Al Qaeda Frustrated by Pro-Obama Media Bias

[Lemur]

Looks like whining about unfair pro-Obama media coverage isn't restricted to disgruntled Time magazine editors. Turns out Al Qaeda's #2 dude doesn't much like the coverage he's getting after calling Obama a "house slave."

Global reactions to Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri's controversial condemnation of U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama as a "House Slave" (or, alternatively, "House Negro") have begun to pour in -- including via the top jihad web forums used by Al-Qaida to disseminate its propaganda. Though hardcore Al-Qaida supporters have predictably dismissed any criticism of Dr. al-Zawahiri and are fiercely backing his choice of words, there is a rather ironic (if not entirely unfamiliar) twist to this issue. After observing international press reporting on the incident, these same supporters are now bitterly attacking the media for its "unfair" pro-Obama bias and for deliberately "confusing" the meaning of al-Zawahiri's message.

Meanwhile, the Antichrist/Muslim/Socialist/White-hating President-elect is winning over some conservatives with his cabinet picks.

As someone who was skeptical of Obama’s moderate posturing during the campaign, I have to admit that I am gobsmacked by these appointments , most of which could just as easily have come from a President McCain. (Jim Jones is an old friend of McCain’s, and McCain almost certainly would have asked Gates to stay on as well.) This all but puts an end to the 16-month timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, the unconditional summits with dictators, and other foolishness that once emanated from the Obama campaign. His appointments suggest that, if anything, his administration will have a Reapolitiker, rather than a liberal, bent, although Clinton and Steinberg at State should be powerful voices for “neo-liberalism” which is not so different in many respects from “neo-conservativism”. Both, for instance, support humanitarian interventions in places like Darfur and Bosnia.

Combined with the moderation of the economic team that Obama has just named, I would say his administration already far exceeds expectations, and he hasn’t even taken office yet.

Bias, I say! Bias!

[rvg]

]As someone who was skeptical of Obama’s moderate posturing during the campaign, I have to admit that I am gobsmacked by these appointments , most of which could just as easily have come from a President McCain. (Jim Jones is an old friend of McCain’s, and McCain almost certainly would have asked Gates to stay on as well.) This all but puts an end to the 16-month timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, the unconditional summits with dictators, and other foolishness that once emanated from the Obama campaign. His appointments suggest that, if anything, his administration will have a Reapolitiker, rather than a liberal, bent, although Clinton and Steinberg at State should be powerful voices for “neo-liberalism” which is not so different in many respects from “neo-conservativism”. Both, for instance, support humanitarian interventions in places like Darfur and Bosnia.

Agreed. So far, Obama has showed an open-minded, no-nonsense approach. I'm beginning to believe that his victory is a good thing.

[ICantSpellDawg]

We will see a backlash against Obama after he blows most of his promises. Until then and until FOCA, I'm fine with his picks and direction.

He is and has always been a Capitalist as evident in his cabinet picks. He is a hawkish/conventional style military pragmatist. He is much more of the same than most people want to admit - and that is fine.

He is pretty much a half-black Jed Bartlett; a Radical social policy coupled with a traditional American economic and military agenda. Jed Bartlet being more religious for personal faith. When Obama starts campaigning for his second term he will start going to church again.

Obama's election was always going to be a better thing than McCain being elected for most issues. That guy had no business going for the White House. An old man who didn't understand economics and couldn't articulate his social positioning? What the hell?

[LittleGrizzly]

He is much more of the same than most people want to admit - and that is fine.

I distinctly remember trying to make that point like a million times, i was drowned out by the cries of socialist and marxist though....

He's going to be a bit different, more international coperation, softer tone (no more with us or against us) but not really a whole world of difference from what Mccain would have done... imo

[rory_20_uk]

Surprise...

Somehow different - with all the usual faces.

But AQ's man was a moron to make such a comment - who was it trying to impress? If he'd flattered the guy that would have arguably upset many more people as it's oft been said he's soft on unilateral "pre-emptive defence".

[Fragony]

We will see a backlash against Obama after he blows most of his promises.

Which is bound to happen, but this particular backlash could just destroy the racial dimension. The left is left with nothing right now, good luck to them. It's kinda funny, after all the probama wardrums euro lefties now have to defend his policies, the silence screams, a complete media lockdown to prevent people from having doubts about socialism. As it turns out that they are racists the only thing that was important was his skin which is kinda amusing.

[Lemur]

Which is bound to happen, but this particular backlash could just destroy the racial dimension. The left is left with nothing right now, good luck to them. It's kinda funny, after all the probama wardrums euro lefties now have to defend his policies, the silence screams, a complete media lockdown to prevent people from having doubts about socialism. As it turns out that they are racists the only thing that was important was his skin which is kinda amusing.

Okay, my tired little brain is trying to decode this with little success.

What "racial dimension"? What do you mean by that? "The left is left with nothing now," how so? How does the Presidential election in the U.S.A. destroy the global "left"? Could you unpack that a little?

"Euro lefties now have to defend his policies": what policies? What are you talking about? The only "policies" he's made so far are tentative cabinet appointments that still need to be ratified by Congress. But the President-elect has no actual power to enact anything. Last I checked, George W. Bush is still our President.

"A complete media lockdown to prevent people from having doubts about socialism." Okay, this one completely eludes me. It looks as though Obama is going to be a pragmatist/centrist, and this is causing a media lockdown ... to prevent a collapse in confidence about ... socialism? I'm lost. Help me. How is the election of a centrist a body blow to confidence in socialism?

"It turns out that they are racists": say wha? Who's "them" in this sentence? And how are "they" expressing their racism? By praising Obama? And now, um, with their confidence in socialism falling, they're going to, um .... um .... you really have lost me.

[Fragony]

Was talking as a european sorry that was a bit of a monologue. There has been a genuine Obama hype here, Obama who is vastly more rightwing then anything we have here, he was everywhere 24/7. But, simple survey showed that most of his greatest supporters, which include the most vocal, didn't have a single clue about his ideas, it really is a racial issue here that a black man was elected, that is just how it is.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Was talking as a european sorry that was a bit of a monologue. There has been a genuine Obama hype here, Obama who is vastly more rightwing then anything we have here, he was everywhere 24/7. But, simple survey showed that most of his greatest supporters, which include the most vocal, didn't have a single clue about his ideas, it really is a racial issue here that a black man was elected, that is just how it is.

And that was one of the positive components he had going for him on this side of the pond as well. The USA was ready to get over this old hurdle of ours. Regardless of how Obama does, a good bit of that racism stigma is now gone....and GOOD riddance to it.

So far, we have seen names on the NatSec side of things who are experienced and carry good credentials and reputations. I'll admit its encouraging. State and the Domestic agenda side are pretty classic Dem -- but it would be hard to expect them NOT to be. Economic team seems left of center, but not a crew with "lets tear it all down" in mind by any means. Overall, the competence of the group is pretty solid.

However, a caution with cabinet appointments. Everyone thoght Powell's centrism/modest liberalism would help balance out the Bush Admin's more assertive neo-cons. Didn't work that way though, did it?

In other words, we need to give him his chance, but let's not go assuming what his policies will be until he shows us what he intends his policies to be.

[Rhyfelwyr]

If Obama has a bad term in office, it might encourage racists. I think much of Britain is still scared to have a female PM after Thatcher...

I think he'll do quite well though. Most likely the criticism he gets will be from a disillusioned liberal left after he turns out to be fairly moderate.

[LittleGrizzly]

The people who seemed to think Obama were really left wing were primarily scared right wingers, i don't think i heard a single left winger call him a socailist or a marxist...

Obama is a farly big change from the neo cons, even if he is a moderate by us standards that is a decent difference between a right winger by us standards... the majority of left wingers who now anything about politics now he is not some european left winger, it is only the unintrested left wingers who don't pay much attention to politics who have the wrong impression of him, and they wont notice too much anyway

honestly this disspointment thing is a creation of the right who feel the need to have a 'kick' at the left

[Fragony]

honestly this disspointment thing is a creation of the right who feel the need to have a 'kick' at the left

Dissapointment? Comfirmation. C'est possible, makes you as an idealist kinda useless doesn't it.

[LittleGrizzly]

errm... im not really sure what your saying ??

Im not sure what me saying the word dissapointed confirms ?

I wasn't saying i was dissapointed in Obama, hell even if i was expecting a socialist the guy isn't president yet, just to note im not expecting a socialist, someone a bit more left wing, or moderate maybe in european terms, he could dissapoint me in that...

anyway this is way of topic... so moving swiftly on...

I can see Al Qaeda's logic here, if they want to try and claim the united states as racist they need to make out he is thier lackey, so that they can still declare them racist....

[Seamus Fermanagh]

If Obama has a bad term in office, it might encourage racists. I think much of Britain is still scared to have a female PM after Thatcher...

The neaderthal fringe who would use a bad term by Obama as justification for their bigoted opinions will do so anyway. Fortunately, most American voters are past this as an issue -- except perhaps as a positive source of appeal. And yes, Obama has had a major part in helping this shift in thinking to crystalize into a reality.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Cry-baby criticism coming from an advocate of such a misogynistic, ignorant, religio-fascist sect of believers is really the sincerest form of flattery, no? Heavens, how did that message get so garbled? off with that al queda speech writer's head...

Maybe he and Pat Robertson, Tricky Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, and company should join the same support group. dirty birds of a feather should flock together...

Meh, like so many flies buzzing 'round the dung pile.

[Tribesman]

Cry-baby criticism coming from an advocate of such a misogynistic, ignorant, religio-fascist sect of believers is really the sincerest form of flattery, no? Heavens, how did that message get so garbled?

Do you mean this ?....

Which is bound to happen, but this particular backlash could just destroy the racial dimension. The left is left with nothing right now, good luck to them. It's kinda funny, after all the probama wardrums euro lefties now have to defend his policies, the silence screams, a complete media lockdown to prevent people from having doubts about socialism. As it turns out that they are racists the only thing that was important was his skin which is kinda amusing.

[Hosakawa Tito]

If the clog fits...

[JR-]

as i said in the election thread; there is going to be a deep dissapointment among the european political left when obama does all the things he was supposed to save the US from doing were it still in the hands of "teh neocon evil-doers!!!111ONEONEONE"

[LittleGrizzly]

as i said in the election thread; there is going to be a deep dissapointment among the european political left when obama does all the things he was supposed to save the US from doing were it still in the hands of "teh neocon evil-doers!!!111ONEONEONE"



yes were all going to be terribly dissapointed we aren't getting that socailist we all thought he was.... or was that some other political ideaology that thought he was a socailist... hmm....

[Tribesman]

yes were all going to be terribly dissapointed we aren't getting that socailist we all thought he was.... or was that some other political ideaology that thought he was a socailist... hmm....

Come on grizzly everyone said he was socialist didn't they , after all he talked about taxes didn't he .
You really shouldn't imply that the only ones that thought he was socialist may have been getting their definition of socialism and analysis of Obama from Rush Limbaugh .

[rory_20_uk]

Come on grizzly everyone said he was socialist didn't they , after all he talked about taxes didn't he .
You really shouldn't imply that the only ones that thought he was socialist may have been getting their definition of socialism and analysis of Obama from Rush Limbaugh .

And best airbrush out his entire political history fighting it up through the trenches of Chicago, oh and a lawyer.. Besides an orator, could he also be a good disassembler? One thing to get power and then change afterwards?? That'd be a first...

[JR-]

as i said in the election thread; there is going to be a deep dissapointment among the european political left when obama does all the things he was supposed to save the US from doing were it still in the hands of "teh neocon evil-doers!!!111ONEONEONE"



yes were all going to be terribly dissapointed we aren't getting that socailist we all thought he was.... or was that some other political ideaology that thought he was a socailist... hmm....

i was referring mainly to his foreign policy stance.

[Husar]

I'm sure he will apply for membership in the EU...

[LittleGrizzly]

i was referring mainly to his foreign policy stance.

I think the kind of people expecting some completely different administration when it comes to foriegn affairs are the kind of people who won't find out he isn't different, it will only be if something like the iraq war came along that people would be dissapointed...

These are the kinds of people who won't know anything about foriegn affairs or actually read anything about foriegn affairs, so without something like iraq which motivates the unintrested they aren't going to be able to find out how wrong they are, so they'll be happy with obama

and to suggest that people actually intrested in politics would be expecting something way different is folly, sure theres probably one or two idiots who are intrested but don't have a clue, but anyone with at least a half decent understanding of american politics and foriegn politics nows he will be pretty similar

so to recap

unintrested masses won't find out he's different to be dissapointed
one or two people who have no knowledge of american politics but an interest will be dissapointed
vast majority of those with an interest pretty much know what to expect

I do see this as nothing more than, damn we lost the election... but look at those stupid leftys, hah!

[Lemur]

Joel Klein notes the far-right's freakout about Obama's sudden lack of socialist white-hating zeal:

You have to laugh about the denizens of the political right who are shocked at Barack Obama's moderation: who were they expecting for Secretary of Defense, Louis Farrakhan? Jeremiah Wright at State? Much of this is a result of the right drinking its own koolaid: the mythology of Obama being some sort of crypto-lefty, "associated" with people like William Ayres and Wright, rather than the moderate realist who sent signals throughout the campaign that he was looking to people like Gates and Jones to join his team.

[ICantSpellDawg]

Joel Klein notes the far-right's freakout about Obama's sudden lack of socialist white-hating zeal:

You have to laugh about the denizens of the political right who are shocked at Barack Obama's moderation: who were they expecting for Secretary of Defense, Louis Farrakhan? Jeremiah Wright at State? Much of this is a result of the right drinking its own koolaid: the mythology of Obama being some sort of crypto-lefty, "associated" with people like William Ayres and Wright, rather than the moderate realist who sent signals throughout the campaign that he was looking to people like Gates and Jones to join his team.

Man, why don't you marry the guy? We were trying to win using really questionable associations JUST like the left would have used against a GOP nominee with some associative tie in the past to the KKK or an extreme christian group.

I always thought Obama was a moderate conventionalist on most issues. That's why I thought the "change" mantra was bogus, because the only change will be on average voter perception and national abortion policy.

Get over it, your guy won. You are imagining some right-wing freak out. Go back to being the moderate non-foam-seething Lemur that we all used to admire.

Happy Thanksgiving.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Come on grizzly everyone said he was socialist didn't they , after all he talked about taxes didn't he .
You really shouldn't imply that the only ones that thought he was socialist may have been getting their definition of socialism and analysis of Obama from Rush Limbaugh .

Try Hannity, Savage, or Ingraham -- El Rushbo is fairly sedate by comparison.

[Fragony]

as i said in the election thread; there is going to be a deep dissapointment among the european political left when obama does all the things he was supposed to save the US from doing were it still in the hands of "teh neocon evil-doers!!!111ONEONEONE"

Yep, these birds will need to sing another tune, but it's all they know.

[Tribesman]

Yep, these birds will need to sing another tune, but it's all they know.

Does it go to the tune of muslims muslims muslims Frag ?

[Fragony]

Does it go to the tune of muslims muslims muslims Frag ?

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