Barack Obama makes a one-fingered gesture while speaking of Hillary Clinton

This is one of those political moments that really needs few words.

We'll no doubt hear much more about this incident in coming days.

Right now, we'll just leave this video for Ticket readers to view and judge for themselves. It's Sen. Barack Obama, according to the caption on YouTube posted just minutes ago, speaking to a friendly crowd in Raleigh, N.C., today.

He's talking critically about his opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, and the kind of distasteful gotcha politics that occur in Washington. And he says, "That's all right. Sen. Clinton looked in her element."

Watch the video right then. The presidential candidate raises his right hand to seemingly scratch his cheek.

He doesn't use his whole hand though. Just one finger. Briefly. A couple of strokes.

He pauses. He smiles slyly as the crowd begins to mumble and then he tries, somewhat distracted, to continue his remarks, smiling as the buzz spreads through the crowd.

He'll no doubt deny it later, but that mischievous smile seems to confirm plenty. And the crowd sure sees something.

(UPDATE: A new item has been posted on the Obama campaign's reaction to this issue, calling it "absurd and untrue.")

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Comments

[d. gibson]

It depends upon what the meaning of "is" is.

[Roadkill Refugee]

Interesting that you should profess such confidence that we should be hearing much more about this "incident" in the coming days. Since you're not in the predictions business, I have to assume your confidence is based on some solid information. So if you were led to this "incident" by the Clinton campaign or its surrogates, I think that is newsworthy enough that it should be disclosed. Clearly Obama's remarks were effective and likely displeased the Clinton campaign, so it would not be surprising that they would look for something to pick at, no pun intended.

[jamison]

Are you nuts? Are you out of your freaking gourd? He scratches his face. He scratches his face! With one finger, unlike most guys who scratch their faces with both thumbs.

Get a life!

[EricH]

You must be affilated with ABC. They're also a pathetic excuse for a "news" organization. We have brave soldiers and citizens dying in Irag, people who have lost their homes, children without healthcare, an economy in a tailspin and this is what you consider news. What a joke!

[Ellen]

There is another angle of this and it is clear what Obama is doing. He pauses, smiles, laughs and two women behind him whisper to each other and giggle. Then the crowd goes wild. There is no doubt about it, he is giving a subtle message to Hillary to go *&^% herself.
No'Bama

[Palomino]

Go ahead and minimize, Obamabots, but this has gone viral now. He gave Senator Clinton the finger, and it's there for all to see.

[Brian Williamson]

The LA Times used to be set as my home page. After 30 years of using it as my main source of news, I'm giving it up completely. This standard that the LA Times has set is lower than I'm willing to go.

Goodbye.

[MAK]

All of the sudden I'm really dissapointed with the direction this whole thing is headed. What a joke, in light of the pain, suffering and peril our nation faces.

[Babs]

Of course he knew what he was doing, hence the little smirk. Just another nail in his coffin if he is the Democratic nominee. This man is not Presidential material, no way, no how, and if this little gesture is indicitive of what has become acceptable behavior in selecting the leader of the free world, God help us all.

[Mar]

Obama's a tool just like the rest of the politicians in this country. If you really want to change Washington then you ought to pick up a gun an do it 1776 style.

[robinia]

Okay, now this is as ridiculous as Bill Clinton making a gesture with one finger while talking about Monica Lewinsky while smoking a cigar !

What next, the Obama nation bugging Billary's sex life? While In ecstacy you have Bill and Hill joyfully screaming;

"OOOOH? BAM !..Ahhhhhhh".

You be the judge on who is saying what. Does that mean they are both thinking of Barack? Or were they just in the moment, as Obama might have been.

Keep on Clinton nation, it is indeed desperation time. My illustration of Billary's sex life is as far-fetched as this video, for cryin'-out-loud !

[Julian j Javier]

I can not believe that someone posted this video as something meaninful to see. This Clinton machine needs to start addressing important issues. In if I were Barack, I were not even mention stupidity like that, thats what Clintons people want to do, dirty politics.

[Peter Noble]

This is so silly. No way is that a rude finger. Is this what Hillary needs to win now? Pathetic.

[kdub]

Mr. Malcolm you should be absolutely ashamed of yourself for making something out of nothing. Unbelievable.

[mumbojumbo]

That's right, if you play it backwards Obama curses Clinton too - you should try it.

[Ronald]

Hey JJ12345-are you a sociologist? Or anthropologist? Perhaps you should post the research that supports your ridiculous assumption. I happen to scratch my face with my middle finger-use it to clean the gunk out of my eyes too. Its a family trait. Get a grip.

[CJ]

You cannot be serious! Obama keeps his cool through all of the crap thrown out there, crazy emails, insane accusations, and you think he'd risk everything like this? On some petty 3rd grade gesture? You are out of your mind.You have officially lost all credibility.

[D]

If he intentionally did make a slight, he is no better than a pre-teen.

[george]

As a student of journalism and an admirer of the LA Times, I am ashamed this made the news cycle.

[taj]

Exactly the kind of sly behavior I have come to expect from Obama - and the denials are the behavior I expect from his supporters.

[wanda]

i think folks need to visit a library and spend more time reading than all this silliness to feed the media. perhaps, just perhaps we could focus on the real issues facing this country. and I am far from being a young person as people who support Mr. Obama are claimed to be. I am in his opponents age group 65 to be exact.

[jc]

He just got my vote ! Read between my fingers Hillary !

[vinnie]

Never mind the finger, what's all that whining about? What a wimp! got his butt kicked in front of millions in the debate by a girl, and he comes back with these childish remarks. yeah, he's presidential material. This is why McCain is going to mop the floor with Barack....what, does he need his wife to do the debates for him? pathetic.

[Michaels]

I think this is RIDICULOUS....it's not at all "obvious"...his "sly smile" comes much later.

The woops from the crowd are in reaction to what he's saying: that Clinton was right in her element of GOTCHA politics. Let the man scratch his cheek for crying out loud without the tawdry press looking for something to chirp about.

[wanda]

real issues will never be discussed as long as our time is spent on such issues. and this is true of all parties