Barack Obama's campaign calls one-finger issue 'absurd and untrue'

A spokesman for the presidential campaign of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has criticized The Ticket for making a "false and childish accusation" in an item Thursday that the candidate's one-fingered gesture during a speech that day might have been the finger aimed at his Democratic Party opponent instead of an innocent finger aimed at brushing his cheek or scratching a scratch.

As displayed in a video clip, Obama was criticizing Washington for its gotcha politics in general and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton specifically as being "in her element" there. As he mentions her name, he brushes his cheek twice with the middle finger of his right hand.

Ticket readers were invited to make their own interpretations of the gesture. Thousands read the item and viewed the video and a frame from it. And numerous other blogs and websites discussed the matter in the past day.

More than 500 readers left comments, a majority strongly criticizing the blog for asking the question. Those comments are available at the bottom of the previous item.

In an e-mail this afternoon Ben LaBolt, an Obama campaign spokesman, agreed with those commentors and said, in total:

"This is outrageous. The Ticket should be embarrassed for making this
false and childish accusation. It's absurd and untrue."

Asked to elaborate, LaBolt said, "I think my comment covers it. There's nothing to explain."

A spokesman for the Clinton campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[zenagain]

Now let's sit back and think about this for a moment.

He wouldn't do that in a way that was clear to EVERYONE, because that would be too obvious, right?

Therefore, assuming for the sake of argument that he did it, he nonetheless did it in a way that was NOT OBVIOUS to everyone.

So, if he did it in a way that was NOT OBVIOUS to everyone, it is, by definition, NOT OBVIOUS what the gesture meant.

If it's NOT OBVIOUS what the gesture meant, then we should not be having this conversation. Go to bed, kids.

[elle]

Tell you what... ask a 16 year old boy what Obama was doing with both the "scratch face" gesture and the brush shoulders gesture. It is 100% crystal clear. 100%

I asked my twin sons and all their friends to watch the video and they were whooping with laughter, same as the audience who was watching Obama. These are EXACTLY the covert gestures which they would make to disrespect an adult who they dislike (teacher etc). They'd do the face scratch in such a way that only they and their friends "get it". It is irrelevant if the video shows "2 fingers or 1.5 fingers". That's the way it is done, do it but don't get caught.

Obama's behavior certainly made him seem "way cool" in their eyes. So I guess he reached his target audience? Kids?

Not to sound judgmental and old, but this does not inspire a lot of confidence in me! I expect this kind of juvenile behavior from my sons and their friends, but is this the type of behavior we want from a President?

Obama is nothing more than yet another in a long line of narcicistic, juvenille, dirty politicians. How sad.

[Thomas Smith]

Most of the comments posted here are representative of the fears of most of our nation and most of the world... Uninformed, childish individuals herded in to support leaders that speak to their baser wants. That's how we got Bush, and we people like Clinton and McCaine even have a chance.

[mary saunders]

I believe Obama knew exaclty what that scratch was, His way of telling not just Hillary But all who ask him questions that he dont want to answer, to F- - - Off, this guy is the right hand of RV Wright Wake up America, this Obama will be worst then Bush!

[DAVE]

IF YOU LOOK AT A RECENT HILLARY SPEECH YOU WILL NOTICE THAT SHE MADE A SIMILAR MOTION WITH HER FINGER. THE ONLY DIFERRENCE IS THAT SHE WAS SCRATCHING THE LEFT SIDE OF HER FACE SO SHE USED HER LEFT HAND. I DID NOT VIEW THIS AS ANYTHING SINISTER.THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE HERE.THE REPORETR WHO TRIED TO GET ATTENTION FROM THIS NEEDS TO GET OUT OF THIS FIELD. MAYBE HE SHOULD TRY GARBAGE COLLECTION. AS FOR HILLARY SHE SHOULD TRY STOP LYING ALL TOGETHER. WHEN SOMEONE TELL THESE LIES SO OFTEN AND SO EASILY THEN MAKES FUN OF HERSELF IT MEANS THAT SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH HER.I DO HOPE THAT ITS NOT THE AGE, ALCOHOL, OR MEMORY LAPSE.IF IT IS ANY OF THE THREE THEN SHE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE WHITEHOUSE PREIOD. SHE HAS BEEN RECENTLY IDENTIFIED IN A BEHIND-DOOR FUND RAISER EVENT TO HAVE DOUBLE- TALKED THE MOVE-ON ORG WHO WERE SO HELPFUL TO HER HUSBAND IN HIS OWN DIRE SITUATION.SHE WAS CAUGHT ON TAPE JUST LIKE OBAMA WAS. HERE IS A LITTLE QUOTE. "SPEAK THE TRUTH AND SPEAK IT EVER, COST IT WHAT IT WILL,BECAUSE HE WHO HIDES THE WRONG HE DOES , DOES THE WRONG THING STILL.THIS CAMPAING HAS GONE FAR TOO LONG AND THE PENNSYLVANIANS HAVE THE POWERS TO END IT ON 4/22/08.PENNSYLVANIANS HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED OVER THE DECADES JUST LIKE MOST OTHER PEOPLE NATIONWIDE. I AM SURE THEY TOO ARE TIRED OF THE NEGLECT AND THE OLD POLITICS AND NEED A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. 08 IN ANY DECADE IS THE YEAR OF THE NEW BEGINING.THE DEMS NEED TO START DIRECTING ALL THEIR STRATEGIES ETC TO JOHN MCCAIN NOW. NOT TWO OR THREE MONTH FROM NOW .THE PENNSYLVANIANS ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS AND AND WILL BRING AN END TO THIS PROTRACTED OBAMA/CLINTON FIGHT COME PRIMARY DAY. PRECICTION------------------52% TO 48% IN FOVOR OF OBAMA.

[Haydn]

Yes, the longer version of this video clearly shows that he did, indeed, intentionally give the finger when talking about Hillary. I will in no way ever vote for this person now. This is not someone I would ever want to follow as a leader.

[Mark]

What OBAMA did is very commonly done by people especially teens in high schools. He was addressing a high school group and KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS DOING. He is showing his BLACK GHETTO SIDE!! He is not fit to be president or even senator.

[Man with earrings under his shaved armpits]

I guess everybody seems to be reading "between" Obama's fingers... Good!

[KS2 Problema]

Let me get this one straight.

The Times is asking us to interpret as "the one finger salute" a mid-speech gesture by arguably the most disciplined and thoughtful candidate in recent memory, a man who has staked his very candidacy on putting civility back into politics?

If you're going to float BS -- at least float believable BS.

[mc]

Like my 12 year old says - some grown ups never grow up . This is the heights of absurdity. You would think there is more to the presidential candidate reporting than trying to make a mountain out of a innocent scratch. Goodness sake!!! The media needs to grow up and report news adult to adult.

[ur mom]

y wood he do thyt :'(

[billy]

ok u r me now man

[Vnd]

I've been reading blogs about this matter for the past two days and I find it very interesting that no one who was present at the event has written anything in Obama's defense, that no one has come forward to explain why else the crowd chose that particular moment to laugh, clap and cheer. In a speech full of sly gestures, gestures count.

[marigold]

Can the Obama supporters see the finger I use to comment on their blatant and childish behavior defending this man and his obscene gesture? Get it? The door swings both ways. There are many out here who do not appreciate Obama or his minions. We'll let you know for sure IF, and that's a big if, he makes it to the election.

[Matt]

Please consider watching this from a side angle. From the side Obama is using two fingers.
http://www.mydd.com/comments/2008/4/18/102120/357/8#8

[Seni]

Yes, it's clear, Obama did give Hillary the finger. I'm a democrat but I refuse to join a hateful cult. A hateful cult is what Obama and his supporters are. They are mean and angry. They might even try to harm some people who do not agree with them. If Obama is nominated I will vote for McCain. Obama has divided the democrates and this country. His supporters continually say insults and lies about Hillary. Obama is full of lies and cheap shots, no experience and questionable associates. He is not fit to be president of this country.

[tinfoil hattie]

It's one finger, in two different speeches, same sentence, same finger stroking his cheek after the exact same line.

Who are you trying to kid?

[sensible1]

A picture is worth a 1,000 words. It is disgusting that a person running for President of the US resorts to flipping the bird when talking about another United States Senator or for that matter using other gestures associated with gangsta rap. Obama thinks he is going to gain votes doing this? I know several he lost after they saw this piece of trash.

[James]

Earlier in the speech, before where LA Times cuts it, Obama also brushes his cheek. It's something he does a lot. And he wasn't speaking about Clinton then.

[Killjoy]

Here's the picture of Obama "flipping off" Hillary Clinton from a different angle: http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=10162 Unless they added an extra finger to the bird, it sounds like Andrew Malcolm owes Obama an apology. I won't hold my breath waiting for it.

[Rei]

Hello, there are *two fingers* there.

He scratches his face with two fingers, but we're supposed to conclude that it was secretly an attempt to get people to think that he was only using one finger, all part of his planned speech, because as we all know, flipping someone the bird is a time-honored way to earn votes?

Are you people completely out of your minds?

[Democrats are imploding]

The man can't even scratch his face and he is being accused of flipping the bird. I guess we are going have to watch for the next three days him scratching his face as some major issue as evidence of his electability. What's next. We are definitely in the silly season. This primary season has gone on way too long.

[Samir]

That misperceived scratch was not the gesture people were laughing, clapping and cheering at, folks. Do you think an entire crowd can be so immature? It's not clear from the angle presented here, but the crowd clearly saw him jabbing forward while referencing Hillary's stabbing and twisting of a knife, and that was when they reacted.

Please see the official video release:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlR9DNfqGD4

This entire thread of comments and the huge chain of comments on this article's precursor (some made by supposed ex-Obama fans publicly disavowing their support) simply underscores the degree to which people's perceptions are immersed in false stereotypes. When we perceive what we think we should perceive, we avoid thought itself.

[TiffanyfromCanada]

Wow... you people deserve exactly you what you will get if you fail to elect Obama. I can't believe how uneducated the people of America are. It's sad, actually. You are in a seemingly never-ending war. Your gas is approaching $4 per gallon. You don't have a respectable health-care or education policy. And you are debating whether one candidate gave another the finger? It's clear to the rest of the world how your citizens have been hoodwinked by the Bush administration. It's bound to happen again and again.

[Jeffrey]

Ridiculous, people that call themselves Democrats saying they'd vote for McCain if the OLD AND TIRED Hillary and her politics of the past doesn't win the nomination? They're not Democrats and don't know the meaning of the word, John McCain can have you.

Hillary said it herself in the 1992 campaign: History is made by the FIRST TIMERS.

Not the OLD timers.