Just Call Me Ern Hussein

The smart and funny MOMocrats have declared a "Just Call Me Hussein" meme, as a follow-up to the "Just Call Me Hussein" posts by their contributors yesterday.

From their site:

Why all the fuss? Some ig'nant fools apparently think it's helpful to their cause to liken Barack Obama to a "terrorist" because his middle name is "Hussein." And we ain't havin' none of that. Why? Because "bitch is the new black," and we? Are bitches.

We've decided to extend the reach of this important blog action by making "Just Call Me Hussein" a meme. If you are reading this and haven't posted, consider yourself tagged. All you have to do is post your "Hussein name" in the title of your blog and share a story about how someone tried to make you feel bad about your name. (See examples below.) Help put childish bullies like Bill Cunningham in his place by declaring yourself a "Hussein!"

When you post—whenever you post—be sure to link us so we can find you. Now, go! Spread that meme far and wide, sistahs (and brahs)! Bitches get shit done!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was lucky enough to never get much teasing for my name. (Way to go, Mom and Dad!) But I wanted to participate anyway. Since Edwards dropped out on the race, I haven't come down solidly on the side of either Democratic candidate. I think they are both strong, and would both do an excellent job.

But Bill Cunningham's attack (although not new - Fox News has been employing Obama's middle name for some time) is particularly offensive to me as a thinking person. He is implying that Obama's name defines who he is, and exemplifies the actions he will take as president. If you want to convince me not to vote for someone, give me facts, give me voting records, something substantive. Even beating a past scandal into the ground would be better than this, because at least that is something that happened. This is slander, pure and simple.

The psychology of the attack is sound. Our unconscious associations are strong, and if you get people to associate something negative with a candidate, it becomes much more difficult to view them objectively.

The bottom line for me is, names don't matter. I grew up with a perfectly respectable name. Now I have my husband's name. The change didn't affect who I am as a person. Hopefully people will continue to judge me by my actions, by my accomplishments, by my character. Some people have strong feelings one way or the other about a wife changing her last name. Am I now a cog in the wheel of the patriarchy? If I had kept my maiden name, would I be perceived as some "hairy-legged women's libber"? Is the name I live with really anyone else's business?

It doesn't matter that Obama's middle name is Hussein. It doesn't matter that Hillary's last name is Clinton. What matters is their actions, their accomplishments, their character.

Let's deflate this attack.