Teh Obama camp has one of the best rapid response teams in the business.

Politico.com reports that the Clinton campaign did not deny the charges.

If this is true (and I'm suspending belief until I learn for sure), she will have sunk to a new low, which only shows how desperate her campaign is right now. For once I'm grateful to Drudge (I can't believe I just wrote that!) for posting other photos of people dressed in local garb. If this is true and her staffers did circulate this photo, what in the hell is her campaign trying to accomplish? Why are they trying to destroy the Democratic party and the chance to reclaim the White House in November, even if it isn't Her Royal Highness that becomes Supreme Ruler?

a story saying that Clinton staffers "circulated" a photo of Obama in Muslim garb

No, Drudge never says "Muslim garb." Go back and re-read it.

"Teh Obama camp has one of the best rapid response teams in the business."

Some are saying too rapid since it's only Drudge that seems to have received it. But what else can the Obama camp do but discredit as forcefully as it can, which means tying it to previous discredited smears coming from the Clinton camp?

It could be argued that they could have discredited it as among other smears, regardless of source, but I imagine they contacted Drudge and have some confidence in Drudge's assertion that this came from a Clinton staffer.

Could become Obama's version of the McCain NYT story -- reflecting back worse on the pusher of the story than on the pushee...

Seems pretty likely that a Clinton volunteer found a funny-looking picture and emailed it around to some other volunteers, having added a comment about how their candidate isn't so fortunate as to be able to keep things like that out of the media. Petty, juvenile, sure. "Shameful, offensive fear-mongering"? I wouldn't say so, certainly not if the "circulation" was internal to the campaign.

Judging by the tone at DKos and elsewhere, Obama volunteers are awfully quick to voice and "circulate" insults about Clinton. True, it doesn't tend to end up in the non-blog media.

Stay tuned for the next installment of Insult & Apologize...

With Democrats like this, who needs Republicans?

The adults in the Democratic party need to step up and punish her in a high-profile, tangible manner. If there is any justice in this world, the only story line we'll be hearing about the rest of this week is the tidal wave of superdelegates abandoning her for Obama and numerous, public, and high-profile calls for her to abandon her campaign.

This is positively disgusting.

What's interesting is the non-denial from the Clinton camp. If they had nothing to do with this at all, they'd be out in front with at the very least a statement denying it. The non-denial doesn't necessarily mean that the upper echelons of the Clinton campaign deliberately put this out there, but it does seem to suggest that they're willing to take the hit now and see if this becomes an issue in the Ohio and Texas primaries. Either that, or the state of the Clinton campaign is in even worse shape than we thought.

Expect a hasty retreat and a terse apology/denial if this one goes bad quickly.

I'm still skeptical about the provenance of the photo, but Plouffe's statement is useful in that it reminds everyone that Clinton staffers are on record as having circulated the damaging "Obama is a muslim" emails. Those staffers were fired or let go, but there's a precedent.

Note that one of the words used by Plouffe to repudiate the alleged photo-push is "shameful." Is this designed to counter "Shame on you, Barak Obama!"? Shame for shame, as it were? The word has bite, deep-down bite, which is why the Obama team is using the elder-garb flap as an opportunity to turn the word against Hillary. We're into subliminal politics now. I'm beginning to feel like an ape in an ongoing stimulus-response experiment. Crazy!

I think it is good that this stuff comes out now, it helps with the innoculation process for the fall. That said, all of this helps Dem voters to revisit the long standing narrative about Clinton character, which in this case is revealed in the desperation we are seeing as the dynastic ship goes down.

Drudge IS the media. He rules beltway journalists' world. This story is as asinine as making a big deal about Nancy Pelosi wearing a veil in Syria.

I have to say, that was actually not a bad Drudge article.

It looks to hit Clinton more than Obama...

especially with the series of photos on the bottom, with Hillary, Bush and Bill.

NET RESULT: Favors Obama.

(Clinton supporters can start the "must have been a Obama plant all along" conspiracies now)

All of these photos and such are obviously going to make the rounds during the general election campaign. So on the one hand, it's good practice for Obama to deal with them now.

But the problem when stuff like this comes from other Democrats is that it cannot be counterattacked as vigorously as it needs to be without dividing the party. Obama has been making a real effort to keep the party united, and has shown the patience of Job with some of these recent attacks. But the party needs to help him out if Clinton is determined to go out in a blaze of glory and inflict as many casualties as she can on the way out.

Right now, Clinton is on the verge of turning herself into a political suicide bomber, and someone needs to step in to prevent it. We need some Clinton supporters to switch their endorsements and get behind Obama, and remaining uncommitted leaders to say enough is enough.

Greg: JESUS CHRIST. Try to report the facts, OK? Just try. We all know you're a Hillary supporter, but this is getting ridiculous.

"It's unclear whether the Obama camp has any evidence or info as to what happened beyond what appeared on Drudge."

The Obama camp doesn't need to provide evidence. Drudge is the one who ran the story. Your candidate is playing the filthiest sort of political games. Shame on you for assisting her.

The only "counterattack" needed to to circulate that picture of Bush from the Drudge report. Can anyone tell me what country that is from? It's like a blue robe or something...

If I were Barack Obama, I'd resist the impulse to respond to Clinton silliness and drama.

The staged "outrage" yesterday, this nonsense today...these people aren't mature enough to run the country.

If Clinton pulls out a victory this is what Americans can expect for 4 years: rabid partisanship and completely political posturing.

Nothing's going to get done, but the Clintons will be vindicated and "victorious".

Stick to the game plan, Barack: don't let them draw you in. No one wins under the Clinton scenario, except Senator Clinton.

I simply don't get it. If someone says Obama's whole name, they are trying to smear him. Now, this picture is said to inject fear. This is simply part of Barack Obama. I don't see him tied down wearing these clothes. He doesn't look drugged to me. I believe he wore these clothes of his own free will. So what is the problem that someone puts it out to the general public? Did they steal the photo?? If you are going to support Obama, then you can not be ashamed of parts of his history, his life. This includes his name, the clothes he wears, the church he attends, or the admiration he draws from Louis Farrakhan. All of these things lead me to support another candidate, but its a free country.

OK, I am as troubled by this smear as the next fellow, but let's take a moment to appreciate just how TALL the other dude in the picture is. I mean, Barack is pretty lanky himself, about 6'2" or so. But the dignitary-host-guy towering over him makes him look like Dennis frigging Kucinich!

More like "Rove Lite" -- tastes fake; less thrilling.

I'd actually have more respect for the Clinton organization if it WAS going all out, tooth and fang, to smear and destroy Obama. The full Rovian monty. I think that's the kind of candidate the Dems will need this year -- instead of Obama and his Kumbaya up-with-people schtick.

But these timid, half-hearted attacks just broadcast weakness and indecisiveness -- like the time the Clinton White House tried to "punish" one Democratic Senator by denying him tickets to some stupid photo op event. The scumbag (Shelby of Alabama) just laughed and switched parties.

If the Clinton were just half a ruthless and devious as the wing nuts give them credit for, this race would already be over.

Well you Obama supporters are certainly consistent. Anything Obama does is acceptable by virtue of the fact that he's the one doing it. Now anything Drudge says is totally believable, as long as it makes Hillary look bad. Honestly, do you folks apply the same uncritical acceptance to evrything Drudge posts? Does it mean anything to you that the only connection to the Clinton campaign at this point comes from Drudge saying it? And if you read the article, all it says is if the photo was of Hillary it would be on magazine covers. It doesn't say a word about Obama being a Muslim, or anything negative about him.

As for the non-denial, perhaps the Clinton campaign wants to make sure no one in their organization sent this e-mail before denying it. Anyone can send an e-mail without it being official campaign policy. Assuming something is true because it hasn't been denied is classic demagoguery.

It's clear that a lot of you have no idea how campaigns work. I coordinated the effort for Hillary in my town on Super Tuesday. I wasn't paid, and I doubt very many people even on the state level knew my name. I could have sent out hundreds of false e-mails, which would then have been credited to a "Clinton staffer," without the campaign having any idea what I was doing. I post regularly here and elsewhere, but my comments have no connection to the campaign. The two women in Iowa who circulated the Muslim e-mail were precinct captains. That is a totally volunterr unpaid position. Theye weren't "staffers'" and everything they did can't be construed to represent the campaign. I think it's very likely that the Clinton campaign doesn't want to issue a blanket denial until they can research the issue (Drudge doesn't give them much to go on.) If they deny it now, then find out that some precinct captain in Ohio sent out the e-mail, all of the Yahoos here and elsewhere will be screamiong about their LIES and ROVIAN TACTICS.

Funny how when Michelle Obama or Jesse Jackson Jr. says something ridiculous, all of the Obama apologists are quick to point out that they're not the one who's running. But when some unnamed person who may or may not be connected to the campaign sends out an e-mail, why, there's no question that the Clinton campaign bears total responsibility for their "tactics."

And Carol Soprano, just go ahead and bash Hillary. This pretense towrds even-handedness is really annoying. readytoblowagasket had you dead to rights. Stop your ridiculous posturing.

Yes indeedy - it's silly season. The Law of Survival is now in effect: "It is not who is right, it's whose left."

DC? Now that is something America should worry about! Unfortunately many of 'us' Americans like swimming in the lower end of human drivel and really like gossip an innuendo. And the media keeps feeding it to us!

Ah, here a cheers and a wish hoping that America can wake up smarter and ready to take on those that lead us astray!

Farrakhan hails Obama in speech

Calls Illinois senator "the hope of the entire world"

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-farrakhan25feb25,1,4274996.story?ctrack=3&cset=true

SC madden

Here is the story of Farrakhans admiration. I am not misleading anyone.

I don't know if the Clinton campaign was responsible for circulating the photo. If so, I think it was a mistake. It actually shows Sen. Obama in a favorable light.

It would have been fair, however, to address the overall 2006 Kenyan trip by Sen. Obama for what it shows about the kind of foreign relations that we can expect from him.

On the one hand, the Drudge-generated photo shows a young American and symbol of the US demonstrating respect to an elder in a foreign country -- one can hardly imagine a more constructive moment for US diplomacy. This is why I don't understand the Obama campaign's overreaction to the photo. Its a plus.

On the other hand, its fair to look at the fuller story of the trip, for it was taken by a sitting US Senator, and there are some doubts about other aspects of the trip (i.e., Sen. Obama's association with insurgent Raila Odinga).

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/Barack.Obama.Kenya.2.331658.html

I already sent one

Some posters here are pretty thick.
Comments like "So what is wrong with the photo - he should be proud" etc.

This is the point (and really someone with a mental age of 5 should be able to get it) - The Hillary campaign put out this photo (and it did put out this photo)because they believed that it would make Obama look bad. Why else??????

By putting out this photo and playing to the lowest common denominator- this strategy encourages rascism and religious intolerance. It is thus rascist - amongst other things.

It is irrelevant as to whether this is a muslim garb or not - it looks foreign - simple as that. It is meant to be a subliminal message. It is designed to appeal to the ignorant and intolerant. We like to this of these people as the Rove base - that do not belong in the Democratic party.

This is pure rascism - the Hillary campaign had its chance to distance itself and demurred - now it is too late. Hillary campaign is disgusting and Hillary supporters who try and rationalise simply reveal a total lack of objectivity bordering on incredible ignorance. The are not far removed from the Rove base.

What has become apparent is that Clinton cries out about campaign tactics and then engages in them behind the curtain.

So is this Rove tactics? You betcha....

Is coming out weeks after a mailer was distributed in WI and OH about NAFTA attributing that the Clinton's were responsible for this treaty and even in her own book she called it a Clinton Administration success a Rove style tactic....YOU BETCHA....

Frank Rich called it best. Her campaign has been run by the same level of compentency as the Iraq Invasion and post occupation...hubris miscalculations.....incompentent through and through...

BTW, Bill Clinton goes off and says the 20 odd states Obama has won as insignificant and only CA, NY and TX are.....meaning those are the states that also benefitted by NAFTA...but is railing about it being an issue in Ohio....

Now this picture.....talk about Roving.....

JayR, you ask "What was the point in circulating the photo to anyone?" If you read the article, it's quite clear. Whoever sent the e-mail said if the picture was of Hillary it would be splashed all over the media. It's not a bad point, considering the media bias against Hillary. The fact that the photo exists in the public domain, yet it's the first time we've seen it, kind of validates that point.

What the e-mail didn't say, at least as far as we can tell from Drudge's typical in-depth reporting, is "Hey, Obama's a Muslim!" or "Let's send this to the media to make Obama look bad!" But apparently if you have any connection to the Clinton campaign you need to have your e-mails approved by the Obama camp before you send them.

Of course, something like this is red meat for the Hillary haters, who say things like "Are you saying you think the Clinton campaign releasing this photo is just fine?" So now it's gone from an e-mail that someone forwarded to Drudge, to "releasing" the e-mail. You guys really need to get a grip. If it wasn't for the Muslim rumor problems, this photo would just be another funny photo of a politician in a crazy costume. But because Obama has to deal with the Muslim smears, suddenly the whole world is supposed to treat him differently. If you don't want a photo like this circulated, don't put on the costume. It's that simple.

You guys really just sit around waiting to be offended, don't you? Just like right wing talk radio audiences.

as someone who actually embraces progressive principles, i care more about outcomes than outputs.

as a progressive, who gets elected is more important than who i vote for.

as a progressive, i couldn't live with myself if i helped elect john mccain as president.

as a progressive, i understand that my egotism and my arrogance about my vote isn't what the election is about.

anyone who doesn't understand or care about the difference between outcomes and outputs is not a progressive.

Better now than in October.

Really, it's down to this - do you want a candidate whose campaign regularly insults your intelligence? Pick Hillary Clinton.

I will never ever vote for Hillary RamRod Clinton for any office. McCain is looking good to me if she is the Dem nominee.

It would be fun watching McCain destroy the Republican party for good by trying to taxcut and '100 years war' us out of the nations ills. Can you say Great Depression II.

If it just wasn't for the Supreme Court...

I can't disagree that the analogy is stretched, but my bet is you'll be hearing it.

When Obama began playing the race card in South Carolina to sew up the African American vote, it was slimy politics, but at least it made sense. This whining over a photograph is just stupid. Is he ashamed of being seen dressed like that? Do all images of His Greatness henceforth need to be pre-approved by the High Priests of Obamaland, lest they offend the delicate sensibilities of The Chosen One or his flock? I suggest he stop worrying about pictures and start figuring out how to sell his bogus health care plan.

OK Hillary, I've just sent more money to Obama campaign behind these hidious tactics. This is so outrageous! What are you thinking/doing???

Sadly, foaming at the mouth about "shameful, offensive fear-mongering" was not the way to respond to this event. BHO wins by keeping his cool and maybe injecting a bit of humor. Assuming it was the HRC campaign that circulated the photo, the correct response would be: "While visiting northern Kenya, I was offered a gift of traditional local clothing. As others in similar positions, such as Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Hillary Clinton, have done, I donned the clothing as a gracious sign of appreciation for the gift and respect for those who gave it. I want to thank the Clinton campaign for highlighting my international experience and the respect with which those in other countries treat me."

Something like that.