Just the Facts

Time to dispell rumors on Obama

By Kelvin Wade | | May 15, 2008 15:52

The misinformation, prejudice and lunacy surrounding the candidacy of Barack Obama have got to end. No one has to support him. But at least base your opposition on facts and substance rather than slack-jawed rumor and innuendo.

Yes, his last name rhymes with Osama and his middle name is the same as Saddam's last name. This used to just be something to chuckle about. But there are Americans out there with voting power who actually believes there's some significant to this. You need Paxil, people.

According to a recent Washington Post article, an Obama worker was told by a white Pennsylvania voter that he couldn't back Obama because 'White people look out for white people, and black people look out for black people.' So, are you acknowledging that white presidents give white people special privileges? What's up with that?

In Indiana, vandals broke windows at Obama headquarters and on one spray-painted the message, 'Hamas votes BHO.' Thank you, John 'Double Talk Express' McCain for inciting that bit of hatred.

West Virginia resident Leonard Simpson told the Financial Times 'I heard that Obama is a Muslim and his wife's an atheist.' Really? Where'd you hear that? An e-mail? From a drunk on the stool next to you? Is there any desire within you to find out if it's true or not?

Fellow West Virginian Josh Fry, 24, assured the same paper he was no racist but said he'd prefer John McCain because 'I want someone who is a full-blooded American as president.' People with Fry's pliable mentality are the ones the Karl Roves of the world can't wait to manipulate come the fall.

Some question Obama's decision not to reflexively wear a flag lapel pin. Obama wears them from time to time. The fact it's become an issue proves Obama was right about not wearing it all the time. The pins, like Support the Troops bumper stickers, have almost become a stand-in for true patriotism. It's incongruous to my thinking that anyone running for president of the United States would be unpatriotic. But then again, I actually read.

In Pennsylvania, Tunkhannock Borough Mayor Norm Ball wrote a letter to his local paper about Obama's alleged Muslim ties and said, '. . . I want a president that will salute our flag, and put their hand on the Bible when they take the oath of office.'

How many times do these rumors have to be debunked? If you're an adult who believes Obama was sworn in on a Koran, you probably still believe the earth is flat and the moon landing was shot in a Nevada desert. How much hope is there for people who scoff at traditional news outlets but will swear on something they read in a hastily circulated e-mail? At least Snopes-check it!

About 10 percent of voters think Obama is Muslim. I thought at least one of the 'benefits' of the whole the Rev. Wright sideshow was that at least it would let people know the man is a Christian. You know, the Rev. Wright was Obama's pastor from Trinity United Church of Christ. Hint, hint.

Is it too late to reinstate poll tests? Should stupid people just exercise their right not to vote? Can we conduct an election with more thought than an American Idol phone in vote? Will people just educate themselves? Peace.

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NOTES: I'm sick of reading stories about morons in Appalachia and how they don't trust Obama because they don't like his name or that "he's a Muslim." Have these people ever opened a book that wasn't put out by DC or Marvel? I would blame their misinformation on Faux News but half of them can't afford cable so their twisted views had to be spoonfed to them via the radio and Rush Limbaugh. Sean Hannity and/or Bill O.

How many times to we have to hear that Obama is a Muslim? How do you convince the Cletus voter that it isn't true? For those of you who don't know...Cletus is a guy that used to work in a factory before his job got outsourced overseas. He'd like to send his daughter to college but can't afford the tuition so she's working second shift down at the Wal-Mart trying to support her two babies because her no account boyfriend Billy Bob is in jail after getting caught passing bad checks. Cletus' unemployment is about to run out and he doesn't know what he's going to do because making widgets is all he knows how to do. His stomach has been botherin' him but he can't go to the doctor because he doesn't have health care. His elderly mother lives with him and he can barely afford her prescription drugs. The cost of food and gas are breaking him along with the subprime mortgage he's trying to pay. So seeing how Cletus' biggest problems are lack of a good job, health care, gas pricess and help putting his daughter through school, naturally the issues he votes on are God, abortion, flag lapel pins and keeping boys from marrying boys.

Huh? That's right. Cletus is that stupid voter who votes against his interest and participates in his own hosing.

Too many of these idiots are passing around emails talking about Barack Obama's alleged radical Muslim family rather than looking at what the man offers them. But Obama wants to be everyone's President. Even those of you with questionable family trees, no more than three teeth in your head, who eat paste and drink from jugs with three X's on them. Yes, you hayseed chewing, knowledge rejecting, rumour embracing, backwoods, prejudiced hillbillies with minds as closed as the knees of a 70 year old nun.

Think. Read. Educate yourself. Maybe Jimmy Ray with a half bottle of gin in him on the next bar stool is not the best source of information. Perhaps you should listen to the views of people who at least made it to middle school.

Nobody has to embrace Barack Obama. They're not required to. But at least evaluate him on his record, on his ideas. Not on this innuendo and assorted garbage.


If you check out the DR blog, you'll see my thoughts on Fairfield City Councilman Frank Kardos who is facing trial on charges that he choked an ex-girlfriend.