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The Spectacle Blog

Al Qaeda Channels Nader on Obama

By Philip Klein on 11.19.08 @ 10:43AM

Ralph Nader infamously accused Barack Obama of "talking white" and also declared that, "His choice, basically, is whether he's going to be Uncle Sam for the people of this country or Uncle Tom for the giant corporations."

Now the AP reports that Al Qaeda's number 2 has released the following message:

Ayman al-Zawahri said in the message, which appeared on militant Web sites, that Obama is "the direct opposite of honorable black Americans" like Malcolm X, the 1960s African-American rights leader.

In al-Qaida's first response to Obama's victory, al-Zawahri also called the president-elect—along with secretaries of state Colin Powell and Condoleezza—"house negroes."

This could be interpreted several ways. In a more positive sense, it could mean that al-Zawahri is concerned that the election of a black president who speaks in concilitory tones could make it more difficult for Al Qaeda to demonize the U.S. among followers and potential recruits, and thus weaken the group's standing in the Muslim world. Alternatively, it shows that no matter who is the president, Al Qaeda will see the U.S. as the enemy and is intent on continuing its war against Americans.

View all comments (11) | Leave a comment

Matt| 11.19.08 @ 11:48AM

You people are amazing. First you villify one of the brightest, most compassionate persuers of justice and equality in this society for suggesting that Obama might capitulate to the white corporate power structure. Instead of hearing the message, you focus on a two word descriptive phrase and cry about it.

Then you compare his comment to that of an al-Quaida operative who used a term that's even more of a social no-no in America.

This article isn't even really about al-Qaida - it's an attempt to further villify Ralph Nader, one of the greatest Americans alive, who has fought for justice and equality for you and me his whole life.

Disgusting.

Trurl| 11.19.08 @ 12:03PM

Woohoo! Change! The change starts now, right??

I agree that Nader is a true American hero and should have a statue in his honor in D.C. If it wasn't for him, Al Gore would have been the president.

Steve| 11.19.08 @ 12:29PM

Men build. Mice destroy. Nader is a man. What are you?

Trurl| 11.19.08 @ 12:43PM

Ask your mom, she'll tell you.

Daryl Ducharme| 11.19.08 @ 2:21PM

She said you were a mouse.

Elijah Shabaz| 11.19.08 @ 3:19PM

Ayman al-Zawahri was channeling Malcom X as he said. Nader was too. They are all correct even if their language may have been politically inncorrect. Obama's the new face of the American empire and he shows no signs of stopping the deadly war machine.

Matt| 11.19.08 @ 4:45PM

My point is simply that you cannot equate a compassionate humanitarian who fights for justice and equality, with a terrorist bent on destruction and killing.

It's an utterly irresponsible comparison, and the author should be ashamed of himself for drawing it.

John| 11.19.08 @ 6:22PM

"This can be interpreted in several ways"

Umm... no. Your first interpretation is fantasy and your second interpretation is childish... a little more accurate statement would be that al-Qaeda doesn't see a fundamenal difference in the foreign policies of Bush and Obama (which is true).

Mame McQueen| 11.20.08 @ 1:22PM

There's a great new biography, "What Was Ralph Nader Thinking?" available at http://thewomandirector.com

LA in LA| 11.20.08 @ 3:00PM

Ralph Nader on Obama:
(one more time)
"His choice, basically, is whether he's going to be Uncle Sam for the people of this country or Uncle Tom for the giant corporations."

Coporate power speaks louder than ever. The bailouts ($700 Billion) and the the Shameful 3 Autopushers. Thank You Ralph Nader for symbolizing Truth and Justice and opposing the Corporate bailouts rather than helping the middle classs and poor. Nader is relevant and symbols are important.

steve conn| 11.21.08 @ 12:49PM

Let's see. Two Arabs negative toward Obama and their motives and persona are connected. Smear the last American hero, but stay away from the issues he promotes. Putz (an old Arab word).