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

[Joe Again]

From a different angle, look at the :39 mark
"back and to the right, back and to the right"
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4025010n

[Gagme]

You Sir, are a brave man, indeed. To leave your picture up while engaging in such fine deeds of journalism. Autograph seekers will be hounding you day in and day out (insert Clinton cackle here).

[Al Preston]

From watching the video, the claim that Barack Obama is "flipping the bird" at Hillary Clinton is a total and complete lie. There was none of that as Obama was speaking, and those who are pushing this story are nothing more than the practicioners of Republican-Karl Rove petty politics-- using manufactured issues like this one against progressive candidates while making sure that out-of-the-mainstream right-wing candidates like John McCain and establishment darling Hillary Clinton get a free ride. Stop pushing lies like this one!

[Keith]

It's time to bring decency and common sense back into politics, VOTE RON PAUL 2008!

(just kidding)

[Linda, Boston]

Oh come on! He was scratching his face people. This is by far the single most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Talk about manufactured distractions! You guys are just proving his points for him.

Keep it up - this will be discussed for 3 days, then it will be concluded (and rightfully so) that it was much ado about nothing. And when it's all over, Obama will be able to score even more points by pointing to it (no pun intended) and saying once again: "see, this is exactly what I'm talking about."

[Fred]

How far the press has fallen, huh Andrew?

[Bruce Whiite]

This is truly insane. He's scratching his nose! Do I have to come over there and show you how a person gives someone else a finger? This is is the craziest crap that Hillary supporters have come up with yet.

[Ray Richardson]

Have you watched Obama speak in front of a crowd before? He does that little absent-minded face scratching thingy ALL THE TIME! It's almost as distinctive as the hand-thrust gesture. You'd have to include it if you were trying to do a convincing impersonation of him. Please get a grip and get a life.

[Ann]

What a sorry life Andrew Malcolm must have! People who live under the rock cannot see much beyond the darkness.

[Tanya Phelps]

How stupid. I mean -- really....

[lm]

Fantastic. I say push it Andrew, push it hard. Make your case. On top of the debacle-debate it'll further cement in the minds of many how trivial, nit-picky and pathetic media coverage has become. And that's just AWESOME - because it drives Obama's sympathy votes up, brings more money into his campaign, and encourages the DNC to bring this thing to a close. So spread it far and wide, I love it!!!

[dave]

want to see how the Bird is given see GW bush do it.Everyone uses their "finger" to for otherthings dummy.

[ted]

Have you all in the press turned into George Costanza??!! Remember the episode where he thinks a drive has given him the finger and follows him in the car through several counties? Only to find the guy was wearing a cast on his hand? Really, how pathetic our press is!!

[Kristina]

This is the most pathetic example of journalism since, well let's see, oh, since last night.

[David]

Mr. Obama is a sly dog. Whether or not it was a conscious impulse to scratch his face with his middle finger, it is obvious that after he did it, he knows what he's done and continues with the inside joke. To anyone who has committed a faux pas or Freudian slip, this must seem familiar. To the rest of folks out there who deny what the video shows, give it a rest. The guy is fallible.

[Chris Blask]

Look! It's a shark!

Quick, get your jumping gear!!

Did you notice that when he crosses his legs the creases in his pants spell out:

WMW?

Well?????

c'mon!! "White Men Worthles!!!!"

go get 'em, journalist dude!

[Davis]

I can't read his mind, but the audience reaction certainly gives the indication that they thought he was, and he did nothing to dispel them of that idea.

[Gina]

Obama is not only immature but a total arrogant jerk. That smirk and smile on his face speaks much and all I can say is, he is one pathetic shameless moron. This is perhaps what he learned from listening to his beloved racist pastor Jeremiah Wright for over 20 years. Remember, birds of the same feather flock together? With his dark dirty finger, does he think he's insulting HIllary? He is insulting every American for thinking people are stupid not to see that. This man has no credibility and his reputation is so tainted. It makes me sick just seeing him speak. Just the sight of this man is now appaling to be. His fanatic and cult-like supporters who I call
OH-DUMBERS are just so blinded by his pretext for change which are all but lies. This man is a BIG FRAUD AND A LIAR!!!

[Another VULGARITY FROM Barack CAMP]

I wont be surprised how low Barack can go. You cant take away the ghetto from Barack.

[Dexter Peabody]

You media types ever wonder why your public esteem is similar to used car salesmen?

[Alex]

I couldn't blame Obama if he did "flip the bird" to Hillary Clinton after last night's slanted ambush debacle. But he didn't.

Anybody flogging this stupid, fake story should lose their health coverage and have their house foreclosed on to teach them about serious problems facing Americans in the real world.

[S]

Are you joking or are you stupid?

[Andy Eppink]

Ye gods. And these are the clowns who want to lead the society? People are morons, no doubt abt. it - too many people anyway.
Who has an IQ of 200? The US, the whole d__ nation.

[OxyCon]

The CBS video I'm posting shows it clearly.

Top row - Lefthand side - Red shirt w/glasses

She saw it and reacts then tells her friend what happened.
The crowd reacts with applause when the only thing that is happening is Obama pushing his middle finger into his cheek, just after mentioning Hillary.
There is no doubt about this.
read her lips when her friend asks her what she just howled at. It sure looks like she's saying "he gave her the finger".

CBS video shows it:

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4025010n

[Jim]

This would be funny if it weren't so, so sad.