The Crap They Are Going to Use Against Obama

The debate on ABC last night really was a disgrace, or at least the first 40 minutes of it or so. Stephanpolis and Gibson spent the first half of the debate throwing right-wing talking points at Obama, which is not surprising considering that Stephanopolis got his questions from Sean Hannity.

Given this environment, I wasn't surprised to read this on Snopes:

Obama Explains Stance on National Anthem

Hot on the heels for why he no longer wears a flag pin, Barack Obama was forced to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.

According to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171, during the rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present, except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.

"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides,' Obama said. 'There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd like to teach the world to sing.' If that were the anthem, then I might salute it.

We all know this shit is out there and we know that it's false.

I mean, there are people stupid enough to think a lot of things about Obama. Last I heard, he was a black militant Muslim with a radical Christian preacher who hates his white mother and grandparents and who leaves his shopping carts in parking places at the supermarket. Oh, and he smokes, too.

When Obama is the nominee, these attacks will become even worse when the 527s attack him for having had a lesbian affair with Bea Arthur.

That's why we need to get in the habit of refuting that BS now, no matter where it comes from, be it Aunt Millie, John McCain, or George Stephanopolis. It's OK to disagree with Obama on policy issues, and attack him about things that are true, but making up lies is just not acceptable.

We can and we must.

•  Tips for a rant?

  by BillyZoom on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:40:46 PM PDT

  •  Good lookin' out...

    ...the Truth will set us free.

    by raqsasim on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:44:51 PM PDT

    •  All of US n/t

      by BillyZoom on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:46:03 PM PDT

  •  From What I've Seen...

    ...the combination of Obama's sane, well-thought-out, and yet energetic responses and the enthusiasm with which the American people seem to, on the whole, regard him, portents a sea change in the way messages get around.

    I was extremely surprised that Clinton would, after what they did to him, allow the media to do the same to another politician, even aid them in this character assassination.  Such a Stockholm Complex!

    I swear, and please don't take this the wrong way, but I watched him on TV two nights ago; he was responding to a question in front of a number of reporters when a camera "went off" (spooling film or whatever), and he seemed jolted, his eyes jumped and he lost his train of thought for just a moment.  I swear he was afraid the camera was a gun, for just a brief moment there.

    As long as its only character assassination I believe he can handle that.  I pray a lot about this lately; just get us to there, and through there!  We could be so much better as a country with this man.

    by Bluesee on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:52:43 PM PDT

•  Repeat after me....

  This is not 2000 or 2004.  This crap won't work.  Obama has made a bet on all of us to ignore the distractions that don't matter, and we must deliver.  The only people who will pay attention to this crap are people that would never vote for him anyway!

  by Nick A on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:48:52 PM PDT

  •  We just need to send around our own emails

    like this:  

    When asked about his spotty attendance at his National Guard duty, Texas Governor Bush responded:

    "As I've said before regarding that matter, I didn't want to be perceived as taking sides.  There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American military is a symbol of aggression. Flying fighter planes conveys a war-like message. You know, they can drop bombs and shoot guns and that's really dangerous stuff.  Folks can get killed by all that stuff, myself included. I'd rather have spent my time in bars having a few drinks or hanging out with my frat buddies feeling sorry for the kids who actually had to go to Vietnam.  I mean, it's not like I was scared to see combat, I just wouldn't have felt right killing the enemy when I knew there was a chance they could shoot back and possibly kill me.  That's just not fair. I mean- it's not like those frogs I used to blow up as a kid- when I stuck those firecrackers in 'em they didn't have a chance, and they sure as hell couldn't hurt me.  If Vietnam was the same as that, then- I might have gone."

    by NYFM on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 09:20:32 PM PDT

  •  We are Obama

    and Obama is us. The end!

    by shwing on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 09:20:38 PM PDT

•  giving the illegitimate some energy, i see.

  i'm sorry, but i'm not a neocon, and i'm not stupid - the only two groups (both significant minorities and arguably the same individuals) who would believe such shit.

  also, i think posting these "oh, no!" diaries, and giving them this energy - kind of helps them out, no?  way to make it widely viewed, and use a left-leaning site to do it.  i'm not saying you did it intentionally, but sheesh.  think about it.

  by jj24 on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:48:59 PM PDT

  •  I don't know

    I used that snopes post to try to make the point of what kind of crap is going to be used about Obama. I hadn't heard that one, so I shared it because I think we do need to fight that kind of stuff.

    To me, it seems better to be aware of what's out there than to pretend it doesn't exist and not acknowledge it.

    by BillyZoom on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:57:27 PM PDT

  •  That's good

    I'm glad you're not a neocon and you're not stupid, but many MANY people are one or the other or both and that's what I think we need to be worried about.

    If there's anything we've learned this decade, it's never depend on the American people to make rational decisions.

    by nrafter530 on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 09:00:57 PM PDT

    •  lol. it wasn't like it was a "near miss" or

      anything.  i don't underestimate people.

      by jj24 on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 09:39:03 PM PDT

•  Tips for libel?

  by dlh77489 on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:49:14 PM PDT

  •  Not sure how Obama could have a lesbian affair

    a lesbian affair with Bea Arthur but,
    I guess some people will believe it.

    by NYFM on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:56:33 PM PDT

    •  I had a lesbian affair with Bea Arthur

      And I'm a dude.  I would explain how it works, but it's all too technical.

      by dlh77489 on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 09:01:43 PM PDT

•  If people that stupid

  I do not believe that people are that stupid. No, it is something else. Like you know maybe race...? There will be nothing you can do about this type. Move on please. Flag pins, and stances? Lets just take pictures of all government employees, huh? No it's called good old fashion racism, period. Nothing you can do about that. I do believe that the young and the new progressives are ready for Obama. Numbers. Above all: have enough watchdogs, lawyers, out of work programmers (plenty) watching the voting process. That will take money,. Expect litigation.

  by init on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:56:23 PM PDT

  •  Racism plays a role

    but it's not JUST about racism. Remember when the slam against Kerry was that "he looks French?"

    by BillyZoom on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:58:42 PM PDT

•  Billy I'm nervous

  You know "they" are not going to go down without a fight..no matter how dirty. I commented in another thread about Lou Dobbs and the Defence of Democracies crew. They  still have a lot of power and are not completely defanged.

  by ohcanada on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:58:08 PM PDT

•  Jujitsu

  What you obviously haven't understood about the Barack Obama '08 campaign is that their secret weapon is jujitsu.  When attacked, the Obama camp deflects the lunge and makes it look like a move of pathetic desperation on the part of their opponents.  That's why when Hillary attacks, her negatives go way up.

  He'll do the same thing against McCain, but be more free to highlight the many differences between himself and The Old Man.  McCain will look like he's a dottering 135-year old advocating entry into World War I by the time Obama is finished with him.

  by Pangloss on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:58:20 PM PDT

•  Stubborn ignorance.

  Yes. We have those types on this earth. Rush, Hannity, Cunningham, O'Reilly, etc.

  by init on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:59:13 PM PDT

  •  Ha!

    You reminded me of Jeanine Garrafolo's comment years ago about a certain segment of the American electorate and its "aggressive ignorance."

    by BillyZoom on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 09:01:28 PM PDT

•  So far, he has met every test.....

  One of the real benefits of this election, certainly one I have been hoping for, is that if he is elected, it is going to put a lot of this bullshit to rest.

  When the campaign "consultants" see that the american public is not responding to this crap anymore, it might give some of our other candidates the courage to stop pandering to the fox news common denominator.

  by Azdak on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 09:05:25 PM PDT

•  French?

  French and John Kerry vs Obama and Black? Please... Do you know the magnitude of this election? If Obama is elected: Rush just might O.D./Hannity will jump through the screen, you will see many freak accidents. Guaranteed. Hillary is not done yet! That's probably going to be the first sign.

  by init on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 09:08:04 PM PDT

•  Crap like Doodo?

  For progressives: that is about the size of it! You see some people saw through this a very long time ago, and cried many nights.

  by init on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 09:13:35 PM PDT

•  Obama scares the shit out of the right and as a

  consequence, they are going to throw every bullshit charge they can at him. We have to be there to help Obama counter the crap.

  We cannot assume that people won't buy into this stupid shit, it has to be actively and aggressively fought each and everytime it emerges. As the old saying goes, a lie travels all the way around the world while the truth is still putting its boots on.  

  by MadGeorgiaDem on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 09:15:09 PM PDT