• On two occasions during his presidential campaign, Democratic nominee Barack Obama has been cited for supposedly flipping the so-called "bird" at opponents. In November 2008, a video surfaced showing Obama scratching his face using his middle finger while discussing John McCain's "tough" campaign at a rally in Florida. In April 2008, Obama made a similar gesture while referring to his then-opponent, Hillary Rodham Clinton.Hot Air: Video: Obama scratches mouth with middle finger... (November 3, 2008) Top of the Ticket (LAT): Barack Obama's campaign calls one-finger issue...

• 1. Obama accused of allegedly "flipping off" John McCain and Hillary Clinton during the course of his campaign
  2. First gesture in question made during a speech on April 17, 2008
  3. Obama scratches his face with his middle finger while discussing opponent Hillary ClintonYouTube Video: Obama Speech in North Carolina (Time: 0:50)
  4. Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt denied any obscene gesture was intendedTop of the Ticket (LAT): Barack Obama's campaign calls one-finger issue...
  5. LaBolt called the assertion that the gesture was obscene "absurd and untrue"Top of the Ticket (LAT): Barack Obama's campaign calls one-finger issue...
  6. Second gesture in question made at a campaign rally on November 3, 2008Hot Air: Video: Obama scratches mouth with middle finger... (November 3, 2008)
  7. Obama is seen scratching his face with his middle finger while congratulating John McCain on his hard-fought raceYouTube Video: Obama Flips Off McCain (Time: 0:19)
  8. The Roman version of the so-called "bird" was called the digitus impudicus (insulting finger)Orlando Sentinel: Let's not go flipping out over the UCF players flipping off...

• A Bird in the Hand

  On April 17, 2008, while speaking to a crowd in Raleigh, North Carolina, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama scratched his face with his middle finger while referring to his opponent, Hillary Clinton. The crowd responded vocally, and a moment later, Obama held a smile for several seconds.FOX News: Did Obama Give a 'Flip' Response to Clinton Attacks? (April 18, 2008)

  Several news organizations and conservative blogs claimed that Obama was, in a subtle and gestural way, flipping Clinton the so-called "bird." Both the Los Angeles Times and the Baltimore Sun assert that Obama did indeed give Hillary the finger, while other papers including Newsday, as well as most liberal blogs, either disagreed or questioned the importance of such controversies.Top of the Ticket (LAT): Barack Obama's campaign calls one-finger issue...

• The Medium vs. the Message

  Obama had, at that moment, been speaking about the way the Washington system creates controversies out of petty slips, and attempts to pit candidates against each other. "Now, I don't blame Washington for this," Obama said, "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)

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