Anyone else getting this re: Obama?

[PaDem]

I've been somewhat surprised at the amount of people I've encountered who I previously thought had a working brain tell me one or more of the following:

-Barack Obama is Muslim.

-Barack Obama was sworn into office by placing his hand on the Koran.

-Barack Obama is a subversive Muslim who is masquerading as a Christian only to gain the White House, from which point he could work to destroy the country from within.

-The fact that his name is "Barack Hussein Obama" is a sign from God that he is not to be trusted.

Sadly I've heard these things and more from some "Democrats", though the majority of it seems to be coming from those on the right (see the majority) who don't think critically about much of anything. Some of the above has made it's way into peoples in-boxes in the form of one of those stupid forwarded chain e-mails. I'm continually amazed at the number of seemingly reasonable people who take those absurd chain e-mails as gospel. I'm continually debunking them.

Have others encountered a lot of this when it comes to Obama's candidacy? It's all very discouraging to me. The tone and substance of our political discourse in this country is nothing short of embarrassing.

[NMDemDist2]

1. the viral e-mail did it's work, sadly

I'm no Obama lover, but that email is horrible and every freaking where

[monmouth]

2. He's not, as yet my candidate, but I've been defending this and

correcting this myth for months now. I do think people get these e-mails and without actually reading them, forward them to others so people will think they are "aware and knowledgeable" about politics. It's been debunked so many times, as you say, any person with a brain knows this is not true...

[Henny Penny]

3. No.

Sub text: If you don't vote for Obama you're a racist.

"The tone and substance of our political discourse in this country is nothing short of embarrassing."

Agreed.

[Frances]

4. No, I haven't heard any of this.

My right wing cousin has sent me an email complaining about Bill, but she hasn't sent me anything about Obama.

Another relative with a W sticker on his vehicle has said good things about Obama. But he identifies with management in large corporations and is not a social conservative.

[TwilightZone]

5. Yes, those are part of some ridiculous e-mails that are making the rounds.

Check snopes.com - they've done a good job of keeping up with the debunking.

In addition, Obama himself debunked the first two in one of the recent debates.

[seemunkee]

6. I think it would be easier to ask who DIDN'T get it.

[terisan]

10. I didn't get it. nt

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. No. We don't have any of that here in his home state of Illinois, but I did hear Scarborough repeat

Barack Hussein Obama on the TeeVee the other night. Of course he was just talking about tactics used against the candidate...he didn't mean any harm.:sarcasm:

[liberalnurse]

8. No, never got anything like that...

Please share the email address. You can secure the site of origin from the email. Let us all know what to look for and be prepared.

[liberal N proud]

9. It a email lie that has been circulating for months

Sopes has a a post: http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp

[pleah]

11. I have not seen any of this nonsense. If someone said anything like that to me

I would tell them to "wake the fuck up". Mr. Obama is not my personal choice at this time, but this kind of stuff is just sick.

[LSK]

12. yes this is everywhere, FYI Keith Ellison swore on the Koran, not Obama

[donheld]

13. I think some like to believe that stuff

They don't want to say the can't vote for a black man, but if he's muslim, or his name is Hussein then they have a different reason to dislike him.

[PaDem]

14. that's a good point

and one I had not contemplated.

[MADem]

15. The first time I heard this was from an aggrieved OBAMA supporter

And pretty much, that's the only place I hear it. Every few days, I see a post HERE, on DU, from an Obama supporter (or someone who CLAIMS to be an Obama supporter), griping about this TERRIBLE email and then ....

REPRINTING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY.

I've never gotten an email like that, and I have never had a conversation with ANY Democrat OR Republican where the subject of Obama's religion ever came up. The few conversations (maybe three, tops) I have had about the "middle name" business were of the "That's a low blow" or "Who cares?" variety, or "What a lame whine."

So, sorry, I'm not hearing this--except HERE, at DU.

[baldguy]

16. We've had a Muslim in the White House for the last 7 yrs.

[Der Blaue Engel]

17. Brian Williams brought it up during the last Dem debate

Let me repeat: A major network news anchor hosting a Democratic presidential debate on live t.v. brought up a right-wing, viral e-mail as a line of questionning for a presidential candidate. On the one hand, it gave Obama a chance to laugh at it in public, but on the other: OMFG!

(I was also disappointed that Obama said only, "I am a Christian and I was sworn in with my hand on the Bible," and did not add, "but I'm disgusted that anyone would use hatred of Muslims as a fear tactic to sway small-minded voters.")