I like that, especially given the similarity to his wife's name (Cindy?). Coincidence?! I think not. Ha.....

McCain had no more say in his middle name than Obama did in his — or you did in yours. What's the point?

Two wrongs make a right now, do they?

s/Obama supporter

Um, BHO's full name is:

Barack Hussein Obama Junior

Family names are part of a proud tradition in all families and being named after your father has never been anything but honorable.

Just ask John Sidney McCain III?

Add:

Hussein is an Arabic name which is the diminutive of Hasan, meaning "good" or "handsome".

Commonly understood as "beautiful boy"

More King Hussein of Jordan than Saddam Hussein.

Two wrongs don't make a right, but that's not the point. Tossing it back makes the whole thing look silly. LIke in the last debate where he unemotionally said that he both rejected and denounced. It's the first time I ever HEARD an eye roll. The same would happen if he said Sydney.

Bad idea. You're giving into the conservative frame that his name is important. The middle-name tactic is self-destructive for the conservatives, as it portrays them as racist and petulant (even Karl Rove has told them "don't do it"). Let them use the middle name, don't stoop to their level on this one.

"It's the first time I ever HEARD an eye roll."

Good one!

I think it is a great idea.
However tone is very important due to the previous comments. If the tone is "attacking" then two wrongs don't make a right, it will be snide and ugly.

While as joke, light hearted it will be the water off a duck's back. More bullet proofing in the Obama way.
It makes their attack look small and juvenile... which it is.

All --

Check this out.

"Obama should be proud to be named Hussein"
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/02/28/hussein/

I like it, Jonathan. Maybe this will get back to his campaign.

Thanks - excellent piece.

"Obama should be proud to be named Hussein"

Juan is always putting out some very good stuff.

Obama should keep repeating that these childish tactics should explode forever any notion that the GOP is the "party of grownups".

Two wrongs make a right now, do they?

Grow some balls and learn to fight back.

excellent

There's nothing wrong being named Hussein, any more than having a Finnish name in this mainly anglo-saxon world.

The far larger problem is this two-horned wild bastard with world savior syndrome. If you don't know what I am talking about, I can tell you that one of the horns like to torture people as well, not mentioning ignoring past human rights agreements (think Geneva), and has as buddies nations to which send those that it wants tortured. Besides Saudi Arabia is not a democracy - if it was such a problem that Hussein was not 'democratically elected', why the heck not attack the Saudis as well...

And while they're at it, they should refer to McCain's party as the Repub party to return the favor of calling the Democratic party the Democrat party

Hey! You guys aren't wearing your lapel pins!!! Disgusting!!! I mean really, this is an election year!
Can you all be that insensitive to this really serious campaign issue? The economy is tanking, the war is raging, there's a terrorist under every bed. And there's not a single lapel pin in sight! I'm Gonna tell Uncle Rove!