I am also fearful of these attacks. I would hope that Americans are better than this mud slinging that is being thrown at Barack Obama. I am from German heritage. Does that mean that I believed in Hitler? I want a president I can be proud of in this world. I want someone who is above the name calling. I want someone who is willing to make sure that ALL people are not persecuted.

Let us rise up as one voice to unite us!!! We do not need to divide this country. Others may do this, but Americans should stand together for the greater good. Aren't there people out there who want us to be a better country?

Using a person's middle name...whether it be Hussein or in McCain's case, Sidney, should not be an affront. People will read into it whatever they choose and no matter whether McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden denounce and repudiate things that are said people will believe what they want. Too many people, such as this writer, are picking everything that is done or said to pieces. The more animosity shown on both sides the less we can all concentrate on the issues and the person we want to elect to represent our needs in this country. If we don't stop being so divisive and searching for every perceived bad that we can we are going to end up a country of hate and total division. Come on America...judge a person by their character and their record not by a name, a religion, a race, a party, etc. These two candidates have records and they have character (how they have lived their lives, what they have stood for or against, who they have for friends, their courage, intellect, integrity, fairness, dedication, commitment, love of country, concern for people, etc.) Let's get serious about the important things and not worry about middle names.

What a bunch of bigots. Their true colors are showing. Obama was born in Hawaii and is a Christian. The McCain/Palin supporters seem to think that being a Muslim equates to terrorism. That pretty sums up the word "Discrimination". And this is exactly why Religion and State must be kept separate. Which religion will the McCain/Palin supporters target next? Who will they target next? They will target anyone who is different from them. Isn't that the type of thinking that terrorist and dictator leaders have? And look what their countries have turned into – hateful, war torn, countries based on discrimination, not freedom.

OK...this is getting a bit ridiculous and redundant! Barack Hussein Obama is his name. So now what...no one can even say his name unless they are thought of as a racist? That is ridiculous and playing the race card if I've ever seen it!

I do not think of Obama as a Muslim or a black man when I think of him or hear his full name. And I am sure many feel the same. So anyone saying his name, no matter how they do it doesn't make me afraid of Muslims or have any hate towards them. This supposed contreversy is getting way out of hand.

So I guess if no republican can say Obama's full name then I guess that means the dems can't bring up John's age or Palin's gender because then they are sexist or discriminatory against older people. You can't have it one way and not the other!

Cindy..Ga.

These horrible statements need to stop. I am afraid Barack Obama will be killed before the election. I believe the republicans would go as far as killing him to STOP the democrates from taking office.

What a treat to have you write for the 360 blog, Mr. Hosseini. I'm a huge fan of your books, and couldn't agree more with your thoughts on the election. I keep hearing about the "new page" the McCain campaign is going to turn, too, but I don't see it. And even if the horrible, insinuatory language of these past few weeks is left behind, voters should never forget that they tried to get away with it.

While watching the stump speeches for McCain and Obama I noticed there was a marked difference between the audiance volumn levels. Does McCain put microphones in the middle of the audiance or just turns up the level?

Until McCain stops Palin, their campaign representatives and supporters from engaging in inflammatory rhetoric against Obama, his claims of trying to run a "decent" campaign will ring hollow. For some to continue to say that both campaigns are playing "dirty politics" is pretty disingenuous as Paul Begala rightly pointed out on 360 the other night, when you consider the number of reports of reprehensible behavior by McCain supporters that have surfaced recently.

I couldn't agree more. I have watched the rhetoric from the McCain-Palin camp – and seen the responses from their supporters. Frankly, the responses scare me. Those are the responses that can lead to assassinations. It was that kind of rhetoric that was unchecked that lead to the assassination of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. This is not safe. And I have not seen anything done by McCain or Palin to douse the flames. The "decent person" speech of McCain's only pays lip service to the issue. McCain & Palin need to stop equating Obama with terrorists – and they need to stop their own and their supporters' inflammatory rhetoric. Or something may happen that we as a country, will be unwilling to deal with. I only hope that the Secret Service on Obama and his family are on high alert!!!

John McCain could be the protagonist in a Greek drama – the fall of a great man brought low. So deperate to win the presidency that he impugns people's nationality and religion. Barack Obama is not a Muslim – so what? This country was founded on religious freedom. Muslim does not equate to terrorism – nor does a proud name lose its appeal because a villain carries it.

I regret the level of racism and mean-spiritedness allowed(therefore condoned) by the Republican ticket. No matter the outcome of this election, John McCain has been diminished in the eyes of many Americans.

What do you expect from Republicans? This is how they operate. Until, God forbid, if someone is hurt or killed as a result of their rhetoric, then and only then will they change their tactics and keep their forked tongues in their mouths. With all the crazies in this country looking for any excuse to do harm to someone they disagree with, McLame and his pit bull should know better.

As an Independent and admirer of your novels, I find your questioning of McCain and Palin's moral courage completely unjustified and alarming.

When people can no longer be referred to by their given name without admonishments, it's a truly sad day for the human race.

While there may be ample reasons to question McCain, certainly, his moral composition and courage are two that should be removed from further discussion.

Rev. Wright and Rev. Pfleger's inflamatory rhetoric brought race and its complexities into the presidential race.

As an author, perhaps you should seek first to understand then to be understood, maybe then your message would have validity.

The analysts are quick to discuss the race issue...they fact that white voters will not vote for Obama. The fact IS that black voters will vote for Obama strickly on the fact that he IS black. If you were to interview a percentage of black voters, a large majority will confirm that they want him mostly because he is black. The media never ceases to amaze the viewers with their way of slanting the news coverage with opinions that are generally liberal. Whites are no more racists than blacks and why should this even be discussed? The more you talk about it on television, the more it remains in the public's minds. Calling Obama by his full name is no more wrong that saying "George W. Bush". That's him name and why should we be banished from using it???

I also noticed that when the woman in the audience said to McCain that she was afraid of Obama because "he's an Arab", McCain did not correct her. He just said ' he's a family man, you don't have to be afraid of him', etc.

I saw a You Tube video of people going into a McCain/Palin rally (I think) in Missouri. The angry shouts that Obama is a terrorist, not to mention the racial remarks, were a very scary thing to see in America in 2008.

McCain has painted himself into a corner here. If he continues with this rant, it is just a matter of time before someone is hurt or killed as a result of the anger he and Palin have generated. If he drops it or tones it down, his behavior will seem erratic once again. I hope that it is a very small group of McCain supporters that are buying into this dangerous campaign stunt. More importantly, I hope no one is injured as a result.

Well said! Khaled Hosseini is bang on. Not only is McCain a week late in his peace offering but it is insufficient and insincere.

What is your point?

The fact is that his name is Brack Hussein Obama. People may use it as they want, it is freedom of speech. We Muslims should stop acting like "Prima ballerinas".
Just because someone uses or better abuses our name we feel offended or hurt or whatever. I am sorry to say that we Muslims have to start to grow up.
As long as we can look in the mirror and respect what we see we should not have problems about who said what or who did not say something when he should have. We should be stronger than that and show that we can evolve and ensure that we will be better people in the future than they are today.
In general terms we are not better than them, our weakness is only that we always blame others for the situation we are in instead of realizing that we could pull ourselves up from the dirt.
But we are masters in pointing fingers at others.
before we ask others to step up to the plate, it is time that our own brothers and sister step up to the plate and not wait for none Muslims to pull us out.
Do not take me wrong, I see your point and understand you, but who cares McCain did or did not do. I could not care less.

By the way I am an Obama supporter.

People only can play the Muslim card if we allow them to do so. Your post plays right into the hands of the people who used his middle name on purpose.

"...Neither has had the moral courage, when taking the stage, to grasp the microphone, turn to the presenter and, right then and there, denounce the use of Obama’s middle name as an insult."

It's not about courage, it's about desire. Clearly they both lack desire to stand up to their lackey followers and denounce the hatred they are spewing by associating evil with a common name. Is everyone who isn't Republican evil? In their eyes, possibly. Sickening. The lot of them.

The truth of the matter is that illiteracy is really a disease and for real 'a people perish for lack of knowledge'. This is clearly visible as the people that shout such slogans at McCain/palins rally continue to instigate fear in others. The fact of the matter is that people need to understand that Muslims are not dangerous and being a muslim does not mean that one is a terrorist or has ever been involved in any terrorist activities. So please stop creating a divide between the people of America and get to know the candidates both for their character and previous achievements.

This is so hurtful to see that the Republic Party would actually let people display signs like this or say mean things like , "Terrorist or Off with his head." I am so hurt. Why would McCain/ Palin allow this time of rhetoric to continue. I think McCain would have been better off with Mitt Romney or the Minnesota Governor. They would never have allowed this type of disgusting display of angry.

Thanks for posting that. While I might not agree with Obama on his policy stances I certainly think this is completely out of line.

Every great leader that the black community has shared with America has either been murdered or falsely imprisoned . McCain and Palin are building that type of anger toward Obama by fueling the masses with more hate ! McCain only spoke up because his failure to speak up had been the headline for the previous few days . This is a sensitive time in America because George Bush has ended the longest running monopoly in the history of the world . The monopoly of controling the world via its most powerful nation . Its time to spread the weath . May GOD bless Barack Hussain Obama and keep him safe !

Too late for warnings about potential racial inferences from the McCain campaign. That train left the station going full speed and hasn't slowed a bit.. A sure confirmation is the absense of reasoning and openess to truth. McCain has led his supporters into a mind set wherein if Obama isn't verbally confirming their attacks, he's automatically accused of being a liar. Nevermind the polls. At this point, voters have made their choices. The only grey area is determining if enough Americans are ready to look past the color of Obama's skin. There are many who aren't and McCain is doing all he can to exploint those inhibitions, especially given the unabashed hypocracy and double standards that almost sound respectable until you think about Palin's life, the current investigation and her tendency to not answer any questions with specificity. My prayer is that Americans are better and more inteligent than to ignore the truths that are starring them right in the face, especially each time Sarah Palin opens her mouth.

This is fear mongering from two people who are running for office. These are the people who are suppose to represent the people of America?

I live in the South and have all my life. I find this attempt to win the race with rascist innuendo disgusting. We need better right now. We do not need anyone so weak in character that he would use this approach to win. It is downright shameful.

Sandy – I agree, there's nothing "wrong" with anyone's middle name. However, I also agree with Mr. Hosseini that the McCain campaign INTENDS to use Barack Obama's middle name as a slander. It's obvious from the context. If you believe otherwise, I have a mightly fine piece of land down here in Florida to sell you.

I thought at McCain and Palin rallys there were monitoring people with signs.. It's unfornunte McCain Palin are not put under more scrutiny they Obama has been for the last 20 months. No one at CNN has taken on the subject of toopergate. Palin abused her power, fired an innocent man and no one is reporting how she has turned this man life upside down. We are counting on at least ONE CNN commentor to take this subject on....CNN blasted the news about Obama and Ayers every minute they could last week but yet toogergate is like yesterday's news.

Q: Did anyone at CNN wonder why McCain decided to turn down the rheotic on Obama?

A. Because McCain got wind that the report on Palin was coming out that evenign was going to be negative and McCain didn't want the media jumping all over it. AND IT WORKED! The news on Palin was like "OH WELL she abused her powers....The media played right into Republican Party's hand. McCain played the media like a feddle and outfoxed CNN.
WAY TO GO for being fair CNN.

Thanks,
Karen.

Perhaps we should have seen this coming from the Republicans. Seems things turned nasty with the selection of Sarah Palin...I guess McCain has nothing else to campaign on but to spread hate, fear and intolerance. The Republican base - do they really call themselves Christians? Seems like more and more are fanatics. What really scares me the most is the potential for violence their hateful rhetoric may spawn. I am afraid for Obama's life. Please tell me this is not what America has come down to.

If the same percentages of whites voted for McCain as do blacks vote for Obama would that be racist?

After hearing Pastor Arnold Conrad's hate message, it is so clear what McCain's camp has created. Why did McCain invite this slimebag to speak? How can we bring a country of so many different racial & religious background together when McCain's own people keep pointing out why people who are not white or Christians are less superior. I will never vote Republican again. Their true colors have emerged. Despicable!

Look the moral of the story is, just like McCain said .... Barrack Obama has to anwser some tough questions because clearly there are thousands of peope just 2 weeks before the election still think he's a muslim and sits down with an anti-american terrorist lover figure? Now, If Obama dosn't care and thinks he's going to win the elction despite not adressing this issue than that's his choice? But you really can't control people's beliefs until Obama as a leader adresses yet again and actually proves he never was a muslim?

Isn't encouraging people to threaten a person's life breaking the first amendment – freedom of speech? Like the proverbial question, can you yell "fire" in a crowded theater.

If a potential politician condone this kind of behavior, what kind of person does he show he is? Presidential material? I think not. If McCain continues along these lines, he should also be disbarred from returning to the Senate.

Khaled,

I absolutely LOVED "Kite Runner" and have your "A Thousand Splendid Suns" on the "to be read" pile next to my reading chair. Thank you for putting out excellent work that is timely and gives us an eye to the culture that we couldn't get otherwise. The betrayal between friends portrayed in Kite Runner was absolutely chilling.

The insults to people with ethnic names have not gone unnoticed by the rational, logical world who views these insults as ignorant. It is only weeks until the election, and if the opinions of all the people I have been talking to are an indication, John McCain and Sarah Palin may very well forgotten in the months to come.

I think it was said best by a woman in England: Sarah Palin is only a "Freaky Freckle" away from the Presidency, and if the Americans make that choice, then they truly have gone a little mad.

Thanks again for writing an excellent novel, I look forward to reading your second book.

McCain.com has a page for Arab-Americans for McCain – huh?

yes they are playing with fire. Just this past few days even the absantee ballatts are going out with mis-spelled last name.Accident? Nope. McCain and his camp have thought before attacking. What they did not "think" about is the very uneasy state that all of us that are not wealthy are in. Will we have a home? Will the banks be closed and our little paycheck not be cashable. Will there be enough money for gas in the vehicle to even get to work. Food? What happens if someone in the family gets sick? No money for that. Then they dump race on top. Stir up those that may have ill feelings toward another.Guess what happens......
I how ever was not shocked that they choose this path. Anyone who knowingly writes a bill for a pres. to sign that removes 12,000 women,children,elders onto a toxic radio-active dump,just so they can make money off the land they were moved off of--doesn't care one bit about human life. The folks that were put on this toxic dump here in theU.S. in 1997 made sure that their exsistance was taped.They took this with them when they went to the U.N. in 2000,since no regular media in the U.S. cared-–and the nations there watched. They also condemend this action.McCain wrote the bill. People think he will try to help those less fortunate?????NO !!!!!!!!! People wake up. He is only enterested in himself.

Didn't anyone take notice when an old lady in McCain's audience said "I don't like Obama because....he's...he's an Arab"....McCain took the microphone from her and said "no, no, he's a family man, a good man, etc."

So being an Arab is the opposite of being a good family man? Why doesn't anyone get offended by that? That's just McCain spreading ignorance, yet in an "I'm being good" manner.

It's pure ignorance and is just disgusting.

How many days did the McCain/Palin team allow the inflammatory rhetoric go unchecked before McCain spoke up? McCain has allowed Palin to be the front man/woman leading the charge against Sen. Obama. McCain lets Palin do the dirty work, and if the media calls her on it they can claim that the media is out to get her.

Notice that when McCain finally spoke up after several days of his followers shouting out epithets he failed to say anything about the reference to Obama's being a Muslim allowing the idea that being Muslim is a bad thing. The fact that the media has been so busy patting McCain on the back for speaking up and not mentioning his failure to call the woman on the her inferring that being a Muslem is equal to being a terrorist leads me to believe that the Media must either agree with her or are they too scared to bring it up.

Yes Hussein is his middle name, thats fair enough, whats not fair enough is tapping into the fears of ignorant Americans. The messages that the McCain is throwing into the campaign feed straight into the message that the right wing nutters on talk radio have been spreading for months, Hussein/Osama/terrorist/unpatriotic/dark and mysterious. Its classic Republican tactics, smear, defame and belittle your opponent, but in this case its dangerous because its tapping into real anger and fear. I mean look at that poor, ignorant woman saying Obama was Arab, I mean how dumb can these people be? Unfortunately the answer is that at a lot of McCain rallies seem to have a lot of dumb people, the worry is that one of those nutjobs will pick up on these lies and anger and act upon it.

I respected the man John McCain once was, but certainly not the man he has become. For shame McCain & Palin and your bigotted supporters! You can't shout fire in a crowded theatre and you can't stand by while a crowd shouts "Kill Him" and claim free speech!
The use of Obama's middle name was deliberate and purposeful in playing upon the crowds Xenephobia.

I agree with the name thing. If we aren't allowed to call Obama by his full name because it incites "fear" then tell Obama to change it.

The role of the VP's is to be the fighter during the campaigns. I, personally, don't care for the mudslinging but it's coming from both campaigns. Not to mention the apparent hatred for conservative women that the left has. The bashing of Sarah Palin by the left is just as alarming, IMO.

There is no problem saying someones middle name except when doing as has been done in the McCain rallies. A uniformed law enforcement officer on stage saying it in the tone of voice he did is wrong. After Pallin doing all she could to not only link him to a terrorist but to let her audiences go forward with accusations that he is without correction is wrong. All the news agencies have cleared any wrong connections relating to Ayers so it shoul be dropped. Using his middle name now with the efforts to connect him to a terrorist only insights audiences to speak like they have. When Sen McCain gives them thumbs up, applauds them, or even hugs them when they speak then it is insighting behavior that is not becoming of any parties efforts. To his credit he has on a couple of occasions tried to turn it around but the Pallin rallies continue unabated.

This is not my idea of being representative of the American citizens of all parties that I know and not what I want the world to think of us

I doubt either of these speakers would have referred to him using his full name if his middle name was John, Dave or whatever. I was appalled to see the signs "Obama bin Lying". All very unsettling.

And to Cindy in GA, it's not that they're using his middle name, it's the way they say it. It would be equivalent to if there were deep-seeded fears of Irish people in America, and people emphasized the "Mc" in John Sidney McCain's name in an attempt to dissuade people from voting for him, even though he's an American with just as much right to run for president as anyone else.

The fact IS that black voters will vote for Obama strickly on the fact that he IS black.

That's a fact, you say? I suppose you've done the appropriate research using a statistically relevant sample group to back this statement up? Perhaps you could share it with us.

I don't see problem calling Barack with his middle name but the problem was the intention of what they were using it for. Don't forget that there are so many people like that woman who said to McCain Brack was Arab that can easily be brain washed and start believing he is Muslim or relate his name with Saddam Hussien or the like. And, we know what their intention was, distract voters and distort the truth. We know the fact that there is nothing wrong to be Muslim or having the name Hussien.

Since Palin is a Christian, are you saying she needs to actually act like one in her words and actions? What a novel approach

I love the bumper stickers that say "Hate is not a family value" I think McCain and Palin need to take a step back and realize that they are evoking hate in many people and it's due to their lack of response of peoples actions that makes this continue. If they want to be proper leaders they need to stop their followers verbal abuse.

Is hate something McCain and Palin want to be a leader of?

Get a grip, people. It's bad enough in this election with all the mud-slinging going on from both parties, but the obnoxiously reactive responses here leads me to believe American IQ's dropped with the Dow average.
Nobody is saying we cannot speak Obama's middle name: the concern expressed by some of the responders here, as well as many other sites I've seen, is about how his name is used. Words are just words: it's the intention behind the use of the words that matter. Using words to engage in a healthy discussion about all the different topics concerning Americans, such as gender, race or age, is one thing. Deliberately using a word, or a name, to provoke unity through fearing the "other" is something else entirely. I believe Mr. Hosseini clearly communicated this fact in his blog. For those of you who missed it, he objected to using Obama's middle name as an insult, and not, as some responders seem to think, saying that the McCain campain shouldn't say his name at all.
I guess it is a sobering demonstration of how divided the American people are about this election when something as basic as reading comprehension goes right out the window.

So I guess when Obama introduces himself to a Jewish audience, it's okay to call himself "Barruch"? No one seems to get twisted out of shape when he boastfully changes the pronounciation of his first name to benefit a Jewish audience, and I'm guessing no one believes he's Jewish.

I find it very odd that the media makes such a big deal out of 4 or 5 people at a McCain or Palin rally, but where is that same outrage over the comments made by people like John Lewis?

.

It's his middle name. This is ridiculous.

I'm a huge fan. Thank you for your words. I wish folks, even Barack , would refrain from saying that Americans are smart, because they are not. I'm not religous at all, but I pray to mother earth that Barack stays safe.

By the way AC. I'm not yelling. Just feeling passionate, disgusted and fed up with these people. (McCain/Palin)

It's to late for McCain. No amount of hate tactics are going to win this election. As the polls indicate McCain does not have the confidence in the American public to lead us through what is ahead of us. John McCain can not run on the issues, which means he can not and will not win this election!

@Cindy- if you do not see the xenophobia and hate mongering that is going on by the republican party then you are just as ignorant as the old woman who called Obama an Arab. It is not the democrats playing the race card- because, if you would bother to educate yourself, you would know that Obama has not run his campagin on race

Shame on the American population for allowing such dreadful comments about an American citizen who dreams of a better country and life for all Americans. As a Canadian onlooker I find the tactics used in your elections to be less than acceptable. To infer or compare Mr. Obama to any terrorist is not only personally insulting but degrades your nation as a whole. So often I hear reference to Mr. Obama as being black – what happened to the white half of his heritage? How about looking at him as an extremely intelligent human being who is willing and capable of ensuring the USA remains the leader of the freeworld?

Yes it's his middle name, but people attach a hateful connotation to it. They snicker his name with the assumption that it marks him as a Muslim. And even if he is a muslim? What is wrong with that?

The islamic tradition is actually a very peaceful tradition and is very similiar to christianity and judaism... and is nothing like what the extremist terrorists have linked with jihad. In fact, america is probably the only nation that can have islam be truly represented.

People who have a problem with his middle name have a problem with Muslims, and have oversimplified what Muslims are simply from what they see on the TV screen.

What is it with these bigoted Red Necks anyway ?

If you listen to the way in which Obama's middle name was said it is clear that it's intent was to fuel the fires of ignorance out there in the McCain/Palin crowds. It's not the words themselves but the context they are used in and the way they are said that makes the difference here. I live in rural America and let me tell ya even up north here in Vermont there is a plethora of ignorance and bigotry which defies the imagination. We have them here as well as down south folks. They openly talk about this black guy not 'making it' through the first term and they think Palin is an intellectual (I guess that term is relative after all) because she can mow down defenseless animals with a semi-automatic weapon while at the same time believing in the 'right to life'. Those racist violent and bigoted inbred Red Necks you often see at McCain/Palin rallies are peppered throughout the USA folks. They're too dumb to realize it but they are a dying breed and this election I am sure will drive that point home .. You Betcha' !!!!!!!!

McCain/Palin's ability to change the Republicans
How much influence did McCain or Palin have on Republicans to support the rescue package, as opposed to the addition of the $130 Billion for pork spending? The Republican party have refromed McCain into a mean old polition.

I think they are!! I'm sure if OBama and Biden would have said those things, guess what? They would be under investigation, now!! I think McCain was running a pretty clean campaign, until Palin was chosen as his running mate. Palin think she is above the LAW, we have seen evidence of that. Let' look at something her husband was using , her position as governor for their personal agendas. At my place of employment, my husband holds no merit there. I think it would be the same at yours!! Your families business should not be handled within your work place. If this man was such a threat to them, I'm sure he would not still be working. This lady abused her authority!!! And she should be made step down, from running for Republican VP!!!! We as a nation that's trying to get back on track, we don't need this in the White House. I think it's enough of these type people in there already. We don't need people in office who promotes separation of races, labeling Americans as terriorist without just cause, abusing their authority, and just being a total IDIOT!!! WE DO NOT NEED THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!!