The Real Message Behind the Obama Photo

Most of you have probably seen the photo of Barack Obama that staffers on the Clinton campaign have allegedly been circulating. If not, here’s a copy of it. Apparently Obama was on a tour of Kenya and at one point tried on the traditional clothing of one African tribe. Hillary claims to know nothing about the photo; still, the Obama campaign accused Clinton of “the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we’ve seen from either party in this election.” Of course, strong rhetoric like that is expected from both sides during these campaigns, and as such things are hardly as bad or reprehensible as the opposition says they are, if you ask me. One thing worries me, though, about this whole situation, something that I haven’t seen any news story even touch up to this point.

If it’s true that Clinton staffers are circulating this Obama photo, what’s the point, what’s the implication? Obviously if an opposing party is circulating a photo of another candidate, the intent is to knock him down a few pegs and give him some bad publicity. So take the photo in that light. Is this supposed to somehow make me think less of Barack Obama? Is he supposed to come off as some sort of religious nut? Look, he’s wearing a turban! He must be some kind of jihad-crazy Muslim extremist! Is that what I’m supposed to think? I’m sure we can all agree that anybody who would assume something so ignorant from a simple photograph probably has more than one bigoted bone in his body.

This seems to be the implication though, judging where the picture allegedly comes from. But more importantly, if these allegations are true and the photo did indeed come from the Clinton camp, it’s a pathetic, reprehensible commentary on both the latent bigotry and intolerance of those who put the photo out for circulation in the first place as well as the unbased fear and ignorance that they assume exists within the public sentiment. If the facts indeed show that Clinton staffers were responsible for releasing this photo, the ought to be ashamed for reminding us that, despite our best efforts, racism, ignorance, and intolerance are more alive and well than most of us would like to admit.