Mission accomplished

[babylonsister]

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_stump/archive/2008/01/01/that-muslim-smear.aspx

That Muslim Smear

One unexpected thing happened at the Clinton event I described below: I chatted with a woman from nearly Millersburg, who looked to be in her late sixties, and who plans to caucus. She'd been undecided before seeing Bill tonight but is now backing Hillary. "He made me believe all the things that I've sort of been questioning about," she said with a charmed smile.

Then I asked her what her friends and neighbors are saying about the other candidates. She said there was a lot of debate and indecision, and that people have concerns about each candidates' particular weaknesses. Specifically, she said some people are "worried" about Obama's race, and whether it might make him unelectable. She continued:

"That, and the fact that he's a Muslim," she said, without a trace of irony or guile. "That's where we got all our problems from."

"Do you really believe it's a fact that he's a Muslim?" I asked. "Because it's not true."

"Well, that's what I've heard," she replied, seemingly unfazed.

The woman gave me her name, but I'm withholding it here because I don't think she means to be spreading a crude smear.

--Michael Crowley

[monmouth]

1. How dangerous the uninformed are. They're impressed with Bill

so will vote for Hill. Obama has stated more than a hundred times he is not a muslim. It's very scary. Thanks for posting this...

[DangerDave921]

3. Stupid indeed

Sometimes I think there should be a short test you have to pass before being allowed to vote. Because there are some truly stupid people around who cast their votes on total crap information. But then I think we all have a right to vote, even the stupid. But it sure is frustrating.

Great, Bill speaks so she votes for Hillary. As I've said before, if it wasn't for her last name, and her gender, HRC would be a nobody in this election.

[babylonsister]

7. And you know if one person is thinking this, there are many more.

Like I said, their mission is accomplished. Sad and scary.

[Sparkly]

9. Not necessarily.

I have a neighbor, mystifyingly NOT stupid in other ways, who gave me both rationales. He can't vote for Obama, because he's suspicious about him being a Muslim, even though he knows that's been debunked; AND, he can't vote for Clinton because she's a woman, even thought he knows it shouldn't bother him. He admits it's not rational, but goes with it anyway.

[jenmito]

2. I'm sure the Hillary supporters everywhere are happy about this...

sadly. Rovian politics with a Dem. face.

[annie1]

5. so one f'g asshole somewhere believes a rumor that's been going around...

for a half a year and it's hillary at fault b/c one of her supporters forwarded an email that's been going around for 6 months? please.

[peoli]

13. yeah thats the only one, Annie..

please...

[jenmito]

24. It's more than one person. The Hillary camp put the rumor out there and it looks like it succeeded

for MORE than a few people.

[MethuenProgressive]

26. "The Hillary camp put the rumor out there"

Jen, how do you know this is true?

[jenmito]

28. Because the person who first put it out there was fired.

[MethuenProgressive]

31. I think a visit to Snopes and Obama's website might be of interest to you.

Good luck to your candidate.

[MGKrebs]

29. That's disgusting.

What could possibly motivate you to say such a thing?
Unbelievable.

[peoli]

4. what a stupid idiot

[suston96]

6. Yeah, Obama is not a Muslim......

....and Gore did not invent the internet. But, throw enough bullshit around and some of it will surely stick.

That's the way we illuminated Americans do politics - shamefully.

[The Traveler]

8. Oh sweet Jesus

Pardon the expression. But oh sweet little baby 8 1/2 pound Jesus ... when will this "Hussein Muslim Obama" crap go away???? This is just poison, racist poison, intended by those who would influence by agitating baseless fears. It is disgusting.

Obama is electable, because these lies can be turned on the liars, and because Obama brings a lot to the game. I support Edwards because I believe in his message and his stated policy positions make sense to me and represent the beginnings of substantial change. I therefore prefer him to Obama. But I am certain Obama would give any Rethuglican nominee a hell of a contest. This is nothing but racist crap, and all decent people must speak loudly against it.

[alteredstate]

11. Wonderful post.

I support Senator Obama, but I believe that Edwards would also bring positive change to our country if he wins the presidency.

[babylonsister]

15. It's not going away; that was sadly the whole point to this smear campaign.

There are a lot of uninformed people in this country obviously; that's who this smear was directed at imo.

[MethuenProgressive]

16. Not when ObamaNation keeps trotting it out.

Isn't he still claiming Hillary the cat killing Lesbian killed Bhutto?

[sniffa]

17. i'm ashamed you're from my state.

[MethuenProgressive]

27. Maine?

I'm in exile.
But Massholes have a supurb record of calling bullshit they can be proud of.
"Don't blame me, I'm from Massachusetts!"
I'm not ashamed of being "from away".

[Sparkly]

10. Seems like "Muslim" is the new "Communist."

:eyes:

[peoli]

14. thats exactly what it is

[MethuenProgressive]

12. ObamaNation plays the Pity card once again.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn ObamaNation is forwarding those emails, just to keep them "in the news"

[KennedyGuy]

18. Thats exactly what Obamabots would be saying if it were Hillary

[babylonsister]

19. Funny you should mention Clinton, seeing as that's where the smear started. nt

[annie1]

20. no, it is not. it started months and months before the volunteer who got the email...

forwarded to someone else. so now it is you who is spreading falsehoods.

[babylonsister]

23. OK, annie, let me qualify that. That was the first I had heard of it.

So, in my experience, it's not a falsehood.

[annie1]

25. Well now you know.

[KennedyGuy]

21. Or they'd say "look..they did it too"

Hopeful...

[MethuenProgressive]

22. Nice smear, ObamylonSister!

Don't forget she killed Bhutto, too!

[dajoki]

30. Oh, the ignorance...

I'm sure the woman is completely uninformed, but that's what's scary. How many more like that are there who are going to pick our President?

[MethuenProgressive]

32. I don't think we need fear the fictional character created by Obama's PR dept will vote.

Mrs. "un-named" pops up in many ObamaNation posts though.
Maybe they should try and get her to caucus.