"The Obama 'Che Flag' Flap Metastisizes"

The KOmmies are worried and well they should be. It now appears that the controversy about Obama supporters hanging Che Guevara flags in an Obama campaign office in the Houston area isn't going away. One big reason is that the Obama volunteer (and precinct captain) in the picture above can't claim that she has no idea who Communist thug Che Guevara was because she, Maria Isabel, is a Cuban-American who was born in Cuba. You can find a lot about the amazing background of Obama supporter, Maria Isabel, at this recent NewsBusters BLOG. I have absolutely no idea who the author is but he has revealed why Maria Isabel is radioactive to the Obama campaign in Texas and may well turn out to be Hillary's best friend in that state on primary day there. That blog story also has many links revealing the AMAZING background of Maria Isabel who turn out to be a supreme socialist hypocrite. One very useful link that you will want to bookmark is the BABALU BLOG which is providing the latest updates into their detailed investigation of Maria Isabel. This controversy was also covered in the Tuesday EDITION of the DUmmie FUnnies.

Meanwhile the left is starting to become very concerned about this Che Guevara flag controversy as you can see in this KOmmie THREAD titled, "The Obama 'Che Flag' Flap Metastisizes." However, don't worry my little KOmmies. We won't really push this controversy until AFTER Obama is nominated. Hee! Hee! So let us now watch the KOmmies sweat over one of the prominent Texas Obama supporters inadvertently sabotaging his campaign in Bolshevik Red while the commentary of your humble correspondent, promising not to bring up Obama's links with the student socialists while he was a Columbia student until AFTER he is nominated, is in the [brackets]:

The Obama "Che Flag" Flap Metastisizes.

[Hasta la Victoria Siempre!]

I am sure I will get another round of dismissive, condescending comments about continuing to raise this issue, but the sad fact is that it's is not going away. If anything, it is starting to become a problem for Obama.

[Hee! Hee!]

For those of you who are wondering what the hell I am talking about, please read my previous diary on this subject for the details. See also this Media Matters piece on the same subject.

In summary, an Obama volunteer office in Houston invited a local TV news crew into their office after the Potomoac primary victories. On the wall of the volunteer office was a Cuban flag with the iconic image of Che Guevara squarely in the middle of it. This caused an uproar in the wingnut-o-sphere that orginally started on the rightwing blogs, but eventually spread to talk radio and now even some local TV stations in South Florida are covering it.

[BABALU!!!]

Today, Obama's campaign has taken a more aggressive approach to dealing with this issue. From the Obama website:

"This is a volunteer office that is not in any way controlled by the Obama campaign. We were disappointed to see this picture because it is both offensive to many Cuban-Americans -- and Americans of all backgrounds -- and because it does not reflect Senator Obama’s views. Barack Obama has been very clear in putting forward a Cuba policy that is based on one principle: freedom for the Cuban people."

[That Che Guevara flag sure wasn't offensive to Cuban-American, Maria Isabel, who even flew it regularly from the balcony of her apartment.]

Originally, I speculated that the flag was either put up by some naieve college students who don't really know anything about Che, and thought the design looked cool. Or, alternatively, that they were using the flag as an ironic joke playing on Obama's insurgent or revolutionary campaign. Sadly, it turns out that neither of these explanations is likely. The volunteer in question is a middle-aged Cuban Americam who cannot be labelled as ignorant of who Che is and what he represents. She also gave a rather defensive interview to the local Houston TV news affiliate about the controversy, that did not help the Obama campaign.

[So defensive of an interview, that she walked off in the middle of it.]

And, not surprisingly, some mini Malkins have dug up some interesting info on the volunteer, including a photo of her with Senator Obama!

[Did Maria feel a thrill running up her leg in the middle of that photo session?]

Moreover, the rhetoric about this incident is metastisizing in rightwing circles. The fact that Obama thinks the flag is "offensive," and that it was put up by volunteers, not paid campaign staffers, is not being repeated by the wingnuts. They are portraying the incident as if it occurred in an official Obama campaign office, with Obama campaign employess, and that Obama himself had no problem with the flag.

[Actually we are wondering why the Obama campaign attracts such hard core leftists who don't see anything wrong with displaying Che Guevara flags. In Maria's case, she even proudly flew one from her home.]

As I have pointed out previously, this line of attack on Obama is insidious. It is not a direct attack on him personally, but an attack on his supporters. Obama has a lot of crossover appeal with republicans and independents. So, by portraying Obama's supporters as a bunch of neo-Marxist moonbats, they might raise doubts in the minds of those voters about whether Obama isn't just a wolf in sheep's clothing. Or, even if Obama himself may be pleasant and moderate, his supporters will be swept into power and they will screw you.

[Gee! I wonder what Maria Isabel would be like if she were given some power? Most likely she would emulate her hero, Che Guevara.]

We all know this guilt by association meme is complete bullshit and totally unfair. But not taking this seriously is a huge mistake. Ask John Edwards whether anecdotes about how expensive and large his house is and his expensive haircut cost him some votes or credibility.

[Don't forget about his cucumber cream facials at the Pink Sapphire Spa.]

The fact that this story is now being replayed in South Florida is a huge problem for Obama. Florida is a critical state in the fall. And while many here will dismiss the Cuban vote in that state, I think it is a huge mistake to do so. Many of them are actually sympathetic to Obama's arguments. Especially the younger generation. They see the all out boycott as not accomplishing anything. But, that doesn't mean they are fans of Che Guevara.

[Try walking around Little Havana while wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt. Hee! Hee!]

True, the use of Che's image in recent years has almost become kitsch. But, he was a reeal person who committed real acts and did real things.

[You mean like kill people sans judicial process?]

Getting into a debate about who Che was, and whether he was a "Marxist terrorist," as the wingnuts call him, or whether he was a "revolutionary fighting for the rights of the poor and the oppressed," as many leftists would argue -- is a recipe for disaster.

[Poor widdle Che. Unfairly labeled a "Marxist terrorist" by those nasty wingnuts.]

It may be that the damage has already been done to Obama because of his campaign's tepid and relatively slow initial response.The more aggressive and definitive response has probably been lost in the wash. This does not bode well for the fall campaign, where his team will have to fight these kinds of daily smears aggressively in order to win in November.

[And I wonder just how outraged the Left would be if a picture of Augusto Pinochet had been discovered in a Republican campaign office. Chris Matthews would feel bolts of outrage running up his leg.]

Here's hoping they learn from this mistake, and that we all learn to take these "little" things seriously. In the meantime, we should take the opportunity to post the current Obama statement as a comment on all the rightwing blogs and newspaper comment sections we can. We should also e-mail this to the local news outlets that may be coveriung tehs tory so that the official Obama campaign version gets out there.

[Good news! Obama's statement has just been posted at the DUmmie FUnnies and we promise not to use this controversy against him...at least not until AFTER his nomination. And now to join the KOmmie peanut gallery now in session...]

It was probably an error in judgment, but Viva Che!

[This is probably the almost universal view of the KOmmies and their fellow leftists. A tactical error but we really LOVE Che!]

But the "truth" in this case is that a neo-Marxist Che Fan is a big Obama volunteer and flies Che flags on the wall of the campaign office she set up and organized for Obama in Houston. And, that she is so goddamned stupid that she didn't bother to take the flag down before letting a ocal camera crew into the office to film. And then she gave a defensive interview to that same station when the whole thing blew up.

[Thank you, Maria Isabel, for ensuring that Obama loses in November!]

we texans have been trying to deal with this for a couple of days now, and we are very disappointed at the actions of this volunteer.


[Would you like to have a Che Guevara flag autographed by Maria Isabel?]

i live in texas and volunteer for obama. DO NOT underestimate the damage this incident has caused.

[Hmm... I wonder if the Hildebeast will pick up on it? Problem for her is that a typical Hillary voter also secretly admires Che Guevara.]

Barack Obama is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

[Just make sure he doesn't stare too hard at the Red Queen Hillary.]

Guevara has been around a lot longer than Obama. And whether you like it or not (I can only assume you're a recent convert to at least the Democratic party) Che Guevara is an icon of tremendous importance with true progressives.

[Thank you for stating the dirty little secret out in the open.]

If she wants to march around drssed up as Che Guavara and yell "viva la revolucion" at the top of her lungs on her own time, that's her right. But don't inject that shit into the Obama campaign as an Obama volunteer.

[The KOmmie geiger counter has just discovered that Maria Isabel is radioactive to the Obama campaign.]

I cant believe that someone on this site is stupid enough to praise Che.Keep your feelings to yourself.This is all about PR and perception not about right or wrong.

[Psst! Please don't let the outside world know that we love Che Guevara. This is all about PR and perception not about right or wrong.]

trust me dude i am in texas and this incident has done us damage. it is getting MASSIVE play in the texas wingnutosphere, which actually then filtered up to the texas mass media. do NOT underestimate the damage this is causing us.

[Don't forget to credit the DUmmie FUnnies. We were among the first of the blogs to publicize this Che flag controversy.]

I'm surprised this hasn't hit Drudge yet. Once it does, the MSM damn will burst.

[Paging Matt!]

once this hits drudge we are going to be in for a world of hurt.

[OUCH!]

It's distressing that a volunteer would do this. Doesn't she know what she's doing? All her work will be for naught because she's too stupid to see the consequences of her actions.

[It's going to be much worse that you can imagine when Maria Isabel's REAL background is revealed. Isabel is probably NOT her maiden name (married last name is Norman). Right now her full name is being hidden. Babalu Blog is investigating this and eventually we will know the real story about Maria Isabel (fill in her maiden name here).]

i am a texas volunteer and this has done serious damage to us.

[May I send you a sympathy card?]

Here's hoping the thing either dies on its own for lack of air or is swiftly put down by the Obama campaign.

[Close your eyes and wish real hard for that nasty Che flag controversy to magically go away.]

She's from Texas. She's actively involved in the campaugn down there. She knows what she's talking about. Ignoring this or dismissing this will hurt Obama.

[And you still don't know the half about radioactive Maria Isabel. Hee! Hee!]

i would've much preferred to see team obama get out ahead of this incident when it broke a few days ago. they should have come out strongly against it and frankly, barred that volunteer from coming anywhere near an obama office.

[If Hillary wins the Texas primary, she should thank radioactive Maria Isabel for making her victory possible.]