Obama and the Cuban flag controversy

US blogs are buzzing with the latest campaign trail controversy - the display of a Cuban flag in a Texas office set up by supporters of Barack Obama. Not only that, the wall-size flag is superimposed with the image of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara.

The flag was featured in a segment on Fox 26, a local Fox station, looking at efforts by Obama supporters in Houston ahead of the crucial March 4 primary here, and immediately sent right-wingers into a collective fit of apoplexy. Googling "Obama Cuban flag" currently draws a mammoth 534,000 results, challenging "Obama Muslim"'s 1,100,000 for pole position in the smear stakes.

Obama's campaign has since disassociated itself with the volunteer concerned and her ideological viewpoint.

There are a few points to note here -

1 - The office was set up by unpaid volunteers and is not a campaign office - despite Fox's claims to the contrary in its rather misleading original segment, repeated by right wing bloggers across the country. Fox has since acknowledged its error - but bloggers haven't followed suit.

2 - The volunteer concerned is Cuban-American and has a right to her views of her own country of origin. Joseph McCarthy died quite some time ago now.

3- She also comes across as a bit of a flake, as is evident in Fox's subsequent interview. If anything, I'd be more concerned about her proximity to the Obama campaign than that of the bearded one.

3 - Even if Obama did secretly harbour a penchant for Marxist ideology, he'd hardly advertise it to Fox News.

5 - In attempting to hype up the story, the reporter claims that Che Guevara was responsible for "tens of thousands of deaths" - but where did this figure come from? Estimates of executions during Guevara's time as commander of La Cabaña prison immediately after the revolution do vary, but the majority are measured in the low hundreds. Was the reporter perhaps confused with the 20,000 estimated extra-judicial killings under the previous regime of Fulgencia Batista, the US-supported dictator, whose victims were mostly tortured to death?

Here's what the blogs are saying:

Babalu Blog: “Amazing. Simply amazing. The Butcher of La Cabaña, a well deserved and earned nickname for the murdering Argentine, on a Cuban flag in a U.S. Presidential campaign office, draped next to an American Flag. That’s not just a dichotomy or something akin to an irony, it is downright disgusting.”

Charles Johnson on Little Green Footballs:

"If I’m “insinuating” anything, it’s this: when you actively pander to and encourage the radical leftist elements of your party, as the Democrats have been determinedly doing for the past eight years, you’re going to end up with embarrassing scenes like this.

"And attacking the messenger who points it out is standard political damage control."

Outside the Beltway

"Che worship (or, alternatively, the wearing of Che t-shirts as a statement without the slightest clue of who he was) seems to be a phase that certain left-leaning activists go through in their youth; it generally passes. Driscoll’s characterization of it as “juvenilia” is spot on.

"But, surely, Obama doesn’t need to publicly weigh in on the decorating choices of every low level staffer? Let alone “renounce” affinities which he’s never shown?"

John Cole's Balloon Juice:

" I take this as a sign that the GOP is feeling threatened by Obama.

"Is there anyone except the troglodyte right who thinks our Cuba policy has been a success and doesn’t need to be thought through? I mean, if you want to look at long-term failed policies, Cuba could be right up there at the top. What exactly has been accomplished?"

Comments

[CT Barbarian]

I don't care for the snide tone of this post.

Had this been a Chilean flag with Pinochet's image in a McCain office the press, particularly in Europe, would be having apoplectic fits.

[Tony Francis]

Of course it is news. The Obama campaign failed denounce the Cuban flag incident. It only said, "these are not our views". This makes it sound like a difference of opinion about tax policy or social security. "One view is as legitimate as another. We just hold a different opinion." What if John MCCain or Huckabee had unofficial support from the Ku Klux Klan, or Neo-Nazi groups, or abortion clinic bombers, or white separatists? And what would you make of it if the campaign said, "these are not our views"?

[Matt Faux]

Just wondering....how many southern GOP campaigners have a confederate flag somewhere in their office? If we are to assume that this isolated incident makes Obama a communist, is it not fair to assume that republicans are racist?

Grow up!

This is the kind of ridiculous logic that has brought us to the unfortunate divisiveness our country now suffers from. It's not going to get better until we see that and let go of such petty behavior.

We are better than this. It is time to show it.

[Graham Asher]

Ernesto Guevara (I refuse to use his infantile nickname) was a murderer and a tyrant. Quibbling about whether he murdered only a few hundred people is shameful. Yes, it is important that political campaigners are either such fools or such knaves to display his picture.

[TDOG]

Obamacrats & the Socialists one and the same

[richard]

Given the lascivious eagerness of the media to report before vetting, anyone can discredit a candidate by creating an "outrage" in an office ostensibly dedicated to that candidate. Example: the KKK opens an office supporting Mr. Obama, complete with robes, hoods, and fiery crosses. The media would rush from Britney Spears for pictures and words.

[maggieer]

Just goes to show who Obama's supporters really are -- this plus George Soros. Sicko

[W Bissinger]

Che's murder of only a few hundred people is of course glossed over by progressives, because like those murdered by Stalin, Mao, Castro and Pol Pot, they were "enemies of the revolution," and those unpaid volunteers certainly say nothing about their candidate of choice. Of course when, probably sooner than later, someone "spots" a confederate flag in a McCain campaign office, I'm sure it will be chalked up to media bias, as well.

[Daphne Kenward]

I would not put anything pass Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton, Flag or no Flag. OBAMA is way past stupid Stunts By Bill & Hillary, in TEXAS, and the Texans are too wise to buy her nonsence to win using dirty campaigning. I have been to Texas many times Texans are warm and friendly people. And are too smart for Hillary and Bill. The thing about Hillary and Bill they do not respect the intelligence of the Texan people she said the other night that TEXANS are all hats and no cattle, what she ment was TEXANS are all hats and No BRAINS. Well I know Texans are going to tell her TEXANS are all Brains and less hats and be found doing the right thing and be voting for change and create some of that warm friendly Texan hospitality across, America by Voting OBAMA, and tell her to take her Phoney self back to where ever she is coming from. OBAMA is the one. Tell her that not all Texans are stupid red necks with guns, texans have move on in the modern world. Her insults that allTexans are backwards and stupid, is unfounded, because Bush came from TEXAS is no reason to insullt all TEXANS, does she know the Texan people, how often has she ever come to Texas she is coming because she is desperate, tell her to take her desperation some where else she and Bill has robbed enough people and thrown the people the scraps for long enough this is a modern age, and a time for change. People want a future for their kids and an education to get good Jobs, and earn enough to take care of their families. The age of the scraps is over. America is a RICH Country and the people of TEXAS want their shair of the Prosperity.

[Andrew]

Excellent post. Not sure how well it'd go down with the Times' and Fox News' owners though..

[Mari]

This is all bull and should be published by the obama campaign. He will lose all my support if he wouldn't.

Che Guevara is an assassin, just like Fulgencion Batista was. My family, specifically, my father a journalist, had to escape cuba during the "revolution" and yes< ms. Strange, Che contributed to hundreds of thousands of murderers with Fidel Castro. Have your facts straight.

I have donated to Obama's campaign because I believe he can unite this country. His supporters should be aware of history before they display anything that is not about Obama. Period!

[J Pineda]

What is really disturbing (but not surprising) is that "liberals" aren't outraged as well. I understand that leftists have a strange love relationship with the butcher Guevara as they due with Mao and other mass murdering psychopaths. However, true Democrat liberals who appreciate the value of liberty, democracy and all those cozy words we take for granted and often put in parenthisis should be disgusted that Obama tolerates supporters of totalitarianism and red-fascism within his campaign.

[Christopher Hobe Morrison]

I think there were a lot of people who admired aspects of the Cuban revolution, and who admired Che Guevara. He could have stayed in a comfortable position for the rest of his life after overthrowing Batista, but he didn't. He continued his revolution in several overseas countries and eventually paid for that with his life.

Admiring the idealism and the self-sacrifice does not also mean admiring locking people up and killing them for little or no reason, but apparently for some people the admiration continues. If this means that every political movement any of these people are connected to is automatically disgraced, then so be it. But I do wonder what flags and photos some of them have in their offices.

[George]

Sounds like the Clintons and Fox have got together on this one to try anything to win the nomination.

[Frank Upton]

The 'tens of thousands of deaths' figure may arise from Guevara's failed attempt to create a revolution in Bolivia, which certainly was bloody. Even if he only murdered 'a few hundreds' of people it still seems rather excessive. We would be missing the point if we tried to defend Guevara.

[carlos steneri]

I don't see a problem with somebody looking up to CHE and what he INITIALLY stood for. It might be out of place in the United States, but CHE's ideology is based on the real abuses suffered by millions in Latin America. He was a humanist, he dedicated his life, and gave up a comfortable life, to help many people. His political views ran askew and he adopted violent tactics to pursue his aims. All in all, I would say he wasnt too different from George Washington, the rebel general who led guerilla attacks against the imperialist British. Many North Americans forget that their revolution was indeed a violent, liberal, revolution against an opressive power. Very simmilar to CHE and Fidel fighting against Batistas regime.

[trups]

Here we go again. Why cant the American ACT like an American? Adult, sound minded, EDUCATED, compassionate, considerate, intellectual.......should I go on?

STOP THIS BICKERING AND NITPICKING - after the 2004 FIASCO, we are beginning another one and THAT does NOT reflect 'the greatest nation' in the world, as we so put it. We cannot be.

So people, throw away cynicism, bury any enmity, washout the make believe stains, clean your ears and OPEN YOUR EYES......

'Power' is a very delicate and dangerous thing, yet when sought after, is misinterpreted by whosoever chooses and revered others who want it for REAL value, i.e. betterment of EVERYONE.

Let's get past this kindergarten foolishness and use our brains to do the RIGHT thing.

[Barefoot]

Oh my god, what is going on with you people? I wish Americans would stop being so petty and focus on the task at hand, we the people on the other side of the world are watching and feel at this moment in time that you're trying to find a way to discredit or find faults that is beyond Mr Obama's control. Someone even went on to say and I quote " What if John MCCain or Huckabee had unofficial support from the Ku Klux Klan, or Neo-Nazi groups, or abortion clinic bombers, or white separatists" I wonder what it is this person is really trying to say???? If you're going to find a fault, find one directly related to the politician.

Barefoot

[Syed Hamad Ali]

What the Che flag story illustrates the flawed logic present in a lot of the support for Obama – this type of anti-war revolutionary figure on a mission backed by empty rethorics such as “hope” and “yes we can.” His team may not have commisoned the flag, but this is how many of his voters view him. That is, not a Marxist but someone who stands for change. The question is, is he really promising anything different?

[Chris]

An unpaid volunteer that is not directly associated with Obama's campaign other than supporting him, gets this kind of media attention? And no one is suspicious as to how FOX found this person either? It smells of a setup.

As well, this is juvenille politics at best. I like Obama since he done his best to avoid divisive politics. This is why he appeals to the youth demographic. We don't care about past ideological fights. We'll argue words between varying points of view, but at the end of the day we'll go out for a beer with each other.

If you want to nitpick McCain, Obama or Clinton, touch on policy, their record or something that matters. If McCain had a supporter with a Confederate flag, he wouldn't be racist, just as Obama is not a communist.

And to the media: You're at fault for helping propagate this aweful attacks. I want real reporting, I want policy analysis. I don't care about this, I want to know McCain's position on climate change or Obama's position on Darfur.

Let's build up our future instead of continuously tearing it down.

[Joe]

Were it not for Joe McCarthy, you might not have a presidential campaign to write about today -- although, unlike most rational people, you seem to have a sweet spot for dictators.

[Lanker Pheldge]

Obviously Hannah Strange has no business regarding herself a reporter. This piece is nothing but smarmy left-wing apology.

Hey Hannah, it's the Che Guevara types in Latin America and elsewhere who are currently attempting to shut down the free press. How would that sit with you?

[Lorenzo]

But what about all of the Nazi flags in the garages and basements of McCain supporters, right next to their cache of automatic weapons and their Charlton Heston posters ? Why is no one reporting on this ?

[Daphne Kenward]

The thing that all Americans should know is Cubans have the best Health Care in the World. America is a First world country with a third world mentality. Britain was who America had to fight for Independence, a small place, but even Britain gave up the old Colonial ideologies, because it would bankrupt the country, America adopted an out dated ideology, tried and tested. Britain goes to War with America, but wants no War on her soil. Peace since the second world war, has yield prosperity to the Island of Britain. America has alot to learn from their cousins. They go to war with America but don't buy American policies, it is out dated and crazy. Most people in the UK think Americans are not a100% mentally. Americans are looked down on, as a crazy bunch of trigger happy nutters. Mentally disabled, and if it were not for foreigners going there it would be one of the most backward places on earth. People trade with Countries not because they think people are great but because it makes money, it is a big market place, like Americans trade with China, that is the reality. I think if Americans continue the Mad road they have traveled, it will back fire, Europe is changing, Europe want their own way ahead, and America is becoming a place where most of the world want to disassociate them selves from. The United States of Europe is about to take over the world, the Euros is the New World currency, America has to wake up or get left behind, Obama is about the only chance America has right now McCain wants a 100 years in Iraq at a cost or a Trillion dollars per year, it is unsustainable, and worst of all stupid. In a Recession people need to hold on to their money.

[Daphne Kenward]

On CNN some guy on there is saying the Elections at present is not about Popular Votes, well if it is not why hold them, if the Super Delegates decides not to Vote with the Polular votes how can the Democrats expects to win?, if I was in America and the peoples voice is not being heard I would not bother to vote in the Real Elections, because it would make no sense, if young people are coming out for the first time, to discover their voice is not important why would they bother in an election?. It's like Obama said change is needed now, and he is 100% right, as long as power remains in the hands of the few there is no point in voting, it becomes a waste of time. If Super Delegates think they are more important than the people, no one can establish change. it becomes a part of the establishment unwilling to adopt what the people want, and puts it self in a position of none importance, where the Electorate decides their voice will never be heard, no matter who is incharge people become uninterested, and dis engaged, and the party becomes un-emportant and pointless, to ordinary people. The Super Delegates needs to establish if change is possible with them or they see them selves as too important and their position is more important than the electorate. If this were tp persue what will be the outcome, is a break away party where these people will establish their own party, the PARTY OF THE PEOPLE.

[T.Allegue]

This so called Cuban-"american" lady should go live in Cuba so she can enjoy the "riches" of communism. Obama saying that diplaying this cuban flag with the image of Che is "inappropriate" is not only lame but offensive and worrisome. The real Cubans that live in the USA, not the communist kind like this Obama volunteer, are offended to the max and will not stay quite about this situation. If everybody is so mesmerized by Obama's message, and wanting change, change...well, you may get more change than you bargained for:COMMUNISM. Voters beware. Hillary ia a true conservative compared to CheObama!

[The Dark One]

Mainstream and independent media, including thousands of independent blogs have focused on the fact that the Obama campaign failed to denounce the Che Guevara Cuban flag incident. The focus should have been in his policies. This incident could have provided a platform to better understand Obama’s policy towards Cuba.

However the focus has turned into historical parody, reinforcing the Barack Obama icon – an icon, which like Che Guevara is laced with a combination of myth and truth, future tense and past tense, hope for change and thirst for things past.

How much do we really know about Barack Obama (beyond his policies) other than him being an icon of hope? How much do we really know about Che Guevara (beyond his beliefs) other than him being an icon for revolution?

Barack Obama and Che Guevara share little in common, other than the fact their beliefs and substance have been overshadowed by a need to construct and elevate icons.

While marketing may be the factory that manufactures and helps makes sense of politics, we should be careful not everything of great promise gets printed onto a t-shirt.

[Jeff in Kansas]

I said it before and I'll say it again I don't want EITHER Obama OR Clinton in the office of President.
I don't want McCain in office as well if there is someone else that could win this November if not then hopefully the Republican VP will be closer to my idea of a better candidate.

[Miguel]

Someone in these comments by the name of Daphne Kenward started her comments by saying that "Cubans have the best Health Care in the World". I wonder if she ever visited Cuba. I lived there 15 years and I can say that if it wasn't for the medicines that Cubans in exile send to their relatives in Cuba there would be a great health crisis in Cuba. The "embargo" is not an excuse for the failures of the Cuban government to provide for the health care of its people since Cuba trades with every other country in the world, including Canada, European countries, etc. Furthermore, there are two Cuban's health care systems. One, with all the bells and wistles, restricted to the foreign tourists and members of the Cuban nomenklatura, and the other one, the one used by over 10 million people, that is not better than what you would find in any Latin American country (no functioning x-ray machines, patients staying at a hospital have to bring their own bed sheets, pillows, and in many cases food supplements), etc, etc. Cuba exports its health care system to remote places in the planet for propagandistic and economic benefits; sacrificing in the process the health of the Cuban people. And the sad thing is that people like Daphne Kenward fail to see the horrible reality of the Cuban people.

[jose]

anyone else doubts that venezuelan dictator chavez is economically supporting Obama?

[Cuban]

I just want to express my views as a Cuban-American who votes republican.
Shame on those, who stained our sacred flag with the face of the assassin of thousands of Cubans.
To Obama, I can not say anything, I would not vote for him, neither for Clinton, no matter what.

[Andy Phillips]

First, FoxHouston didn't "feature" the flag. Their reporters didn't even notice the flag when they filmed the February 6 broadcast showing Obama volunteers opening an office to be occupied by paid staff later that week(according to the voiceover). Viewers noticed it, and then found that Fox also hadn't noticed the same flag when it had been filmed February 3rd before Maria Isabel, Captain 002 of Obama's Houston campaign and president of the Houston Obama Leadership Team (Miami Herald article) moved it to the new office. And, no, Obama isn't responsible for Isabel's juvenile admiration of Che-the-Revolutionary. But he is responsible for his campaign's response on its website, which acknowledges that the image is "offensive to many Cuban-Americans -- and Americans of all backgrounds" but doesn't say it is offensive to Obama. Wonder what McCain, whose memoir talkes about friends beaten to death in the Hanoi Hilton by Cuban agents like Che, will say about that?

[Daphne Kenward]

Miguel, I read your comment, I do not know if you are born in Cuba, but if you think that America has had an Embargo on Cuba for over 60 years, and Cuba held her own in the Katrina Storms, and America Failed her people in New Orleans it speaks volumes. Imagine if there was no embargo!. It's not Cuba that was wrong if it were not for Fidel Cuba would be like all the impoverished Caribbean Islands. If he had not got rid of the Gambling & the Prostitution, Cuba would be full of HIV AIDS Victims, like Africa, Many of us look at FIDE has done a great Job keeping stability, and no WAR, it would have been a very prosperious place if it were not for the American bias, against the Cubans. America has tried to Kill FIDEL over 60 times could a foreigner come to America and try to Kill its leader if the answer is no then America needs ot extend the same respect for other world leaders.

[Daphne Kenward]

The unfortunate thing for many people around the world, they were willing to give up their country for money, the American Dollars, I wonder what they will be saying when they discover it is not even worth the paper its written on. Substance is worth more than paper. Do your research the American dollar was pegged to gold, it is now pegged to oil, who controls the oil in the world it is not America, it is the Saudies, and the Arab world, infact the American dollar in real terms is worth 4 cents, people in America is working for nothing, and people are too stupid to realise. The Americans has been duped. The New Curency is the EURO, so what are these disloyal people going to say about America now. Money is the root of all evil baby.

[Daphne Kenward]

We are at a dangerious cross road right now, one man called Rev Wright called it the Chickens coming home to roost, well it is more than that, it is the world coming to an end, with what some call Global warming I call it, Biblical End Times. Drought, Famine, Desease. Money that people invested thoutht they had security, it is worthless. Money with nothing to buy, grow up people, world leaders, or world criminals is more to the point.

[Daphne Kenward]

Many people are complaining about CHE, how many have written in complaining about G W BUSH? who is 100% worse, his own citizens, were victims of lack of leadership, during the New Orleans Floods. A man who was too Racist to care about Black members of the country. The world saw it, the world recogonise this man has no moral standards, yet to write in and complain about CHE, seems to me there are many out of touch people in the UNITED STATES. Look at life, look at the Housing Crisis, look at the state of your economy, look at your moral standards, Read books learn about your past and aspire to a better future. Look at whats wrong in your own community, look at what needs CHANGE, you might get some where.