Showing just how nasty the presidential race became in the final days, Barack Obama has perhaps taken things to a new low by apparently flipping off John McCain with the international sign of change, or at least it was taken this way by McCain supporters. The apparent show of disrespect came during a speech in which he looked tired at the end of the campaign on November 3rd, 2008. Was it inadvertent?

Obama Flips Off McCain
Obama Flips The Bird




Partisans will argue that “the bird” sign was inadvertent, or perhaps intended as a joke. The timing of it during the speech left little doubt to his backers. Just as he uttered John McCain’s name, then it happened. A presidential candidate flipping off another, as the story goes, and then it was over.

Hillary Clinton supporters will remember that Obama was accused of the same thing during the primary season when he said her name in a random display of praise that was considered phony by her supporters. They were outraged by “the bird” at the time.

Curious about reader reactions to this video. There was a time in our political discourse where certain things were off limits. Do you feel the behavior is acceptable in our era? Could it have been inadvertent twice? A Freudian slip? Or nothing at all?

Both videos are below.


(Obama Flips off Hillary Clinton)


(Obama Flips off John McCain)

Obama Flips Off McCain (Video)
“The Bird”