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- Date of speech: April 17, 2008
- Obama was speaking at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Video shows the Democratic presidential candidate scratching his face with his middle finger
- Obama was referring to then-Democratic opponent Hillary Rodham Clinton at the time the gesture was made
- Some media outlets and blogs claimed Obama was "flipping the bird" at ClintonTop of the Ticket (LAT): Barack Obama Makes a One-Fingered Gesture The Swamp (Baltimore Sun): Obama Fingers a 'Gotcha' Debate (April 17, 2008)
- Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt called the claims "absurd and untrue"Top of the Ticket (LAT): Barack Obama's campaign calls one-finger issue...
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On April 17, 2008, Barack Obama appeared to give rival Hillary Clinton a surreptitious finger as he discussed their debate in Pennsylvania and what he called the "gotcha" politics endemic in Washington. As Obama states that "Clinton looked in her element" within this political environment, he scratches his cheek with the middle digit of his right hand.FOX News: Did Obama Give a 'Flip' Response to Clinton Attacks? (April 18, 2008)
Text of Speech
"Now, I don't blame Washington for this because that's just how Washington is. They like stirring up controversy, they like playing 'gotcha' games, getting us to attack each other, and I have to say Senator Clinton, you know, looked in her element. [scratches face] You know, she was taking every opportunity to get a dig in there. You know? That's alright. That's her right. That's her right to kind of twist the knife a little bit."Media Matters: MSNBC, FoxNews.com flip out over purported "flip-off" (April 18, 2008)Obama Flips Off McCain?
On November 3, 2008, one day before the 2008 general election, a YouTube video surfaced purportedly showing Barack Obama scratching his face with his middle finger at a campaign rally in Jacksonville, Florida. At the time of the gesture, which some claim shows Obama "flipping off" John McCain, Obama was congratulating rival McCain on "the tough race that he has fought."YouTube Video: Obama Flips Off McCain (Time: 0:19)-
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