If people use his middle name as much as they have been lately at some point people will become desensitized to the fact that it just happens to be the last name of scum sucking toad Saddam Hussein….

No, just your 527's will use it.

I am still wondering why none of the news reports about this question the perception that being a Muslim is a bad thing!

Where there's smoke - there's fire.

Look at what we ignored about Bush. All those rumors about him being an incompetent oaf.

Don't you wish you had paid more attention back then?

Shouldn't you be paying MORE attention right now?

Perhaps the republicans caught on that once the nation realizes that the only way to attack Obama is through petty name calling and making absurd links and trying to use baseless fear against him, they may develop voter sympathy and a backlash against the GOP.

If they can't fight Obama on the issues, they will loose. They say those who have no platform to run on themselves go negative

Stop walking on eggshells with respect to Obama. Why should anything about him be held to a different standard? I don't believe it impies anything. If the electorate is naiive and doesn't respect that this is in fact his middle name, that is their problem. I don't feel that anyone should be criticized for using Senator Obama's full name. Get over it.

I don't see the problem with the use of his middle name. It isn't like a rival made up a nickname and tagged him with it, it is his given name. If he is ashamed of his name he should change it. If he is not ashamed of it and feels there is nothing wrong with it then it being used should not bother anyone.

He should start going by Barry again and put an apostrophe between the 'O' and 'Bama' so people just think he's Irish. Barry O'Bama? Oh, he sounds like a great guy!

Why? Through out history we have used candidates middle name. Hillary's full name is used. John Fitzgerald Kennedy's full name is used,George W. Bush's name is used, Lyndon Baines Johnson's full name is used. Is Obama ashambed of his name?

So the RNC denounces it, but do they reject it?

Its his name right?

If you are proud of yourself why prevent others use your middle name? That is your name, your full name. Don't you feel proud of that? or you will only really feel proud of your middle name when you have gotten more anti-semitic votes to propel you to be Dem. nominee?

It IS his name! What is he going to do change it? facts are facts!

JFK was proud to be Catholic and Irish. He didn't hide what he was he embraced it. just makes me wonder what Obama has to hide.

Funny, nobody ever uses John McCain's middle name.

That talk show host (Cunningham) from Cincinnati–who introduced John McCain with crude remarks about Obama, plus emphasis on his middle name (with no middle name given for McCain in the same intro)– is a typical radio talk show hack / opportunist whose #1 mission is to attract attention to himself with outrageous statements to generate press and ratings.

My middle name is Joseph. Does that mean that I am like Stalin?

Pure ignorant fear mongering to the unsophisticated.

Every individual should be PROUD of their names…first, middle and last names. To not be, well…it is not only a character flaw but also reflects some deeply rooted family conflict.

Signed, Diane Mary Demczyk

I don't understand all the buzz about a middle name. Did Obama say he is ashamed of his middle name? If he is not then why should people applologise for calling him by his middle name. Is Obama above criticism or is there something else to this that you should tell us. When he became a Christain, i think the right thing for him to have done was to change that name, QED. CNN pls give us substance and let rest all these issues of no importance.

Wimps.

Wow.

The RNC finally listened to Karl Rove again.

Must be a full moon or something.

Now, on with the election.

Why should it matter if Obama is/was a Muslim? Religion has absolutely no place in politics. The current President refers to his Christianity constantly and he is one of the 3 worst Presidents in our history. The people who are trying to discredit Obama because of his middle name, or picture in Kenyan duds, or the fact that he may have been a Muslim are fear mongers who are banking on the average American's prejudice and ignorance to help the republicans win another election.

And so it begins.

The concept of unification is attractive in theory, but history has proven time and again that it simply is not realistic.

The hatred shown by Obama supporters toward a candidate in their own party clearly shows that while their candidate may promote unity in their own hearts the concept is absent.

Good luck to you guys, but this voter is opting out.

It is a name people…just a name. Names don't make or break a person. Do the citizens of the United States not have more important things to worry about?

Mr. Mooney

May I tell you that your articcle is a bit confusing and surly will generate a lot of very nasty posts here by people which had not have the patience to analyze it.

TOM

As Americans, are we that caught up in a person's name as opposed to who they are & what they stand for? I am confident that we're not that shallow.

"i have never been a muslim" obama - pardon my ignorance - but how did he get the middle name - hussein

What's the BIG DEAL Mr. Obama. You should be proud of your name, the more you stress this as a problem the more you seem as if you got something to hide.

but we're still not hearing any response re: why the anti-Israel concerns are being raised. What - in Obama's constituency — gives rise to this fear???

Why can't people use his legal full name? I see no issue with it. It's his name, like it or not.

is this what we are coming to. The RNC relesed that statement just to keep talking about something that is FALSE FALSE!!!!

Why not use it? PC run amok again. Is it is his middle name or not?

Is Jefferson the middle name of the former Pres. Clinton? They use his full name often. Same with Pres. GWB.

If Olamabomarama has a problem with it, he should legally remove it.

From the family guy:

"LOOK THERE'S THE SYMBOL OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AN ELEPHANT AND AN OLD FAT WHITE GUY WHO'S AFFRAID OF CHANGE"

Why do you keep covering these false attacks and then wonder how the rumors continue to be spread? CNN is playing an active role in spreading this bigotry. Why don't you try real reporting for a change?

There is nothing wrong with his middle name - the problem is that some low life individuals with public exposure use it to scare other (less educated) voters to belief that Obama would be a muslim.

It's the same with the color of his skin - which is perfectly, perfectly fine - however if someone calls him the 'Black Barack Obama', then the reference to his skin color or the word 'Black' has to be rejected.

We all know that these klans people don't call Obama by his middle name because otherwise you would not know about which Barack Obama they are talking about.

In the future these individuals can call him 'Mr. President' which should be simple enough for them.

It's both amazing and a disgraceful epitath to the decline of our values here in the United States that a political party would suggest that using Obama's middle name in a manipulative and suggestive manner is "OK" politics.

What's most digusting about what has happened to the Republican Party and their surrogate the conservative right under the Bush / Cheeney / Rove era is that the ethics of the GOP has declined so much.

I left the Republican party lst November, because after 8 years of George Bush tactics, I had finally had it with Reprublicanism. These people don't reflect my values and I hope they don't represent the values of the average American.

Whether it's Obama or someone else - it's far time we washed this appauling rift raft out of Washington and bring some dignity back to our nation.

It's a shame that some have used a simple name to defame a person.
What's even more of a shame is how many people actually believe that Obama and Hussein have something in common.
The only reason the RNC is denouncing it at this time is so any further use of his name in a derogatory fashion will not be attributed to them.

Obama has nothing to hide but he is realistic .. The last election was won due to hate mongering fear period.

I hope these tactics backfire on the dirty people (both in the Clinton camp and the Republican camp) who use them. It is a scare tactic and not a positive comment on our culture.

It's his name isn't it? So why is anyone apologizing for call him by his middle name? Makes no sense. If they called him some derogatory name I can see the apology, but it's his NAME! If he doesn't like it, why doesn't he change it?

Is that his name of not?? If it is, why is he so afraid of it.

Kingssman said: "They say those who have no platform to run on themselves go negative"

So is that why Obama is so consistently negative and attacks Hillary so often?

I guess you're right - he doesn't have a platform, does he? Just a lot of huffing and puffing and airy-fairy dreams. Nothing of substance. No real plans.

Hey, thanks for pointing that out!

"So the RNC denounces it, but do they reject it?" …..Bravo

If he does not like his name, he should change it. Many political figures are called by all thre names with no objections; Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Richard Millhouse Nixon.
It's his name & that is that. if he is not a muslim maybe he should change his name to John Smith.

I thought Barack Obama was PROUD of his childhood? He cites his foreign experience as living abroad (in muslim country). Why should he be ashamed of "Hussein" or offended if any one else calls him by his GIVEN name. It IS his name, right?

This Government needs to stop doing business with Muslims countries if we are concerned about Obama's name and declaring him to be Muslim. For anyone to put a label on Obama simply because of his name is the most undemocratic carriage of justice and should be dealt with in a legal manner. People need to think before they speak and not spread malicious rumors for the purpose of personal gain or simply being mean spirited. I personally detest these rumors and see this as a legal matter.

Let's face the facts, this is politics and his middle name should be used as anyone's middle name will be used. He was given that name by his parents for some reason. I know it is supposedly a rumor that his father and stepfather were radical islamics, but who knows. His middle name would reflect something.

Sounds like an odd form of censorship to me.

Using his middle name and not Hillary's or McCain's is a double standard, and the only naive people are those that believe constantly referring to the use of his middle name (which was his Grandfather's name and given to him 18 years before Saddam took power in Iraq) isn't being used to drum up fear. I applaud the RNC for this public stand- it's about all they can do at this point. There are significant issues that need to be debated in the next 8 months and there shouldn't be any need for these tactics given the stakes involved.

This Government needs to stop doing business with Muslims countries if we are concerned about Obama's name and declaring him to be Muslim. For anyone to put a label on Obama simply because of his name is the most undemocratic miscarriage of justice and should be dealt with in a legal manner. People need to think before they speak and not spread malicious rumors for the purpose of personal gain or simply being mean spirited. I personally detest these rumors and see this as a legal matter.

Why two stories in a row about the same exact thing (rumors about Barack's faith)? It seems the rumors get a lot more credit when you obsess over them. Still, HRC supporters are convinced their candidate is the only one who is scrutinized by the press. If the press gave credence to any of the speculation out there about HRC's personal life, you can bet her supporters would be irate. Barack's campaign doesn't take the victim route, and that's something all voters should consider.

I would would prefer the RNC goes further and rejects it all together ?

On the flip side…..where is hillary ???

umm….is that not his name? why the walking on egg shells for obama but when a mccain supporter calls hillary the b word they say nothing. Sexism is alive and well in this country…it has been clearly exposed this election.

A country in which we judge people by their names has no future. America is not what it used to be, the symbol of liberty where one can be whatever he/she wants… Now we have 15 million Muslims living in America who have to change their names to hide their identity, because the message is clear here: “if you happen to have Muslim name you are automatically disqualified for certain jobs”.
This is all very similar to how Jews were treated in pre-war Germany. They had to hide their Jewish names and identity in order to prosper and later to save their lives.

Uhhh….its his name……Whats wrong with the use of his name? Is he ashamed of his middle name? Political correctness is gone awry in this country…

I'm afraid we're going to see more of this. Release false rumors, then denounce. This is how the RNC will go about attacking Obama. Shame on them. If McCain is a party to any of this, he will lose whatever respect I may have for him.

the middle name was given by his family and there is no reason to be ashamed of it. I wonder what Obama is hidding regarding radical Muslims. I just wonder.

I don't ever recall Obama speaking on the issue itself.

Obviously, he realizes that it IS his name…I just don't think he really cares enough to make an issue out of it.

It seems that everyone else wants to though…

Who really cares?

Did any of you have a choice of your middle name? Didn't think so…

It's his real middle name so why can't it be used? Low blow, though!

Hussein is the name of the King of Jordan, one of our key allies in the Middle East. Republicants should often be reminded of that.

Indie in Iowa, I totally agree!!!

There is more to Obama than meets the eye!!!

Of course he's not trying to hide it. The point is that the Republican's are using it to propel their not so subtle campaign to paint him as a Muslim.

Re the "where there's smoke there's fire" remark–

You amply demonstrate the truth behind the remark with your post, which was positively blazing… Which Republican are you an operative for?

Perhaps Obama should use his full name, and everyone will stop talking; unless he thinks he is attracting negative energies.

A name? We are denouncing the use of a full name? GOod Grief what next?
If Barack had embraced his name in the first place at the beginning of the campaign season it would not be an issue now. CHange we can beleive in NOT if we can't even BELIEVE in our FULL Selves.

He really has a lot of pillows to keep Comfy…..

Kyle February 28th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

He should start going by Barry again and put an apostrophe between the 'O' and 'Bama' so people just think he's Irish. Barry O'Bama? Oh, he sounds like a great guy!

Sadly Kyle, your absolutely correct. And if we could just see him in white-face now and then, then the color of his skin wouldn't be an issue either. A white "Barry O'Bama" would be winning by a landslide right now.

If I started campaigning with my middle name of Joseph, would the cowardly and xenophobic among us believe that I'll implement a regime like Stalin's? Or are we no longer afraid of communists, just Muslims?

Sometimes I think it's fair to be disappointed with America.

Why should he be ashamed of his own full name?

This is how I am going to vote in Nov 2008.
I am a registered democrat.
1. I will vote for Hillary
2. if Hillary does not get nomination, then John McCain (since I love my country more than my party)
3. I will never vote (now or in future) for Obama (even if he gets nomination and Hillary says 'support' him)

Being successful Executive, I have always appreciated and followed hard word, Sincerity path.
I fought against Nepotism and hypocrisy. I cannot vote for a person, who poses as a nice guy, but behind scene doing all dishonest stuff.
He and his team introduced RACE in Iowa race and then blamed Clintons.
He acted as 5 years old, looking for help to mother in debate when asked about Russia’s successor and then Press declares that he is presidential (Press Guys, please stop your favoritism, it does not help our country)

CNN Moderator, can you please post this? Thanks

This is obsurd. Does it really matter if Obama was a Muslim or a Mormon or anything else? The fact is that he is a Christian who happened to have a father from Kenya a mother from Kansas who decided to give him the middle name "Hussein". The people that listen to this fear mongering are just plain ignorant. Check your facts and make your impressions of the man before listening to this garbage.

I am really SICK of CNN and their obvious bias toward Obama. Only 3 comments allowed on the last story! Oh yea! cut it short! Whatever! You can't do this you can't do that! What is the deal?
He wants to lead this country! Then grow up! Take it like man! You all can ditch it on Hillary but Obama, no way. You say anything against him and you are a racist! Sounds like Bush!!!! You said anything against him and you were considered UNPATRIOTIC! Same old thing….. so much for CHANGE!
If he is such a "uniter" and he is a "shoe-in" why are his supports so mean spirited especially if they want Hillary supporters (like me) to support him! Again, so much for CHANGE! He is a politician just like the rest of them!

I am an HISPANIC, college educated woman with a master's, married, Christian and a supporter of Hillary!

People- it is his real name! Why is he getting out of shape when he is called his real name? There are a lot of worst names to call him.

Obama is NOT complaining about the use of his given name. That is Silly. The issue here is how people USE his name to try and inflame the still very racist element of this country into fearful shunning of this Democratic leader. The Sad thing is people fall for it. Only because they are DIEING for an excuse NOT to vote for him.

I was VERY doubtful when he said he was going to run because I personnal felt that this country hadn't grown up enough to elect him. FACT: Very early in his run he had to be given Secret service protection, Much earlier that others. While they wouldn't explain why it is not hard to figure out why.

Then Obama REALLY took off ( I eat crow at home every night ) So NOW that Obama is Viable and a little too clean for traditional attacks you see attacks (lies) about his religion , heritage , affiliations etc.)

Even here on these blogs you see in just the last 4 week MORE and MORE Racist remarks posted and it grows everyday. If you REALLY want to be disgusted listen to some of the conservative talk shows and you will think they were talking about the anti-Christ. I listened to a local am radio show here in San Diego last night and the Jock gave 15 full minutes to a caller who said she "Knew a friend who Knew someone who worked with obama in Ill". and "this person" said….then she went into the most CRAZY rant on how Obama will fill the Whitehouse full of members of the nation of islam.These people didn't spew this much hate at OSAMA BIN LADEN Himself!

I hope to be wrong more than anything in the world but I am as ashamed of us right now as I am of Bush. The world is watching people.

The ONLY good thing here is the young people seem to be letting go of the Racist vile past of this country and that is why Obama is doing so well But we older people ( I am 45) need to drop the sillyness and fear and move on.

So Many Racist remarks get posted here by the Mods, I wonder if a positive one like this will.

What the big picture here is what will voters react to.

Oh I won't vote for Obama because his name is hussien which is muslim for "good". I have no clue what Obama stands for, no clue of any thing else, and so far the only attacks that the republicans have against obama is his middle name.

I don't know, I may not Vote for McCain. Seems to me that I have no clue on what his issues are, Am I supposed to vote for McCain because he doesn't have Hussein as a middle name? Seems to me that McCain's campaign only has 2 attacks against Obama, his name, and his childhood. If that's all they have then Obama must be a really good guy, an honest politician, who must be 100% right on all the issues because the republicans won't attack him on any thing else positions or issues. Guess I'll vote Obama then, since Obama does expose McCain's issues.

It's all about damage control and proper diversion. Election 2004 wasn't about Iraq or terrorism, it was about what John Kerry did with his vietnam medals and if Bush showed up for duty at the national guard! that was all 2004 election was about.

Oh please! It's his name. If he doesn't like it being used, tough cookies!!

He's even got the RNC sucking up. If he wins the Presidency I hope he won't expect all of the 6.5 billion people on the planet to kiss his butt 24/7.

Obama is the most Transparent candidate in this election. Anybody postulating "he has something to hide" due to his middle name is ignorant; it's a fear and scare tactic pointed at an unknowing, uneducated public.

Take it upon youself to inform someone when you hear propaganda like this; we have a responsibility to uphold the truth.

I work with kids, and I'm fond of telling them that anything can be used as an insult if you use it with the correct tone. In this instance, the Party explicitly said that the photo was to show him as a Muslim, and deleted it when they found out they were wrong. Yes, it's his middle name and I hope when he is sworn in he uses it. It's nothing to be ashamed of, but it's clearly being used as an insult here.

If someone said of me, "You know, I heard she's *pause* Jewish" I would take it as an insult, and I am Jewish and I'm proud of it. Context and tone are everything.

"The left always finds something to pick at other than to describe the issues; we're not surprised at all." This coming from a guy who used a speech to highlight somebodies middle name. So what exactly are the issues Mr Cunningham? Maybe next time we should find out the name of his cat.
"They told me to fire up the crowd." Well Bill I guess it takes one to know one. We need to mobilize the racist base of the republican party.

Why can't he use Hussein? Is he not proud of his name?
I'm sorry but I just don't know this person. I can't vote for him.

PUT THE FULL NAME OF ALL THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDITATES ON THE BALLOT PAPER AND LET THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA DECIDE. THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE. SOME VOTERS LIKE ISSUES AND SOME LIKE VALUES. SO IT IS NOT GOOD TO HIDE SOMETHING TO THE VOTERS IF THEY DON'T LIKE SOMETHING ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

There's nothing wrong with using a candidates middle name. However, in being fair an balanced, you should use the middle name of each candidate.

If you say Senator Clinton, then you should refer to the other candidates as Senator Obama, and Senator McCain. If you say Barack, then you should refer to the other candidates as John and Hillary. If you just say McCain, then you should refer to the other candidates as Obama and Clinton.

To use Senator Obama's middle name alone is just part of the fear campaigning that the republican party has been doing since Bush's reelection.

To quote Muhamid Ali, "Whats my name?"

Being from the Nashville area, you have to understand that the RNC Hobbs is a blogger who is a Karl Rove wannabe. He will stop at NOTHING to defame any person who is not conservative. He is simply gutter trash. He used to be an employee of a Baptist College there hiding behind his computer until he got caught.

I am so sick of those who persist in the divisiveness in this country and perpetuate hate mongering.

Karl Rove, Tom Delay…….really make a person proud to a Moderate

Isnt' that his name? I dont see what the big deal is. Sad days are coming when people can't refer to others by thier full (legal) name.

Same old RNC/Tenessee Republican Partygarbage. Critcizing Obama because of a few idiots (who he has denounced!) who praised him. This sounds too much like the fear-mongering campaign that was waged in 2004.

Obama can deceive our American people so we cant trust him at all. We all can't vote him for President period and throw him out of the race. Obama would hurt our America if he will be elected for President. No way, please protect our America because Obama did not use the American pin or other things. No way! Obama strongly hides something from us and look at his facial expression. When Obama will be elected, he laughs at usd because we are stupid to vote for him. No way!! Please think twice so we need to protect our America!!

Good for Mike Duncan. This was a smart political move as well as being the right thing to do. The conservative radio talkshow host in Cincinnati who John McCain "threw under the train" deserved what McCain said about him. This kind of rabidly partisan, borderline hate-mongering has no place in our political process. It is all about divisiveness and paranoia, not intelligent discourse. Using Obama's middle name over and over again is nothing more than a pathetic attempt to plant seeds of fear in the minds of voters. More people like Duncan need to speak out. The Republican leadership in Congress should condemn it as well.

Nothing wrong with Senator Obama's middle name or the use of it at all.

But apparently even the GOP sees the waste of time and diversionary nature in which it is being bandied about by the petulant childisih maligners of Senator Obama's character (since this is likely their last ditch effort to stop the momentem he continues to enjoy) who live in their world of ignorant, fear-mongering and are terrified and can't grasp anything or anyone outside their fragile closed minded box of thought. How sad for them and their candidate of choice.

Obama fuels these speculations himself.
No one would think anything of it, if he used his
middle name…actually pledged allegiance to the flag,
and magically his wife was honored to be an American
citizen. Taken separately no one would pay attention.
Put these things together, and it raises a few eyebrows..
or it should if CNN wasn't always downplaying them.

If the media didn't make an issue of it (they can't help their pitiful selves), then no one else would. That talk show host would have bee n seen as the buffoon that he is. His purpose was to insinuate that Obama is muslim. Everybody knows that he isn't , but do you see or hear the media stressing the fact that he isn't? Even if he were muslim (again, which he isn't) why won't the media let it go? The media has become this country's worse enemy. They remind me of children who push-up fights on the play ground.

lets be real, no matter what your name is , the important things , is to know if this man is experienced and capable enough to run this country.

Nobody goes around calling people by their full names. Seriously, when did anyone regularly call Lyndon Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson? I don't even know what Reagan's middle name was. George W. Bush's initial is used to differentiate between he and his father. Yes Hussein is Obama's middle name. But is there any doubt as to why people bring up that particular name? So enough with the it's his name, why isn't he proud of it crap.

Give me a break - it IS his real, legal name, isn't it?

Oh the guy switching?? He is black, what do you expect. 80% of blacks are voting for Obama. 80% is more than the curve allowed for any group in surveys, the only factor that allows a candidaite in a survey this kind of support is a biased opinion.

A black superdelegate (California or New Jersey) that supports Hillary was asked, "Will you switch to Obama?" He replied: "Why does the media only ask the blacks superdelegates about switching to Obama, How come no one asks the white delegates to switch to Hillary??
The media person could not answer!!! I thought it was funny as hell, that the media person and the Obama superdelegate could not say anything………

This is what people need to understand, blacks want Obama because when he says that he will help people get jobs and there is hope. He is referring to the blacks and their misfortunes. Hope is for them, not the rest of America.

CHANGE is what he is going to do, blacks will be heads of depts and policy will be biased towards them.

For you fools that don't know, Obama is not hiding anything with respect to his name. He's not the one asking for his name to be removed. Obama has been dealing with this all his life, so it's nothing new for him. He expects ignorant people to place a lot of focus on his name. It's those idiots out there that use his middle name as a cheap attack. The most ridiculous thing about this whole matter is that it causes harm to Muslims. There is nothing wrong with being a Muslim. They are good people. It's a shame Muslims are so disrespected, because of STUPID people in this country. Muslims are not Terrorists. Extremists are Terrorists. Shame on our ignorant, uneducated citizens of America. CNN needs to bring this to light.

It's not the use of his full name that is wrong. It's the fact that idiots like Bill Cunningham and the Tennessee GOP use it with the political purpose of questioning his patriotism and his loyalty. The truth is that the are a number of ignorant Americans who will not vote for him because of his middle name and they wish to exploit that fact by bringing attention to his middle name. Just like with the photo: it's not displaying the photo that is wrong, but showing the photo to try to portray him as a Muslim and discredit him that is wrong.

Mr.O, please change your name.

Very good. Let's prohibit the use of Rodham if Hillary gets the nomination. We should also rename JFK airport to just JK, MLK Day to just MK day, FDR Drive to just FR Drive, etc.

If Obama is this sensitive about his middle name, he can legally change it. If Democrats are so upset about anyone using it, then they must have a very weak opinion about their candidate.

First of all this is not coming from the Obama camp. Obama I am sure has no problem whatsoever with his birth given name. Clearly the problem is that in addition to using his full name they also have the picture in what appears to be Muslim attire when in fact it is traditional Kenyan garb. That is the issue. How does this have anything to do with Obama hiding anything. He is proud of who he is and has never shown anything to the contrary. He is the first to state that his mother is white and father is African. Where in this article does it state that Obama has come to them regarding their statements. When have you ever heard Obama say anything about not using his middle name. Further, how many of us actually go around introducing ourselves using our full names unless you do not have a middle name? Lord have mercy… let the games begin…. Oh and you folk who believe people are walking on eggshells with him are delusional.

I am SOOO tired of people talking about Obama's middle name. If you judge a guy based on the name his parents gave him you're an idiot and you shouldn't even be allowed to vote. Seriously… I wish they had IQ tests at the polls….

What is the big deal? If Obama has a problem with his name being used, he should have changed it. I'm sick of him whining about everything. What kind of president would he make? He acts like a spoiled child.

If using his middle name doesn't carry any racial or religious overtones than why aren't they using Hillary's middle name or John McCain's middle name (which are Diane and Sidney respectively). They are trying to play up peoples fears of more terrorist attacks, the middle east, and Muslim people in general. Barack does not routinely use his middle name (i.e. he is not introduce with his full name, etc.) so it is just the efforts of the conservatives in this nation to retain control of our country by playing on the fears of the American people. We cannot live in fear, we can only try our hardest to make a better future in our country. We should be focusing on the problems at hand such as the Iraq war and the faltering economy of our nation instead of focusing on this politics of fear.

The RNC can both denounce and reject it because the Clinton campaign will just pick up the RNC's tactics. The Clintons are nothing but a bunch of slick losers.

I would like to read that story too, but he didn't really have many facts about who wrote it, if it was in a legitimate newspaper, or exactly what it said. Anyone can say, 'well, I read a story about that' to further their cause. Hell, I heard a lady on TV say this pill would melt away my spare tire with no exersize or dieting. She was on TV and she looked pretty good so it must be true. Start backing your accusations up people, or don't bother. What an ignorant way to spread ignorance.

Obama has never been ashamed of his middle name, nor has he ever condemned anyone from using it. He's of Kenyan descent.

The sensitivity comes from the horrible middle eastern war Bush got us into and the GOP's fear mongering tactics.

To Independent's comment above……..good one!

'Roger'

'I don't see the problem with the use of his middle name. It isn't like a rival made up a nickname and tagged him with it, it is his given name. If he is ashamed of his name he should change it. If he is not ashamed of it and feels there is nothing wrong with it then it being used should not bother anyone.'

Roger, he is not ashamed of his name. The problem is the WAY people use it to psychologically instill fear or doubt.

LETS be realistic here. In a perfect world it wouldn't matter what someone's middle name was and it certainly wouldn't have any influence.

But in the REAL world, sadly, a large percentage of people in our nation would either be scared away from him or would simply be bigoted simply based on his middle name.

People who stress his middle name are indirectly aiming right at those people.
It is a good thing the RNC denounced this because we as a nation don't need to be stoking any prejudicial fires.

I'd say they are running like scared rabbits and will say anything at this point. Heck, Hillary probably gave them postage money to mail the thing.

No matter they denounce it now..but when Barack win the president the middle name of Hussein will come out again.

It's not that he has anything to hide but do you think if his middle name was John anyone would say Barack John Obama. No. It is just used to play on people's fears and stereotypes. I don't know about anyone else but I had no choice in what name I was given and neither did he.

`
QUOTE: " Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan formally denounced Thursday the Tennessee Republican Party's use of Barack Obama's full name "

Denounced? Not good enough. I call upon the RNC to REJECT it.

McCain '08 - A Change We Can Live With

My name is Hussein, and I am deeply offended that everyone keeps referring to my name as if it was an insult or a curse word. What's wrong with my name?

who cares what his name is!!! let get to real issues, economy, International matters.

"Me thinks he protests to much"

For over Seven years the Republicans have been using fear to win votes and power. LOOK LOOK what they have done to our beloved Country. The US dollar is week, Inflation is soaring while the Republican major Donors like the Drug Companies, Exon Mobile, Dick Cheney Haliburton, have all become super wealthy. It is very clear to see what the Republicans are doing. They are trying to smear Obama by playing on fear, how pathetic. I am no fan of Obama, but I will vote for him. Remember if you want to live like a Republican vote Democrat

What is wrong in using the middle name? I hope he has not denounced it.There is less scrutiny around this candidate and all Americans are entilted to full facts.Bill Cunningham is right,he is yet to be challenged by the media.

Well that is his name , so that is what they should call him , while growing up my name ryhmed with everything , GROW UP BARACK . Because the name has a bad connotation with the American people as a whole , it is still his name and thats what he should be called .

This is the silly season. It's called election campaign. Anything goes.

And what is going right now is a movement led by Obama that is riling traditional political and ideological bases. That explains why we are reading all these silly non-news items.

John McCain should change his middle name to Hussein.

What a bunch af nuts. Is he ashamed of his name I don't get it. Maybe he should change it, if he don't like it. You name is what it is , and if that happen to be Barrack Hussein Obama to bad.

Isn't that his name? I'm sick of everyone tip toeing around this subject. His father was from Kenya. If he is so afraid to use his name then he should have changed it prior to the election. It isn't like he didn't go around calling himself Barry for years.

Rasism right in our faces!!! this is simply ridiculous and unbelievable. Ignorance at its best!!! OBAMA 08!!!!!!!!

You know, our international counterparts couldn't understand why Bush was re-elected. Now we're probably getting ourselves into more criticism if we elect Obama. . . Think hard before you vote people!

Why is it such a bad thing to be thought of as a Muslim, most of us are not fanatics, and we don't deserve to be insulted on a daily basis.

There is no problem with Obama's middle name. It is fine. However, to suggest that Cunningham and the Tennessee Republican's Party (TRP) aren't using it in an attempt to create fear is naive. Both Cunningham and the TRP were attempting to create some connection between Obama and the regimes in the Middle East that are poised against Israel based on nothing but his name. John McCain isn't regularly identified by his middle name. Neither is Huckabee. And nobody is likely to be confused as to which Barack Obama you are talking about if you don't use his middle name. The suggestion that Obama is somehow out to get Israel because he has a middle name that is the same as Saddam's last name is nonsense. He didn't pick his name for one. Second, there are plenty of Husseins that aren't dictators that support terrorism. These types of suggestions are immature and disrespectful.

OBAMA IS GOOD MAN,,IF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWINGG HIM,,THEN OBAMA SHOULD SAY,,HE IS PROUD OF HIS NAME,,,,,HILLARY NEVER SAYS,,,DON,T SAY RODHAM,,,,,

PLUS,,,,,,WE ALL ARE PROUD OF OUR PARENTS,OUR COUNTRY AND OUR BACKGROUND ,,,AND OBAMA SHOULD STAND UP AND SAY THAT HE IS,,,BETTER NOW THAN LATER ,,,

Its is truly a shame that this man's name has become such a hot topic. With the ste of the economy, the middle east, Korea lurking around the corner, public education, poverty, forclosures, etc. etc. etc. I would think reasonably intelligent people would have something better to talk about. People still try to capitalizeon the wave of Muslim fear that 9/11 ushered into this country. Although that was the platform George W. got re-elected on, I am glad to see that the RNC will not continue those fear mongering ways. I don't believe Barack has ever said he was ashamed of his name, and he shouldn't be…its his grandmother's last name in Kenya. The surname Hussein in Africa and the middle east is as common as Smith or Johnson is here in the US. My last name is Manson, but I am not going to walk around in fear that people are going to equate me to the infamous Charles Manson. Its his name, and you people who try to spin more out of it than that..(i.e. he is muslim or he took his oath of office on the Koran) really need to grow up and become educated. Who ever you vote for, don't base it on race, gender, or the irrational fear of a name.

Oh poor O'Bammy his briefs are in a knot. If he isn't proud of his name he can change it again.
Sorry, he and his wife have always been proud–for the 1st time.

Oh wait, If John McCain also changes his first name to Obama, etc, maybe he will win the elction! New campaign strategy…

My middle name is "Tater Salad", and if I ran for President, I would expect all of you to jump on my tater salad wagon….

What is wrong with using his complete name, including his given middle name? Since this primary has once again turned into a personality contest, shouldn't the public be aware of all aspects of the man? If he or his supporters have a problem with his middle name, then perhaps they have some explaining to do.

it's not about him being ashamed, it's barely even about his middle name. What it's about is it being used to prod on those who want to claim he's a muslim extremeist. And no those people are not gone. I have many relatives who believe stupd stuff like that and who took Bill Cunningham's speech to heart, just when I was starting to get them to believe different. It's about looking at the real world that we live in. The fact is, there still is a large group of bigoted people and the republican party (or rather, some of the republican party) was knowingly (and they knew, they're not stupid) was using his name to entice those bigots.

You almost wondering if they (the RNC) are announcing they are denouncing it to just get that much more mileage out of the story.

I don't think Obama himself has ever had any problem with his middle name or asked anyone to treat it/him differently.

If this is the best attack his detractors can come up with he has nothing to worry about.

It is not the fact that they are using his middle name (although to correct someone above, "Rodham" is Hillary's maiden name). They don't use John McCain's middle name, nor Mike Huckabee. Anyone who believe this is simply about a middle name is naive. The Right-Wing intend to use his middle name as an inflammatory item.
The fact that they produce pictures that state he is in Muslim garb, without checking to facts is enough to prove just that.
I am tired of the fear tactics the RNC uses. They are becoming the terrorists, terrorizing middle-America that just because Obama's middle name is Hussein he is linking to terror groups or the Middle-East for that matter. If someone's middle name was "Adolph" would that make them a Nazi?
Start thinking America!

Anyone who denies the fact that people like Bill Cunningham blatently using Obama's middle name is not a problem are in the dark.

Yes, it is his name. No, it should not matter. But it does, there are several uninformed people that vote that would hear that name and be scared. It is unfortunate, but that is the way society in the US is right now. Cunningham knows this, that is why he said it the way he did. If you think it doesn't matter, then you are wrong or in denial.

I really hope we can move beyond the silliness of politics, because after the current administration, we Americans have a whole lot of work to do, at home and across the globe.

I could care less if Obama's middle name was Jimmy Crack Corn, Adolf, Snuffalagus or Huessin, neither do I can about the middle names of Clinton, McCain, and Hucabee, what I can about is the person who is the owner of that name, and the stance on the issues.

Wake up, America! Wake up!

There's nothing wrong with using his middle name if there are no alternative motives. I think most people are smart enough to know there is motive behind those that stress his middle name.

I am surprised that there are some people that raise red flags when they hear his middle name is Hussein. FYI Barack is a junior and I'm pretty sure his dad was given his middle name when Sadaam was crawling in diapers or possibly even born. People that stress his name are extremely shallow.

Is there really something to fear from this man?

The RNC knows exactly what they are doing. They want to make a big issue out of this in an effort to promote the continuous fear mongering. People are sick of this, and the fact of the matter is there are a ton of Americans of all different races and ethnicities who have non-American names, so get over it.

We as Christians should embrace our Jewish brothers and sisters just as we should our Muslim, Hindu, Tao, Ba'hai, etc. ones. Islam is not a bad religion people. Unfortunately Al Quada and this war in Iraq has made everything think that though. Besides, Obama has said repeatedly he is Christian, so get over it!

Can't say I'm surprised that the DNC is trying to play this out as a religious thing and tout that "many in the middle east" are concerned about O'bama becoming President. Doesn't the middle east consist of both Jewish and Muslim nations? Why didn't they just say Israel is concerned instead of trying to make it a huge regional concern?

This is typically Right Wing Nutso tactics. They play on peoples fears of muslims by making sure everyone knows his middle name, and perpetuating the myth he is Muslim (not that there should be anything wrong with him being one). The constitution is specific that no public official should have to make an affirmation of religion. Wish the republicans would actually read it from time to time. So they scare you with boogy-man tactics, then turn around and say, "oh we didn't know it would cause such a distraction" Again I agree with Peter, who points out that no one places emphasis on McCain's middle name. Wake up people.

Barack Hussein Obama is his real name, right? So, what's the problem…? Exactly…my next President, if I can help it, won't have Hussein as his middle name and he won't have ties to Muslim beliefs, won't interact with FarraCON and won't be the most liberal of liberals…besides, if Barack Hussein Obama wants to be President he should toughen up and accept the fact that his real name might deter people from voting for him…why can't we talk about it? I will do my best to talk it up with as many people as I possibly can. Can't hide from reality Barack!

So every time someone says Hillary Rodham Clinton… we are to have a hissy fit???

Why should you change your reporting just because Obama is ashamed of his middle name…..just goes to prove that CNN is catering to Obama and I thought he was not beholding to anyone.
yeah, right.

For all those asking "but isn't it his middle name", answer this question. What are the middle names of John McCain, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, and Rudy G.? Unless you look it up right now, you probably don't know. Why? Because they don't use their middle names. Neither does Barack. The only reason you know his middle name is because his opponants realized they could use it to instill fear and to appeal to people's negative bias against the name Hussein. It's a pitiful attempt to link him to a wicked dictator who, by the way, happened to be a Muslim. I guarantee if Barack's middle name was John, Malik, or Omar, you still wouldn't know what it is.

Can somebody explain to me why the use of your own middle name,(not a made up one its your own name!!!) is causing all this outrage from obama suporters???
sri
CA

I applaud the RNC. Now the other republican talking heads on television need to apologize to those who are Muslim for implying that it is shameful to be a Muslim.

You guys miss the point. Trying to exploit his middle name because it sounds "islmanic" or reminds people of "saddam" is trying to invoke the politics of fear, hate and anti-semitism. If I were a Muslim, I'd be outraged. This is clear, overt racism by politicians and the media. They are equating islam with terrorism. They are implying if you are a Muslim, you are a terrorist. The fact this is happening here in mainstream America, the land of tolerance, should be a bigger issue than the presidential race itself. The bottom line is they are trying to play on the underlying fear and racial tensions caucasians have against muslims and blacks. How can no one see this for what it really is!!!???

The Tennessee press release was misleading for far more important reasons, particularly with respect to the anti-semitism charges. Obama has strong ties to the Jewish community, has received major endorsements from Jewish groups, and has repeatedly denounced Farrakhan.

For the RNC to tell their people not to use Barack's middle name is ridiculous. He's not ashamed of his name. There is nothing wrong with his name.

What the RNC should have done is denounced the ENTIRE false, misleading, fear-mongering press release.

Where does it say he asked them not to use his middle name?

Obama is not ashamed of his name. But I am ashamed of all the shameful people in America who act like they are using his name innocently. They know it's a lie! They are using his name to inspire, fear and doubt because they know America on the whole is still a prejudiced nation not just against a black man, but against anything that is different from what has been defined as the main stream.

Isn't it ironic, that that once defined 13 colonies.

Obama is in no way ashamed of his name nor his heritage. Lets get real, there are plenty of people that are not informed about who this man is. Just look at the postings they will all refer to him being a Muslim, what is he hiding? I at this point in the campaign would not care if he was a Muslim. I believe in the constitution
1. Freedom of Speech Farrakhan
2. Freedom of Religion: Trinity Church
3. Separation of Church and State:
If everyone truly believes in the constituition and the "words" that are in it Why would religion, race or speech matter.

Obama 08

I don't know if CNN would publish my comments since they seem of late to be publishing news with a negative overtone on OBAMA.

For those of you who see nothing wrong with putting emphasis on OBAMA's middle name…its called fear-mongering!!! So quit the act. I am pretty sure he is comfortable with his name. If he wasn't he would have changed along time ago. Whats stopping him from doing that.

Know it off people!!!

What!!?? It's his NAME.. what's so offensive about using it? If he's so offended by it, he should change it..

I'm sure Barack Obama is very proud of his middle name. The difference here is that Barack doesn't normally use his full name. There are some folks who do- Hillary Rodham Clinton was an example given as was JFK. That's fine, and those people have chosen to do that. But that's not what Barack Obama normally does. No one refers to him as Barack Hussein Obama except these right wing conservatives who are trying to make people suspicious of some Muslim connection. Why are the same people not introducing John McCain with his full name? What's the problem? Is he not proud of it? Give me a break. We all know what's going on here. The republicans are desperate and it shows.

It seems all the fuss was about someone else, not Obama himself, making the name Hussein a shame or related it to being a Muslim. So the question should have been "what is wrong with having the name Hussein as a middle name or with being a Muslim?" (Obama is a Christian, not a Muslim, and Muslism is not outlawed in the USA.)

If Obama is the nominee then this is the kind of thing that will be rampant between now and November - get used to it. People will make the comments and the RNC or Senator McCain himself will denounce it, so that they look like the good guys.

But it is out there - and fear mongering works. As 'Petite Maoiste' says, being a muslim is not a bad thing. Being an extremist is. But many people do not make the distinction.

But, if he has nothing to hide, why does his middle name bother him.
Hillary all the way

Peter - you're right. That's exactly what it is…fear-mongering.

And for those who imply that Obama is ashamed of his name or his heritage ……you're kidding right? He's never said or implied that. The argument, however, has been that the emphasis on his middle name is to evoke fear or distrust because he shares a name and background with our "enemy"……and to continue the perception that ALL people with Islamic/Arabic/Muslim names or heritage must be terrorists (you know, like all blacks are ignorant, lazy people on welfare ready to rob or kill you, all whites are red-neck, racists, all latinos are here illegally, and all republicans are neo-con, right-wing christians who have the only lock on intelligence, morality and are the true patriots of this country).

Honestly, I don't think most Americans have trouble with his middle name. His PARENTS chose the name, not him. How stupid is this?

It's his position on the ISSUES that are important to ME that I have a problem with.

Seriously? Guys? Please tell you don't vote if you are confused about this situation. This is politics 101.

The problem is NOT his middle name. What the republicans are apologizing for, and rightfuly so, is using his middle name in an attempt to incite racist fears. They are NOT apologizing for using his middle name.

Honestly, how can you claim to be an educated voter when everyone is completely missing or ignoring the entire POINT of an issue because they lack the complete ability to understand subtext at all unless it is spoon fed to them by political pamphlets.

O'bama is not retracting his name what media do is to give him more pillows.I know obama has good sleep.His end is in texas and ohio he must lose

Barak Obama is not ashamed of his middle name. The reason that it is an issue is because the hate/fear mongers on the far right are trying to use names and pictures to scare people into not supporting him to be president. I would put his in the same category as the swift boating of John Kerry that occured in 2004.Words and visual images have a strong influence on people.Why do you think companies use commercials to help sell their products because the visual images work.

I don't think Obama is ashamed of his middle name, but, the fact is that those it use it do so to give the mistaken impression that Obama is a muslim and therefore must be a terrorist. If his name were used in a respectful manner and not for the purpose of propaganda, I'm quite sure Obama would have no problem with it. Those who argue that "its his name, isn't it" (like Rush or Cunningham) are just acting obtuse and pretending they are not trying to encourage a stereotype and misconception.

No one knows John McCain's middle name. hillary's is Rodham. Some people have names that are used. I don't understand why Barack is ashamed of his middle name. I applaud McCain for denouncing Cunningham's speech.

The Obamites would say that those that use his middle name are afraid to debate Obama on the real issues. I strongly counter that. Obama can't debate on the issues because he doesn't know what they are. Too funny. Either way, it looks like John McCain will be our next president.

Hillary is tough on Obama, but not nearly as tough as the GOP will be. Obama is toast. AND he is burning bridges with Clinton's supporters.

Some of you are really dense or are not aware of how shallow the American public is.

There are people who still honestly believe that Iraq brought down the towers and this is 7 years after the fact. So you honestly believe those same people given a photo of Barack in a turban and emphasizing his middle name won't think that he could somehow be sympathetic to our enemies.

It is obvious they are trying to tie his name (which to many appears to be a name of someone of Middle Eastern descent) to possible affiliations or sympathy towards those who intend to do America harm.

Why you guys try to say that he is ashamed of his name is beyond me. It is how individuals are trying to use his name or imply something about him through its use.

All you have to do is take today's climate back to WWII. Imagine if a white male of German (I can's think of a neighboring country) descent tried to run for Prez with the middle name Hitler.

Now do you see?

All the people who say using his middle name is ok, think about it this way. When your mother wanted to get your attention for something you did wrong she'd use your full name.

It may indeed be his name, but it's also insulting to use it in everyday conversation. Those of you who think this is ok, try it in your day to day life. Try it with your boss. When you get fired for being disrespectful, you can say, "It's your name isn't it? What are you hiding?"

I'm sure if his name were Barack John Obama, we would not be hearing his middle name nor would we even know it at this point! So, the fact that people have used his middle name in this race is a clear attempt to connect him with terrorists and is simple "fear mongering". I would like to think the American people are smarter than this, and the fact that the RNC has put an end to this style of tactics is a good jesture. This race should be about the issues rather than "OMG he has a middle name!" My last name is Solis, but I do not speek spanish..the horror!

~Carl from Pa

Obama '08

His middle name is not an issue for the people who support him. Why not just stick to the issues-if you can. I live in cincinnati-and Willie Cunninghham is the most racist and decisive person I have ever met. It's no surprise that racist people like him. Obviously Barack is proud of his full name. America needs to grow up-with all the damage that has been done by this past administration-you should be grateful that someone has stepped forward that may be able to ease the tension that has been caused in the middle east.

Its is truly a shame that this man's name has become such a hot topic. With the ste of the economy, the middle east, Korea lurking around the corner, public education, poverty, forclosures, etc. etc. etc. I would think reasonably intelligent people would have something better to talk about. People still try to capitalizeon the wave of Muslim fear that 9/11 ushered into this country. Although that was the platform George W. got re-elected on, I am glad to see that the RNC will not continue those fear mongering ways. I don't believe Barack has ever said he was ashamed of his name, and he shouldn't be…its his grandmother's last name in Kenya. The surname Hussein in Africa and the middle east is as common as Smith or Johnson is here in the US. My last name is Manson, but I am not going to walk around in fear that people are going to equate me to the infamous Charles Manson. Its his name, and you people who try to spin more out of it than that..(i.e. he is muslim or he took his oath of office on the Koran) really need to grow up and become educated. Who ever you vote for, don't base it on race, gender, or the irrational fear of a name

How ironic for the republcans to try to demonize the middle name of Barack "Hussein" Obama. Our country has American heros dieing in (Iraq) a muslim country. The same same peolple that we demonize we also seek their help to fight insurgents. It is beyond childish and it can undo the little good will we have in the middle east. This republican party has hit a new low. It's a bad idea. This can do more harm then good. Going down this path is to win an election is not surprising. What does that say about our country to others in the world?

I fully understand the concern. As a woman in a predominately male work environment I can tell you I have been called dear and sweetie in ways that are completely innocent and actually endearing. I have also been called the same words in a way that is insulting, degrading and down right repulsive at time.

Its not the words that matter, its the context. If people were simply using his middle name for clarification (as though we had 2 Baracks or Obamas running) it would be one thing, but each quetnionable incident has used his middle name to perpetuate anti-Islamic sentiment which is an insult not only to Obama but to the majority non-violent Muslims. Read the posts on CNN and tell my where you see his middle name used in any way but as an insult?

IT IS his name!!! i don't understand why the public loves this man, check his backgound AMERICA. Where are we headed with him, what has he done for this country as a Senator?? His talk is cheap, he is saying whatever it takes to be elected, even stealing words from other people. What is his power over you, please look at the facts!!

Hey Reality Check,
Why don't you tell all of us what Hillary's middle name is.
Here's a hint…It isn't Rodham.

Exactly the point Peter. It is the kind of fear mongering that certain radical sections of the republican party wants to use. It is the inference that some Muslims hate Jews and that some how he is loyal to islam. Islam is a great faith; no one is questioning that. As a centrist republican, I'm very happy McCain and the RNC rejected it.

I find it so interesting that for those people leaving comment saying " oh it's his name right?" or "it is his name" are missing the point here. Yes it's his name but everyone on this board knows that since 9/11 and the invasion into IRAQ, it would not be a wise to use it!!! Because as you can see some folks like on this board lack the intelligence to move and see beyond racial stereo typing!!!

Why is it not appropriate to use Obama's real name. His name is Barack Hussein Obama and he should be proud of it and not ashamed of it. What is the big deal. Is the media darling offended? If so why doesn't he change his name to OPRAMA!!!!!!!!

This is ludicrous!!!!

Why should something like a person's name have such an impact on whether he's electable? We instead should look at the core values that matter…

I'm not muslim, however my parents both chose to give me traditional Arabic names. These names do have meaning and are common in other parts of the world like Africa and Asia. My name is Rasheeda Safiyah — does this make me a muslim? I don't denounce anyone's religion, however I am proud to say that I am Christian.

Furthermore, why do peope insist on believing that a person who is a muslim is bad? Or has ties to extremist muslim terrorist?

Who are we to judge a person's character based on his or her name?

And why must we make this such a huge