Not voting for someone because of...

[Giselle]

... their NAME.

Apparently, it's not uncommon. A lot of people are less inclined to vote for Obama because of his middle name: Hussein.

Never mind the fact that Obama had no choice in the name or that it was his father's name.

It seems the term "Muslim" is now synonymous with negativity and "DANGER DANGER DANGER!"

I don't know whether to or

Maybe both...

[sumbirdy]

Well, I think people are wary of muslims since 9/11. It's probably not that people have anything against him personally but most don't really know him. Who's to say that he's not talking to people in Iraq and saying something like "Yep, I'm going to get presidency and when I win it'll be easy for you guys to come over and take over this country" But then again, who's to say none of the others have similar things going as well? This is why I don't vote. I'm a bit of a skeptic.

[Lady's Human]

Tie that in with people voting for candidates because they're cute/handsome/pretty and other superficial reasons and you get the current mess in DC and other centers of power.

[Giselle]

Sumbirdy, I highly doubt Barack Obama is involving himself in clandestine operations with terrorists in Iraq...

It seems the latest trend in the mud slinging is criticising Obama's religion, which, by the way, is CHRISTIANITY. But, hey, who's to say he isn't Christian enough? He surely isn't black enough. And he's not white enough. And he's just not Obama enough!

*pulls out hair* Why do I try? California is going to vote Dem. no matter what so I give up.

[caseysmom]

But I think he is the cutest

[Catlady711]

Politics aside, EVERYTHING is about names anymore. From the brand of paper towel you buy to the tv shows you watch or the music groups you listen to, it's all about names. People pay other people BIG $$$ to come up with catchy, names that people will remember or associate with a certain image. Been that way for years and I doubt it will ever change.

Don't believe me, think about this...

If you could buy identical boxes of facial tissue, made of the same stuff, same size, same packaging... which would you tend to buy...

One called Puffs (giving an image of puffy softness)

or Kleenex (giving the image of cleanliness)

or one called Snot Rag 2010??

Think about it.

[kitten645]

"Who's to say that he's not talking to people in Iraq and saying something like "Yep, I'm going to get presidency and when I win it'll be easy for you guys to come over and take over this country"

I think this speaks volumes to what the real issue is...laziness. That someone would think that this could actually happen is laughable. The fact that our own PRESIDENT has called him BinLaden is a testiment to the general publics laziness in educating themselves on the issues and where candidates stand. I for one like Obama. I'm voting for Clinton because she appeals to me as a seasoned politician, a woman and stands for most of the things I find to be important to me. I must confess to being "non-political" but I also believe you can't complain if you don't vote. I voted for Gore and he still got shafted. If more people had taken a stance that "I can make a difference" we'd be in a whole different world now.
And btw YES i'm in Northern CA and YES I'm a democrat. Look how well the GOP has done so far?

[Lady's Human]

The fact that our own PRESIDENT has called him BinLaden is a testiment to the general publics laziness in educating themselves on the issues and where candidates stand.

I know of one instance of Senator Kennedy calling him Osama, wasn't aware of the POTUS making that mistake. Source?

[Giselle]

But Catlady, I think that's completely demoralizing and dehumanizing. To objectify a living, breathing human being into negative stigma because of his middle name, which he inherited from his father? And to use that as a reason not to vote for him? Que???

So if my middle name were Lisa and you (general "you") were bullied by a girl named Lisa when you were little, would you hold that against me and refuse to vote for me simply because of that? Hmm, funny. In dog land, we call it "misdirected aggression"

[phesina]

I gather that "Hussein" is a very common name in the Arab world. In other words, it's Arabic for "Smith."

[caseysmom]

I gather that "Hussein" is a very common name in the Arab world. In other words, it's Arabic for "Smith."

No its a given name so it is arabic for "john"

[phesina]

No its a given name so it is arabic for "john"

OK, gotcha, and thanks! Now I'll know that for the next time this comes up.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

*pulls out hair* Why do I try? California is going to vote Dem. no matter what so I give up.

That's the way I feel about Kansas. Kansas always goes Rep, no matter what. Of course we only have 2 (I think) dinky electoral votes, so no one gets too excited which way we vote.

[lizbud]

Of course we only have 2 (I think) dinky electoral votes, so no one gets too excited which way we vote.

Indiana is ignored too. We don't even have a primary till May.

[Lady's Human]

Indiana is ignored too. We don't even have a primary till May

That's because the candidates want to be campaigning in Indiana and stop by the Indy 500 !