Obama HQ has Che Guevara and Cuban flag on the wall

[bidenista]

Bayou City has a new Obama campaign office, and the Houston branch of FOX has a video report here. Not big news.

But if you watch the video, you might notice something a bit... uh... weird:





Yes, it seems that they have a Cuban flag - with a superimposed portrait of Che Guevara - on the wall. Now, I appreciate that some progressives admire Che. But when you've got TV cameras rolling, is it really the best idea to be identifying yourself with a man who most of the country (including a lot of Dems) consider to have been a bloody murderer?

It suggests to me that some of these people are far from ready for the primetime. McCain will eat amateurs like these for breakfast. It also kinda makes me wonder what sort of "new support" is being brought into the party. I think Dems can live quite happily without the Viva Fidel contingent.

----------

Edited to add: Some people downthread have claimed this is not an Obama office, despite the fact that the video shows Obama volunteers working in there, wearing Obama buttons, and with an Obama poster on the wall (next to the flag - watch the video). Their argument is that because there are no paid staff there, the fact that the Obama campaign now has control of, and use of, the premises does not make it an Obama HQ.

I'll leave you to decide for yourselves the merits of that argument.

[Cant trust em]

1. This is a blunder for sure nt

[DURHAM D]

2. Is that for real? n/t

[New Dawn]

95. Its them thar commies, call senator mccarthy!!!!!1

I noticed DU has a Che avatar too. Big deal (unless one is part of the John Birch Society, lol).

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

148. considering Fox put a (D) by McCain's name the other day

Only a repug would take Fox/Faux news seriously.

[COFoothills]

3. So does almost every college dorm in America...

...and who is volunteering there. Still probably not a brilliant idea to have that right there for the cameras when trying to win in Texas.

[libertee]

4. Yes, and it will appear in the first McCain ads after the

convention and will be ALL some people consider...that's scary

[spotbird]

23. Bomb, bomb, bomb..bomb, bomb Iran

will make a nice response ad.

[Franks Wild Years]

69. Let's not forget "I Hate Gooks" either

Another one that needs to run come election time.

[Cant trust em]

115. i'm sure that the Asians who didn't vote for Obama

won't have that problem if he goes up against McCain.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

149. the OP writer posts mostly anti Obama stuff, and sinking to FAUX news doesn't surprise me n/t

[Cant trust em]

160. I generally disagree with Bidenista, but...

he/she is right that the GOP will snatch this up and use it.

[katty]

40. exactly

[Sanctified]

243. Easiest way to flip that ad is for Obama to do an Ad that says:

"Yes that is a Cuban Flag with Che's face on it, put up by one of my campaign supporters. I don't like the flag but I will defend a persons right to freedom of speech and expression. When you silence a persons right to free speech you are a fascist."

[BlackVelvet04]

5. WTF?

[Maddy McCall]

83. Funny to me because Obama was endorsed by the Kennedy clan...

And we all know 'bout the Kennedy/Che thing, right?

Historical cognitive dissonance.

[theHandpuppet]

6. Oopsie!

Bad move, people. That will probably be a sound byte by tomorrow.

[jmg257]

10. double post wrong place nt

[NashVegas]

7. WHOOPSIE

It happens.

[GodlessBiker]

8. So, now he's *too* progressive?

[COFoothills]

9. Hasta la Victoria Siempre!

Viva la Revolucion!

[ShortnFiery]

11. Are you really this "small" or is this all you've got?

[rpannier]

39. It may seem small

But it's the sort of story that gets a lot of play on the news and can be quite damaging -- especially in southern Florida.

Stupid move by the people at the headquarters

[zabet]

98. Exactly..

things like this are bones
that the dog repukes will
chew and chew and not let
go.

[terrya]

171. It ain't gonna play in Alabama or Idaho, that's for sure.

Your candidate could be the Democratic nominee. There are groups out there that will latch onto any kind of imagery to malign the Democrats. This picture does NOT help, to put it mildly.

[BeyondGeography]

12. "Paid staffers for Obama expect to occupy the offices by the end of the week"

In other words, it's not an Obama office yet.

You should change your thread title to reflect the truth.

[bicentennial_baby]

14. Ha!

[NashVegas]

15. LOL! The Communists Are Taking Up Occupation of Obama HQ?

Doesn't get much better.

[Madam Mossfern]

24. I noticed that there are no Obama signs there

or any other indications either. What can McCain use?

[jmg257]

28. There is - just to the left of the flag (and the girl at the desk has a big button on in the video).

[jmg257]

29. DP nt

[goodgd_yall]

110. Apparently, you didn't watch the video.

There's a close-up of the Obama poster in it.

[MonkeyFunk]

44. Wrong

It's an Obama office. Staffed by volunteers at the moment.

[BeyondGeography]

50. So some kids say they support Obama and he'll have an office where they work, Fox shows up

before the campaign puts its stamp on the place and all of a sudden this is supposed to be a BIG issue.

You should know better than that.

[MonkeyFunk]

54. I never said a word about it being a big issue

I simply said it's an Obama office. The story says so, right at the beginning.

[DS1]

55. And if it's still up when the real staffers come in, I'll admit there's a slight issue with that

but until then, volunteers can do what they want. Cherry-picking DUers works here, and cherry-picking volunteers works for Fox. No surprise, really.

[rufus dog]

107. Come on Funk

Take a breath and logically think about this along with the source.

[MonkeyFunk]

121. Meaning what?

Do you think they're not really Obama volunteers? Do you think they photoshopped the flag in? Please explain.

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MonkeyFunk]

60. From the story

"volunteers opened two new Houston offices for the Barack Obama Presidential campaign."

Where's the lie?

Are you saying it's not really an Obama office? Are these renegades who just opened an office on their own?

[Mags]

84. Hey, BO people can't stand the truth, they only see and say

what they want. Just move on. It's hopeless.

[Gman]

169. Not an Obama office? You're new to politics, aren't you?

You should know what the hell you're talking about before you post.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

13. That has to be fake

[FrenchieCat]

16. Is Che Guevara the boogie man?

Please let me know.

My understanding is that he is a great Latin American Hero, and yes, he was a revolutionary.

Sounds like that's what George Washington was as well.

I have seen many here at DU with that avatar.

Are we really that concerned about the fucked up GOP assholes to this extent?

Will the Clinton campaign find a Reagan flag for her walls?

So much bullshit, so little time!

[bidenista]

20. wow

I hope they manage to spin it better than you're managing, because the "Che is a hero" line will not, I think, win many Americans' hearts.

[FrenchieCat]

25. You are a fool.....if you think that Che is evil.

But then, the politics of hatin' Obama is your specialty!

[bidenista]

27. i think you need to re-read my post and lay off the personal attacks

Not even a fool would think that there is widespread admiration for Che in the USA.

[fenriswolf]

90. yes

but politics aside He is not an evil person, quite the contrary.

[Bobbieo]

56. FC - Unfortunately, Evil is in the eye of the beholder!!!

[Crooked Moon]

59. judge for yourself...

"To send men to the firing squad, judicial proof is unnecessary...These procedures are an archaic bourgeois detail. This is a revolution! And a revolutionary must become a cold killing machine motivated by pure hate. We must create the pedagogy of the The Wall! (El Paredón)" --Ernesto 'Che' Guevara

[AZ Criminal JD]

80. I wonder what Obama would say if he was asked if Che was evil.

Say at the next debate. "Present!"

[Mags]

88. She can't see the truth she is blinded

by BO's charm and his personality;. No substance just crap.










b)

[Name removed]

89. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Melinda]

100. More ignorance.... the bullet that killed Che was CIA, not Bolivian. Check that.

Oh, and enjoy your sure to be brief stay at DU.

[Name removed]

104. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[gaspee]

118. Nice

Gay bashing. Nice intro to DU. And FWI Che was very anti-gay but good job calling him a fag. Are you twelve?. Though Che's stance on LGBTQ fits Obama wooing the exgay movement.

[astrowhacker]

105. enjoying my new home

Are you that type of gringo that feels the need to tell me about how tragedy in my country makes for a really cool t-shirt?

Well Good Day to you!

[Bluebear]

162. Yes, everyone is a fool but you.

[ktrush]

164. Better a fool than a useful idiot

Che was a psychopathic murderer and a coward who executed helpless, unarmed people but ran from battle. He plotted to blow up Bloomingdale's, Macy's and Gimbel's the day after Thanksgiving, but fortunately, like everything else Che put his mind to, he failed. Even Castro knew he was too dangerous, so he sent him off to the Congo hoping he would die. When Che ran from the Congo rather than face real soldiers, Castro sent him to Bolivia, where he failed again and surrendered while his "troops" were still fighting and he still had a full clip in his pistol.

If you believe the Castro-sanitized version of Che's legend, you are what Lenin called a useful idiot. I suggest you read some real history, rather than propaganda straight from Havana.

[JustDavid]

176. CHE is trendy......

If Che were in the Whitehouse right now...this forum would not exist.

If Che were sitting where Bushboy was sitting, we would not dare speak out against him.

Anyone that did would face a firing squat.

[Cha]

244. This thread is the kinda shit I miss when

the Ignore feature is working full blast.

[UALRBSofL]

26. bidenista you said exactly what I was thinking

It will not go over well when the republicans run the add this fall.

[High Plains]

229. Yeah, you and the gusanos are mighty upset.

[jackson_dem]

63. It is funny French brought up Reagan

It is Obama who loves Reagan "correcting" the liberal Democratic "excesses" of the 60's and 70's.

[Dogmudgeon]

127. No, but Che WAS a womanizer

I know that many Clinton haters here are very, very upset about Bill having unacceptable sexual relations.

--p!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

151. but Hillary was ok with all of Slick Willie's many women right? Like a doormat n/t

[Dogmudgeon]

155. I merely said that Che was a womanizer

And that Clinton haters usually cite Bill's behavior as a reason for their hate.

You gotta read it before you can slam it.

--p!
Slam it, baby!

[Gman]

170. So you just came over from Free Republic to troll here didn't you?

Only members of Free Republic use the term "Slick Willie".

Be gone, troll!

[mechemendia]

241. El Che ain't the tooth fairy!

He's a revolutionary that killed thousands of people who
didn't follow their communism bullshit. I don't remember
George Washington sending anybody to a firing squad. That's
NOT democracy! George Washington wanted people to be free to
live their lives and believe in what they choose to believe.
Wise up people!  El Che wasn't some mystical image. He was a
cold blooded killer. Educate yourself before putting up a
flag or a shirt that patronizes him. Do you want someone in
the White House that sympathizes with those beliefs? 

[rug]

17. Che is turning over in his grave.

[jmg257]

18. Dumb asses... not good...

[K Gardner]

37. Actually, dumb asses don't read entire threads before posting stupid remarks. See #12.

[jmg257]

42. Actually, SMART people watched the video link and saw THESE ARE HIS PEOPLE, with HIS POSTER

on the wall, it is HIS BUTTON on HER COAT, and they are IN HIS/THEIR CAMPAIGN OFFICE.

Maybe my remarks were stupid. MAYBE, just maybe, it is really NOT their flag - but good luck with that since it IS next to OBAMA'S poster, it IS behind OBAMA's supporters, and it IS in OBAMA's campaign office.

[jmg257]

43. dp nt

[msongs]

19. che guevara was a socipathic serial killer/common criminal - endorsed by Obama's scriptures was he?

[K Gardner]

See post #12 before you crow so loudly.

[MonkeyFunk]

51. Are you really saying

it's not an Obama office because there are no paid staff there yet?

It says right in the story that volunteers opened an Obama office. What does it matter whether they're paid or not?

[thevoiceofreason]

120. A blind dog canopen an "office"

It is in no way official or sanctioned.

[fenriswolf]

21. go che

Power to the People.

[tekisui]

82. .

[calico1]

22. That isn't going to get him many Indy or

Republican voters.

[FrenchieCat]

32. What isn't. A Flag on the wall of an office that his supporters don't yet occupy.....

That sounds like nothing more than desperation.

We are a sick country, with a number of sick democrats ....with absolutely no backbone, afraid of their own shadows.

[jmg257]

36. Watch the video - these ARE his supporters, his poster, his button, their office, whose flag is it??

[MonkeyFunk]

112. They certainly are his supporters

they're identified as volunteers with the campaign.

Just because they're not paid staff doesn't mean they're not working with the campaign. How dumb.

[Scurrilous]

30. DU has Che avatar.

Oh, the horror!!1!

[Proud2BAmurkin]

34. DU isn't running for president

[calico1]

35. Are any of us running for President?

Surely you realize that this can be used against him?

[QC]

31. At least it's not a Ronald Reagan icon.

I'm actually a bit relieved by this.

[MoonRiver]

33. It will be used by the Rethugs, along with about a thousand other cuts,

should he get the nom. In that case,just say hello President McCain.

[FrenchieCat]

38. Are you wearing your TuTu while typing this?

Next, Democrats will be voting for War that cost trillions and kills hundreds of thousand in fears that they will lose elections! oh....wait! that has already happened.

To little time, not enough brains....and certainly no backbone while succumbing to the dumbass politics of hate.

Y'all are something else.

[K Gardner]

41. You can't read either?? It must be contagious. Its not his office, President McRock.

[bidenista]

45. that's why there's an obama poster on the wall next to the flag

And Obama volunteers inside it?

The fact that PAID STAFF have yet to move in does not mean that it is not an Obama HQ. Watch the video.

[Middle finga]

46. How many americans know who Che Guevara is?

[bidenista]

48. i'm sure republican attack ads will be happy to educate them

NOTED COMMUNIST AND MASS-MURDERER... etc.

[Melinda]

86. Che was not a communist. Please, learn facts before you post such falsehoods

Che was a socialist which is not at all the same thing. I'd love to see your sources re his being a "mass-murderer". Got link?

[goodgd_yall]

113. The problem is that Republicans will use those very words. n/t

[ktrush]

165. You're kidding, right?

You really don't know that Che executed more than 1,400 Cubans without trial?

For your edification, some quotations straight from the horse's mouth:

“a revolutionary must become a cold killing machine motivated by pure hate.”

“If the nuclear missiles had remained, we would have used them against the very heart of America, including New York City.”

“We will march the path of victory even if it costs millions of atomic victims.”

“We must keep our hatred alive and fan it to paroxysm.”

“Individualism must disappear.”

“I don’t need proof to execute a man--- I only need proof that it is necessary to execute him!”

“Certainly we execute. And we will continue to execute as long as it is necessary. This is a war to the death against the enemies of the revolution”

“In my fury I yelled at them that they were behaving like women.”

“The peasant base has not been developed. Although it seems that through the use of planned terror we can neutralize some of them. Their support will come later.”

“My friends are friends only so long as they think as I do politically.”

“Don’t shoot! I am Che. I am worth more to you alive than dead!”

But, hey, he looks groovy on a tie-dye t-shirt, dude.

[Melinda]

166. And the CIA backed Batista regime was innocent of bloodshed?

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? You say your team is better? Nu-uh, I say mine is!!

The history of suffering, starvation, oppresion, exploitation, war and inhumanity is in plain sight, all situational ethics aside.

Che was not born a revolutionary, but he certainly died one. And that doesn't mean I hold his memory in esteemed status, but rather that I can see what is for what it is, or what was for what, and why, it was.

[son of umap preso]

234. and for revenge more should have died

Prior to 1959, Cuba had a standard of living twice that of Spain, or half of Europe for that matter. And it had net immigration. Now people die trying to leave in rafts. In the last two years, 77,000 have fled the paradise that Che built. Just in December, 40 Cubans, among them 12 children, in single boat were lost at sea. Oh yeah, no here cares about them.

[UALRBSofL]

52. All americans will know by the time the GE is over

The repugs will explain who he is while running the campaign ad.

[Bobbieo]

62. The Republicans are going to tell everyone who

Che Guevara is!!!

[Alexander]

47. I thought we were done with this McCarthyesque bullshit 50 years ago.

Ooooh, look behind your sofa! Communists!



It's not even Obama's office yet. Take your trolling somewhere else, Shillbot.

[bidenista]

57. you need to re-read the OP and watch the video

And calling other posters infantile names doesn't do much for your credibility.

[jackson_dem]

65. It's Alex

Consider the source and laugh at it.

[Alexander]

72. Yep. Using more facts than you since 2002.

If you don't like it, you don't have to whine about it.

[Alexander]

67. Re-read your own OP, Shillbot. They are volunteers, as in "not paid".

Get back to us when paid Obama staffers occupy the office at the end of the week.

And not reading your own posted articles doesn't do much for your credibility.

Not that you had any to begin with.

[bidenista]

70. you said "it's not even Obama's office yet"

But it is.

Thank you for playing.

[Alexander]

77. Did Obama pay these people? No. You're trying to backpedal, and you suck at it.

I can organize volunteers from my house, and decorate it however I want.

Any person with a brain would know that Obama has nothing to do with my house decorations.

Your constant harping on this as an "issue" makes you look more brain-dead than Terri Schaivo.

Thank you for playing, but you lost. Game over.

[bidenista]

78. lol

Say good night, Gracie.

[Alexander]

153. Great nonexistent argument there.

I suppose those darned facts were just too much for you to handle.

Good night, Shillbot.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

154. Hillary's campaign is circling the drain so all that is left is to attack Obama n/t

[leftynyc]

204. And I'm sure the media will

be sure to make that distinction. Is this your first campaign?

[Alexander]

216. I guess our lives should be dictated by what the media will say.

As others have said, if paid staff get there and it's still up, that could be a problem. But I can organize volunteers from my house and the Obama camp would have zero control over my decorations, whatever they are.

"Is this your first campaign?"

Actually I was a volunteer (meaning "not paid") for Gore, Bill Curry, Howard Dean, John Kerry, Harry Mitchell, Janet Napolitano and now Barack Obama.

Is this your first time acting like a condescending ass?

[leftynyc]

227. If you don't think the media

shapes the events going on, you're delusional. If this gets on the news (which it already is), people aren't going to distinguish unpaid/paid workers. Just that the dem candidate worships Che - that's how it will be perceived. If you're such an experienced volunteer, I'm surprised you don't understand that. Or is the Obama candidacy going to transcend the media?

[Alexander]

230. If you don't think the media will make shit up anyway, you're delusional.

Face it - the media will already make up shit far worse than this. Obama can easily blow this off by saying "I don't control everyone who volunteers for me". Done deal.

If this is the worst thing they're going to use, it must mean they haven't got much else.

[Doctor_J]

49. HIs other campaign office has a USSR flag and a picture of Marx

and yet another has a North Viet Nam flag with a picture of Ho Chi Minh.

God people are dumb

[calico1]

58. Oh good God...

These people need to think and be more careful. I guarantee you that there are Repubs collecting any kind of material like this to use against him if he is the nominee.

[Doctor_J]

130. Hmmmmm...

[Recursion]

61. I find it ironic that sweatshops in China...

...produce Che flags and t-shirts to be sold by American retail firms to bourgeois teenagers.

[patrick t. cakes]

64. makes me like him evan more ...

[LittleClarkie]

66. I won't say it's not an office or that it's not paid staff, but what with it being Fox News and all

could they have invented this? Could we put it past them?

[bidenista]

73. i would've thought that if it were fox national

But this local. Local FOX is usually better, in my experience.

[thevoiceofreason]

91. Not in Houston, Knobby

[Political Heretic]

68. Yawn.

Totally unimportant.

[David Zephyr]

71. This "blunder" will inspire a lot of Texan Latinos who admire Che.

Add to that the fact that Hillary fired her Latina campaign manager as we approach the Texas primary, I can only find amusement in this little "blunder" by some Obama supporters.

Obama will do very well in Texas and that will be the sting that may just be fatal to the Clinton's ambitions.

[Bucky]

75. I'll be going down there for the volunteer meeting at seven Tuesday.

I'll letcha know if it's still up. I expect that it won't be.

[bidenista]

79. that would be great! take some photos if you can. nt

[David Zephyr]

128. Thanks Bucky.

Thanks for the updates and, most of all, thank you for going down there for Barack. You totally rock!

I want to pick you up and carry you around the block on my shoulders!

With the greatest respect, DZ

[Tatiana]

74. "It is very difficult for somebody to win against a movement."

That guy had a point.

And I'm sure that flag will come off the wall before any additional media spots. But, I must confess... as one who is firmly against the neoliberal economic policies that have been imposed on latin american nations around the world, that flag and the latina sitting in front of it, brought a smile to my face.

[IsItJustMe]

76. Fox? nuff said.

[DrFunkenstein]

81. I Hear Obama Has The Same Thing on His Favorite Bong

Having just come from San Antonio, I'm sure this will be death for Obama amongst Texas Latinos in the Democratic Party. This ain't Miami.

[still_one]

207. No critical thinkers in Texas, that's for sure, since this isn't by the Obama campaign

and those are people acting on their own

[thevoiceofreason]

85. This is not the Houston HQ

It was a local Fox News staged event.

The real HQ is at 2520 Southmore, in the heart of "Hillary country" which, by the way, is canvassing 9 to 1 for Barack.

Have you ever fact checked a damn thing you have posted?

[bidenista]

92. read the first sentence of the OP. "Port Bayou". understand?

Don't worry, I accept your apology.

[Sensitivity]

93. Report itself say MOVING IN BY END OF WEEK obviously not Obama Staff office yet.

[bidenista]

94. it is. just no PAID staff there yet

Read the note at the end of my OP.

[Sensitivity]

96. Did it say "STAFF" AT ALL? Or volunteers looking for office space?

[Occam Bandage]

99. Not just no paid staff. No staffers. Those are only volunteers with no oversight yet.

[thevoiceofreason]

102. Indeed

We are unpaid volunteers.

And there is no Cuban flag on the wall.

All volunteer. Fear us.

[thevoiceofreason]

101. No No No

Again you are wrong and just plain misinformed.

Did you call the HQ? Obviously not. I work at the HQ. I know the folks there.

We are doing a lot to overcome the HRC institutional advantage in Houston.

Obama will take Sheila Jackson Lee's district (she's a committed HRC super -- for now).

[bidenista]

103. here's a tip for your buddies

...you won't overcome her advantage by inviting reporters to come in and look at your Communist Wall of Fame.

[Danger Mouse]

111. Red baiting! Welcome back to the 50's!

[thevoiceofreason]

122. You do have issues

Tell me what we (I) said when you called HQ?

Oh, that's right, you didn't bother. Pathetic.

[Name removed]

87. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Occam Bandage]

97. Those are volunteers. There are no Obama staffers in the building yet.

But you're trying awfully hard, and that's cute.

[MonkeyFunk]

181. So what?

Seriously... people keep pointing that out as if it's meaningful.

Is it not an Obama office? Do you think these volunteers just opened it on their own?

[still_one]

193. This is a distortion trying to implicate Obama as a Che or Castro supporter

Right out of the fox page in very small letters:

"The office featured in this video is FUNDED by volunteers of the Barack Obama Campaign and is not an official headquarters for his campaign."


http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?con...

[JPZenger]

215. Obama's Real Office has Lincoln on the Wall

Obama's personal office has a prominent picture of fellow Illinois resident Abe Lincoln on the wall.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

106. Hmmm. Maybe I'll vote for Obama, after all.

[Iceburg]

116. LOL ... me too! /nt

[Iceburg]

117. LOL ... me too! /nt

[goodgd_yall]

108. Yep, rookies.

It doesn't bother me at all (although it's ironic to support a non-liberal like Obama and view Che Guevara as a hero, in my book). But things like this can ruin a campaign.

[dailykoff]

109. I'll bet this is HUGH on Fox.

Glad you're staying tuned.

[Stinky The Clown]

114. That looks like a shot inside teh A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition's HQ

Disgusting

[thevoiceofreason]

124. Dude

This place has nothing to do with our office. Thes efolks were UH or Rice Young Republicans.

Let's say it together: Staged Event.

[Doctor_J]

131. Shhhh! Don't tell the Clintonites! They think it's real!

Someone up above belived me when I told her that he's got Ho Chi Minh & Marx pictures up!

[Patsy Stone]

119. The same FOX news

which identified John McCain as a Democrat? That FOX news? Puh-leese.

If this is true, I'll bet it's already been taken down; although I don't believe a damn thing FOX is selling, so I find it hard to start now with this as sketchy as it is.

When all is said and done we'll be left with an image they'll have to circulate in another viral anonymous e-mail.

[misanthrope]

123. Something about this smells odd...

...Why did the reporter only identify one interviewee?

None of the campaign workers were quoted or named.

The African-American man described as a "key Obama supporter" was quoted but not named.

At best, that makes the report slipshod and I can't believe this got on the air, especially from a reporter who appears old enough to know better. But, then again considering what passes for journalism on local television nowadays, and especially the lack of ethics and professionalism I've encountered from TV reporters at that level, it's hardly surprising.

I also find it noteworthy the only Obama accoutrements seen were the sign taped on the office door, the single button on the woman who greeted the entrants and one small poster on the wall in a position of obvious deference to another artifact of political statement. Where were the literature, the bumper stickers, the yard signs, the buttons to be handed out, all the other extraneous paraphernalia that festoons and litters a campaign office?

I find it very difficult to believe anyone interested enough in politics to join a campaign would be naive enough to not understand what effect that flag would have. I just don't believe someone in that position could be that ignorant.

[hedgehog]

125. That's quite a spiffy office for temporary campiagn headquarters......nt

[misanthrope]

163. I'm telling you, something about this doesn't seem right...

...I personally know of instances where local television news reporters have staged things and manipulated scenes in the process of filming a story. I put nothing past any of these clowns.

I'm in print journalism and you would be amused at the rift between print and television journalists. The light in which print folks view TV reporters is well earned, believe me. Not all, but a good number of them are marked mostly by vapidity and vanity.

[Freida5]

126. Unbelievable. I can see the fall commercial now. I we need is Barack riding around in a tank

with a helmet like Dukakis

[Lisa0825]

129. I was at the Obama Houston office this weekend, and that does not look like it.

I did not see any Cuban flags or pics of Che, though neither would offend me. That office looks quite a bit more "new." The Houston Obama office is in a building that is a bit dated, located in a rather old, established community. That pic looks like a strip-mall office.

[alteredstate]

139. I just spoke to the folks who are working at the Houston office

No Cuban flags anywhere to be seen.

In two weeks I leave for Texas --- I will be putting in time at this very office. I'll be sure to check for signs of un-American activity.

[thevoiceofreason]

141. Can't wait to see you, bro.

We're getting a lot done, but there are mountains to climb

[alteredstate]

144. Trust me --- we climbed some mountains in South Carolina!

And you've got the best grassroots team in the country coming to your town. I just made my plane reservations --- see you soon!

[alteredstate]

177. delete - posted in wrong place

[Lisa0825]

150. We need to meet up too!

[alteredstate]

157. Let's not worry about this silly shit

We have a primary to win!

[Lisa0825]

142. I know you will be busy, but if you want to meet a DUer...

gimme a PM! I actaully work and live in Galveston County, so I may or may not be at the Houston office much, but I will make a point to come by to meet a fellow evilDUer.

[alteredstate]

145. Will do!

And see you in Houston!

[DefenseLawyer]

132. What is these reds?

"Every time you turn around somebody's sayin' somebody else's a red. What is these reds anyway?" - Tom Joad

[DiamondJay]

133. honestly why do people like che?

he was a communist who would have had away with freedom if he had his way. and he did, and its called Cuba, with fidel castro just giving everyone liberty.

[boppers]

136. I have a serious Che-loving friend.

He explains it thus: Che was about the ideals, Castro was about one implementation of the ideals. Che never gets old and corrupt, Castro, well, people's opinions on the matter differ.

[WinkyDink]

208. Try reading. "Dictator Fulgencio Batista". And take especial note of

the paragraph explaining how Batista let political prisoner Castro free to go into the Sierra Madres, in order to for Batista to get more and more $$ for "security".

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/castro/peopleevents/p_bati...

[boppers]

134. I can't wait until...

Rush and Ann Coulter get their "Hillary" campaign signs up, to, ya know, compare offices.

[Dogmudgeon]

135. LIES! ALL LIES!

That isn't an Obama office!

It IS an Obama office, but they aren't real Obama workers.

Okay, they are real Obama workers, but they're not getting paid, so it doesn't count.

Well, maybe it does count, but it's Fox News. They might have put the flag in by computer graphics!

That isn't a picture of Che Guevara, it's his cousin, Larry!

Hillary did it, too!

Obama has no control over it!

It's unfair! You're picking on Obama because he's (fill in your favorite adjective or phrase).

Hillary has a staffer named Amaya Guevara!

This is an insignificant story. Not important at all!

Chelsea lost her virginity when she was (pick a number from 10 to 16). How about that? Why isn't the press covering THAT?

The name of the dog Hillary had when she was a kid was Joe Stalin!

Che was actually a good guy. All those people were really killed by the DLC!

It's the politics of hate! We need hope!

The DLC did it!

YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!

--p!

[thevoiceofreason]

143. Thanks for calling our office to check out the truth

What little cred you had with me just disappeared.

[Dogmudgeon]

152. Obama surrogates here have proved that they'll say anything

And I already had no cred with you -- I'm a Hillary supporter.

You know -- an enemy of Hope, Optimism, and the Future -- ?

--p!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

205. ROFL!

[Universitario]

137. Oh no Freerepublic already has this as one of their top stories

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1968897/posts

[Nailzberg]

138. Welcome to DU

Just a heads up - we don't link to that site here.

[Catherine Vincent]

147. Don't tell the newbie that.

We link to FR all the time. Mostly to laugh at them.

[Nailzberg]

158. Well, yeah, for a laugh sure.

But to prove a point? I don't want to see a newbie go down the wrong road.

[zulchzulu]

140. Lookee! A devout Hillbot with a Faux Snooze storee! THIS IS HUGH11!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

156. yep,the OP writers seems to be a big FAUX fan, like Hillary n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

146. There's a disclaimer written at the bottom of the video....

The office featured in this video is funded by volunteers of the Barack Obama Campaign and is not an official headquarters for his campaign.

[Universitario]

161. Swiftboaters don't care about facts

The art of Swiftboating consists in smearing the opponent, repeating a lie a million times, until it's too late for all the damage to be undone.

[Catherine Vincent]

189. To be fair, when the video was first posted, it didn't have the disclaimer.

My guess is there were complaints about the poster on the wall, so they had to put the disclaimer after it was originally aired.

[EFerrari]

159. That's it! He just got my vote!

[bridgit]

167. hahahahaha, ding!

[readmoreoften]

168. Every kid in NYC has a Che Guevara T-shirt. Maybe the Obama doesn't know who he is either.

(actually not really)

[worried citizen]

172. Communism... plain and simple

I'm a Naturalized American Citizen, anyway I was born in Argentine. Argentine is the born place of Che Guevara, the picture in that flag... COMMUNISM icon not just there but world wide, a criminal, but specially a mercenary. It caused what Cuba is today: A poor island with starving people willinged to die just for the right to be free.

When I made the naturalization test, pledge, etc. one of the most important questions it was if I was affiliated to any kind of communist party or have/had communist ideals...

Of course, any citizenship is denied if that question is answered positively.

I'm wondering what in the universe the Obama followers are thinking and what and Obama itself is planning for our country...

His office Represents HIM. HE has to agree or not with the items, flags, etc. so... Whatever the staff is being Paid or Not.

God Bless and PROTECT America...

...because if this guy would be our president, we all will live in repression, poverty, terror, and forget about the ideals of our Constitution about freedom.

[Strelnikov_]

175. Ha Ha, you funny n/t

[still_one]

197. How ignorant are you? That isn't Obama's office, those people are on their own

"His office represents him"?

It might be difficult to get that through some thick skulls, BUT THAT ISN'T HIS OFFICE

No wonder this country is going downhill so fast, 8 years of bush, and the demise of critical thinking

Inane comments like yours are only a reflection of that

[Medusa]

173. So is this another

attempt by the HRCers to scare Hispanics from voting for Obama? Ridiculous and desperate.

[terrya]

174. This has nothing to do with HRC'ers

No one pointed a gun to these staffers heads to force them to put up that poster.

Personally, seeing a picture like this doesn't attract votes. But hey, whatever. Keep the damn thing up there for all I care.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

178. Gah!

What a bunch of idiots. And in Texas, no less.

[alteredstate]

179. Wanna see the actual Houston office?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[still_one]

185. No, they want to imply an association with Barrack, which doesn't represent the truth

It is an outrageous piece of crap that they would go to a place we KNOW IS NOT the official Obama headquarters, find some people with Obama tabs, and imply that is his official site

You can scan every right wing blog and see this distortion, or LIE because that is what it is

In small letters fox add the following comment:

"The office featured in this video is funded by volunteers of the Barack Obama Campaign and is not an official headquarters for his campaign."

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?con...

memories of joe mccarthy

Why wouldn't they go to an official campaign office of Obama? This is an intentional campaign to distort facts and associate Obama with radical elements

This is such bullshit

[still_one]

186. duplicate, self delete

[still_one]

187. duplicate, self delete

[Neshanic]

180. Planting seeds for the republicans. If this is legit, someone better get a memo very fast.

Of course if this was the Chinese flag the Fox viewers would be OK as that is the official flag of WalMart.

[still_one]

182. That is not the official campaign headquarters for Obama

The office featured in this video is funded by volunteers of the Barack Obama Campaign and is not an official headquarters for his campaign.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?con...

Is a candidate accountable for an unofficial site, that hangs a picture of Che?

[alteredstate]

183. Not an Obama office

There was no office until the Obama headquarters opened up a few days ago. I know the folks who will be running the "real" office, and they don't know anything about this "office".

It always so good to see stuff from FAUX News posted here, by my fellow Democrats!

[workinclasszero]

184. Wow! Swiftboat-style, Reich wing attack straight from FOX "news"

Right here on DU!?!?!?!

[DS1]

188. No shit.

This guy posts from Fox all the time.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

190. This sounds TOO stupid to be true. I smell a rat. -nt

[still_one]

191. It is a rat. That is NOT Obama's Houston headquarters

and the implication that Obama supports Che Guevara(sic) or Castro is not only false, but ultimate swift boating based on misrepresentation

The Clinton camp had better be NOT behind this

[Forkboy]

192. I see DU is still wallowing in Swiftboat style bullshit. The Repubs thank you.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

194. "I like Fidel Castro and his beard.." Bob Dylan

Well, I couldn't leave
Unless the old man chased me out,
'Cause I'd already promised
That I'd milk his cows.
"I had to say something
To strike him very weird,
So I yelled out,
"I like Fidel Castro and his beard."
Rita looked offended
But she got out of the way,
As he came charging down the stairs
Sayin', "What's that I heard you say?"

I said, "I like Fidel Castro,
I think you heard me right,"
And ducked as he swung
At me with all his might.
Rita mumbled something
'Bout her mother on the hill,
As his fist hit the icebox,
He said he's going to kill me
If I don't get out the door
In two seconds flat,
"You unpatriotic,
Rotten doctor Commie rat."

Bob Dylan from Motorpsycho Nightmare

[Marie26]

195. dupe. nt

[Marie26]

196. Well, that just makes me like him more.

What is Obama's stance on the Cuba embargo?

[leftynyc]

198. Please tell me this is photoshopped

and that Obama's supporters/workers are not this stupid.

[alteredstate]

200. It's not an Obama office

[still_one]

201. It isn't photoed shopped, it also isn't santioned by Obama, these people

are on their own

Funny how fox went there instead of the ACTUAL Obama's campaign offices in Houston

[rndmprsn]

199. wow...we are now trusting fox noise for our attacks against candidates we don't like...

a new low for you and DU =[

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

202. If That Office Is In Any Way Directly Related To His Campaign, Then It's A Huge Act Of Stupidity.

[still_one]

206. IT ISN'T, the OP is distorting a group acting on their own WITHOUT Obama's authorization

The op convientently left out the small letters under the video which says this is NOT Obama's Houston headquaters, these are volunteers ACTING ON THEIR OWN

This is a classic case of A CLINTON SUPPORTER SWIFTBOATING. It is also on every right wing sight on the web

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

209. Not Sure I Agree.

If paid staffers are going to be there soon, and the volunteers are working directly for his campaign, then a representative should probably make sure the office, even if under control of volunteers, is running under certain guidelines.

It's all about perception. They messed up huge here in my opinion. I have a feeling though if Obama found out, he'd force them to take it down. Not sure what these moron volunteers were thinking.

[still_one]

210. Call the Obama campaign headquarters, these are people acting on their own /nt

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

211. You Just Don't Get It Do You.

It isn't about facts. It's about perception. In the game of politics, it is perception that matters.

Anyone walking into that office or coming across the photo, is going to relate it to Obama. They need to have stronger guidelines given to any volunteers acting on their behalf or in relation to their campaign. Since they are aware of this now, I'd expect that his office has already called that office to demand it immediately be taken down?

[still_one]

212. and what if I grab a Hillary button, open an office, with the "Red Chinese Flag" behind me

Tell me what the Clinton campaign can do about it, or any campaign, except say they are not affiliated with us

They have NO right to take down any private office not funded by the campaign. We still have first ammendment rights in this country

[Johhny_Wadd]

214. While I agree..

...that this does not reflect upon the sentiments of Obama, it does reflect rather poorly upon this particular group of his supporters. how clueless do you have to be no to realise what kind of backlash something like that might have?

It also tells us who these people are: clueless children trying to be "cool".

[still_one]

228. Perhaps, but I do know the OP left certain points out of his initial post

and implied out right in the title that this was done with the Obama campaign support

How pathetic

[still_one]

203. THAT ISN'T OBAMA HEADQUARTERS, THOSE PEOPLE ARE ACTING ON THEIR OWN

Your tactic has just backfired bud because in small letters, WHICH YOU CONVIENTLY OMITTED even fox clarifies this

"The office featured in this video is funded by volunteers of the Barack Obama Campaign and is not an official headquarters for his campaign."

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?con...

It has no OFFICIAL SANTIONING BY THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN, and it represents people acting on their own

Where before I would have voted for WHOEVER the Democratic nominee is, I am now considering sitting it out if Hillary is the nominee

You think you are helping your candidate by spreading distortions, keep it up, and if she wins the nomination because of these distortion, you may just lose the general election

Smart move for small mind

[Name removed]

213. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[awaysidetraveler]

217. Nice flag! I'm sure it will go over great in Houston!

Houston is primarily Latino-American, it is true.

The real question is this: Do Latino-American Houstonians identify with Che Guevara?

[Johhny_Wadd]

218. Ignore double post

See above...

[Hoof Hearted]

231. HA! You got TS'd in just four posts!

Jeeza-lou!

[Name removed]

219. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hoof Hearted]

222. Do you plan to stay with DU very long?

I was just asking, because I've actually grown rather tired of pizza.

[bidenista]

220. UPDATE: Evidence of a SECOND flag, BO campaign CONFIRMS these are campaign volunteers

1. Seems there's more than one Che Guevara-featuring Cuban flag in the campaign volunteers' office:



(Source video here.)

--------------

2. The official Obama website relays the following:

On Reports of an Inappropriate Flag in a Texas Obama Office
February 12, 2008

From Houston Fox News:

"The office featured in this video is funded by volunteers of the Barack Obama Campaign and is not an official headquarters for his campaign."

http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2008/02/12/o...

So there we have the Barack Obama Campaign itself saying that this HQ, while not "official", is being funded and run by campaign volunteers.

[jmg257]

221. Guy here at work says Hannity was just talking about it on WABC...

[Hoof Hearted]

223. He's going to need a bigger boat.

And what I mean by that is he had better get a hold of this problem and kill it now.

[still_one]

232. Are you implying that Barack is a marxist? That could be your only point pushing this

Read the quote VERY CAREFULLY:

"The office featured in this video is funded by volunteers of the Barack Obama Campaign and is not an official headquarters for his campaign."


It does NOT say that the Obama Campaign funded this, it is funded by THOSE individuals.

Is Clinton responsible for the actions of all HER volunteers, because if you want to play that game, I can throw everything from HER VOLUNTEERS spreading lies that Obama is from a radical fundamentist Muslim family, to that he doesn't support choice

BOTH LIES

So tell me, is the point you are making that Obama is a Communist?

If not what is YOUR POINT?

[Hoof Hearted]

246. did that second one make the media rounds?

[NoPasaran]

224. Meh. Everything is a commodity these days

[thevoiceofreason]

225. At the REAL Houston HQ

Tonight, at 7:00 p.m., we will have an informational meeting about the delegate/caucus process that will take place on the evening of the election, March 4.

Real HQ address:
2520 Southmore
713-522-5111

[cgrindley]

226. Che was a hero. There's no shame in supporting him

no shame in honoring his memory. He was a great man. Fuck anyone who doesn't think so. Ditto Castro. He is a great man.

[son of umap preso]

235. I agree!

These especially made him great:

"The Negro is indolent and spends his money on frivolity and drink, whereas the European is intelligent and forward looking."

"Mexicans are a rabble of illiterate indians. South American peasants are nothing but animalitos (little animals)"

-Ernesto Guevara

[cgrindley]

236. worm (nt)

[bobo07]

240. Che was a hero. There's no shame in supporting him

Cgrindley states that Che was a great man...Ditto Castro. Since I'm not that familiar with Ernesto "Che" Guevara's accomplishments, would cgrindley please elaborate on Che Guevara's work and accomplishments? I guess that cgrindley could start with Che's accomplishments in the Sierra Maestra, then La Cabaña, Banco Central, Angola, Bolivia, his relationship with Castro, Fidel that is, not Raul, etc. Please elaborate on the reason Che failed in Bolivia?

Could cgrindley elaborate why he likes Cuba's form of government? Does he agree with a one-man absolute rule for 50 years? Is this the form of government he would like to see in the USA - why or why not? Does he agree with CDR's? Libreta de Racionamiento (could he explain how many goods can Cubans buy per month and are they able to find everything they need)? Brigadas de Respuesta Rapida? etc. What does cgrindley think really happened to Camilo Cienfuegos? Does cgrindley believe that Huber Matos should have been sent to prison for 30 years? Could cgrindley eleborate on the reason for the shootdown by the FAR of two unarmed planes in international waters a few years ago - does he agree with the shootdown, and why or why not? Could cgrindley elaborate on "Peter Pan"? What is his opinion on Arnaldo Ochoa?

For cgridnley to have this strong opinion about Che and Castro, he must have tremendous amount of information and knowledge about Cuba. Would love to hear what he knows about Che, Castro and the Cuban revolution. It would be most informative for the rest of us.

[son of umap preso]

233. Choice quotes from Erny

"The Negro is indolent and spends his money on frivolity and drink, whereas the European is intelligent and forward looking."

"Mexicans are a rabble of illiterate indians. South American peasants are nothing but animalitos (little animals)"

-Ernesto Guevara

yup, these are real quotes. and you wonder why the anarchy kids have long seen erny for the megalomaniac he really was.

[CalacaVato]

237. Cite Che quotes

in Spanish. Anybody can type reactionary words and put quotes around them.

[CalacaVato]

238. Negro is indolent quote is paraphrased from

Timehri: The Journal of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial
Society of British Guiana, 1897.

Still haven't found "Mexicans are a rabble of illiterate
indians" quote online. Except from the gusano Humberto
Fontavo.

How can anybody be trusted who publishes with Sentinel? 

If you are gonna libel Che, get your shit straight. Cite your
quotes in the original language using original sources. 

BTW Anybody know how many vietnamese John McCain slaughtered
from above? 

[Bread and Circus]

239. Bidenista...

welcome to ignore...

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

242. Warning can of worms ahead..

<>

[CyberPieHole]

245. Che Guevara was a disgusting thug for that slime~bag Castro...

this is not a good thing. The RW will use this for sure.