Clinton Staff Accused of Releasing Photo of Obama in Muslim Garb

Posted by Steve Benen, The Carpetbagger Report at 10:10 AM on February 25, 2008.

Just how silly is the Silly Season? Consider the story that has quickly come to dominate the political world's attention this morning and this afternoon. Drudge is running this report, alongside a photo of Barack Obama visiting Africa and wearing Somali garb. The headline reads, "Clinton staffers circulate 'dressed' Obama."

With a week to go until the Texas and Ohio primaries, stressed Clinton staffers circulated a photo over the weekend of a "dressed" Barack Obama.

The photo, taken in 2006, shows the Democrat frontrunner fitted as a Somali Elder, during his visit to Wajir, a rural area in northeastern Kenya.

The senator was on a five-country tour of Africa.

"Wouldn't we be seeing this on the cover of every magazine if it were HRC?" questioned one campaign staffer, in an email obtained by the DRUDGE REPORT.

It's hard to know where to start with a story like this, though I couldn't help but notice that Drudge showed other pictures with his report of prominent political figures -- including George W. Bush and Hillary Clinton -- also wearing foreign attire while visiting overseas. (When Drudge feels compelled to add important context, you know the story is weak.)

Given that, the more politically salient question seems to be whether the Clinton campaign would really be so desperate as to send this picture around to reporters. Remember, the right loves what are called "bank-shots" -- attacking Obama and trying to pin it on Clinton, and in the process hitting both. This happened, of course, back with the original madrassa story, which the Clinton campaign apparently had nothing to do with.

Drudge claims that Clinton's team is circulating the pic, and the Obama campaign issued a statement working under the assumption that the Clinton campaign is responsible: "On the very day that Senator Clinton is giving a speech about restoring respect for America in the world, her campaign has engaged in the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we've seen from either party in this election. This is part of a disturbing pattern that led her county chairs to resign in Iowa, her campaign chairman to resign in New Hampshire, and it's exactly the kind of divisive politics that turns away Americans of all parties and diminishes respect for America in the world."

I was skeptical about whether this was the right move -- it's never wise to just accept Drudge reports at face value -- but the official Clinton response was less than helpful.

After about an hour of reporters seeking comment, this is what the Clinton campaign sent out:

"Enough.

"If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed. Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely.

"This is nothing more than an obvious and transparent attempt to distract from the serious issues confronting our country today and to attempt to create the very divisions they claim to decry.

"We will not be distracted."

There is, alas, not so much as a hint of a denial here. Asked if the Clinton campaign has been circulating the picture, the Clinton campaign has effectively responded, "There's nothing wrong with the picture." Of course, that's not exactly an answer -- though, in a way, perhaps it is.

I'm particularly struck by, "We will not be distracted." In general, that's a good motto, but in this case, isn't the opposite true? If the Clinton campaign has found it necessary to disseminate a photo of Obama in traditional Somali clothing, isn't that, by definition, an example of the Clinton campaign being entirely distracted? After all, pushing the pic doesn't exactly come across as "on message." (Look! It's Obama! In a funny outfit!) On the contrary, it comes across as a reckless and desperate move.

As a rule, these cheap shots tend to backfire. My hunch is that today's gambit will be no different.

EDITOR's NOTE: Other politicians have worn local costumes of other cultures out of respect for custom, see below:



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Tagged as: clinton, obama

Steve Benen is a freelance writer/researcher and creator of The Carpetbagger Report. In addition, he is the lead editor of Salon.com's Blog Report, and has been a contributor to Talking Points Memo, Washington Monthly, Crooks & Liars, The American Prospect, and the Guardian.