Hussein Returns

Via Hotline On Call:

ESTERO, FL - The sheriff of Lee County refered to the Democratic nominee as "Barack Hussein Obama" today as part of his introductory remarks before Sarah Palin spoke at a rally here.

"On Nov. 4, let's leave Barack Hussein Obama wondering what happend," Sheriff Mike Scott told the crowd at Germain Arena.

Scott was speaking as part of a program before Palin's arrival at the rally. Palin was at a fundraiser in Naples, Fla. at the time.

McCain rejected the pejorative use of Barack Obama's middle name after an Ohio radio host derisively used it during a McCain warm-up act back in February. Now that it's October, the stakes are much higher. Nonetheless, the campaign immediately sought to distance itself from Sheriff Scott's Hussein-ing. Spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt responds, "We do not condone this inappropriate rhetoric, which distracts from the real questions of judgment, character and experience that voters will base their decisions on this November."

Indeed, it's highly unlikely the McCain higher-ups endorse Sheriff Scott's use of the H-bomb. But among the perils of the below-the-belt campaign style we've seen from both sides in recent days...if you've set a standard of low blows, it becomes much harder to convincingly distance yourself from line-crossing remarks and insinuations.

-- Evie Stone

3:05 PM ET | 10- 6-2008 | permalink

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