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Tuesday, October 7, 2008

By George

posted by on October 7 at 11:27 AM

The other Obama:

Q:Is Obama’s brother really dirt poor in Kenya and living on a dollar a day?

A:CNN tracked down George Obama, and he said that he was “brought up well” and “live[s] well now.”

The real question is this: Why did the father name one son Barack and the other George? Life would be so much easier for Barack if he had his brother’s name.

RSS icon Comments

1

Yeah, because we all love the name George in the White House.

Posted by Mr. Poe | October 7, 2008 11:33 AM
2

Or maybe Barack got to where he is *because* of his name? A la "Boy Named Sue"

Posted by brandon | October 7, 2008 11:33 AM
3

I don't even think it's strange at first and I REALLY used to. I think with enough repetition people won't care after he's President.

I'll thank my lucky stars that the name wasn't the barring factor once he's in there, but I KNOW it has some effect pre-election

Posted by Non | October 7, 2008 11:34 AM
4

I thought something similar when I read a recent interview with Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave.

Morello is half-Kenyan, a Harvard grad, and from Illinois.

If Barack Obama's name was Tom Morello, this race would be over.

Posted by rtm | October 7, 2008 11:34 AM
5

^I don't even think it's strange anymore and....

Posted by Non | October 7, 2008 11:34 AM
6

So you don't think it's strange at first, but you really used to?

Posted by Non-non | October 7, 2008 11:35 AM
7

I think Barack went by the name Barry most of his life.

Posted by elswinger | October 7, 2008 11:43 AM
8

i'm guessing that barack obama's unique name actually did have a "boy named sue" effect. i mean, he was already the black kid growing up in a white family, but then to have a wacky name on top of that...it would thicken most people's skin if you ask me. plus the name george is kinda lame.

Posted by douglas | October 7, 2008 11:44 AM
9

Yes, @6....detaching myself from all grounded reason, it was off putting at first and I will admit that.

Posted by Non | October 7, 2008 11:45 AM
10

Barak means "The Blessed One", as anyone in Israel knows. It is a perfect name for the man who is going to change the world.

As young Jews we must contact our grandmothers in Florida and our relatives in Israel and demand they support Obama. Obama will bring Tikkun Olam to this broken world, and will make America into a great Marxist Socialist nation.

Posted by Issur | October 7, 2008 11:53 AM
11

#10 So Barack isn't a "secret Muslim" but a "secret Jew"?

Posted by elswinger | October 7, 2008 12:05 PM
12

@7

And he ironically changed it shortly before 9/11.

Posted by kebabs | October 7, 2008 12:05 PM
13

Maybe I'm not normal (well, that actually goes without saying), but I think Barack is an infinitely more interesting name than George. His unique name is part of what makes him stand out. It makes name recognition easier. If his name was George, his name would blend in with a sea of other Georges. Very boring.

Oh, and as a kid I had a friend who went by Barry. In his case it was short for Bartholomew, so who could blame him.

Posted by Reverse Polarity | October 7, 2008 12:05 PM
14

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/?map=10

check it out.

Missouri now in Obama column in real clear no toss up view, giving Barry about 365 electoral college votes.

Now that'd be a sweeping electoral victory of the kind we need.

Kudos to Obama for staying on message on the economy. And for all that voter reg. But overall, this confirms the thesis propounded here:
ITE,S.
(n.b.: "it's the economy, stupid.")

Every 3 days of bad economic news seems to make another state shift to the Democratic/Obama column.

And no, it's not because he's named the blessed one, or because people think he will lead us to greatness blah blah blah.
He actually has yet to do that, you might have noticed.....basically the world is turning to shit and middle Americans want a new deal and are kinda scared right now.

Tying McCain to Keating 5/dereg/allowing pivot to current crisis/attack on overall GOP/Bailo frame is a good smart move.


(n.b. to OM: pls. note the "complimentary" remarks about Obama, these are because IMHO these are "due," he doesn't get them till he actually "performs", a subtle distinction to those who just worship him....)

it's nice being in a big ol' tent with tons of mullet haired folks from MO isn't it?

It's good that they're voting for Obama, right? MAkes 'em less crackerish, right?

I hope Obama tonight says fuck yeah we're all bitter and we're all angry too and we're gonna fucking change it all because these GOPsters and their "wild uregulated market" philosophy are wrecking our lives and our kids' futures. We're going to do the crash prevention now, then when he gets in office he's going to do the greening of the economy and $$$ into infra. and educ. and r and d and we're going to get you back the American dream and we can do it if we unify and sacrifice and face up to reality, unlike wild man McCain....

Fucking a.

Unity y'all,

Posted by PC | October 7, 2008 12:11 PM
15

@10: so close. I was with you until the last sentence, thinking "woooow, I might finally agree with something Issur said." But then the dismount. Thanks for not upsetting my preconceived notions of your trolliness.

Posted by Big Sven | October 7, 2008 12:17 PM
16

Barak was a biblical hero. He was the military commander who Deborah chose in Judges chapter 4.

Posted by DrJim | October 7, 2008 12:19 PM
17

@11 - Shut the hell up. You're an idiot.
"shortly befor 9/11"? What does that even mean? Even if it were true?

Posted by jean genie | October 7, 2008 12:22 PM
18

oops...my bad.
Not @11
@12

Posted by jean genie | October 7, 2008 12:23 PM
19

I like Barack.
Everything about this intelligent man challenges the way the U.S. views who can be in the White House and that is one of the best things that can happen to the U.S. at this point in time. Change will happen sometimes from hard work and facing all of the negative comments like Obama has had to go through and sometimes change happens based upon something like greed as in the latest economic problems that have toppled the U.S. from the "most powerful" country in the world pedestal.
The change was all to happen anyway but to have it happening all at once is the biggest challenge for many people that do not want to think and just let faith lead them blindly into situations they could have avoided Then blame on everything others that do not think like they do like someone with a name like Barack Obama.
So to have someone with a different sounding name that is not a common name like George is good for you, it breaks the mold.

Posted by -B- | October 7, 2008 12:28 PM
20

I don't think Barack's dad had the foresight to think he would be running for president.

Posted by Todd | October 7, 2008 1:08 PM
21

"Barack" isn't that much weirder than "Lyndon" or "Gerald."

Posted by Cascadian | October 7, 2008 1:28 PM
22

Dubya's dad might just as well have named him "Mud." He'll be benched next to Hoover in the halls of History.

Posted by rob | October 7, 2008 1:48 PM
23

georg is way better than george.

i hope his HALF brother gets a sweet government job in hopes he can lobby his brother for aid.

Posted by max solomon | October 7, 2008 1:50 PM
24

Barack Obama is named after his father.

Posted by dan | October 7, 2008 2:02 PM
25

@17

It was on the first page of his book. He started going by "Barack" instead of "Barry", and then 9/11 happened. One of his political friends told him that it would be hard for him in the changed political climate, but he stuck with "Barack."

Posted by kebabs | October 7, 2008 3:02 PM
26

Personally I don't have any problem with "Barack;" it's a good name. I don't have a problem with his middle name either, which has been borne by many honourable men. Anyone who votes against him on the basis of name is a cretin.

Posted by Seajay | October 7, 2008 3:21 PM

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