Updated: Barack Obama and the 'P' word

It was only a matter of time before the shit stirrers tired of the "Barack Obama is a Muslim" act and moved on to something fresh and new.

Now, it appears Obama is a "pussy."

Yep. He's soft and weak. Doesn't have what it takes. Light in the loafers. One of those cut and runners.

Which foul Republican slimeball is pushing this idea, you ask? Limbaugh? Hannity?

Nope. Allegedly it was John Edwards.

HALPERIN [discussing John Edwards' potential endorsement of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama]: I can tell you, he's really skeptical of her ability to be the kind of president he wants. But, he kinda thinks Obama is...he thinks Obama is kind of a pussy...He has real questions about Obama's toughness, his readiness for the office.

I say allegedly because the only evidence of this comes from Mark Halperin, who is employed by Time magazine as a "senior political analyst," speaking on Sirius radio. The quote is also discussed here.

Some thoughts:

First, it's ridiculous. I have several reservations about Obama but wimpiness isn't one of them.

Second -- Is Halperin quoting Edwards' directly or is he just taking something Edwards said and embellishing it? Sounds to me like embellishment. Edwards may have reservations about whether Obama is ready for high office but I seriously doubt he used that word. Is it even first hand information? Did Halperin talk to Edwards or did he get this second or third hand?

Third, it is even appropriate to use that word in this context? I think not.

Fourth, Halperin owes an explanation of whether Edwards actually used that word. You don't drop a word like that casually into a radio show.

There are folks on this site who will dismiss this as just so much traditional media blathering but this is how smear campaigns get started. Nobody at first believed the swiftboaters would gain any traction either.

This "theme" will get picked up and pretty soon it becomes conventional wisdom and interviewers will find more socially acceptable ways to ask Obama whether he is a wimp.

Best to stomp the crap out of it now -- before it has a chance to percolate.

UPDATE: Halperin has apologized.

Link