Barack Hussein Obama - Muslim agent who hates Jews, America?
January 12, 2008 7:17 AM Subscribe
In a smear campaign reminiscent of "John McCain fathered a black baby" in South Carolina in 2000, a series of mass emails have been popping up in American voters' inboxes detailing the religious upbringing of Barack Obama. In the first email, it is revealed that Barack Hussein Obama is actually a radical Muslim who may or may not be a sleeper agent attempting to infiltrate our country's highest political office. Another email describes Obama's Chicago church, where the candidate first found God and counts the church's pastor as a close mentor, and which describes itself as Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian, as having a "racist, non-negotiable commitment to Africa" that excludes non-blacks. Though Obama still counts the church's pastor, Jeremiah Wright, as a close friend and mentor, Obama decided to not ask Wright to speak when he announced his presidential candidacy. In addition, on November 2 of last year, Louis Farrakhan received the "Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Trumpeteer" award, which has further outraged those dubious of Obama and his connection to Trinity.
Disclosure/editorial - I am an Obama supporter, but find the prevalence of these emails vastly interesting and discomforting. Clearly they wouldn't have spread so quickly and so far if not for people's inherent suspicion of him as a candidate, as an African-American, and as a person with a Muslim name. I feel that at some point he's going to have to address these issues, particularly in regard to Trinity Church, as already conservative radio and blogs are decrying the MSM's hypocrisy and liberal bias in discussing Romney's Mormonism but not Obama's "radical" black-centered church. Also, my point in posting these links is obviously not to spread the lies contained therein (note the snopes links) but rather to discuss what it is quickly becoming one of Obama's greatest challenges to winning his party's nomination and, eventually, a general election.
Disclosure/editorial - I am an Obama supporter, but find the prevalence of these emails vastly interesting and discomforting. Clearly they wouldn't have spread so quickly and so far if not for people's inherent suspicion of him as a candidate, as an African-American, and as a person with a Muslim name. I feel that at some point he's going to have to address these issues, particularly in regard to Trinity Church, as already conservative radio and blogs are decrying the MSM's hypocrisy and liberal bias in discussing Romney's Mormonism but not Obama's "radical" black-centered church. Also, my point in posting these links is obviously not to spread the lies contained therein (note the snopes links) but rather to discuss what it is quickly becoming one of Obama's greatest challenges to winning his party's nomination and, eventually, a general election.
This post was deleted for the following reason: screedfilter. put another way, this is an OMG look at these assholes political post that would be better suited to one of the political blogs or perhaps your own blog. -- jessamyn
Perhaps I am naive, but I find it hard to believe that anyone who would be swayed by this smear campaign would have voted for Obama in the first place.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:28 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:28 AM on January 12, 2008
Do you seriously think anyone reads that email crap?
Don't underestimate the power of email crap. Seriously. There are lots of people on this here internet who are not as savvy as MetaFilter users.
Perhaps I am naive, but I find it hard to believe that anyone who would be swayed by this smear campaign would have voted for Obama in the first place.
This, in my opinion, is the real argument.
posted by danb at 7:30 AM on January 12, 2008
Don't underestimate the power of email crap. Seriously. There are lots of people on this here internet who are not as savvy as MetaFilter users.
Perhaps I am naive, but I find it hard to believe that anyone who would be swayed by this smear campaign would have voted for Obama in the first place.
This, in my opinion, is the real argument.
posted by danb at 7:30 AM on January 12, 2008
I did a search for "Obama" in my dad's AOL inbox and this email came up 15 times. It's out there and it is pervasive. My favorite part of it? at the start of it, it says that this HAS to be true, because it was on Snopes. Which, of course, refutes this shit email.
Perhaps I am naive, but I find it hard to believe that anyone who would be swayed by this smear campaign would have voted for Obama in the first place.
I think you've got it right there.
posted by ColdChef at 7:32 AM on January 12, 2008
Perhaps I am naive, but I find it hard to believe that anyone who would be swayed by this smear campaign would have voted for Obama in the first place.
I think you've got it right there.
posted by ColdChef at 7:32 AM on January 12, 2008
it'll never work, I mean, it's not that the Swift Boat ads damaged Kerry or anything!!!
posted by matteo at 7:34 AM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by matteo at 7:34 AM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
who would stand to benefit from such a campaign ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:39 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:39 AM on January 12, 2008
The point is not to get people not to vote for Obama who otherwise would have -- it's to energize the whacko conservative base who would otherwise stay at home and not vote.
posted by footnote at 7:41 AM on January 12, 2008 [5 favorites]
posted by footnote at 7:41 AM on January 12, 2008 [5 favorites]
Footnote's nailed it. Also, watch for phone calls where people with fake, stereotypically "ghetto" accents call undecided voters to express their support for Obama. I hear these calls are planned, though I have not heard of any calls actually being made (yet).
posted by herc at 7:44 AM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by herc at 7:44 AM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
Oh crap. Here we go again.
America IS still a racist hellhole. As for those of us who thought maybe we were gonna get past it in our lifetimes .. . never mind.
And don't tell me Clinton supporters aren't overjoyed by this, and spreading it as well.
At some point, Barack Obama is going to have to go full-tilt negative on Hillary AND Bill and their corrupt minions. He is going to have to call them what they are: racists.
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:45 AM on January 12, 2008
America IS still a racist hellhole. As for those of us who thought maybe we were gonna get past it in our lifetimes .. . never mind.
And don't tell me Clinton supporters aren't overjoyed by this, and spreading it as well.
At some point, Barack Obama is going to have to go full-tilt negative on Hillary AND Bill and their corrupt minions. He is going to have to call them what they are: racists.
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:45 AM on January 12, 2008
Yeah, the real fun will begin if Obama wins the nomination and OBAMA. It rhymes with OSAMA. commercials begin to run 24/7 underwritten by "some mysterious 527 group".
posted by Skygazer at 7:46 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by Skygazer at 7:46 AM on January 12, 2008
And don't tell me Clinton supporters aren't overjoyed by this, and spreading it as well.
I call BS. Do you have any proof at all to back this up? Or do you just find it easy to parrot this crap. Honestly I'm sick of the meme that puts the Clintons on the same pedestal of sleaze and incompetence as the Bushes and the GOP. I'm an Obama supporter because I think he would just be a better president.
posted by Skygazer at 7:52 AM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
I call BS. Do you have any proof at all to back this up? Or do you just find it easy to parrot this crap. Honestly I'm sick of the meme that puts the Clintons on the same pedestal of sleaze and incompetence as the Bushes and the GOP. I'm an Obama supporter because I think he would just be a better president.
posted by Skygazer at 7:52 AM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
Honestly I'm sick of the meme that puts the Clintons on the same pedestal of sleaze and incompetence as the Bushes and the GOP.
It's not just a meme when they say stuff like this: "If you have a social need, you're with Hillary. If you want Obama to be your imaginary hip black friend and you're young and you have no social needs, then he's cool." The Clintons are playing the race thing, too - the difference is that they're doing it with much more subtlety and nuance than the Republicans ever would or could.
posted by billysumday at 7:55 AM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
It's not just a meme when they say stuff like this: "If you have a social need, you're with Hillary. If you want Obama to be your imaginary hip black friend and you're young and you have no social needs, then he's cool." The Clintons are playing the race thing, too - the difference is that they're doing it with much more subtlety and nuance than the Republicans ever would or could.
posted by billysumday at 7:55 AM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
I don't put ANYTHING past the Republican tactic..
And I think non-city folk are more easily swayed, no matter dumb or stupid the story.. THere's a reason why the National Enquirer is so popular.. Obama is Bat-Boy! Or maybe he's the one that killed JFK (complete with photo putting him at the scene of the crime)
posted by pez_LPhiE at 8:02 AM on January 12, 2008
And I think non-city folk are more easily swayed, no matter dumb or stupid the story.. THere's a reason why the National Enquirer is so popular.. Obama is Bat-Boy! Or maybe he's the one that killed JFK (complete with photo putting him at the scene of the crime)
posted by pez_LPhiE at 8:02 AM on January 12, 2008
It's not that this email will do anything to sway someone who might consider Obama. These sorts of mails are meant to create noise. Noise which, if it reaches a critical level, will work to distract the candidate from his own message, in order to defend/argue against the "issue" raised by the emails. Think how quickly Obama's campaign will grind to a halt if he constantly has to defend against crowds (or tv pundits) who keep yelling this noise.
These things are out there by the truckload. Many of my in-laws are a prime audience for these mails (conservative, born-again, relative internet newbies), and they get dozens of these (and worse) each week. Occasionally, one of them accidentally forwards one to me (including me in a dozens-long list of their friends) and it's simply amazing just how a) Stupid these things are, and b) How gullible people can be.
Don't ever discount the ability of the unwashed masses to toss an infinite number of monkey-wrenches into your well-oiled machinery.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:02 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
These things are out there by the truckload. Many of my in-laws are a prime audience for these mails (conservative, born-again, relative internet newbies), and they get dozens of these (and worse) each week. Occasionally, one of them accidentally forwards one to me (including me in a dozens-long list of their friends) and it's simply amazing just how a) Stupid these things are, and b) How gullible people can be.
Don't ever discount the ability of the unwashed masses to toss an infinite number of monkey-wrenches into your well-oiled machinery.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:02 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
You know who else is interesting ?
The people who write and organize these smear campaign, as seen in Wag the Dog movie that I highly recommend to people interested into spin doctors , or to people who just hate much of the shit on tv/cinema today.
Their own psycological profile must be something to behold. Imagine this : you wake up and everyday for one year you have to attack systematically a politician, who just can't but be an human being as well. On top of this you must not hold any hate for the person, as hate is an emotion that could weaken your lucidity , yet at the same time you should consider your job as an "ordinary business" , but this has one some implications !
Such as seeing the person you are attacking as a non-human, or a sub-human. He/She is a politician that is an already sordid, livid, hating motherfucker anyway. You probably are a complete control freak , obsessed with knowing details of anybody that could be used.
Maybe it's a very well paid profession, but what have you done at the end of the day ? What immense delusion do you need to think you have done something completely ordinary ? Not mentioning the people surrounding you. Who loves a people that destroys other people for a living ? One can one reconcile the idea of loving a person that practices the most vicious plotting and the idea that he/she may turn AGAINST you, if for some reason you realized you no longer love them ?
posted by elpapacito at 8:07 AM on January 12, 2008
The people who write and organize these smear campaign, as seen in Wag the Dog movie that I highly recommend to people interested into spin doctors , or to people who just hate much of the shit on tv/cinema today.
Their own psycological profile must be something to behold. Imagine this : you wake up and everyday for one year you have to attack systematically a politician, who just can't but be an human being as well. On top of this you must not hold any hate for the person, as hate is an emotion that could weaken your lucidity , yet at the same time you should consider your job as an "ordinary business" , but this has one some implications !
Such as seeing the person you are attacking as a non-human, or a sub-human. He/She is a politician that is an already sordid, livid, hating motherfucker anyway. You probably are a complete control freak , obsessed with knowing details of anybody that could be used.
Maybe it's a very well paid profession, but what have you done at the end of the day ? What immense delusion do you need to think you have done something completely ordinary ? Not mentioning the people surrounding you. Who loves a people that destroys other people for a living ? One can one reconcile the idea of loving a person that practices the most vicious plotting and the idea that he/she may turn AGAINST you, if for some reason you realized you no longer love them ?
posted by elpapacito at 8:07 AM on January 12, 2008
Can anyone here point to any actual evidence that Obama doesn't hate America?
posted by bluejayk at 8:09 AM on January 12, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by bluejayk at 8:09 AM on January 12, 2008 [3 favorites]
It's not just a meme when they say stuff like this
It's a quote attributed to a Clinton staffer and not to either H or B. In the context of the paragraph from which it came, the staffer appears to say that voters saw either the substance of Hillary or a caricature in Barack and I don't read it as a subtle play of a race card. I do acknowledge there is subtlety here and one can apply differing interpretations because we aren't privy to the larger conversation or context in which the staffer's line was delivered, but I think you are dredging up poor evidence to advance the idea that Clinton either does or would stoop to mudslinging in a racial sense.
The Guardian: ---"She is staking out policy ground slightly to the left of Obama on domestic issues, and noticeably won the votes of those on lower incomes and without college degrees. In the words of that Clinton adviser: "If you have a social need, you're with Hillary. If you want Obama to be your imaginary hip black friend and you're young and you have no social needs, then he's cool."---
posted by peacay at 8:10 AM on January 12, 2008
It's a quote attributed to a Clinton staffer and not to either H or B. In the context of the paragraph from which it came, the staffer appears to say that voters saw either the substance of Hillary or a caricature in Barack and I don't read it as a subtle play of a race card. I do acknowledge there is subtlety here and one can apply differing interpretations because we aren't privy to the larger conversation or context in which the staffer's line was delivered, but I think you are dredging up poor evidence to advance the idea that Clinton either does or would stoop to mudslinging in a racial sense.
The Guardian: ---"She is staking out policy ground slightly to the left of Obama on domestic issues, and noticeably won the votes of those on lower incomes and without college degrees. In the words of that Clinton adviser: "If you have a social need, you're with Hillary. If you want Obama to be your imaginary hip black friend and you're young and you have no social needs, then he's cool."---
posted by peacay at 8:10 AM on January 12, 2008
My grandmother was telling me about this; she heard about it from her sister. "They're for Africa and not the US." (I think it's been squelched in this household, but maybe only because I'm a let's-see-what-he's-got type in re: to Obama.)
Obama is a threatening force to folks who have entrenched their political allegiances elsewhere, and there's going to be nonsense like this that gets passed along in hushed tones simply because people want an excuse NOT to like / vote for him. They have no idea what it means, but because it sounds shady it's worth something. When my grandmother told me, it was obvious in her voice that's what was going on. I think, though, if he doesn't hit any major pitfalls, she would consider voting for him (disclaimer is that we're in Cook County, so he is a hometown boy). I don't believe this type of thing is expressly because he's black. I'm sure racism is something he has to overcome - don't get me wrong - but anonymous smear campaigns are nothing new.
America IS still a racist hellhole.
The world is still a racist hellhole. It shouldn't change anything, but should Obama be elected I think this will become very clear.
I don't put ANYTHING past the Republican tactic..
Those blinders (on both sides) are part of the problem.
posted by pokermonk at 8:13 AM on January 12, 2008
Obama is a threatening force to folks who have entrenched their political allegiances elsewhere, and there's going to be nonsense like this that gets passed along in hushed tones simply because people want an excuse NOT to like / vote for him. They have no idea what it means, but because it sounds shady it's worth something. When my grandmother told me, it was obvious in her voice that's what was going on. I think, though, if he doesn't hit any major pitfalls, she would consider voting for him (disclaimer is that we're in Cook County, so he is a hometown boy). I don't believe this type of thing is expressly because he's black. I'm sure racism is something he has to overcome - don't get me wrong - but anonymous smear campaigns are nothing new.
America IS still a racist hellhole.
The world is still a racist hellhole. It shouldn't change anything, but should Obama be elected I think this will become very clear.
I don't put ANYTHING past the Republican tactic..
Those blinders (on both sides) are part of the problem.
posted by pokermonk at 8:13 AM on January 12, 2008
Can anyone here point to any actual evidence that Obama doesn't hate America?
Excellent channeling of the FoxNews writing staff!
posted by Thorzdad at 8:17 AM on January 12, 2008
Excellent channeling of the FoxNews writing staff!
posted by Thorzdad at 8:17 AM on January 12, 2008
If you want Obama to be your imaginary hip black friend and you're young and you have no social needs, then he's cool.
I actually think there's something to that -- Obama definitely assuages white liberal guilt, since he's black but doesn't emphasize race issues. But of course, it doesn't follow that Clinton would be a better president.
Anyway, I don't think Clinton is behind this. Anyone who'd believe that crap about Obama would also think that women are not fit to be in positions of power.
posted by footnote at 8:17 AM on January 12, 2008
I actually think there's something to that -- Obama definitely assuages white liberal guilt, since he's black but doesn't emphasize race issues. But of course, it doesn't follow that Clinton would be a better president.
Anyway, I don't think Clinton is behind this. Anyone who'd believe that crap about Obama would also think that women are not fit to be in positions of power.
posted by footnote at 8:17 AM on January 12, 2008
I call BS. Do you have any proof at all to back this up? Or do you just find it easy to parrot this crap. Honestly I'm sick of the meme that puts the Clintons on the same pedestal of sleaze and incompetence as the Bushes and the GOP.
The only campaign connected to this smear is Clinton's. They've been caught doing it not once, but twice in 2007.
posted by Slithy_Tove at 8:19 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
The only campaign connected to this smear is Clinton's. They've been caught doing it not once, but twice in 2007.
posted by Slithy_Tove at 8:19 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
Skygazer writes "Honestly I'm sick of the meme that puts the Clintons on the same pedestal of sleaze and incompetence as the Bushes and the GOP"
Cui prodest ? Or, who stands to gain ? You want the people in the same party to be bitterly divided , suspecting each other of not wanting to share in the "Pie" or of being less than scrupolous. Bush did that, Hillary something else, you will find tons of materialy on both sides.
posted by elpapacito at 8:20 AM on January 12, 2008
Cui prodest ? Or, who stands to gain ? You want the people in the same party to be bitterly divided , suspecting each other of not wanting to share in the "Pie" or of being less than scrupolous. Bush did that, Hillary something else, you will find tons of materialy on both sides.
posted by elpapacito at 8:20 AM on January 12, 2008
Peacay, it's not a staffer - who makes phone calls or helps with GOTV - it's an advisor. The Guardian is a smart enough paper to know the difference. And the statement is undoubtedly racist, not because it uses "subtle" markers like "hip" and "black," and asserts that only those without real needs want such a friend, but because only white voters would think about even characterizing their friend as a "black friend." It is a comment by white people for white people, and as such structurally excludes about 50% of the democrats in South Carolina.
posted by hank_14 at 8:21 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by hank_14 at 8:21 AM on January 12, 2008
We're not two weeks into January, and already I'm finding myself wishing I knew how Winona Ryder's doing. Enquiring minds must know!
posted by ZachsMind at 8:21 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by ZachsMind at 8:21 AM on January 12, 2008
This crappy column by hack writer Frank Salvato from the right wing "news" webtrocity that gave us Jeff Gannon uses "Obama was a Muslim", "Obama goes to a racist church" AND "Obama is not a good enough Muslim smears all in one big pile. I don't think this stuff is coming from the Clinton camp.
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:22 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:22 AM on January 12, 2008
Um. . . McCain was a prisoner of war. He'd be the one brainwashed as a Manchurian candidate.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:23 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:23 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'd like to think HRC has nothing to do with this; I'm not a supporter of hers, but I would hope this kind of sleazy shit was beneath her. Sadly, however, the most compelling argument I can come up with in support of the idea that her campaign isn't responsible is that there's no need -- the republicans will do it anyway, and they're much better at it, so why bother?
posted by kittens for breakfast at 8:23 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by kittens for breakfast at 8:23 AM on January 12, 2008
Look, everyone knows that Barack Obama IS actually an Islamist sleeper agent who hates Jews, America. And, you know - maybe that's OK.
Hillary? - she's actually a lesbian demoness who wants to castrate all American menfolk with her own sharp talons. But, it takes “diff'rent strokes” to make America.
Edwards: pedophile crack fiend. And can YOU really say that you've never been tempted by those twin forbidden delights?
Kucinich is a mutant space lizard masquerading in human form, Mike Gravel is Hitler's secret son who plans to re-establish the Third Reich in the new world, and as for Al Gore - well, he's actually the antichrist. Check for a 666-shaped birthmark under the wig.
Modern American electoral democracy is a broad church, and all kinds of political viewpoints are welcome to join the debate. I really think that the people of the U.S. are mature and sensible enough to make their own decisions about who is best fit to sit in the big chair and govern the free world.
The important point, however, is this: please just get rid of the fucking Chimpanzee already.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 8:24 AM on January 12, 2008 [9 favorites]
Hillary? - she's actually a lesbian demoness who wants to castrate all American menfolk with her own sharp talons. But, it takes “diff'rent strokes” to make America.
Edwards: pedophile crack fiend. And can YOU really say that you've never been tempted by those twin forbidden delights?
Kucinich is a mutant space lizard masquerading in human form, Mike Gravel is Hitler's secret son who plans to re-establish the Third Reich in the new world, and as for Al Gore - well, he's actually the antichrist. Check for a 666-shaped birthmark under the wig.
Modern American electoral democracy is a broad church, and all kinds of political viewpoints are welcome to join the debate. I really think that the people of the U.S. are mature and sensible enough to make their own decisions about who is best fit to sit in the big chair and govern the free world.
The important point, however, is this: please just get rid of the fucking Chimpanzee already.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 8:24 AM on January 12, 2008 [9 favorites]
Also, my point in posting these links is obviously not to spread the lies contained therein (note the snopes links) but rather to discuss what it is quickly becoming one of Obama's greatest challenges to winning his party's nomination and, eventually, a general election.
Dude, it's supposed to be about the links. The discussion is just gravy. Sweet, delicious gravy.
And it's really not obvious that you're not trying to spread lies because hey! You're posting them on websites!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 8:29 AM on January 12, 2008
Dude, it's supposed to be about the links. The discussion is just gravy. Sweet, delicious gravy.
And it's really not obvious that you're not trying to spread lies because hey! You're posting them on websites!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 8:29 AM on January 12, 2008
And don't tell me Clinton supporters aren't overjoyed by this, and spreading it as well.
I call BS. Do you have any proof at all to back this up? Or do you just find it easy to parrot this crap. Honestly I'm sick of the meme that puts the Clintons on the same pedestal of sleaze and incompetence as the Bushes and the GOP. I'm an Obama supporter because I think he would just be a better president.
Ahem.
Disclaimer--I'm not saying the Clintons themselves are involved in spreading this crap. But there's been a clear pattern among her supporters.
posted by EarBucket at 8:30 AM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
I call BS. Do you have any proof at all to back this up? Or do you just find it easy to parrot this crap. Honestly I'm sick of the meme that puts the Clintons on the same pedestal of sleaze and incompetence as the Bushes and the GOP. I'm an Obama supporter because I think he would just be a better president.
Ahem.
Disclaimer--I'm not saying the Clintons themselves are involved in spreading this crap. But there's been a clear pattern among her supporters.
posted by EarBucket at 8:30 AM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
It is a comment by white people for white people, and as such structurally excludes about 50% of the democrats in South Carolina.
But the quote is talking about how the vote was cast in NH. Anyway...as I say, there's subtlety and debatable context that serve to downplay a single interpretation. Personally, I see it more as a swipe against the Obama voters than anything.
posted by peacay at 8:30 AM on January 12, 2008
But the quote is talking about how the vote was cast in NH. Anyway...as I say, there's subtlety and debatable context that serve to downplay a single interpretation. Personally, I see it more as a swipe against the Obama voters than anything.
posted by peacay at 8:30 AM on January 12, 2008
I'd be more inclined to vote for a chimpanzee than any name currently vying for the position of POTUS. The slinging of poo is more genuine.
posted by ZachsMind at 8:30 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by ZachsMind at 8:30 AM on January 12, 2008
Kucinich is a mutant space lizard masquerading in human form
Dude, if he was, I would totally vote for him.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 8:33 AM on January 12, 2008
Dude, if he was, I would totally vote for him.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 8:33 AM on January 12, 2008
Wait, wait, wait. John McCain fathered Barack Obama?
posted by ColdChef at 8:33 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by ColdChef at 8:33 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
Wait, wait, wait. John McCain fathered Barack Obama?
I'm starting this rumor TODAY.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 8:35 AM on January 12, 2008 [4 favorites]
I'm starting this rumor TODAY.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 8:35 AM on January 12, 2008 [4 favorites]
Do you seriously think anyone reads that email crap?
Yes. My brother-in-law forwarded me -- along with all his other relatives -- the "radical Muslim" e-mail. I'm not going to paste in the entirety of the forwarded e-mail here, but here is the response I sent:
The answer to the final question in your e-mail forward is "Maybe".
Also, the whole "Barack Obama is a MUSLIM MUSLIM MUSLIM!" thing has been
thoroughly debunked, despite the authors mentioning they searched
through snopes for it. See here. Also here.
As for the whole "hand over his heart" thing, whatever. It's etiquette,
nothing to get riled about. I don't recall getting an e-mail from you about flag
desecration when president Bush violated etiquette -- and, now that I
think of it, US law -- by signing one (see attached). But hey, I think
flag desecration should be protected as free speech, regardless how
despicable I find it.
Please, in the future, refrain from forwarding e-mail messages like this
until you've made half an attempt to check the accuracy of their
contents.
-Nate
At first, I had something else in mind that was fairly obscenity-laden and ridiculing, but it would have been totally counterproductive. I'm not sure if what I sent got through to him, because I haven't heard back. At the very least I can say that I took the high road.
I'm not even really an Obama supporter, but the whole thing was just discouraging to me. I really thought my brother-in-law was a bit smarter than to pass on something so blatantly idiotic. Also, the fact that he and my sister are bringing up two kids and -- as evidenced by his actions, at least -- not imparting basic information literacy skills to them troubles me.
(Sorry, this comment is a total fucking jumble and I'll get my own fucking blog now.)
posted by cog_nate at 8:38 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
Yes. My brother-in-law forwarded me -- along with all his other relatives -- the "radical Muslim" e-mail. I'm not going to paste in the entirety of the forwarded e-mail here, but here is the response I sent:
The answer to the final question in your e-mail forward is "Maybe".
Also, the whole "Barack Obama is a MUSLIM MUSLIM MUSLIM!" thing has been
thoroughly debunked, despite the authors mentioning they searched
through snopes for it. See here. Also here.
As for the whole "hand over his heart" thing, whatever. It's etiquette,
nothing to get riled about. I don't recall getting an e-mail from you about flag
desecration when president Bush violated etiquette -- and, now that I
think of it, US law -- by signing one (see attached). But hey, I think
flag desecration should be protected as free speech, regardless how
despicable I find it.
Please, in the future, refrain from forwarding e-mail messages like this
until you've made half an attempt to check the accuracy of their
contents.
-Nate
At first, I had something else in mind that was fairly obscenity-laden and ridiculing, but it would have been totally counterproductive. I'm not sure if what I sent got through to him, because I haven't heard back. At the very least I can say that I took the high road.
I'm not even really an Obama supporter, but the whole thing was just discouraging to me. I really thought my brother-in-law was a bit smarter than to pass on something so blatantly idiotic. Also, the fact that he and my sister are bringing up two kids and -- as evidenced by his actions, at least -- not imparting basic information literacy skills to them troubles me.
(Sorry, this comment is a total fucking jumble and I'll get my own fucking blog now.)
posted by cog_nate at 8:38 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
The TV talking head and GOP smear have been focused on the Clintons. Should Obama become the Democratic nominee, it will all fall on him. It is sickening. It's already out there--a couple of bloggers adding "Mohamad" to his name, as if it made a difference; hatemonger Daniel Pipes saying Muslims will hate Obama because he's an apostate (and there's actually some interesting stuff about the difference between a person who professes the Muslim faith but then converts and one born into it but later rejects it) and so on and so on. I am very sorry to say that I don't think the hatred of Obama has even gotten started.
posted by etaoin at 8:40 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by etaoin at 8:40 AM on January 12, 2008
Personally, I would have thought that Obama's campaign would founder from persistent rumors that he had fathered children with a black woman.
Another email describes Obama's Chicago church ... which describes itself as Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian,
I attend an "unashamedly Greek church". Down the street there's the "unashamedly Russian church". Former Senator Spencer Abraham attends a (yikes!) unashamedly Arab church! People need to get over themselves with the racial anxieties they have about large numbers of black people attending church together.
posted by deanc at 8:46 AM on January 12, 2008 [3 favorites]
Another email describes Obama's Chicago church ... which describes itself as Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian,
I attend an "unashamedly Greek church". Down the street there's the "unashamedly Russian church". Former Senator Spencer Abraham attends a (yikes!) unashamedly Arab church! People need to get over themselves with the racial anxieties they have about large numbers of black people attending church together.
posted by deanc at 8:46 AM on January 12, 2008 [3 favorites]
At some point, Barack Obama is going to have to go full-tilt negative on Hillary AND Bill and their corrupt minions. He is going to have to call them what they are: racists.
Uh, yeah, that'll ensure his election. Especially if he foams at the mouth a little while he does it.
The only thing he can do is ignore this stuff and concentrate on presenting his ideas. (It might help also if he presented more specific ideas.)
posted by languagehat at 8:52 AM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
Uh, yeah, that'll ensure his election. Especially if he foams at the mouth a little while he does it.
The only thing he can do is ignore this stuff and concentrate on presenting his ideas. (It might help also if he presented more specific ideas.)
posted by languagehat at 8:52 AM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
...it's to energize the wacko conservative base who would otherwise stay at home and not vote.
That and: "The Anti-Abortion Movement", the "Gay Marriage Referendum", "The Flag-Burning Amendment", "Anti-Immigration"... etc..
.. all concocted by Right Wing strategists to make sure the ignorant get out and vote for Republicans.
posted by wfc123 at 9:02 AM on January 12, 2008
That and: "The Anti-Abortion Movement", the "Gay Marriage Referendum", "The Flag-Burning Amendment", "Anti-Immigration"... etc..
.. all concocted by Right Wing strategists to make sure the ignorant get out and vote for Republicans.
posted by wfc123 at 9:02 AM on January 12, 2008
It's not just the Clintons. There were multiple reports of Edwards people spewing that same garbage at the Iowa caucuses.
posted by empath at 9:04 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by empath at 9:04 AM on January 12, 2008
He need not foam at the mouth. He need only remind us of how corrupt the Clintons were and remain, how much they have pandered to African Americans while doing very little for them, and then point to the public record of smears that are traceable back to Clinton staffers, friends like Bob "War Criminal" Kerrey (see Bob, two can play at the slander game!), and in my opinion the Clintons themselves, as in that "I'm LBJ and he's MLK" remark HRC made.
John Edwards is right. You can't take the high road when your enemy will do anything to win.
posted by fourcheesemac at 9:04 AM on January 12, 2008
John Edwards is right. You can't take the high road when your enemy will do anything to win.
posted by fourcheesemac at 9:04 AM on January 12, 2008
Billy, are you aware what your title for this post will look like in Google search results?
posted by mwhybark at 9:08 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by mwhybark at 9:08 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
Got the sleeper cell email from my wacko super-Catholic aunt on Thursday. Apparently adding "GO TO SNOPES AND CHECK, IT'S TRUE, DO YOUR RESEARCH" was enough to foil the super attuned critical faculties of the AM radio set.
posted by The Straightener at 9:14 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by The Straightener at 9:14 AM on January 12, 2008
Hillary? - she's actually a lesbian demoness who wants to castrate all American menfolk with her own sharp talons.
Interesting.
I answered the phone yesterday and told a pollster that I will be voting for Obama.
When I awakened this morning and went to the bathroom, I discovered that my genitalia was completely gone.
posted by flarbuse at 9:15 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
Interesting.
I answered the phone yesterday and told a pollster that I will be voting for Obama.
When I awakened this morning and went to the bathroom, I discovered that my genitalia was completely gone.
posted by flarbuse at 9:15 AM on January 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
One of these days I'm going to put up a single word post, linking to the wikipedia entry for the USA, and give it one tag: batshitinsane.
That should cover most of these election discussions, and all future posts about the election after that one can be flagged as "double".
posted by DreamerFi at 9:21 AM on January 12, 2008
That should cover most of these election discussions, and all future posts about the election after that one can be flagged as "double".
posted by DreamerFi at 9:21 AM on January 12, 2008
languagehat writes "The only thing he can do is ignore this stuff and concentrate on presenting his ideas."
Well said. It's also quite possible we will see tons and tons of this bullshiting going on for a good year, I'm getting ready to cut'n'paste "it's just spin and bullshit, don't believe the hype" one bazillion times.
posted by elpapacito at 9:21 AM on January 12, 2008
Well said. It's also quite possible we will see tons and tons of this bullshiting going on for a good year, I'm getting ready to cut'n'paste "it's just spin and bullshit, don't believe the hype" one bazillion times.
posted by elpapacito at 9:21 AM on January 12, 2008
While I agree he shouldn't go full out against the HRC campaign, (or go out against them at all) I can't agree with this:
The only thing he can do is ignore this stuff and concentrate on presenting his ideas.
Unless he wants to get swiftboated, he'd better react to some of this stuff before it gets out of control.
posted by localhuman at 9:22 AM on January 12, 2008
The only thing he can do is ignore this stuff and concentrate on presenting his ideas.
Unless he wants to get swiftboated, he'd better react to some of this stuff before it gets out of control.
posted by localhuman at 9:22 AM on January 12, 2008
It's gonna be a long year
posted by rockhopper at 9:26 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by rockhopper at 9:26 AM on January 12, 2008
This isn't in any way meant as premature or congratulatory remark - as a culture we have miles to go regarding this, in both spin politics and race... yet... I am encouraged that at least in the MeFi corner of the universe, the subtle mechanisms of the the great political OZ machine have been exposed to light, identified, and are actively being debated.
In my opinion, this means hope that enlightenment and discussion still progresses things.
Sooner or later, the broader world will catch on, or at least a larger portion of its aware citizenry. I hold hope this means larger thinking, and fewer narrow minds in the future.
I can be delusionally optimistic in my hopes, on many days; but I'm clinging to this one.
posted by uncorq at 9:26 AM on January 12, 2008
In my opinion, this means hope that enlightenment and discussion still progresses things.
Sooner or later, the broader world will catch on, or at least a larger portion of its aware citizenry. I hold hope this means larger thinking, and fewer narrow minds in the future.
I can be delusionally optimistic in my hopes, on many days; but I'm clinging to this one.
posted by uncorq at 9:26 AM on January 12, 2008
There needs to be a smear email campaign on the other side of the fence. Not to actually counter the other emails, but to simply to nullify the whole steaming pile to make email pointless as a venue because no one will listen. I seriously doubt anyone forwards those Bill Gates Microsoft Vacation emails anymore, for example.
posted by chips ahoy at 9:27 AM on January 12, 2008
posted by chips ahoy at 9:27 AM on January 12, 2008
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posted by 45moore45 at 7:25 AM on January 12, 2008