PrintAugust 21, 2008
Obama to Immigrant South Asians in San Francisco: "I'm a homeboy"
For those of us who continue to be suspicious of what Barack Obama is not telling us about himself, those suspicions were heightened Sunday.
Obama held a mega-fundraiser in San Francisco that was said to have raised over $7 million dollars. The San Francisco Chronicle reported his audience was primarily made up of "South Asian and Pacific Islander" immigrants. Specifically, the article described the audience as including Pakistanis and Indians.
Knowing the people of my San Francisco Bay Area as I do, I can assure you that by "Pacific Islander" the Chronicle was not referring to the wonderful people of Tonga and Samoa; most likely the Islanders referred to in the story included deep-pocketed Indonesian business people.
I understand that less than 25% of the Indian population is Muslim, but 98% of those in Pakistan and Indonesia are Islamic. And this is where the story gets weird.
Obama stood before the group and referred to himself as "desi". Desi is a colloquial term of endearment commonly used by people from South Asia to distinguish themselves as immigrants. As an Indian caller to my radio show on KSFO in San Francisco said, "Desi means I am one of you. Obama was saying he is like them."
I understand that less than 25% of the Indian population is Muslim, but 98% of those in Pakistan and Indonesia are Islamic. And this is where the story gets weird.
Obama stood before the group and referred to himself as "desi". Desi is a colloquial term of endearment commonly used by people from South Asia to distinguish themselves as immigrants. As an Indian caller to my radio show on KSFO in San Francisco said, "Desi means I am one of you. Obama was saying he is like them."
In fact, to further the point, Obama used American street slang to tell the adoring immigrants donors, "I'm a homeboy."
Barack Obama's falling poll numbers are his own doing. The more he opens his mouth, the more we see what's inside his heart and mind-and what we are witnessing does not inspire confidence. In fact, it's a bit unnerving.
Brian Sussman is a radio talk show host on KSFO-AM 560, in San Francisco
