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A photo of US presidential candidate Barack Obama wearing Somali clothing is causing a storm after it got released to the Drudge Report website.
Yusuf Garaad Omar, head of the BBC’s Somali Service, explains the meaning of the robes.
These are the normal clothes that nomadic people wear.
The head turban is especially used by elderly people as a suggestion of respect. It is something that has no meaning whatsoever in Somalia culture.
If you see someone dressed like that in Somalia, you think it is a nomadic person - that is all.
There is no religious significance to it whatsoever. It is mainly the nomadic people who use it. Some of them are religious, some are not.
It is simply a tradition of the place where they are from.
In this particular place, Wajir in north-east Kenya, the community is majority ethnic Somali.
They have a council for Peace and Development, and when they get delegates they dress them as a nomadic person.
I have been trying to track down the old man in the photo with Mr Obama, and I have been told he is Mohammed Hassan, the chair of the council itself. But he is not in town today, and we could not get hold of him.
This debate reminds me of people back home in Somalia, who say that women should not wear trousers, or other cultures who say men should not wear a tie. I just don’t think it makes sense.

news.bbc.co.uk

First Read is an analysis of the day’s political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.
From NBC/NJ’s Matthew E. Berger
NEW YORK — Huckabee showed once again that he gets the joke, appearing on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” to explain why he hasn’t conceded the Republican nomination to McCain and outstaying his welcome.
Huckabee appeared on the “Weekend Update” segment of the show, which made its return after a prolonged absence because of the strike by the Writers Guild of America. He chatted with anchor Seth Myers about the “mathematical impossibility” that he could win.
“The media loves to throw around the term ‘mathematical impossibility,’ but no one can ever explain what that means to me,” he said, eliciting an explanation from Myers that even if Huckabee won every remaining delegate, he would be 200 short.
“Wow,” Huckabee said. “That was an excellent explanation, but I’m afraid that you overlooked the all-important superdelegates, don’t forget about them,” he said. Superdelegates are only in the Democratic primaries, Myers reminded him.
“Uh oh, that’s not good news,” Huckabee said. “You know Seth, I was counting on those superdelegates.”
But the real joke came when Huckabee’s segment drew to a close. “Mike Huckabee does not overstay his welcome,” he said, referring to his candidacy. “When it’s time to go, I’ll know. And I’ll exit out with class and grace.” But after two rounds of applause, he was still there, smiling and waving. It took a gentle reminder from Myers to get him off stage.
Huckabee has appeared on The Colbert Report and other political satire shows in recent weeks, finding humor in his continued participation in the Republican race. He joins a long list of politicians who have appeared on “SNL,” including McCain and former Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, both of whom were guest hosts. And Obama made an appearance last fall.
Huckabee arrived in New York Saturday and taped “Geraldo At Large” before arriving at NBC Studios in the evening for rehearsals, accompanied by his wife, Janet and daughter, Sarah.
As tradition dictates, Huckabee returned at the end of the show, to be thanked by guest host Tina Fey. After the show ended, he told NBC/National Journal that the experience was “a blast.”
“It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever got to do,” he said.
Huckabee said he had first been in touch with executive producer Lorne Michaels and head writer Seth Myers last week, batting around ideas. Huckabee said he suggested the idea that perhaps his time as a presidential candidate had passed. Huckabee and his staff attended the after party Saturday night, adding to their sleep deprivation.
With months of political material to choose from, “Saturday Night Live” opened by poking fun at the media’s fascination with Obama, satiring a CNN debate with anchors gushing over Obama and allowing “Obama Girl” to sing his praises in lieu of a question. Many had wondered whether the show would hire someone new to play Obama, because the show’s only black character is stocky Kenan Thompson. In the end, they opted for veteran Fred Armisen, who is white.

firstread.msnbc.msn.com

DALLAS — Hillary Rodham Clinton’s only campaign swing through North Texas was cut short Friday after a police officer in her motorcade died in a crash on the way to a rally.
The Democratic presidential candidate spoke to supporters for less than 20 minutes in near-freezing temperatures about three miles from the crash site before delivering a somber statement to reporters after the event.
“We are just heartsick at this loss of life in the line of duty,” Clinton said.
Dallas police said 49-year-old Sr. Cpl. Victor Lozada-Tirado was thrown from his motorcycle when it clipped a curb on a viaduct near downtown. He was in the rear of the motorcade, police said, following it as it took a turn not far from Dealey Plaza, where John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
Clinton canceled an appearance in neighboring Fort Worth, telling about 2,000 people gathered outside the Tarrant County courthouse that it would be inappropriate to campaign in the wake of the accident. Instead, the New York senator visited Lozada-Tirado’s family at the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“It is important that we respect and appreciate their service,” Clinton said after her rally. “I certainly am grateful for all they do for me.”
The Dallas-Fort Worth swing, one day after a debate with Sen. Barack Obama in Austin, came after Clinton spent most of the week on the Texas-Mexico border. She was headed to Ohio later Friday.
Clinton didn’t mention the crash to about 1,000 supporters and appeared upbeat at the first stop in Dallas. She struck familiar themes of universal health care, ending the war in Iraq and bringing relief to homeowners facing foreclosure.
During a pause, one supporter got her attention long enough to point out that he has a $3,000 copay for prescription drugs, which Clinton announced to the crowd.
“It is morally wrong and it’s economically dumb for us not to cover everybody,” she said. “And we are going to do that.”
Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle, accompanied by Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert at the hospital, said the motorcades involve intricate driving.
“The motorcycle escorts we do are very dangerous,” Kunkle said. “They require officers to speed up and ride ahead of the motorcade and set up, and do that over and over again. So there’s always an element of danger to these motorcades, but the accident is still under investigation.”
Asked if police had enough lead time to plan a safe route, spokesman Lt. Vernon Hale said, “It doesn’t matter with our guys. Of course, we’ve already had one tragedy in Dallas, so we’ve been doing this a long time. The know exactly how to do it.”
Obama asked for a moment of silence in memory of Lozada-Tirado at a rally in Corpus Christi later Friday. He said the officer had been in his own detail two days ago in Dallas. The wreck happened right next to Reunion Arena, where Obama drew about 17,000 for a rally.
“It’s a reminder of the outstanding work that law enforcement does for us each and every day,” Obama said.
In August, an Albuquerque, N.M., police officer in President Bush’s motorcade died in a motorcycle crash. Germaine Casey, 40, died on Aug. 27 when he crashed as Bush returned to the airport after a fundraiser for Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.
In November 2006, a Honolulu officer died when he and two other motorcycle officers crashed while part of a presidential motorcade.
Associated Press Writers Anabelle Garay and Terry Wallace contributed to this report.

chron.com