Was John McCain too quick to apologize to Barack Hussein Obama?

Question

Since WHEN does someone have to apologize for using someone's MIDDLE NAME?

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/mccain-repudiates-hussein-obama-remarks/
CINCINNATI, Ohio—A conservative radio talk show host who helped introduce Senator John McCain before a rally here Tuesday used Senator Barack Obama’s middle name, Hussein, three times, while disparaging him, prompting Mr. McCain to apologize and repudiate the comments afterward.
Bill Cunningham, who hosts “The Big Show” with Bill Cunningham, a local program here that is also syndicated nationally, was part of a line of people lauding Mr. McCain and revving up the crowd before his appearance here before several hundred people at a theater here.
He lambasted the national media, drawing cheers from the audience, for being soft in their coverage of Mr. Obama compared to the Republican candidates, declaring they should “peel the bark off Barack Hussein Obama.”
He went on to rail, “at one point, the media will quit taking sides in this thing and start covering Barack Hussein Obama.”

Answer 1

You mean John Sidney McCain III? Sidney, like Sidney Korshak, mob "fixer"? See how easy it is?



There is a BIG difference between using someones middle name (which, by the way, they have no choice about) in an informative manner and using it in a disparaging manner, which was done here.



He should not appologize for using it, but for the manner in which it was used. That's what civil people do.



Oh yes, and Ginger and Amber LYNN come to mind...



Sorry...

Answer 2

McCain apologized because he is basically a decent and honorable man - and keep in mind that I'm a liberal democrat. I don't say that lightly.



I am also originally from Cincinnati. I am very familiar with Bill Cunningham and his disgraceful, right-wing fringe, wacko, muckraking shtick. He only uses Obama's middle name to childishly and gratuitously imply that Obama is Muslim - which is a falsehood. Does Cunningham use McCain's middle name (Sidney) when speaking about him? No, he does not. Wonder why that is?



Bill Cunningham and those others of his arch-conservative ilk are extremely good reasons why I am not conservative myself. Cunningham's only interest is to stir up ratings anyway he can, and so serve himself, rather than to honestly discern and discuss the truth. Cunningham is laughing at good but naive folk like you all the way to the bank.



Wake up and smell the coffee, ma'am.

Answer 3

Personally, I would have used the opportunity to make Barack Hussein look like a fool, and I would have ripped that little pipsqueak to shreds, but I'm not running for president. John McCain is taking the high road because he wants to win this election. He knows engaging in arguing with the Darling of the Media is a mistake right now, and I respect him for keeping his tongue.

Answer 4

Well, John has already gotten the publicity that he was seeking from his statements. So his apology just enforces the image he's creating of being a nice guy who is looking out for the interests of America against those he believes are not.



It's all politics - creating images and illusions. All candidates do it and continue to do it after elected. Obama's name and Muslim relatives are just too closely related to the wars we're currently fighting. Name games are to reinforce this image.



But I do agree with you. John shouldn't have to apologize for using a middle name - though it was done kind of in an obvious way with intent.



Why isn't John McCain running his campaign using his middle name if this is so important to him?

Answer 5

I think he was right to apologize quickly and kept good control of his campaign that way. But I do think this was a boxed response and the media and/or the Obama campaign who may have been worried about using his middle name. I think they are trying to control this and therefore have been marketing Obama without a middle name. I mean if my name was Hussein, and wanted to sell soup, I think I would want something like Campbells before calling it Hussein soup. Sounds like a difficult product to sell whether or not its connected to terrorism.

Answer 6

Maybe because John McCain actually wants to run a campaign based on issues, and not run on mocking someone because of his middle name.



If you think the use of "Barrack Hussein Obama" is anything other than an attempt to mock him, or imply something about him, then you're extraordinarily naive.

Answer 7

RLP, I know you're more intelligent than that. You know full well that McCain was emphasizing his middle name because many people (like my mother) are extremely impressionable and will start worrying that he is, 'one of them muslim terrorists'. I know you are smart enough to know that. Just look at some of the postings on YA about Obama being a terrorist or the next anti-christ. Some people are simple.

Answer 8

He shouldn't even have gotten involved. No one apologizes for using John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, or James Earl Ray. His name is what it is, why should Barack have a problem with it.

Answer 9

I really do think he handled the "situation" incorrectly, he had more options available to him, for sure, than apoligizing for something he didn't even do!

Answer 10

No

He was just doing what was right considering he didn't feel that it was necessary

Answer 11

Maybe that's why he's a viable candidate for the presidency, and you're some anonymous schmuck on YA

Answer 12

No, I think he did the mature thing and it will be forgotten soon.

Answer 13

no, he was right to do it, he is a liberal con