Big Union Targets Swing States With Massive Obama-Not-Muslim Mailer Blitz
In a sign that the big labor unions are about to ratchet up efforts to woo Rust Belt union Dems towards Obama, the AFL-CIO is set to blitz four swing states with a pair of mailers targeted directly at blue collar swing voters.
The first one is the more interesting one: It seeks to dispel a host of false rumors about Obama that could be proving worrisome to working class whites, including the falsehoods that he's a Muslim and doesn't show sufficient deference to the flag (click on the images to enlarge)...
The second mailer is a more straighforward testimonial to Obama's labor record, and the mailers will go out in the next couple of weeks to about 600,000 swing voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, according to AFL-CIO spokesperson Steve Smith.
More broadly, the mailers signal the start of an aggressive new campaign by labor in the swing states, where unions hope to get their membership fully behind Obama and thus function as a kind of "firewall" for Obama in working class swing-voter territory, Smith says.
"We're ramping up our efforts to really define Senator Obama among union voters, especially in these key Rust Belt states," Smith tells me, noting that the union's membership is "still learning about Senator Obama" and will be targeted by a campaign to tell them "exactly who Senator Obama is, what he supports, and why he's right for working families."
This is actually crucially important. It's just one step, but every time a rumor is debunked, it will help us:
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
July 29, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
agree, I think this is significant
July 29, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's amazing about the prevalence of these rumors. I remember back in 2007, when Obama was running during the Democratic primary in the fall, I was forwarded that "Obama does not place his hand during the allegiance of the flag" e-mail from my best friend. I remember being shocked, like this sudden shock had come upon me (which is probably the same visceral reaction that voters have when reading that e-mail), and I thought it was true because my friend had sent it to me.
That's how dangerous this sort of rumor is. I went to snopes.com to check if this e-mail rumor was true. It wasn't. I went back to my friend and said it was the National Anthem, not the pledge of allegiance, in that photo. She believed me, and she stopped forwarding those e-mails.
July 29, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
But the emails get forwarded by people before they're verified. Even my mom forwarded some of them on, before I told her they were false.
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
July 29, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is the biggest problem with the internet. It is not enough to debunk an e-mail when it is forwared to you. Teach the person forwarding it how to fact check before they forward. Give them an unmercifull ration of shit if they persist in forwarding BS.
July 29, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Email the truth to everyone on that email list backed up by snopes or other fact checker links everytime you get one. Fight viral lies with viral facts and we'll win. If you just talk to your friend or your mother it doesn't heal the damage they've already caused.
July 29, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
At least you took the time to check it out and verify that it wasn't true. A lot of people don't. They seem to think everything that lands in their inbox is the gospel truth. It's weird.
July 29, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Would it really have been such a horrible and shocking thing if it had turned out that Obama didn't routinely put his hand on his heart to recite the Pledge? Is it really of any greater importance than his choice not to wear flag pins in his lapel?
George Washington, who served on the vestry in his church, chose not to kneel for prayers, and he declined to take communion. Quakers chose not to be deferential to those who were deemed their social betters, New England Puritans chose not to celebrate Christmas or Easter. Flag displays were a rare thing before the Civil War except on military bases.
Why have we suddenly become a nation of people who demands a rigid orthodoxy in patriotic and religious display, and why is that display given far more importance in the public debate than the way people actually behave?
July 29, 2008 6:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Depressing that this has to go out, but its good that these documents will be floating around. Since GOP attacks will clearly focus on Obama being "risky" and "unkown" these kinds of efforts will be extremely helpful. This might even prove to be a more useful outlay of resources than more traditional union expenditures.
July 29, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. "No religious test for public office," indeed. :-\
Reminds me of a great bumper sticker I saw last week: "The Constitution is a shield, not a sword." Love that.
July 29, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't look at this as depressing at all. You have two candidates running, one of whom is thoroughly if inaccurately defined and one of whom is a relatively unknown quantity and a new face. The challenge in the next 98 days is two-fold: Establish a positive, favorable narrative of the fresh faced challenger and establish a narrative that links the known quantity with another known quantity who happens to represent 7 1/2 years of abject failure. I'm just happy the expenditure is taking place. These folks could be sitting on their hands and not advocating for Senator Obama. This is a positive development. If you don't define your candidate, someone else will do it for you.
July 29, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you don't define your candidate, someone else will do it for you.
So so true -- just ask Kerry and Gore.
I like that this mailer is so plain-spoken and factual, but it's only a couple steps away from SNL parody territory....
Does Barack Obama put on his pants one leg at a time?
YES
Would Barack Obama like a handful of Doritos?
YES
Is Barack Obama a carbon-based life form?
YES
:)
July 29, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, that's exactly what I thought. But I can't help feeling saddened by the fact that an organization has to spend time, money and resources on debunking r-u-m-o-r-s. Have people really lost any ability at critical thinking? Have these last seven plus years taught us nothing.
July 29, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's about time these outside groups get involved in this election.
July 29, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunate that they need to do this, but I think it will make a dent in these rumors.
July 29, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunate, but necessary. Amazing what people will believe without even looking into the matter to get the facts.
I've said this before but I was shocked recently to find that someone from my high school graduating class, now a 30 year old man, an A-honor roll student no less, believes this crap and thinks Obama is a closet terrorist. Just goes to show that even smart people can believe complete lies, untruths, and propaganda.
Thus the importance of campaigns like these.
I've also taken the step to email this webpage to all my family and friends with a message to keep forwarding it to everyone they know and to keep it going.... One changed mind makes it worthwhile.
Pass it on....
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp
July 29, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Listen, I think people who believe Obama is a Muslim are actually using this as a cover for the more politically unacceptable reason of racism.
This is certainly true of my own grandmother who is a staunch democrat and won't vote for Obama. "He's a muslim", she says. When I show her evidence he's not, and peel the onion, she admits that, "Well, if he wins he will place the priorities of the blacks over the whites".
So, I don't think the 12 or so percent of people are going to be dissuaded of this view. It's simply easier, and a more acceptable reason for not voting for him than admitting that they have a problem with his skin color.
July 29, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you are right. There are many (usually older) whites who might have real problems with him being black but want to have another reason as to not appear biased. The solution...well with many of these folk there is none. But for some perhaps a concerted effort to erase some doubts will help or getting their mind past this idea that he will favor other blacks.
July 29, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pretty sad that religious bigotry is considered more acceptable than racism. I agree with you but feel disgusted by both types of bigotry.
July 29, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
There you have it. Keep peeling that onion, and eventually we get to the heart of the matter and everyone is forced to deal with it. Thats why ads like this are important. No more cover excuses for what the real problem is.
July 29, 2008 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I were a Muslim American, paying my taxes and just trying to make ends meet and get my kids through school, I would be outraged by the hypocrisy of this country, for the way we allow our most ignorant bigots to write off entire religions based on the acts of a small subset of its followers, attributing the worst aspects of those followers to all those who practice the religion.
Where are the patriots that are willing stand up to this overt bigotry in the name of our values? Why won't the press constantly make our leaders squirm by asking, "is there anything wrong with being a Muslim?"
July 29, 2008 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
So you are saying that it is more acceptable to be racist/biased against Muslims than it is African Americans?
I do not see the difference really.
If someone says:
"I will not vote for B.O. because he is a Muslim."
Is that not just as bas as someone saying:
"I will not vote for B.O. because he is Black."
The fact that people are defending B.O. so fiercely as a Christian is saying it is okay to be biased AGAINST Muslims. Someone needs to stand up and say it should not matter what his religion is. Just as it should not matter what is his race!
July 29, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, if you look at some of the internals of the polls, there's a considerable proportion of the people who support Obama who think he's a Muslim (I think it was around 15% in the one I saw). So it's not necessarily an immediate disqualifier, although it's still depressing that even some supporters believe the bull.
July 29, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS FOR JOHN MCCAIN!!!!
Man, I miss Idiotic.
July 29, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Backfire.
Nixon: "I am not a crook."
Clinton: "I did not have sex with that woman."
Bush: "Mission accomplished."
Obama: "I am not a Muslim."
July 29, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Clinton: "I did not have a peaceful landing in Bosnia."
July 29, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. When they say it's not about the money, it's about the money.
This will just confirm that Obama is a Muslim.
good luck.
July 29, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain: "I did not support Bush on Iraq strategy/tax cuts for the rich/agents of intolerance/immigration reform/..."
July 29, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nixon was a crook, Clinton did have sex with that woman, the mission wasn't accomplished... and Obama isn't a Muslim.
Which one of these things is not like the other? I used logic skills that "Sesame Street" taught me. If only twits like yourself could do the same.
July 29, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
"I was NOT dropped on my head as an infant..."
- fogu2
July 29, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
The unions are distorting Obama's flag pin position in ways which will damage their creditability with any union member with an Internet connection. Obama started to wear a flag pin again when he realized that his actual position could not be well communicated through the media: he wanted to show he was a patriot by talking about issues rather than simply putting on a pin. At the time he said:
WATERLOO, Iowa (APA) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said he doesn’t wear the American flag lapel pin because it has become a substitute for “true patriotism” since the Sept. l1, 2001 terrorist attacks.
July 29, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
Obama...Muslim.
July 29, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain...Bush II.
July 29, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought Hillary disbanded her campaign.
Right Troll Jizzer?
July 29, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Foghat...Limbaugh troll.
July 29, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, us Limbaugh listeners are better than that, we use real facts to beat up Obama. For instance:
Energy plan = Tax the oil companies (so they can pass the costs on to us) suck up the high gas prices untill we invent something new (hopefully by 2030...or was it 2050).
Immigration= Illegal as good as legal...welfare and heathcare for all!
Tax= Repeal Bush tax cuts so everyone pays their fair share (even though the bottom 50% of earners pay only 17% of all income tax currently...that's so unfair).
Foreign Policy= U.S. Bad...EU/UN Good
See, never even had to mention religion.
July 29, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why, in an era of record oil company profits, did they need subsidies from Bush in the first place?
Plus, if offshore drilling is such a hot idea, why can’t McCain convince Gov. Schwarzenegger?
Like offshore drilling, another McCain flip flop. McCain was working with Senator Kennedy on comprehensive immigration reform just last year so you may as well take your sincere outrage to Johnny’s door here.
Yet another McCain flip flop! Why does he suddenly no longer find the cuts immoral?
Let’s look at facts from a non-partisan source, the Congressional Budget Office:
• The average after-tax income of the top one percent of the population nearly tripled, rising from $314,000 to nearly $868,000 — for a total increase of $554,000, or 176 percent. (Figures throughout this paper were adjusted by CBO for inflation and are presented in 2004 dollars.)
• By contrast, the average after-tax income of the middle fifth of the population rose a relatively modest 21 percent, or $8,500, reaching $48,400 in 2004.
• The average after-tax income of the poorest fifth of the population rose just 6 percent, or $800, over the past 25 years, reaching $14,700 in 2004.
http://www.cbpp.org/1-23-07inc.htm
When McCain switches positions for electoral gain every other day, how on earth can he have a shred of credibility in saying Obama is the one doing this?
Not oversimplifying a bit here, SFC?
If the GOP is as Christian as they tell us, I assume they read the Bible. So they know humankind “sins” on occasion. What is it about elective office that somehow transforms politicians of either party into infallible Popes? Why is it off limits to say that sometimes politicians err? But let’s address your specific point of foreign policy. If you actually bothered to listen to or read Obama’s speech in Germany, he was calling on Pakistan to do more to catch Bin Laden and Germany to send more troops to Afghanistan . What is wrong that that?
July 29, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Why does he suddenly no longer find the cuts immoral?" He never thought tax cuts were immoral...he was pissed at GWB for kicking his butt in 2000. PS. The bottom 50% of wage earners pay less than 3% of the total income tax.
http://www.ntu.org/main/page.php?PageID=6
July 29, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sure he did. Here's his quote, taken from his Senate web site. It's safer not to play amateur psychologist, but to judge the man by his words and his actions.
"I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us at the expense of middle-class Americans who need tax relief." -- John McCain, May 2001
http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=59aa03d3-3bd3-4b4d-a375-e6262abdd776&Region_id=&Issue_id=
The National Taxpayers Union, their protestations to the contrary, is clearly a partisan outfit so their numbers are suspect. It's safer to use non-partisan sites like the Congressional Budget Office, as I did above.
July 29, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, you Limbaugh listeners wouldn't know a real fact if it bit you on the butt.
Obama's energy plan ends US government subsidies and tax breaks for some of the richest corporations on the planet. Maybe once they no longer have government handouts they'll get to work developing the 68 million acres of US government land they already have oil and gas leases on and putting more of their vast wealth into R&D for the day coming soon when oil becomes too expensive to fuel our transportation system.
There are umpteen technologies that are on the brink or already developed that only need to be scaled up but those tax breaks and giveaways to the oil companies effectively keep them from competing. It won't take til 2030 or 2050 if we start now and if we try to drill our way out the problem like McCain now wants us to and even Pickens the swiftboating oilman understands we can't we'll only put ourselves further in debt to the Saudis, Venezuela and the Red Chinese.
Immigration: There's very little any president could do to ruin the USA's int'l. reputation worse than George Bush already has but ethnically cleansing 12 million hispanics for the "crime" of looking for work would do it. Not to mention what the shock of repatriating 12 million suddenly unemployed would do to the economies of not just Mexico and Guatemala but the US too.
Taxes: We've tried it the Republican way for most of the last 30 years. It's left us with a $10 trillion dollar nat'l debt, stagnant wages since the 1970s for most Americans who hold a staggering $49 trillion in private debt while a tiny minority like Limbaugh have gotten stinking rich. Supply side economics never worked and is a fraud. Poor folks may not pay much in income taxes but they more than make up for it in the regressive FICA and sales taxes. Rich folks are going to have to go back to paying their fair share. Maybe they'll even have to work for a living. And you are going to have to look for better arguments. Nobody believes that tripe anymore.
Foreign Policy = "U.S. Bad...EU/UN Good" This is stupid it isn't worthy of comment.
See, never even had to mention religion.
I'll mention religion for you. Do you believe in God? For your sake I hope not, because you're going too hell when you die.
July 29, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I'll mention religion for you. Do you believe in God? For your sake I hope not, because you're going too hell when you die."
Thanks for your concern about my immortal soul, but when I talked with JC this morning he said I was still ok in his book.
July 29, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
And you're going insane first hearing voices in your head while you're still alive. Must suck to be you.
July 29, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Limbaugh has you trained well! Like he's got a chain in your Prince Albert ring, gives it a little jerk every day.
It's empty, fact-free spin delivered by a coward who's too chicken to have opposing guests or callers on his show. After all the years of bullshit guiding the gullible into the biggest disaster of a presidency the country has seen, you still swallow happily?
July 29, 2008 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Limbaugh has you trained well!"
I'm actually self-taught. I missed my first chance to vote for Reagan by 6 months, but I got to the 2nd time around. Growing up near San Francisco during the 60's and 70's showed me everything that was wrong with the world...I've been on a crusade to fix it ever since.
July 29, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is that the Limbaugh attack plan?
Haha, you guys are screwed.
July 29, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, you didn't mention religion, per se.
But you referenced it, albeit indirectly.
Ya see, every one of those things you mentioned can be pinned on ... ... wait for it ...
DA
-
DAH
-
DUNnnnnnnh ... RONALD!
-
WILSON!!
-
REAGAN!!!
You know, St. Ronny? Ye olde standard bearer of conservative values and decisive action? Considered by most on the right with a mystic, nearly Gandalfian awe, idolized even during his own terms and more broadly so after his passing.
You know, the guy who reversed or simply eliminated many forward-looking policies implemented by Jimmy Carter, purportedly(in some circles) the worst President, evar!!
Issues like Islamic terrorism(nationalism?), oil dependency and alternative energy research, "obscene" corporate oil profits, immigration, progressively taxing the most upwardly mobile for reaping the lion's share of the benefits during economic hard times? Those ring any bells? Oh, I forgot the foreign policy based on NOT threatening to slap other countries' faces with our c*cks, that was another.
Saint Ron - when you mention 30 year time frames, please first consider that 30 years ago it was 1978, and in 1981 our national course was changed with a nearly religious zeal, that has put us where we are now. And so many people forget or simply ignore that their past votes and support (or vilification of a sitting President)for a man who set the US back 30 years and then want me to take them seriously in their opinions, which are based intrinsically on faith, whose fruit, objectively, leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Seriously - if you're going to grouse about a candidate's ideas for dealing with a lot of issues, at least pretend to recognize how we got here. Stop taking St. Ronnie's legacy on faith.
July 29, 2008 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eventually you have to change your shorts or you'll get a rash.
July 29, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is a traitor to the United States.
McCain is a liar.
McCain has disgraced the uniform of the USN.
McCain is a fornicator.
McCain is arrogant and presumptuous.
McCain is not smart.
McCain has a sick and twisted sense of humor.
McCain has untreated PTSD.
McCain only got to where he is on his father's and wife's coattails.
McCain can barely read.
McCain doesn't understand how the 21st century world works.
McCain has Napoleon syndrome.
McCain wants to continue redistributing wealth from the middle class to the upper class.
McCain will say anything to be elected.
McCain is a coward.
July 29, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
"McCain wants to continue redistributing wealth from the middle class to the upper class."
It actually goes in the other direction...from the haves, to the have nots...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redistribution_of_wealth
July 29, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
So now McCain is into redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor? Sounds communist to me. Like I said you're going insane and when you die you're going to Hell. Enjoy the ride.
July 29, 2008 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another really good source for dispelling rumors and false emails is Politifact
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
July 29, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
In other words we still have the problem of naive/ignorant lightweights who will believe anything that goes and will spread it around with out verification.That,my friends,is the dangerous group.As they say,where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise
July 29, 2008 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
It is easy to look down your nose at folks who pay attention to these rumors, but every one of them has exactly the same vote you have. As indicated below you never know which of your friends and family might be receiving and paying attention to the rumors. It is really up to all of us to knock the rumors down.
July 29, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
There is an important significance to the AFL-CIO efforts to fight the Muslim smears. I think this helps Barack Obama because the people who have doubts about Obama's character are the people who are members of these large unions.
July 29, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
My son forwarded a lengthy email listing all the rumors to me just this morning. He is not political but after reading the email he is really concerned that Obama is some sort of stealth scary Muslim supporter of Bin Laden.
I responded, but I would like to send him someplace that addresses all of these lies.
July 29, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
ronbyers, try:
http://www.fightthesmears.com/
July 29, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
www.fightthesmears.com
July 29, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
They address rumors I hadn't even heard of! Also critique political ads and videos for their veracity, although they are non-partisan so they don't spare Obama. As expected he is generally more truthful than his opponent. Click on the "Pants on Fire" link, that's where you'll find most of the viral email stuff.
July 29, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
See, here is where schools are failing us. They should teach their students to be critical readers, to be skeptical of what they are told, to question it for themselves, to seek out independent evidence, and not to believe anything that happens to appear on the printed page.
Instead, we force them to memorize what is in their textbooks and to regurgitate it on standardized tests, and the better regurgitators they are, the more successful their education is considered to be.
We are priming them to be vulnerable to propaganda.
July 29, 2008 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
The word "Muslim" does not appear on the mailer and it only addresses him currently being a Christian. It avoids the facts that both his father and stepfather were Muslims, his relatives on his father's side are mostly all Muslims, he was registered as a Muslim in 2 Indonesian schools, and in the Indonesian public school that he called a "Muslim school" in Dreams From My Father he had a weekly class in reading aloud from the Koran in Arabic.
The more Obama protests that he is not a Muslim now because he joined Trinity in his twenties, the more it highlights his Muslim connections in the past.
Note that the "Christian" Trinity Church sells Nation of Islam DVDs and gave Louis Farrakhan a lifetime achievement award. Those are facts, not smears.
July 29, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
His father was an agnostic Muslim--he drank, ate pork, and generally did not act like a Muslim. Neither did his stepfather.
Indonesia schools are called madrassas--and most of them are secular madrassas. While in Indonesia, Obama also attended a Catholic school where he was required to pray four times a day.
July 29, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
We need to address the Muslim claim... and no it is not just a cover for racisim. One of my friends is a black 7th day Adventist. She expressed her doubt about voting for Obama because she is a christian "first" and she does not believe that the democrats would nominate a christian. By the way she doesn't trust McCain, "he attacked all those Christian Churches. "
July 29, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
One of your friends sounds like a lost cause.
July 29, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
The problem with the Obama rumors is that they've already had the effect they were intended to have. These rumors were spread early on in the election cycle when voters were still getting to know Obama, and they've colored the way that Obama has been received by voters since. When you dislike a candidate, you're more likely to pick up on negative stories about him and less likely to read stories that may change that worldview. Unfortunately, I think telling the people who hold these rumors to be true that they are wrong will only reinforce their cognitive dissonance. Nobody likes to be told they are wrong, and those that are will start seeking other negative stories about Obama to justify their ignorant beliefs.
July 29, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Also, I'm disappointed with the fightthesmears site.
From a graphical design perspective, it's very well done. However, whoever designed it, clearly did not have a grasp of what the site is meant to do or who the audience is.
1. What the site is meant to do: Fightthesmears is supposed to be a site to debunk rumors. We tend to trust debunkers when they have the appearance of objectivity -- not outward bias. The red, white, and blue on the website are a little overboard and overdone. It makes me wonder why I should trust Obama's denials of these lies over the people who spread them? Both have partisan interests.
2. The site doesn't address its audience: fightthesmears is preaching to the choir. Who is the audience? Clearly not the news media. Or blue collar workers in Ohio. They should figure out their audience first and then design for this audience.
July 29, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
jchan your concern troll slip is showing. It's Obama's site, you expect it to be non partisan in it's defense of Obama? There's plenty of other non partisan sites that do the same debunking of these smears and if you think it's pointless or too hard for you then kindly sit down and shut up.
We all saw what happened to Kerry when he didn't respond to the swiftboaters in August 2004 because he "didn't want to give them credibility".
July 29, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
lol!
July 29, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
While surfing the Web early this morning I noticed that in the comments section of two different pages the first comments were cut and paste jobs of the "Barack Obama snubs the troops viral e-mail". Fortunately I was able to reply with truth (cut-and-paste job of the New York daily news exposé of these pernicious lies). I would also like to add that it is important for us to respond politely to these slurs as someone's grandmother may simply be passing along what she believes to be true. Name-calling does not garner converts.
July 29, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
"even though the bottom 50% of earners pay only 17% of all income tax currently...that's so unfair"
Even though those making less than 150,000 a year actually depend on their wages before taxes to support themselves AND they spend their money contributing to the economy. Where as above that they sit on their money, do not spend it, and contribute nothing to the economy.
Money in the bank is money not going to the economy. Higher taxes on those making 200,000 plus makes sense because they don't need it to support themselves and it's one way to get them to contribute to the economy. And they still have money left over to sit on.
Of course, the top 5% make so much damn money that of course they contribute more to the gross in taxes and make up a great deal of that 50%, that's how unbelievable the amount of money they make is. The lower 20% make next to nothing, so of course, they contribute very little. You're little factoid is a complete canard and really goes to show how much economic disparity there is in this country. The rich are getting richer and the poor poorer, esp. when ajusted for inflation, food prices, gas, etc. You know stuff the working class actually NEEDS. They don't have the luxury to sit around and earn interest for a living.
July 29, 2008 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why doesn't anyone call the false rumors what they really are? Boldfaced lies!
July 29, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Blue Collar workers in WI? Where? Are they hiring?
July 29, 2008 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain on oil:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkUj9EIINIs
Good ad! Love the music from Requiem For A Dream.
July 29, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Heh, I just figured a good portion of the 12% who supposedly believed the "Obama is a Muslim" rumor were just messing with pollsters. How many of us, if a pollster called and included the question, "Do you think McCain is secretly a member of the KKK?" would answer affirmatively just for a laugh? Obama the Muslim is a helpful rumor for conservatives to have out there, so why wouldn't they fan the flames when given the chance?
July 29, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Though Barack Sr. was an unobservant Muslim who drank heavily, he was a Muslim nonethelees. Same goes for Muslim stepfather Lolo who ate pork. Vast numbers of Catholics only go to church on Christmas or Easter. Last Friday I had dinner at a Chinese restaurant with friends, five of whom are Jewish and they enjoyed oysters and lobster with the rest of us.
July 29, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Heathen! I'm telling God on you. You are in so much trouble. You'd better not die because you too are going straight to hell. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars, straight to hell. Nyah, hyah!
July 29, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
"The unions are distorting Obama's flag pin position in ways which will damage their creditability with any union member with an Internet connection."
Let's assume for the sake of argument that Obama never wears a flag pin. Does that mean that John McCain represents the interests of union members more than Barack Obama, and therefore deserves their votes? You're actually saying that union members will vote for John McCain—and his tax policies— instead of Barack Obama because of a flag pin?
Are you a union member yourself?
July 29, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's a member of the Union of Concern Trolls, local 514.
July 29, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just a tiny morsel of food for thought/argument, if "those muslims" are so terrible or whatever it is that people apparently think about "them", shouldn't that bring in the Question - Well who do you think we're "liberating" in Iraq??
For that matter Muslim religionists are if anything more devoted in their practice of the faith than are 95% of the so-called Christian(?)GOP hypoctrites in this country - (just my not so humble opine).
July 29, 2008 2:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
"... if anything more devoted in their practice of the faith than are 95% of the so-called Christian(?)GOP hypoctrites in this country!"
This message was brought to you by: Socialists for Christ Ministries.
July 29, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't you understand that's why we can't leave!!! It's not good enough for Iraqis to adopt secular Republican style crony capitalism with no regulation or government oversight, we have to stay until they all convert to Christianity or die trying. We'll never be able to trust them if we don't.
There's about 20 million souls to save in Iraq and it's gonna take generations to convert them or send them to hell. That's why nation building is so hard.
July 29, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oddly enough many people don't realize that prior to the war there was a stable practicing Christian religious community in Iraq - once the violence was unleashed (post-war) that Christian community was killed-off or ethnically cleansed out of existence. They now exist only as refugees in Jordan.
As they say: Piss Poor Prior Planning Precludes Proper Performance.
July 29, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did you read the mailer? Nowhere does it say "Obama is not a Muslim". Instead it affirms that he is a Christian. This is positive messaging, rather than a denial of a false rumor (which would just put the rumor in people's heads). The people who produced this clearly know what they're doing.
July 29, 2008 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is frightening the extent to which people believe garbage about Obama, including about his religion. I wonder whether much of it reflects people looking for an excuse to vote against him for grounds more acceptable than his race.
It is also disturbing that the press is unwilling to hold McCain accountable for his misstatements, flip-flops, and outright lies.
July 29, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
slb i understand your point...no it wouldnt be so bad if it turned out that obama doesn't do these silly things, but the folks you are comparing him to were "status quo"....although of mixed heritage, america by and larges sees him as big bad black man! he will constantly have to defend stupidity...he is not your usual CIC--WHITE MALE...
hrc would find herself in a pickle too, but she would have a much easier time of it b/c america may not be ready for a woman to lead, but they do not view a white woman as strange, odd, different etc....they may have doubted her abilities to stand in "men's shoes" ( i dont personally believe this, just making a point), but never would another white person insult her intelligence the way they have continually played with obama's...even the way they kept moving the goal post to accomodate hrc was a slap in the face to obama who played fair from the very beginning...if this went unchecked in his own party, do you really think the opposite side will play nice????
obama and his dynamite team has been doing a fine job thus far..a few misopportunities here and there, but nothing dire....they need to understand that obama being who he is, will have to work 10 tens as hard to convince all of us he is worthy....never mind we elected a total idiot twice and appear willing to elect his successor w/o batting an eye...
heck i read tpm all the time and DEMOCRATS are so willing to throw obama under the bus for every little thing...it is like nothing short of perfection is good enough and if he passes our stupid snuff tests with flying colors, we complain that he did it arrogantly....he can't win....sometimes the comments on this board makes me wonder if being a dem or hostile rep (not all rep are blind) only holds true when the CIC looks like all the others...in obama's case, it is often difficul to determine who is a dem and who is a hostile rep....
i am not naive and i know that regardless of who the dem is, the hostile reps would stop at nothing to tear him down...the difference is, all dems would have been there to defend the dem nominee no matter what ..even if we are not 100% in agreement with every nuance, we would give the benefit of the doubt first, show solidarity and then question later...no sir, no this time....castigate obama first and then castigate him some more...if we praise a good he has done, neutralize it by citing a half-azz perceived good done by mccain...
i am tired..
July 29, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
The AFL-CIO is not a "big union". It is the country's largest labor federation, meaning a group of unions. There are no members of the American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations.
You really should change the title of your article.
July 29, 2008 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama-ites: you need to wallpaper my state (Tennessee) with a similar mailer. I got to hear ten minutes on "Obama as the Anti-Christ" while standing in line for a cable box last week.
July 29, 2008 11:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Only you can prevent forest fires Big Daddy and only you can prevent the spread of garbage like that. Just say loudly and proudly to the perpetrator "that's some of the dumbest lies I've ever heard."
July 30, 2008 12:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't care if hes a muslim, I do care about
Obama’s radical associations and radical past – including his being on a first name basis with an unreconstructed terrorist. When Obama makes an actual political alliance with a radical Maoist organization like The New Party, going so far as to attending their meetings and recruiting their members to work on his state senate campaign, why is there no call for the candidate to explain himself? And what about his association with the radical group ACORN? Oh, Obamabots these are all facts. Deny it. Pretty scary candidate your Obama is and how ignorant all his followers are.
July 30, 2008 2:04 AM | Reply | Permalink