Obama in a robe

[sapphire]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7263783.stm

[Departed Member]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7263783.stm

I'm perplexed. Why would being photographed in the traditional clothes of his father's homeland damage his electoral chances? It's not as if he 'stripped off', in front of cameras, is it? I'm assuming, like so many in the UK, he was wearing his suit underneath?

[JRMILLER]

Hey, imagine this: Hilary in pants, now, that could really be offensive to someone!

[Since1982]

I can't see that being any kind of a smear, any more than the traditional Saudi Arabian robes Obama Bin Laden wears when he is leading the Hezbollah or any other terrorist group he runs. What clothes he wears shouldn't have anything to do with his personal terrorist organizations he is the leader of. Just like the green camoflage uniforms had nothing to do with the Communist beliefs Fidel Castro had in his 35 years of running Cuba....

What clothing a leader prefers to wear should have absolutely nothing to do with how he runs his country...

[Sarongman]

It's only just hit our news and the comment by the anchorman was " How low are the Clintons prepared to go?" This attempted smear may backfire badly on Hilary.

[Charlie]

Hey, imagine this: Hilary in pants, now, that could really be offensive to someone!

Wow! A potential president of the USA a cross-dresser?

Charlie

[sapphire]

No. We have a candidate for president who was photographed in the traditional garb of his father's homeland.

The US needs to learn to embrace its cultural diversity and Hilary needs to get some fashion diversity. I, for one, am getting sick of seeing that same black trimmed yellow jacket.

[Bob]

There's been a continuing set of low-grade rumors that Obama is muslim. This seems to be aimed in that direction. As far as anyone can tell, it's not true. But that's politics.

Speaking of politics... if this thread gets out of hand, I'll close it.

In any case, this issue in the news seems to be more one of religion than fashion freedom.

[sapphire]

So what if he is a muslim, or attended a muslim run school as a child?

The issue is that someone decided to make an issue of a garment he wore from his father's homeland. Making that garb an issue is as stupid a thing as criticizing men who wear skirts.

Closing this thread because of some external snargling, ie what's in the news would be tragic. Might just as well shut down the cafe because men in skirts aren't generally accepted.

[Departed Member]

Speaking of politics... if this thread gets out of hand, I'll close it.

I sincerely hope you don't!

As I assume (being from the UK) that as the participants belong to the same party, then it's not a political debate. In fact, it's very relevant to the perceptions/misconceptions that what folk choose to wear has some sort of inate bearing on their abilities, in the eyes of (at least) their detractors. Surely, that is a factor that affects many (if not all) of the contributers here at some time or another?

[Since1982]

Yes, Please don't close this thread, Bob...What a person wears on his body at any time should have nothing to do with his politics, life, favorite fishing spot or favorite skirt. Let's not get in that huge group, (mostly in western countries ) that believe what cloth a MAN wears on his body has some control on how he thinks.

I just wish we had lots more candidates to think about. I liked the actor that played lots of politicians in the Movies. I guess he figured out facial recognition as the Presidents chief of staff in "Line Of Fire" with Clint Eastwood, wouldn't get him elected as President. Must be nice to have all those hundreds of millions of dollars of personal wealth to spend to get a job that pays $200,000.00 a year. Thats true, the President gets 200k a year, same as a Senator or Representative.

Maybe the free house is the cookie that makes all that hassle worth it after all.

[gshubert]

I think the US President's salary went up to $400,000 in 2001. There are some other expense accounts too. But it's still a lot less than many sports stars, movie stars, or corporate executives.