Slog - Comments on Obama on The Wire http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire J. Patrick Coolican, formerly of The Seattle Times, now of The Las Vegas Sun, scores an interview with Barack Obama in which he briefly talks with the presidential candidate about two of Slog's biggest loves: The Wire and The Gays. Even more Sloggerific: Despite the tolerance he showed toward an anti-gay preacher back in October, Obama reveals his favorite character on The Wire to be... Omar. That's right, Omar (above center), the gay gangsta who robs drug dealers for a living, cries over the brutal death of his gun-toting boyfriend (above left), and turns out to make a killer government... Copyright 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:15:25 -0800 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:47:38 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Mike of Renton AAAAAHHHHH! Close your b tag.

]]> Mike of Renton http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898364 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898364 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:26:17 -0800 Comment by Just Me Fox News ALERT!!!!

Obama endorses vigilantee Robin Hood activities in the 'hood!!!

]]> Just Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898369 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898369 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:27:33 -0800 Comment by Gabe Global Omar is the biggest bad ass in the history of television. He has to be everyone’s favorite character.

]]> Gabe Global http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898375 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898375 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:31:57 -0800 Comment by SeMe Omar is the truth, but he is no Robin Hood. He keeps his money, doesnt give to the poor, and is fair with his henchmen.

My prediction. Omar takes out Snoop and Chris takes down Omar.

Favorite Omar line:

Youre Lying to live.

]]> SeMe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898381 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898381 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:37:20 -0800 Comment by gr miLusk The Wire soundtrack has Paul Weller doing I Walk on Gilded Splinters (confident. to any Jam fan) and SIXTEEN TONS done by someone who is not Tenessee Ernie Ford. i thought of Anthony when I saw it at Easy Street over the weekend. I was buying the December issue of Seattle Sound mag - there's a distant mention in it of my efforts toward a "trainwreck"

vegas is a la la town. yuck, perhaps seattle in the future if certain pollsters have their way. Sue! Sue! Sue! Bad Builder! Naughty bOy/girl! I'm an idiot because i didn't inspect the building. ask questions! Sue Sue Sue Tears in my beer! Whine in my Stein!

]]> gr miLusk http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898382 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898382 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:37:40 -0800 Comment by flamingbanjo Omar don't scare.

]]> flamingbanjo http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898406 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898406 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:53:26 -0800 Comment by tomasyalba In-deed. Now Obama has me. Suspicions that he's a camouflaged corporate suckup are out the window. If he's into the Wire, and is as enamored of Omar as I, he's planning many moves ahead of everybody.

He takes office and sets to kicking ass. Working for him, voting for him, seeing what he does once in office = reasons to live.

]]> tomasyalba http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898414 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898414 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:57:18 -0800 Comment by shams Omar is everyone's favorite character. no points for Obama here.

]]> shams http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898415 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898415 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:58:07 -0800 Comment by Hooty Sapperticker If he'd said Snoop, I'd change my vote.

]]> Hooty Sapperticker http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898462 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898462 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:38:42 -0800 Comment by bober Obama says: "He’s the toughest, baddest guy on this show, but he’s gay."

But?

Is that like being African American but "articulate and clean?" Obama supporters freaked out when Sen. Joe Biden said he was the first African American candidate who was "articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy ... "

It's not unusual for gay people to be bad-ass and tough - look at Alexander the Great and the Sacred Band of Thebes.

]]> bober http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898518 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898518 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:34:37 -0800 Comment by elenchos If you have to reach back 2400 years for an example, that's pretty unusual. You must be able to think of somebody more recent?

Obama's probably attracted to the fact that this is a character that could have been yet another stereotyped gay or stereotyped black, and instead the character goes against type. He doesn't conform to the mold, and he's popular. Sort of like Obama.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898537 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898537 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:48:38 -0800 Comment by thehim @10
Good catch.

]]> thehim http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898538 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898538 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:50:03 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle I agree with elenchos @11.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898581 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898581 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:26:16 -0800 Comment by annie @12 and 10: If he had said, "He's gay, but he's the toughest baddest guy on this show," you might have had a case. But he's clearly saying that the character breaks the stereotype of a tough bad guy. True, and good for the show, and good for Obama.

There were no gay men in ancient Greece as we understand the term now. There was absolutely homosexual activity, but I really doubt Obama was referring to that.

]]> annie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898585 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898585 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:29:19 -0800 Comment by Noel Black I love me some Omar. Oooooooooweeee, do I love me some Omar. At least Obama has good taste. Did he smoke Newports before he quit?

]]> Noel Black http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898586 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898586 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:31:29 -0800 Comment by Shaniqua He probably smoked menthol Kools, like most brothers.

Y'all is crazy.

]]> Shaniqua http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898662 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898662 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:47:12 -0800 Comment by Marko Constans Seriously, B.O. just got my vote. Omar is the shit.

]]> Marko Constans http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898855 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c898855 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:47:54 -0800 Comment by Kathy I think the "he’s the toughest, baddest guy on this show, but he’s gay" quote just acknowledges that by making him both gay AND the most tough, the show is going against stereotypes. It defies the homophobic but unfortunately popular notion that gay men are somehow weaker than straight men.

Anyway, Obama has great taste! The Wire is the greatest show ever.

]]> Kathy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c899384 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/obama_on_the_wire#c899384 2008 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:47:38 -0800