Filed under: Internet, Scoops, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Matt Drudge, Somali garb
Update, 4 p.m. ET: N. Kafi, the managing editor of the “Geeska Afrika” publication, tells Big Head DC that the publication produced the original report on Sen. Barack Obama’s travels in Kenya, and the Clinton camp had nothing to do with the circulation. The report includes the picture Matt Drudge indicated was circulated by the Clinton campaign. The report has been in worldwide circulation since August 2006:
http://www.geeskaafrika.com/ethiopia_31aug06.htm
Original report, 12:58 p.m. ET: 
While the Matt Drudge Web site tried desperately early Monday to convince readers that a picture of Sen. Barack Obama dressed in traditional Somali garb has been circulated by the Sen. Hillary Clinton campaign, Big Head DC can confirm that the Clinton camp did not release the photo.
In fact, the picture has appeared on the news site “Geeska Afrika” for several months.
What may have happened is Drudge found the picture on the Geeska Afrika Web site and then knowingly launched a fake story insisting the Clinton camp was behind the circulation of the picture. There may be evidence that Drudge even fabricated e-mails from Clinton staffers referring to the photo. The Internet publisher has long been well-known for his distaste for the Clinton family.
By now, the Drudge narrative has been picked up by several conservative-leaning publications, including the Politico. And the Obama camp has released a statement denouncing the Clinton camp for its imaginary ties to the photo, which shows Obama dressed as a Somali Elder during a 2006 visit to Kenya.
Of course, Big Head DC doesn’t yet have the reach of the Drudge Report, so good luck getting this message out there.
Drudge is saying that other leaders have worn local attire when abroad, but my problem with that is that Obama actually has connections to that part of the world. Isn’t his family from Kenya? Didn’t he study at both Muslim and Catholic schools?
G.W. Bush, I’m sure, couldn’t even locate the countries he’s been to on a map. Hillary, had she not worn that outfit in the Middle East, would probably have been killed.
It’s almost like Obama and Drudge worked together to reverse swift boat Hillary.
Now it starts to make sense how the Obama camp would do ANYTHING to stain the Clintons. Obama is obviously running a good campaign, but his tactics are just nasty, mean, and ugly. The Clintons are paying the price.
Drudge’s motives were obvious, but look how quickly Obama moved to pin it on Clinton, even though Drudge made that part up. Does Obama trust Matt Drudge over Hillary?
the Obama cult is smart. Blame Hillary for everything that is negative about your own candidate.
Obama advisors are so good at making inflammatory accusations. They sound almost like crusaders! I can just smell their hate and zealotry two thousand miles away! It’s stening and suffocating.
Good work, BHDC. Another scoop. I forwarded this to a few sites.
Did anyone happen to listen to NPR’s Wait, wait, don’t tell me recently? The host Peter Segal used “cult, Tom Cruise” to ddescrive Obama supporters. And it happened on National Public Radio.
Big Head DC that same site that said Larry Sinclair was telling truth has the balls to question Drudge. No one outside of the small group who comes to this site as ever heard of Big Head. This site is a joke. Everything this site says turns out to be BS. Why would Obama want this picture on Drudge. Get a clue.
Where did they ever say he was telling the truth? This place reported on the story unlike everyone else.
This site only reported the Sinclair allegations.
more obamessiahs trying to muddy the truth
I would LOVE for HRC to actually do these things. Call Hussein Obama what he really is:
A MUSLIM, XEROX-SPEECH, INEXPERIENCED, COKE HEAD.
THE REPUBLICANS WILL. DON’T FOOL YOURSELVES.
check the connection between drudge and axelrod
the only thing i know form all this is that obamessiahs are crazier than ron paultards, if that’s possible
Steve:
Bigheaddc is about pure facts, and it never said Sinclair was telling the truth.
[…] LadyEagle wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWhile the Matt Drudge Web site tried desperately early Monday to convince readers that a picture of Sen. Barack Obama dressed in traditional Somali garb has been circulated by the Sen. Hillary Clinton campaign, Big Head DC can confirm … Read the rest of this great post here Posted by […]
So many gullible people here. Bigheaddc has provided no evidence that the drudgereport fabricated any emails on this, and the Clinton campaign hasn’t denied that they were the source. This photo may have been on the internet for a while, but it seems pretty clear that someone in the Clinton campaign tried to bring it to the attention of the drudgereport.
David, Bigheaddc was provided no facts to support their speculation that the drudgereport fabricated the Clinton emails. If they have evidence of it, they should show us the evidence. You guys are such gullible fools.
Bigheaddc says there “may” be evidence that Drudgereport fabricated the emails. “May” be evidence? Is there evidence or not? If they’re speculating there is evidence, this is just pure unsubstantiated BS.
but it seems pretty clear that someone in the Clinton campaign tried to bring it to the attention of the drudgereport. yeah, i b elieve that the clintons are talking to drudge. i bet they are such big fans of his monica lewinsky story.
Young: please do us human being a huge favor and sod off, will ya??
So, Drudge? has sources within the Clinton camp who leaked this to him, Young HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. He pulled it from the Arican Web site, and made up a lie. Let him show the Clinton e-mails.
I think what’s happening to people like Young is that they bury their heads in their own arses to avoid the truth!!
Drudge has every reason to pin this on Clinton, get the story out via the conservative Politico, and then pin Obama in the process — without ever having to make the Muslim connection charge himself.
Stephanie, what “truth”? Bigheaddc is speculating that there “may” be evidence. They’re not even saying there “is” evidence. Face the facts, or the lack thereof. Bigheaddc needs to lay out the evidence, which, according to them, may not even exist! Sheeeesh.
The Clinton campaign made a statement about the photo but has NOT denied they were the Drudgereport’s source. A strange omission on their part, no?
Young, sod off, is right. Drudge lays out no evidence and doesn’t even say “may.” He created a false narrative to smear Obama.
In fact, according to the BBC, the Clinton campaign “declined to deny” that they sent the photo to the drudgereport. In other words, they were asked to whether they sent it, and they explicitly declined to answer the question.
HAHAHA, Yeah Young, the Clinton campaign is giving Matt Drudge his scoops. HAHAHHAHA. Hillary actually leaked the Newsweek story to him about the blue dress, too. HAHAHHAHA
Not to mention how many stories Drudge has made up in the past.
So tell me, when the Clinton campaign was asked whether they were the Drudgereport source, why did they refuse to deny it?
Young, you lose. Why didnt drudge post the evidence if he had it?
Folks, the details will come out eventually, and you’re going to look like real fools when it does. The Clinton campaign was ASKED whether they were the source, and they refused to deny it. Acquire some common sense, folks. They did it. Some of you accuse Obama supporters of being a cult, but if you can’t see the Clinton campaign’s fingerprints over all of this you’ve been brainwashed.
Drudgereport posted the contents of an email from the Clinton campaign. And the Clinton campaign refused to deny it when they were asked about it. What more evidence do you need? You guys have already accepted as fact the speculation here on much much flimsier info.
Young: please be quiet, you are shouting here in a public place. Please just go away and take a break.
Obama has some explaining to do.
I am sick of Hillary being blamed. She wouldn’t do it, if for no other reason than that she would be blamed. Why would she want to shake up minorities any more than they already are? Please stop blaming her for things that other nasty people do. As for Obama, stop being so arrogant and don’t be ashamed of yourself. There’s no reason to be.
She did not deny it. Why?
Something that is in plain view can not be “circulated,” that’s why!
Of course it can be “circulated”. Didn’t Hillary’s campaign hold a press conference to “encourage” the press to view the YouTube comparisons of speeches?
Young said:
“Folks, the details will come out eventually, and you’re going to look like real fools when it does. The Clinton campaign was ASKED whether they were the source, and they refused to deny it. Acquire some common sense, folks. They did it. Some of you accuse Obama supporters of being a cult, but if you can’t see the Clinton campaign’s fingerprints over all of this you’ve been brainwashed.”
I don’t know how you could possibly come up with such an imbecilic thing to say, but you did. My condolences to all who know you in person.
My candidate (Edwards) is already out of the race, but I’m waiting for him to be offered the VP position by Hillary.
Matt Drudge stole a photo from an African publication, then claimed the Clintons circulated it.
Hillary Clinton “Hippie” photo to be circulated in 10..9…
Drudge tries to turn Hillary into Karl Rove and Obama advisers love it, go with the flow of it, then the conservative rags pick it up… Obama himself is to blame if he didn’t want the African publication to circulate and publish the photo.
Has anyone fainted at his rally movements lately? Better get insurance since so many are fainting.They may not have health insurance.
The gossip and news Web site The Drudge Report posted the photograph Monday and said it was being circulated by “Clinton staffers” and quoted an e-mail from an unidentified campaign aide. Drudge did not include proof of the e-mail in the report.
“I just want to make it very clear that we were not aware of it, the campaign didn’t sanction it and don’t know anything about it,” Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said in a teleconference with reporters. “None of us have seen the e-mail in question. If anybody has independent reporting that they’ve done on it I would welcome it.”
“This is one more attempt by my opponent’s campaign to change the subject,” said Clinton, “From his health-care plan that won’t cover everybody, from an economic plan that won’t produce jobs, and from a record that is pretty thin when it comes to national security and standing up for our country around the world.”
[…] Earlier: Drudge Accuses Clinton of Obama Photo Ties, But ‘Somali Dress’ Picture Has Been Online For Months ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… […]
I heard when Obama blew his nose in Texas, the 17000 crowd got so excited and gave him a round of applause/cheering, as they also want to catch his cold, using Peter Segal’s words on this week’s “wait wait don’t tell me”. It is getting really creepy.
Oh, give me a break.
Fabricated emails? Do you realize how ridiculous you sound?
“Ooh, this is backfiring, let’s say Drudge made it up!”
“But he has the emails to prove it came from us!”
“We’ll say he faked ‘em! Say it first so no one will believe them when they surface! All we have to do is find some gullible bloggers to post our lies!”
What garbage comes out of that campaign. And shame on you for enabling it.
Ha, Phil. This isn’t the first time Drudge cooked a story.
Drudge is a gossip — hence, he creates gossip.
Sandra, the amount of respect I have for Drudge would fit in a gnat’s navel… but trying to claim he made up this story that the clinton camp can’t even deny is just silly.
We know for a fact that they have done half a dozen things this slimy, and they know they can’t deny this one too strongly because faking emails isn’t as easy as faking isps on the server level.
The Clinton campaign has made no secret that some in their camp are urging her to go scorched earth, particularly Penn.
The only really surprising part is how weak their attack material is… the bogus plagarism thing, this, the mock outrage over his pamphlets… “How DARE he attack me on the issues!”
I hope Drudge goes out of business tomorrow, but I am not naive enough to pretend he made this up.
He created the e-mail out of thin air, Phil. Why else wouldn’t he have named the staffer? Or just taken a screen shot of the eail with the name blackened out? He conspired with Obama camp to pull a fast one — and then the Obammesiahs took it from there. I assume you are one of them?
Sandra… sure he did. He woke up and decided that THIS was the best way to get to the Clintons… ridiculous.
And “Why else wouldn’t he have named the staffer?” Come on. You have to be more familiar with journalism and scandals than that.
And Obama’s camp was in on it? Please. I’m sure that the best way they could think of to get her was to circulate misleading photos of HIM.
Do you hear yourself? Do you see how far you are stretching things trying to make them fit? Occam’s Razor, come on.
And no, I am not really an Obama person. I’m more of a Feingold person. I hope our nominee makes him VP.
But trying to defend the clinton camp here is really sad. They have a long history of this, even the muslim stuff (have you already forgotten those now-fired staffers?).
Desperate, desperate, desperate.
[…] No Clinton campaign staffers have taking credit for spreading the photo, which, as Big Head DC noted today, was initially published in 2006 on an African news Web site. […]
I think Obama released the photo to Drudge. Here’s why: He was quick to play victim and without any evidence, shamelessly accuse Hillary of divisiveness. What is divisive about a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing unless you frame the discussion of the photo as divisive? He would have been more believable had he said, “So what, no big deal, Hillary and many other politicians have worn the traditional clothing of countries they visited.” Instead, he whines, as usual, and Obama lovers everywhere feel sorry for him and send him money to get even with that mean old Hillary. Meanwhile, the media stops giving Hillary headlines for handing Obama’s ass to him the last few days. Bitch is the new Black. You go girl!
[…] For some additional reading across the web, check out these blogs: Ketchup and Eggs - “Clinton sinks to new low with Obama photo” Gawker - “Drudge: Obama-in-Dress Photo Backfires on Clinton” TruthDig - “Obama, Clinton Camps Clash Over Obama Photo Leak” Big Head DC - “Drudge Accuses Clinton of Obama Photo Ties, But ‘Somali Dress’ Picture Has Been Online for Months” A Blog for All - “That Obama Picture” […]
Obama does play the victim especially when it benefits him. When the race card was brought out he took advantage of that as well.
Thanks for good sense. Here’s more.
No one had to ‘release’ the photo to Drudge, it has been online at the African site for months and talked about on political sites here since at least 2/11/08, see http://forums.sohh.com/showthread.php?t=976671 One online MSM person said he’d been getting it in email for weeks or months - but not from Clinton’s staff.
Drudge didnt’ even CLAIM that a ‘Clinton staffer’ had sent it to him. He said he ‘obtained’ an email from a Clinton staffer commenting on it.
What’s clear is that the Obama staff immediately made vile accusations against Clinton — then admitted they didn’t really know anything about the story!
I think hilary is trying to show her nasty way of taking away some of the obamas voters by connecting the the somali dress with muslims. this is obvious to all of us. wearing the somali dress dose not make him a somlain. everyone would do it when going abroad. stop leading the american in to difrent direction. lets be united helping one another not destroying one another hilary?
[…] Now some Hillary supporters might try to argue to you that the Drudge Report is “unreliable” and that Matt Drudge has a long history of spreading lies to try to smear Democrats. Ignore them. Remember, they are racists who don’t believe in change. If you must engage with them, talk about the need for unity, and ask how they could possibly be so stupid as to support a divisive racist bitch like Hillary Clinton? […]
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