John Nichols: Aussie Attack: Is Obama's Race a Factor in Howard's Attack?

[marmar]

From the Nation:


Is Obama's Race a Factor in Howard's Attack?


Why would Australian Prime Minister John Howard separate out Barack Obama from all of the other contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination -- and from all the prominent Democratic and Republican critics of President Bush's dangerous foreign policies -- for attack as the favorite son of the terrorists?

Why would Howard, suggest that the Illinois senator's candidacy will "encourage those who wanted completely to destabilize and destroy Iraq, and create chaos and victory for the terrorists to hang on and hope for an Obama victory"?

What was Howard thinking when he claimed in an interview on Australian television that: "If I was running al Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008, and pray, as many times as possible, for a victory not only for Obama, but also for the Democrats"?

Is Howard, arguably the truest believer in the Iraq War this side of Dick Cheney, so supportive of the Bush administration that he is ready to attack anyone who challenges the president? No, that's not the case. In fact, Howard has in recent days gone out of his way to tell Australians that he did not intend to "generically" criticize American Democrats; rather, he clarified, he was specifically attacking Obama. "I don't apologise for criticising Senator Obama's observation because I thought what he said was wrong," explained Howard. ........(more)

The rest of the piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?pid=165798

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Naw, he just heard about the madrassah that Obama trained at.

:banghead:

[demnan]

2. He's a fucking idiot

Australia should get rid of him as soon as possible. Even Bush wouldn't say something like that. Is he racist? Who knows how an extreme asshole thinks?

[spag68]

3. Australia

Try to remember that it wasn't that long ago that Australia did not allow blacks to even immigrate to Australia.

[classysassy]

5. After

stealing the land,go back to Europe,you slimmy bastard.

[bemildred]

4. Howard is hauling water for US political hacks.

There is no other reason for him to even know Obama's name. I don't claim to know which US political hacks he is doing favors for, several come to mind, but there is no other reason for Howard to bring it up.

[Matilda]

6. I think there is a race issue with Howard.

He's proved over and over that he's racist and bigoted, and note that he hasn't attacked Hillary
Clinton, who said she would bring the troops home immediately she's elected.

[Karenina]

7. Has ANY candidate for the American presidency

EVER been attacked by the head of another country a day after announcing his candidacy? Ever? EVER IN HISTORY??? We may have a FIRST here! :evilgrin: