Barack Obama's "Selma Lie"
By jormins
@jormins (1223)
United States
March 28, 2008 3:29pm CST
I recently have come across a few people on mylot very sure that Barack Obama is a bold faced liar and not to be trusted. While some instances they have cited places like Obama changing his mind about running for President as in the past he had said he would not run. I don't consider that a lie, I believe people have the right to change their mind on something that important. Or even the "lie" in which the New York Times itself had to print a retraction because they were incorrect about Obama lying due to a false Newmax story.
I have however been pointed to a few very large websites with numerous attacks on Obama. Besides the sites always naming him as Barack Hussein Obama and showing him in Kenyan garb (clearly showing they are heavily partison) however I'd like to address some of their statements as some people are believing everything these sites are saying.
The first one I took a good look at was the Selma Lie that is claimed on many BHO sites. Here is a the best fully inclusive answer I can find:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/saywhat.asp
Basically the answer is while Obama's 2007 speech was a little bit misleading, in no way is he lying about anything. And his attackers are basically cherry picking parts of the speech and twisting them to make it look much more sinister. A tactic used very often in politics. However, as we can't even call Hillary Clinton's 4 misstatements about false Bosnian Snipers a lie, I find it quite a double standard how often Obama's character is attacked here.
I have seen many instances where Obama is attacked on mylot for things he has not even said. Whether its an anonymous attack e-mail, the radio, or just someone making something up, I do hope people do some homework before throwing up more "lies" of this evil person Barack Obama. And don't be afraid to throw up a link to the source so we can see is it a truly a good fair source, or is it a right wing propagandist spammer willing to say/do anything to keep a Republican in the White House.
I have no problem if you don't love Obama, but please attack him with facts and on issues and policies not something you heard which could be true or just how you feel about the guy.
2 people like this
9 responses
@jormins (1223)
• United States
29 Mar 08
Yeah that Kenya garb photo is such an unfair attack as every politician has done that. Any website that has that photo on its homepage about Obama has lost a ton of credibility right there. It the site thinks McCain is a better candidate than Obama then they should stress the differences in what each candidate plans to do.
I never see positive articles about McCain's policies which leads me to believe most Republicans don't like him but would rather swallow him as President than Obama or Clinton no matter who the better person is.
2 people like this
@HawaiiGopher (1009)
• Belgium
29 Mar 08
Well, glad someone was able to put my thoughts into words. At first I'd actually respond to all the attacks on MyLot but then I realized it was hopeless. They had been too inculcated by a biased media.
It's clear that those with strong partisan beliefs will do anything to smear an opposing candidate. That's just how politics work. But the attacks on Obama are now getting ridiculous; "Obama is a racist", "Obama is a terrorist", "Obama is Muslim", "Obama isn't black", "Obama is Satan", "Obama eats babies." (Okay, I haven't heard the last one yet.. :P)
All I can say is to use logic in these situations. It'll be extremely helpful.
2 people like this
@jormins (1223)
• United States
29 Mar 08
Yes it is daunting when I first visited some of these websites. They have gone all out to make Obama look bad. The good thing though as soon as you hit the 2nd source you see things they have spliced, cherry picked, taken out of context. Even what Obama said today on The View sounds bad if you cut the sentence down like some already have. If you listen to the full answer about Wright and the TUCC it is a great answer.
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
29 Mar 08
..yes this is common in politics and on all sides.. it's unfortunate that the most used tactic to get votes is to vilify the opposition. But what it does is make for division and makes the gulf between the parties bigger and bigger.. til it's almost like one party simply despises the other and how can anything ever get done in Washington that way? (When the media joins in, how can we then believe what the media reports?) I find it all most unfortunate.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
28 Mar 08
About all I can do here is agree with you totally. The lies and attacks about Obama are astounding to me and I can't believe how many of them are still going around after all this time. There are still a full 10% of the people who think he's a Muslim according to a report on MSNBC a few minutes ago. They're still reporting on TV, especially on good old "fair and balanced" Fox that he admitted he'd lied about hearing the controversial remarks made by his former pastor when he never did any such thing. Then there's the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem lie, the sworn in on the Koran lie and the stupid comments about him not wearing a flag lapel pin! I'd like to echo what you said - if you wish to attack Obama or any other candidate at least get the facts straight. It's really not that hard to check something out before repeating it all over the Internet.
Annie
1 person likes this
@jormins (1223)
• United States
29 Mar 08
It is sad, even my Godfather claims because Obama's father whispered something into his ear as a baby he is a Muslim by destiny and there is nothing he can do about it. Although my Godfather is to me like Rev. Wright is to Obama. Both are good men but their life experiences have given them some out there views on the world.
I can't wait for everyone to start talking policies again. People have totally forgotten about our economy, the Iraq War, health care, illegal immigration, waterboarding, Iran etc. I like McCain as a person but his policies are getting scarier and scarier every day, and no one even knows about any of it.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
29 Mar 08
Thanks so much for putting it into perspective with your comments about your godfather. Of course you still love him although you don't agree with everything he says and I think you're to be commended for that. I did a discussion about putting it into perspective and I think that's what most people are missing. In my area ministers come and go but the same people keep going to the same church forever, from generation to generation.
Annie
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
30 Mar 08
I don't care whether or not he was found guilty of any wrong dealings with Rezko or not, he has been a long time friend of Rezko's not just a one tme deal. He knows what kind of person he is. The deal with the house still sounds fishy to me,and Rezko helped him get it by Obamas own admission.i know in all the years of their friendship he never knew that Rezko was tht type of person. Damn he sure don't know much about the people he keeps company with. I still say I don't want a man that is tied to these kinds of people running the whitehouse.I think he is a snake in the grass, just a bit above the snake Hillary. If this is the kind of person you want as president in there that is your right. Hillary is a liar about most of what she says, trying to look like the brave soul. Just the thought of putting her in so her hubby can go about attacking the interns again is enough to turn me off, he embrassed us once. Obama attended Francis Assisis Catholic School as a muslim, the enrollment form gave 5 choices to pick from as a religion, Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu,Muslim, and Protestant. He registered as a muslin! Had he been a lifelong Christian or even a recent convert, he or his mother would have circled Protestant. They did not they circled Muslim. Second school he attended register as a muslim. Once again why not Protestant? Obama belonging to a church now that teaches that the Muslims of the world were wronged by both Israel and the United States, cannot afford to be labeled as a muslim by voters who expect the United States to win the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan where their sons and daughters are being killed by Muslims!
It is your right to believe what you want and it is my right to believe as I want, to each his own. I just know that this is not the person I want running our country to many ties to Islam. Once he is in it is too late to cry. To me he is a butt kisser and the Demos are pushing him because he will be an easy target for them to wrap around their fingers, mainly Kennedy and Pelsco.
1 person likes this
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
31 Mar 08
I have chosen against him for the right reason, and you can not change my mind same as I can not change yours, it is just a shame that WE all will have to live with the conquencses after he is elected, not just the ones voting for him. But I don't believe he has a chance against MCCain, I maybe wrong guess we will wait and see. With Hillary not giving in she is just dividing the party more and more will go to MCCain before letting him in. Thank God
@jormins (1223)
• United States
31 Mar 08
Tony Rezko has been a long time political power broker in Chicago. He has even been at the White House to get his picture taken with Bill and Hillary so he is more an indictment of the Democratic Party than Obama. To say they are friends is a huge stretch. All of Rezko's most current donations to the campaign have been given to charity and trust me Obama is done with Rezko even if Rezko is found not guilty.
I could say the same about McCain and Iseman or any of the other lobbyists he has working for his campaign but even when that New York Times article broke I saw nothing more than conjecture, and even though I support Obama I accused McCain of nothing wrong. Yes McCain has had his scandal with the whole Keating 5 ordeal but I chalk that up to him making a mistake not being corrupt just as I view Obama and Rezko's land deal.
As for the Muslim issue the more you research the more benign the rumor becomes. Yes sure its possible its a huge conspiracy and everyone is covering up for Obama, but that is about as possible as the rumor that John McCain was programmed by our enemies when he was a POW, a "Manchurian Candidate". Both rumors have as much credibility once you start digging and researching. Obama is a Christian and has no Muslim ties.
You are right the great thing about America is the right we have to disagree, but as so many voters do not know the truth about so many simple issues of the 3 remaining candidates I plan on bringing as much information out to the public so if they choose against Obama they choose for the right reason.
@jormins (1223)
• United States
31 Mar 08
Here is an excellent source that hits the Rezko issue:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0316edit1mar16,0,2616801.story
And in case you think the Trib is not a good source here's a link proving to you how conservative the Trib is. Even Billo agrees the Trib is a conservative newspaper.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200610120011
@fpd1955 (2074)
• United States
29 Mar 08
I truly think the Republicans fear the success Barack Obama is having and will have, once he is elected President
. They know they are up against a very strong and well liked contender and will not and do not hesitate to try anything to blacken (no pun intended) his name. People are going to believe what they are going to believe, regardless if it is lies. Personally, I think he has withstood every single attack on his character, race and religious beliefs with a demeanor very becoming of the man who will be President!
PEACE
. They know they are up against a very strong and well liked contender and will not and do not hesitate to try anything to blacken (no pun intended) his name. People are going to believe what they are going to believe, regardless if it is lies. Personally, I think he has withstood every single attack on his character, race and religious beliefs with a demeanor very becoming of the man who will be President!
PEACE1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
29 Mar 08
I agree. They know that after the mess Bush and Co. have made the only way a Republican will ever win again is by slandering the competition. Obama has handled all this with the kind of class and dignity we so badly need in the White House again.
Annie
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
29 Mar 08
and Hillary is never under attack? It is all against poor Obama! Boo-Hoo
@jormins (1223)
• United States
30 Mar 08
Well I don't know if Mylot is indicative of the everywhere else but pretty much Obama is attacked 3 to 4 more times than Hillary since she has fallen way behind in the primary. Don't take my word for it, look at all the topics started the last few weeks in politics. Obama is very popular amongst the right because they want the Dem's to keep fighting as long as possible. Every day the Democrats fight amongst each other John McCain gets one step closer to the White House.
If not for her 4 Bosnian sniper misstatements Senator Clinton might not even be mentioned here at all lately.
1 person likes this
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
29 Mar 08
Fact he is friends with and maybe aquired his home through a known felon that is on trial for extorsion, money laundrying and real estate fraud, of which the real estate obama was associated with. but as of yet been found guity of any wrong doing. His home was purchased at the exact time as a piece of empty property was purchased just next door, lwads me to believe the same person paid for the house.
Fact he is friends with Bill Ayers, who was responsible for the bombings of the NY Police Dept, the capital building and the pentagon in the 70's.
Fact his preacher Wright is associated with a man named Cone which is where he gets most of his sermons, Cone believes in all white being destroyed.
Fact he is associated with Farrenkan who is the leader of the Islam nation.
Fact he refuses to saluate the american flag and turns his back on it and refuses to put his hand over his heart.
Fact his wife only just recently ( how recently, when it bacame apparent that it would hurt her husband's run for office) said she was proud to be an american. Before she was not proud of that fact or proud of America.
How many more do you want in facts, these are all proven facts. Now you may want someone like that leading your country, but I don't! He is being backed by all Democrats because people like Kennedy and Pelsco (not spelled right0 he will be putty in their hands and do what they want him to do.
FACT it is known that he is engaged with his wife over his dealings with other women, what do we have another Bill Clinton.
Enough facts for me to know ai don't want this person in office. My opinion. I have nothing against him being black, also read th facts he was born muslim, was enrolled as a muslum in school. He is from a family of muslums, his father and grandfather. His real name is Barry but he went back to his Muslum name, what does that tell me.
Each one is entitles to his own beliefs, but you want facts go look these up. Wouldn't matter you all will think what you want and no one can change your beliefs, he wants change, that change is what scares me.
@jormins (1223)
• United States
29 Mar 08
I'm sorry you lose your credibility on your first Rezko attack.
Obama has done nothing wrong besides accepting the help of a Chicago power broker who turned out to be less than ideal. Find me facts showing Obama broke one law or knew about Rezko's sinister dealings.
"Fact Obama is associated with Farrenkan?" (Farrakhan perhaps?) How is this a fact? I won't go over them all as this is very typical of the BHO sites, but its obvious your information or source is biased. Go to any bi-partisan fact checking website and you'll see some facts.
"Fact He refuses to salute the American flag?" Are you kidding me??? Do you really believe that? Do some research on your "facts".
All I see in your post is conjecture, so you basically haven't read anything I have said. If you'd like some information on Obama's "Muslim" past:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_obama.html
Do some research before you throw "facts" at me. Throw me some bi-partisan links that prove your "facts".
@kdhartford (1151)
• United States
29 Mar 08
I agree with you in principle...except that when my friends and family cross the line, I tell them. If you cross the line, I'll tell you. That is what being a leader is all about. Senator Obama had many oppotunities to make a statement, by his actions, to set the record right.
There are plenty of examples from history and most recently Zimbadwe, where racial hate has ruined a country. That is not the type of change that we need.
@jormins (1223)
• United States
29 Mar 08
You are right Obama should have taken care of this before. I think he was hesitant as if you remember before Iowa the Clinton's had nearly all the black vote. I can't remember how many times I had heard that Obama is not black enough by black voters.
I don't envy his predicament as really his whole life he has had this divide, he is 1/2 white and 1/2 black which has to be tough at times.
I think he handled the Wright situation the best he could but you're right, a real leader cuts that kind of hatred off at the pass.
I hate to change subjects but an earlier poster brought up McCain and never replied to my question so I'm kind of throwing it in here. Shouldn't McCain also be a leader and separate himself from the hatred preached by 3 big endorsers of him: Hagee, Parsely, and the Falwell following? Its not race but its definitely hate. McCain will never do it as he needs the right but its a similar dilemma as to Wright & Obama. Unfortunately politics seem to trump what should be done as I think both McCain and Obama are honorable men who don't believe in any hatred preached on either of their sides.
@jormins (1223)
• United States
31 Mar 08
That is a good point Wright is Obama's spiritual mentor of 20 years while I wouldn't even be surprised if McCain doesn't even like his endorsing Pastors who are well known for preaching their hate. In fact, I saw some story where he called some of them agents of intolerance or something like that in a prior campaign.
However, considering McCain needed to appease the base of his party as many still think McCain is too liberal for them, he actually chased these preachers for their endorsements and has made no major statements to renounce their preachings. Its somewhat a double standard but you're right Obama is closer to Wright than McCain those three.
I only reason I bring up those 3 is because of the double standard. Wright is the first thing I feel that questions who Obama really is and can be viewed in a negative light. Its not as easy to explain as the other attacks I always see. Deflecting on the issue is definitely a Karl Rove/Hillary Clinton tactic and not my favorite thing to do. But as I see more and more statistics showing how little people know about the candidates I think to make a fair judgement on Wright, McCain's endorsers should also be in question.
I hate to say it but the majority of McCain supporters who I bring up those names have no idea who or what I'm talking about. In general usually Republicans know much more about their candidates than Dem's I run into, however for some reason its easy for Rep's to overlook this large contingent in their party.
@kdhartford (1151)
• United States
30 Mar 08
My opinion is that the circumstances are different between McCain being endorsed by the pastors you mentioned and Obama's spiritual leader and mentor. It is a question of years of support.
I think though that it is dishonest to always bring up Hagee and Co. or Ronald Reagan speaking at Bob Jones University everytime someone brings up Wright.
Obama wants to be President and he will have to stand on his own record not his record compared to someone else. Especially since his record is rather thin at the moment.
