Muslim women rejected at Obama rally.

[pepperbear]

http://news.aol.com/?feature=20080618155909990001

ACCORDING TO AOL:

Two Muslim women attending Barack Obama's rally in Detroit on Monday said they were barred by campaign volunteers from sitting directly behind the presidential candidate because they wear head scarfs. Spectators seated in that section, above, were shown on TV.

Some asshat staffer panicked because he/she knew the opposition would pounce on the image of two scarved women at an Obama event.

Notice the use of the word "rejected", like they were not allowed in.

edited to add a slightly more credible source:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/18/AR2008061803402.html?nav%3Dhcmodule&sub=AR

According to this source, it may have been rectified.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

1. Maybe we should have these two guys seated behind Mc Insane

at his next rally.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. And later on Tuesday

He was photographed outside of a school and a woman in headscarf is standing to his right . . .


That said, the New York Post and The Daily News this morning have this story featured. Two totally different takes (Post is obviously conservative in nature) . . . If he had been pictured with ten women in headscarfs - the NeoCons would have on every single news source that "Obama Is a Muslim Based on the Company He Keeps".

[zanne]

9. Yup. This doesn't pass the smell test.

It had to be a setup. Now they're manufacturing controversy.

[Enthusiast]

2. Given the nature of the Rovian

Republican campaign, it would be foolhardy to position Muslims in close proximity to Obama. Why provide Faux News with fodder?

One must remember, nuanced thinking is foreign to much of America. Shown Muslim women at an Obama rally cinches it for some voters - he's damn Muslim.

[Nay]

3. The Rovian pub campaign probably SENT those two Muslim women

to sit behind Obama. If they were even Muslim!

[TexasProgresive]

5. It's a no win situation now Sludge has picked up on this.

It was a mistake to exclude these women because it is wrong. It is what Bushco did for 8 years. We are the Democratic party and that means of the people- all the people.

[malaise]

6. The women weren't thrown out

All politicians arrange seating behind them.
There are two sides to this one. On the one hand, it's not rainbow politics. On the other hand, a Muslim wouldn't arrange to have two Muslims seated elsewhere so there's no bad press here and he sure is getting free press to kill that Muslim rumor.

[dkf]

7. Do muslim women wear headscarves as deference to men?

What is the purpose of wearing one?

[sandyj999]

8. In some Muslim beliefs women are to remain modest when in the company of men that aren't relatives.

Please don't shoot this messenger, this was copied from the Detroit Free Press this morning. This is very common in this area. I will add that if they were seated behind him the Repugs would have run with it. They may have had something to do with it anyway.

[Imagevision]

10. We should plant a few in back of McBush to see how they handle it?

[MiniMe]

11. I realize that you put in the title of the article, but I think it is misleading

They were moved out of camera range, but they were not removed from the event. They wouldn't have even gotten into a * event. While it bothers me that this was done, I can understand the reasoning. The Obama campaign apologized which I was glad to see.

[sandyj999]

15. Now they want a direct apology from Obama. And want to be seated at another of his events.

It's beginning to smell bad to me.

[MiniMe]

28. You think set-up?

[flamingpie2500]

12. This is very disappointing--plants or not, they should have been allowed to sit

wherever they chose.
VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED

[mmonk]

13. The events I attended had plenty of Muslim representation

or women with head scarfs. Of course I didn't look closely enough to see if any were kept from sitting in the backdrop area.

[Maine-ah]

14. you need to read the post about this in LBN

one of our own DU'ers was a volunteer there and posted in that thread.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Link?

[Maine-ah]

27. shoulda done that in my post, sorry. It's still on the first page of LBN

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3357787

[ColbertWatcher]

16. Technically, women wearing headscarves were not allowed on stage.

There is no proof they were Muslim.

They were not prevented from attending.

Damn, why does the GOP-controlled media not give Admiral McCombover's public appearances such scrutiny?

[Swamp Rat]

31. There is no proof the Obama volunteers were not members of Operation Chaos

If I was a 'member' of Operation Chaos, this is precisely the kind of thing I'd do. ;)

[ElsewheresDaughter]

17. Axelrod admitted it was a bad mistake...

campaigns from the dawning have always staged all events but in todays instant communication techno world it is no longer a good idea.

now lets move on and never let it happen again.

[ColbertWatcher]

19. I think what needs to happen is that...

...people need to remember who is allowed in for GOP speeches.

No one even mentioned that!

It was just this crap about women dressed as "Muslims" trying to pose for pictures.

This is what's going to happen when everyone is welcome to his events.

I want coverage investigating Admiral McCombover's restricted events.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

22. I do too....remember how all the repuke events had party loyality pledge cards before admittance

fuckers

[ColbertWatcher]

24. And when they don't want anyone to know who is attending...

...like that meeting idiot came to Arizona for a fundraiser that suddenly had to go private



I remember the cover story they came up with was there wasn't enough people to attend.

Yeah, right.

They didn't want pictures of Admiral McCombover and lobbyists getting out.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

29. "Admiral McCombover " BWAHAHAHA n/t

[AmyCamus]

18. This was on CNN this morning

Nothing else happening in the world must matter to them

[gatorboy]

20. This happened Monday. interesting EVERYONE has decided to run this story on the same day, days later

Especially since read about Obama apologizing for this two days ago. Suddenly it's the big story?

I guess they were too busy with their Russert coverage? Face it. They are out to h=get him this election season.

[ColbertWatcher]

23. Maybe it's an homage to Russert?

Wasn't Timmeh a strong supporter of Muslim women on cable TV?

[gatorboy]

25. Was that sarcasm?

I don't remember a big Muslim women posse on his show. Something like the Robert Palmer dancers? :P

[ColbertWatcher]

26. LOL!

Oh that's an image that will be in my head for a while!

[LuckyLib]

30. When politicians speak at universities, often older folks are seated within camera range,

to keep the media from thinking "it"s just those goofy leftist eggheads." -- Common practice, to "stage" the background.