Clinton’s Misstep
Outraged Wajiris want US apology for Clinton campaign smear. Reuters:
ISIOLO, Kenya (Reuters) - Kenyan elders demanded an apology from Washington on Thursday ahead of a planned protest over a controversial photo of U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama in traditional Somali dress.
…
Clinton’s campaign denied it officially approved the picture’s release.
The dispute has angered many in Kenya, especially ethnic Somalis from the northeast, who resent the implication that Obama did anything wrong during his visit.
Wajir residents plan to demonstrate after Friday prayers to show their support for the Illinois senator.
Mohamed Ibrahim, who attended one of two crisis meetings held in Wajir on Thursday by clan members who hosted Obama on his trip, said Washington must immediately make amends to them and especially to the elder pictured with him.
“The U.S. government must apologise to us as a clan and the old man,” Ibrahim told Reuters by telephone. “We have been offended and we cannot afford to just watch and stay silent.”
He said it was essential Clinton “clear her name” too.
The old man in question was retired chief Sheikh Mohamed Hassan, a senior elder who deserved great respect, local residents said.
“He was the right person to perform any such activity like dressing a visitor like Obama with traditional Somali clothes,” said another Wajir community leader, Mukhtar Sheikh Nur.
“We give special treatment and respect to any visitor.”
If there was no apology, the elders said, they would demand the expulsion of U.S. troops based near Garissa town.
Many Kenyans support Obama in the way the Irish idolised U.S. President John F. Kennedy in the 1960s — as one of their own who succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
Following Obama’s streak of 11 straight wins in the battle to become the Democratic nominee, Clinton needs to win next week in Ohio and Texas to keep her campaign alive.
Once the odds-on favourite to win the party’s nomination to run against a Republican candidate in the general election, she has lost big leads in public opinion polls in the two states as Obama has gained momentum and made inroads among her supporters.
So she’s alienated the Wajiri vote. OK, she wasn’t going to get that anyway.
More importantly, she’s shown that, despite her extensive experience eating ethnic food and making nice with assorted native peoples as First Lady, she is utterly insensitive to them, and is willing to trample all over them for her own ends, in this case by having her minions anonymously suggest there is something fundamentally unAmerican about donning the contents of the linen closet. At least, that’s what I’m taking from this.
But there is another concern. In their rage at being wrongfully portrayed as a pack of backward savages, do the Wajiris intend to start burning or blowing things up? They know when they’ve been Gungadinned. Heads up, Garissa garrison.
In other Third World rage issues, Malkin with a Motoon update.
Also following Wajirgate: Gateway, American Thinker, Jihadwatch.
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 8:57 am on Friday, February 29, 2008
5 Responses to “Clinton’s Misstep”
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February 29th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Oh for crying out loud. This may be a faux pas for Clinton, but I don’t think it is all that good for Obama either. I’m sick and tired of people threatening the entire US for the act(s) of a few.
February 29th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I agree. Why is Washington at fault for what Hillary Clinton does? Most people here saw that trick for what it was: a political ploy. So, if we’re always supposed to be so understanding of other people, why aren’t they required to be understanding of us?
February 29th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I see the Wajir Unlimited, making phone calls and sending letters to citizens of Ohio, because of this.
February 29th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Kenya?
Well, I suppose when (and if) they stop slaughtering each other, they might have time to give us some trouble. Somehow…
February 29th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
This one sets off my BFD detector on all points. Frankly, I don’t see what was so heinous about Hill and Co. releasing the photo. Obie Wan looked pretty silly in that pic, ask me, and I can understand the temptation to publish.
Not that it isn’t fun to see Dems get all hoisted by the old sensitivity petard.