An unsubstantiated accusation that Barack Obama made against Hillary Clinton's campaign has created an international incident. The controversy revolves around an AP photo taken during Obama's official, US government sanctioned trip to Africa as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2006. The photo, which shows Obama in traditional Somali tribal dress, has been posted on the Internet without complaint since 2006 at the following website:
http://www.geeskaafrika.com/ethiopia_31aug06.htm
However, after a copy of the photo appeared on the Drudge Report website, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe accused the Clinton campaign Monday of "shameful offensive fear-mongering" by "circulating the photo as an attempted smear."
In a radio interview, Obama himself contributed to the controversy by commenting, "The notion that the Clinton campaign would be trying to circulate this as a negative on the same day that Sen. Clinton was giving a speech about how we repair our relationships around the world is sad."
As of yet, none of the allegations against the Clinton camp have been substantiated, but because of the credance given them by the Obama camp, US allies in Kenya are outraged. Kenyan tribal elders are planning protests in their community, and are turning up the heat on the US government over the incident, reportedly planning to file an official complaint with the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
More details at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080229/pl_nm/usa_politics_kenya_dc_2
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02292008/news/worldnews/clinton_faces_kenya_cattle_fine_over_oba_99865.htm
