mean that people should calling you it for the purpose of making you look bad either. Weather you Obama (D) or Jindal (R) I think its both in poor taste.

Yes people should be free to use this form of speech.... but I will exercise my right to call it like I see it.... bad manners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on Jul 28, 2008
His middle name is being used against the whinners and not against Osama, I mean Obama himself.


Okay. So what you're saying here is that it's used so that you can annoy people who think it's an insult, but not because you mean it as an insult.

This is a little too meta for me. Why do you want to distract from your own arguments by adding in pointless red flags for hostile bulls?
on Jul 28, 2008
This is a little too meta for me. Why do you want to distract from your own arguments by adding in pointless red flags for hostile bulls?


Because unlike our liberal brothers and sisters in my country, most conservatives do not attack people personally, we disagree on political points rather than personal attacks. We might change that tactic if we ever run out of political points to disagree with but it has worked for the last 40 or so years so why change.

You see, the liberals don’t have any real understanding of politics, they personalize it to the point that if they disagree with you then you are the enemy and must be destroyed personally. Here are some examples of what I mean.

Tax cuts are good for people and good for the economy. A typical conservative view that has proven to work every time it is tried.
Liberals don’t believe in letting the market place work but every time they try their ideas they fail so their reply is. You only want to help the rich get richer, you hate the poor, and you are a bad person for wanting to do this. What about the poor that don’t pay taxes they don’t get a tax cut! You see what I mean?

Or we need to drill for more oil to bring down the price of petrol. The reply is, you only want to make the oil companies rich on the backs of the poor. It will take ten years to bring in an oil well so it won’t help us now. We need alternatives to oil and the only way to do this is to stop producing oil to make people use alternative forms of energy.
When the president removed the presidential ban on drilling the price of oil dropped 10 dollars within minutes. Congress says no and the price went back up. Just the hint of increasing the supply of oil is enough to drop the price but liberals don’t understand this.

In using Senator Obama’s middle name the liberals perceive this as a racial slur because they are in their heart of hearts racist. They are myopic in a lot of their views and believe that all people think as they do. So if they would use a racial slur then everyone else would do the same thing. Watching them get all twisted out of shape just by using the Senators middle name is how we get our entertainment because they have yet to come up with any ideas that are worth debating. When they do you will notice that the game stops and we debate the issue rather than twist their tail.

Hope this helps.
on Jul 28, 2008
Because unlike our liberal brothers and sisters in my country, most conservatives do not attack people personally, we disagree on political points rather than personal attacks.


But aren't you just saying then that you enjoy a masochistic relationship with liberals, where you as the masochist deliberately seek out opportunities to be lambasted and the liberals are your unwitting aids? That may be what you get out of it, but I'm not so sure many other conservatives would agree.
on Jul 28, 2008
The terms used on conservatives are offensive. Obama's middle name is not offensive, but a reminder of the fact he is Arabic (and meant to sway the voter). But using his middle name is akin to reminding voters of his vacillation on Jerusalem. We are supposed to abstain from noting the fact that it changed 3 times in 24 hours?

As for Clint-in, that is the first I have heard of it. And I am not exactly an ostrich when it comes to politics. Perhaps that is just an Aussie term?
on Jul 28, 2008

Hussein is just a very common Arabic name. Is being Arab funny and offensive in modern America, or am I missing something?

Fritz is a common German name.

If in 1940 a German-American with possible ties to Nazi Germany with the name of "Otto Fritz Siegmeister" had run for President, I think "Fritz" would have been a good nick name for him.

 

on Jul 28, 2008

That's probably also why Eddie Hitler never ran for Prime Minister.

 

on Jul 28, 2008
Um ya, My Bio logical grand father on my momside name was Adolph. He didnt go about as Adolph cause people would give ya a hard time if he did.... same with an Iraqi that has the name Saddam atm.....people do treat you bad if you are associated with certain people or even just reminded of them. Adolph was a common German name before people branded it as a reminder of Hitler.... how many people are named Adolph today... why arent they? Cause it would be a bad mark against em.


A good argument and I understand your point. But let me ask you this. Did your biological grandfather find this name insulting? Because if he didn't then I don't see the problem. You see, calling peoples names only works if the person who's being insulted actually cares. I was cracked on as a child when I lived in Puerto Rico because I was born and raised in the US so I was a Gringo even though my parents were born in Puerto Rico. I had to deal with that for the 8 years I was living there.

I've been called Chucky (as in the evil doll), Charles Chaplin, Chucky-Cheese, pigeon (because I once found a hurt pigeon and saved it and it because a pet for a couple of months) and more. But I got pass all of that because I was the better man (even if I was a boy). I had a rough childhood but I kept going and Obama will do the same. The point is these names were used against me, the ones used here are merely to get under the Liberals skin who defend Obama or in some instances those who get picky about it.

In the end everyone has to deal with the fact that we have a guy running for President that not only he could be the first Black President, but who's name rhymes with Osama (our current terrorist enemy), who's Middle name is the same as Saddam (a terrible man who ran the country we are currently occupying thru a war not everyone is happy about and he happens to have Muslim connections (at a time when Muslim radical groups are preaching the death and destruction of the West and Israel). I'm sorry dude but apart from not liking Obama's mentality and his policies, the fact that his victory as the next President of the US could only add to the Muslim fire we are currently trying to put out (read this comment as you wish) is enough for me not to want to vote for him and this has nothing to do with being racist, it has everything to do with not wanting to add more fuel to a fire we are having a hard time trying to put out.
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