Obama: We are the UNITED States of America

[evilkumquat]

This is an excellent speech by Barack Obama where he addresses the McCain and Palin rallies that have been focusing so much on "real" America versus the rest of us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9OhVMHIuO4

This guy is incredible. He uses what I can only think of as a form of "Political Judo", taking his opponents' attacks and turning it so well against them, and yet in a manner that is not only inoffensive, but one that seems to bring out the best in his supporters.

Please note how those attending the rally were shouting "USA! USA!" while those at Palin and McCain's rallies have been heard to shout "kill him" and "terrorist".

[denali]

This is an excellent speech by Barack Obama where he addresses the McCain and Palin rallies that have been focusing so much on "real" America versus the rest of us.

This guy is incredible. He uses what I can only think of as a form of "Political Judo", taking his opponents' attacks and turning it so well against them, and yet in a manner that is not only inoffensive, but one that seems to bring out the best in his supporters.

Please note how those attending the rally were shouting "USA! USA!" while those at Palin and McCain's rallies have been heard to shout "kill him" and "terrorist".

I have received COUNTLESS emails from McCain supporters that are trash, one from an Obama supporter that I thought crossed the line as they mentioned Palin's unwed pregnant daughter, 2 Robo calls from McCain's campaign and one trash mailing from McCain's campaign. I have started addressing all of them, calling McCain's office and emailing the people that sent the emails stating that I will not be part of any of this. This insanity has to stop.

And yes you are correct-leaders set the tone for what their supporters do, I suspect that I have received much less trash from Obama supporters because Obama has a way of focusing on the positive and a vision rather than hatred. There is a way to disagree without being confrontational and without attacking the person. I suspect that our standing in the world will be somewhat more positive if Obama is elected.

[HomeyG]

All I can say is "I hope you enjoy the Kool-Aid, unless you want to buy a bridge, cause I got one for sale.

[blue adept]

All I can say is "I hope you enjoy the Kool-Aid, unless you want to buy a bridge, cause I got one for sale.

And why would you be saying that?

[HomeyG]

And why would you be saying that?

Some believe everything they see, read or hear, but many of us doubt most of it.

[blue adept]

Some believe everything they see, read or hear, but many of us doubt most of it.

I have doubts about both candidates, but will probably vote for Obama, not because he is the best, but because he has more charisma. Ten years ago I would have voted for McCain against anyone, but he has proven that he will do and say anything to be elected.

[ebbieday]

I was just invited to go see Palin in FW Saturday. I decided I'd rather stay home and watch the grass grow. Any thoughts?

[evilkumquat]

I was just invited to go see Palin in FW Saturday. I decided I'd rather stay home and watch the grass grow. Any thoughts?

?

I thought people LIKED watching train wrecks?

[ebbieday]

?

I thought people LIKED watching train wrecks?

Ha...not this "people". The ONLY reason I would go is to see Hank Williams Jr perform, but he's changed his songs to reflect supporting McCain/Palin so no thanks.

[blue adept]

I was just invited to go see Palin in FW Saturday. I decided I'd rather stay home and watch the grass grow. Any thoughts?

I agree with your decision.

[HoosierHelen]

I was just invited to go see Palin in FW Saturday. I decided I'd rather stay home and watch the grass grow. Any thoughts?

Good choice, and the grass is really growing much slower right now!

Speaking of train wrecks - did anyone see McCain explain to Palin that she has never met the "real elites" from Georgetown in their interview with Brian Williams yesterday?

It was another interview blunder moment for her.

[LuciusBeebe]

I was just invited to go see Palin in FW Saturday. I decided I'd rather stay home and watch the grass grow. Any thoughts?

While I agree that watching the grass grow is preferable to attending a Palin rally, there are better uses of your saturday.

Try origami!

[edeevee]

All I can say is I hope you enjoy the Kool-Aid.

Here, Homey, I'll share my glass with you.

[HoosierHelen]

I have received COUNTLESS emails from McCain supporters that are trash, one from an Obama supporter that I thought crossed the line as they mentioned Palin's unwed pregnant daughter, 2 Robo calls from McCain's campaign and one trash mailing from McCain's campaign. I have started addressing all of them, calling McCain's office and emailing the people that sent the emails stating that I will not be part of any of this. This insanity has to stop.

And yes you are correct-leaders set the tone for what their supporters do, I suspect that I have received much less trash from Obama supporters because Obama has a way of focusing on the positive and a vision rather than hatred. There is a way to disagree without being confrontational and without attacking the person. I suspect that our standing in the world will be somewhat more positive if Obama is elected.

Denali,
I just spent a little over an hour this evening reviewing e-mail I've received yesterday and today telling me a rainbow of lies about Obama's background. I took the effort this evening to find the link for each one in Snopes or FactCheck and sent them the link with my explaination.

I told each of them, if you choose to vote for McCain, please do so because you believe in the man. Do no vote out of fear based on these untruths being spread about Obama.

Why these people don't try to verify the rumors they send before they spread them is nuts to me.

[evilkumquat]

Why these people don't try to verify the rumors they send before they spread them is nuts to me.

The odds are good it is because they WANT to believe the negative, since there is nothing positive for them to vote on with their candidate.

It's like racists who know how stupid they are cite crime statistics to "explain" why they don't like minorities.

[james_t]

Why these people don't try to verify the rumors they send before they spread them is nuts to me.

What happens is people get these e-mails from a friend they trust. And of course that friend got it from a friend they trust, etc. The e-mail probably originated a few thousand friends they trust ago.

Your good friend who sent you this e-mail (along with 328 other victims in their address book) is someone you trust, so of course you assume what they're saying is true.

I also got one of these anti-Obama e-mails this afternoon from an aunt and uncle. I hopped over to Snopes, hit "Reply All" on the e-mail, then pasted the link from Snopes and sent it. This is the second time I've done this. Then I called my mom and asked her how we could delicately tell them to take a minute and check these things out before they mass send them.

[HoosierHelen]

What happens is people get these e-mails from a friend they trust. And of course that friend got it from a friend they trust, etc. The e-mail probably originated a few thousand friends they trust ago.

Your good friend who sent you this e-mail (along with 328 other victims in their address book) is someone you trust, so of course you assume what they're saying is true.

I also got one of these anti-Obama e-mails this afternoon from an aunt and uncle. I hopped over to Snopes, hit "Reply All" on the e-mail, then pasted the link from Snopes and sent it. This is the second time I've done this. Then I called my mom and asked her how we could delicately tell them to take a minute and check these things out before they mass send them.

Funny because one of mine was from an Aunt & Uncle too. They are in their 70's and the only ones I didn't send a correction to. I just love them so much and don't want to get them stirred up. What if I caused them a heart attack is what I found myself thinking. In their e-mail they were quoting Revelations to me and it would have really gotten emotional for them. :)

[james_t]

Funny because one of mine was from an Aunt & Uncle too. They are in their 70's and the only ones I didn't send a correction to. I just love them so much and don't want to get them stirred up. What if I caused them a heart attack is what I found myself thinking. In their e-mail they were quoting Revelations to me and it would have really gotten emotional for them. :)

Mine are in their 70s as well, but I don't figure I'm doing them any favors by letting them attach their names to this stuff.

I did back off when my 80-ish year old uncle started on the "Obama is a Muslim" kick a few months ago. He had a stroke last year that has had lasting side effects, and he was getting so riled up I was afraid he was going to have another.

I actually wrote a column about this sort of thing a number of years ago. It's a bit long for a post, so if you're not interested, just skip to the next post:

From the Elgin Courier-News, Nov. 7, 2001:
(Note: Usually, copyright guidelines prevent us from allowing this much text of stories from other sources to be posted here, however, I think I'm in the clear because 1) I'm the author and 2) I received no compensation for the writing.)

If you recall, last week I talked about a sincere, but obviously false, e-mail I'd received which the sender swore was gospel truth.

After trying to convince the sender otherwise, I was quite frustrated, and left wondering why people who are supposed to distinguish between truth and falsehood are so easily sucked into mass distributing this stuff.

Rather then leaving it as a rhetorical question, I ran it by a few experts.

All three, by the way, said the urban legend phenomenon is common to all faiths (or lack thereof), political leanings and creeds -- not just my own, as I'd feared.

So, if you are looking for a common thread to humanity, here's one: We're all equally stupid.

Insider information

With a background that includes broadcast journalism and the ministry, Dr. Rich Buhler now serves as (among other things) operator of truthorfiction.com, an urban legend Web site.

He said that "eRumors," as he calls them, spring from a desire to have some sort of insider information.

"People don't intend to spread rumors," he said.

"They intend to be sharing insider information that they have reason to believe is not being covered by mainstream sources of information and that other people they know might not have yet heard.

"Why, out of all the information that is available to us each day, do only particular kinds of stories become legends? There are many reasons, but one of the most significant is that it is information that we feel is only going to be known through the particular `underground' that we are a part of whether it be the Christian underground, the wrestling underground, the chocolate lover's underground, etc."

Buhler also said that eRumors have to have a high "wow" factor -- they have to be something that is attention-getting, whether shocking, funny or important.

Trying to help God

Dr. Linda Urschel, professor of English at Huntington College in Indiana, said that urban legends seem to be a result of fears:

"Average Americans fear gang warfare -- hence, the urban legend about gang initiation activity: `If you see a car driving at night without headlights, don't flash your lights.

The people in the car are part of a gang initiation, and they're supposed to kill the first person who flashes his lights at them.'"

She said she believes many Christians believe that evil forces are constantly trying to take over the world and end Christianity.

"Therefore," she said, "they are willing to believe that religious broadcasts are in danger, that Harry Potter books are Satanic, and that Satanists are killing babies and burying them in backyards all over America.

The fear is what I see as the root of the problem.

I don't see Christians falling for many of the other urban legends, just the ones involving threats to their faith."

But, I asked, aren't these folks ignoring the part of the Bible where Jesus says the gates of hell won't prevail against the church?

"In my opinion, even though Christians know that Christ will prevail, some feel that they need to help Him along a bit -- by signing a petition to boycott Proctor and Gamble, perhaps they feel that they are doing the Lord's work," she replied.

"I've been concerned for many years about how gullible many good people are when it comes to believing rumors that seem to threaten their faith.

Perhaps you're familiar with the part of the Proctor and Gamble rumor that really gets people going.

According to the legend, the CEO appeared on a talk show and stated that part of the profit from the company goes to support the church of Satan.

The reason he is able to do this is that `there aren't enough Christians to make a difference.'

"The people who believe this become so enraged that they want to show this company that there are enough Christians to make a difference.

The misguided Christians are led by their emotional reaction, and they don't take the time to check out the facts."

Urschel said that even now, 25 years after she first heard the Procter and Gamble story, she still has students tell her that their parents refuse to buy Proctor and Gamble products because the profits will benefit the church of Satan.

Psychological self-defense

Dr. Jerry Camery-Hoggatt, a professor at Vanguard University in California and author of an upcoming book on gossip and spirituality, said he believes religious people pass on rumors as a way to feel better about their own shortcomings.

"I think that the response to that may have to do with our conscious belief that God is a moral being, and our subconscious realization that even after we have accepted God's grace, we continue to behave like our old fallen selves," he said.

"Everybody has a shadow, and sometimes our shadows are so threatening to us that we find strategies for reducing the anxieties they produce, or even denying that they exist."

Camery-Hoggatt said that one way people try to reduce their anxiety is by demonizing those they see as opposed to them; thus, they can feel better about their own sins.

"It's a kind of steam valve, but it can have a small but measurable effect on the internal pressures," he said.

"As I see it, this mechanism is not a reason for judgment, but is a symptom of something that needs pastoral care.

It's human, it's common, and it's entirely manageable."

Another psychological benefit, he said, is that people get a thrill from the sense of danger they feel from these dire e-mails, which they balance by building camaraderie with those with whom they share the e-mail.

"In an odd way, we can come to feel more alive because of the tension," he said.

[HoosierHelen]

Thank you kindly James for sharing that article. It really helps to see it is more of a universal, human flaw than some "freak of nature" that has exploded in this election uniquely.

I've seen false e-mail rumors in the past, just never in the quantity and intensity. I had not heard the Proctor & Gamble one before (that was wild).

Great article!

[hairypumper]

I have doubts about both candidates, but will probably vote for Obama, not because he is the best, but because he has more charisma. Ten years ago I would have voted for McCain against anyone, but he has proven that he will do and say anything to be elected.

That's the Republican way. just look at Mark Souder. I finally saw a Bob Barr interview the other day. I think I'll be voting Libertarian this year.

[james_t]

I had not heard the Proctor & Gamble one before (that was wild).

That rumor actually pre-dates e-mail. I heard people talking about that one when I was a kid 30 years ago.

[Chaos11]

Written by Dr. Jack Wheeler


The O-man, Barack Hussein Obama, is an eloquently tailored empty suit. No resume, no accomplishments, no experience, no original ideas, no understanding of how the economy works, no understanding of how the world works, no balls, nothing but abstract, empty rhetoric devoid of real substance.

He has no real identity. He is half-white, which he rejects. The rest of him is mostly Arab, which he hides but is disclosed by his non-African Arabic surname and his Arabic first and middle names as a way to triply proclaim his Arabic parentage to people in Kenya . Only a small part of him is African Black from his Luo grandmother, which he pretends he is exclusively.

What he isn't, not a genetic drop of, is 'African-American,' the descendant of enslaved Africans brought to America chained in slave ships. He hasn't a single ancestor who was a slave. Instead, his Arab ancestors were slave owners. Slave-trading was the main Arab business in East Africa for centuries until the British ended it.

Let that sink in: Obama is not the descendant of slaves, he is the descendant of slave owners. Thus he makes the perfect Liberal Messiah.

It's something Hillary doesn't understand - how some complete neophyte came out of the blue and stole the Dem nomination from her. Obamamania is beyond politics and reason. It is a true religious cult, whose adherents reject Christianity yet still believe in Original Sin, transferring it from the evil of being human to the evil of being white.

Thus Obama has become the white liberals' Christ, offering absolution from the Sin of Being White. There is no reason or logic behind it, no faults or flaws of his can diminish it, no arguments Hillary could make of any kind can be effective against it. The absurdity of Hypocrisy Clothed In Human Flesh being their Savior is all the more cause for liberals to worship him: Credo quia absurdum, I believe it because it is absurd.

Thank heavens that the voting majority of Americans remain Christian and are in no desperate need of a phony savior.

His candidacy is ridiculous and should not be taken seriously by any thinking American.

[LuciusBeebe]

What happens is people get these e-mails from a friend they trust. And of course that friend got it from a friend they trust, etc. The e-mail probably originated a few thousand friends they trust ago.

Your good friend who sent you this e-mail (along with 328 other victims in their address book) is someone you trust, so of course you assume what they're saying is true.

I also got one of these anti-Obama e-mails this afternoon from an aunt and uncle. I hopped over to Snopes, hit "Reply All" on the e-mail, then pasted the link from Snopes and sent it. This is the second time I've done this. Then I called my mom and asked her how we could delicately tell them to take a minute and check these things out before they mass send them.

I used to do things like that. I don't anymore.

People are going to believe what they want to. If they send you something, it is because they believe it. But more importantly, they sent it to you because they like believing it. So when you debunk it, not only will they not believe you. They will put you into a new category. Them.




His candidacy is ridiculous and should not be taken seriously by any thinking American.

I was going to say the same thing about Jack Wheeler.

[james_t]

So when you debunk it, not only will they not believe you. They will put you into a new category. Them.

If a relationship depends upon me silently sitting there and listening to a bunch of hooey, then it is not a very strong relationship.

[HoosierHelen]

Written by Dr. Jack Wheeler

What he isn't, not a genetic drop of, is 'African-American,' the descendant of enslaved Africans brought to America chained in slave ships. He hasn't a single ancestor who was a slave. Instead, his Arab ancestors were slave owners. Slave-trading was the main Arab business in East Africa for centuries until the British ended it.

Thank heavens that the voting majority of Americans remain Christian and are in no desperate need of a phony savior.

His candidacy is ridiculous and should not be taken seriously by any thinking American.

Jack Wheeler is very capable of displaying his personal ignorance and bigotry I see. Pathetic is a word that comes to mind when I read his writing.

In Jack's own words he says Barak's father's family came from East Africa. (thus African roots). Barak was born in USA (thus American roots).
When I connet the roots, I come up with African-American. Apparently, Jack's not capable of connecting his own points of logic?

As far as the other garbage Jack Wheeler is spewing, it speaks for himself.

Chaos, if you believe McCain is a better man, you should vote for him. You should be a good representative for McCain (or whomever you support) and tell us why we should vote for your candidate.

When someone tells me I should not vote for Obama because of prejudicial statements, untruths, and slander, they have no influence upon me. Tell me who you do believe in and why. That I will gain my ear.

Helen

[LuciusBeebe]

Let that sink in: Obama is not the descendant of slaves, he is the descendant of slave owners.

So... he's just like the founding fathers?

[evilkumquat]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

Anyone who insists on referring to Obama by invoking his middle name is a racist, pure and simple.

No other candidate has all three of their names (or four in the case of a lot of the GOP) mentioned regularly.

If it were the norm, that's one thing. But apart from political assassins and serial killers, no one gets their entire name mentioned in most reporting.

[ebbieday]

When someone tells me I should not vote for Obama because of prejudicial statements, untruths, and slander, they have no influence upon me. Tell me who you do believe in and why. That I will gain my ear.

Helen

Well said, Helen. I hear this crap every day at work and get emails most every day telling me just that, why Obama is the wrong choice. All that does is make me lean that way more.

I had a long email discussion back and forth with a friend of mine the other day...she and her husband were both in the Marine Corps with my husband back in the 80's...we lost contact for about 15 years but just as our oldest son was about to leave for boot camp in 2003, out of the blue I got a phone call from her! We've been in contact ever since. Anyway, we talked about who each was voting for and why...I asked her first, as she always brings new insight to each candidate for me...she does a lot of research and states her pros and cons on each. She is voting Obama, her husband is for McCain. MOST military or former military men that I personally know are staunch Republicans...no waivering, my husband included. But he does not like McCain and told me that had Hilary won the primaires, he would have voted for her in November...McCain scares him and he's too wishy washy on way too many issues, but he's NOT voting for Obama. How does that make sense? Fear is the only reason I can figure on. I think he's probably disappointed in me for my choice, but as I told my GF in the email, I get sick of seeing so many women I know who simply listen to their husbands, boyfriends, etc and just go with what they say because they think it's the right thing to do instead of doing some research or like I did, ask others about these rotten emails that are flying around about Obama and read up on them...get facts about the rumors. I don't have the patience to sit and look for information so I tend to ask people for links, articles, etc so I can read and process the information in my mind. I'm not a robot and I can think for myself and once armed with the right information and not just prejudiced info, I can make my own educated decision. One thing I do NOT need clarification on is that Palin scares the h*** out of me!

[ebbieday]

I was going to say the same thing about Jack Wheeler.

Ok...who is Jack Wheeler?

[LuciusBeebe]

Ok...who is Jack Wheeler?

The guy that Chaos quoted with all that "descendant of slave owners" bullocks.

[james_t]

Ok...who is Jack Wheeler?

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jack_Wheeler

[blue adept]

One thing I do NOT need clarification on is that Palin scares the h*** out of me!

I said that same thing to a friend of mine the minute her name was announced and he thought I was nuts, now he's not so sure.

[evilkumquat]

At least Wheeler's consistent.

From Snopes:

Dr. Wheeler doesn't appear to be fond of either major-party candidate in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, having previously written such wide-swinging editorials as one in which he accused Barack Obama of using "either amphetamines or cocaine" and "to be drug tested," and another in which he described Republican nominee John McCain as "clinically nuts" and suggested that the former POW had collaborated with his Communist captors during the Vietnam War in exchange for "an apartment in Hanoi and the services of two prostitutes."

[HomeyG]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

Anyone who insists on referring to Obama by invoking his middle name is a racist, pure and simple.

No other candidate has all three of their names (or four in the case of a lot of the GOP) mentioned regularly.

If it were the norm, that's one thing. But apart from political assassins and serial killers, no one gets their entire name mentioned in most reporting.

You're absolutely right, I have never or would never call Obama by his middle name, not because I think I would be called a terrorist, I think it's just classless. Of course, if anyone called any president an Idiot doesn't display any class either.

[evilkumquat]

You're absolutely right, I have never or would never call Obama by his middle name, not because I think I would be called a terrorist, I think it's just classless. Of course, if anyone called any president an Idiot doesn't display any class either.

I think considering Bush's record, "Idiot" is the LEAST of the nicknames he's earned.

[HoosierHelen]

One thing I do NOT need clarification on is that Palin scares the h*** out of me!

I sure hear you there Ebbie! Palin has done more damage to the creditable, professional women in this country than any other female I can think of in recent history. (perhaps someone will think of an example and remind me, but none is coming to my mind)

I respect the fact you are able to think idependently and form your own opinion on who you choose for your Government leaders. My husband is past military person and he is for McCain also. I know he wishes I would join him in my choice, but it is not a source of conflict between us. (makes me love him a bit more :))

I honestly believe if all the professional advisors would have let McCain follow his own instincts, he would have done much better in this campaign than he has done. Watching recent videos that include him and Palin, (Brian Williams interview is one), I read his facial expressions and feel his discomfort when she is talking. I believe his choice of her as a running mate was heavily influenced by advisors he should have ignored.

However, at the end of the day, he was influenced and made a bad decision. For me that is not a good indication of a strong leader. He is still a good American. Obviously, I don't feel that way about Palin. By the way, did you see in the Katie Couric interview when she was asked if she would describe herself as a feminist, she had no hesitation to say 'Yes'. Then in the Brian Williams interview, when asked the same question, her answer was 'No, I don't like to define myself in those kind of terms'. Flip/Flop!!! again..

[LuciusBeebe]

Watching recent videos that include him and Palin, (Brian Williams interview is one), I read his facial expressions and feel his discomfort when she is talking.

That stuff cracks me up.

[HoosierHelen]

That stuff cracks me up.

how so Lucius?

[HomeyG]

I think considering Bush's record, "Idiot" is the LEAST of the nicknames he's earned.

That may be, but it still classless to call any president an idiot. If you can't respect the individual, you can at least respect the office.

[evilkumquat]

That may be, but it still classless to call any president an idiot. If you can't respect the individual, you can at least respect the office.

I have never agreed with that sentiment in any of the many, many incarnations in which it has been used.

The idea that an individual is automatically deserving of respect based on whatever position or uniform he wears is problematic at best; at worst, it promotes the idea that individual responsibility is secondary to station, giving an "out" for one's behavior based on how society views that position... akin to such preposterous (yet once highly respected) ideas as "divine right" and "papal infallibility".

Saying Bush should be respected because he warms one of the chairs in the Oval Office, despite the fact that his administration has run this country into the ground, is really no different than when a Hollywood celebrity sees a mere two hours of jail time or, as is more often the case, NO penalty whatsoever, because of his or her fame.

I look at the individual, not the job title.

[HomeyG]

I have never agreed with that sentiment in any of the many, many incarnations in which it has been used.

The idea that an individual is automatically deserving of respect based on whatever position or uniform he wears is problematic at best; at worst, it promotes the idea that individual responsibility is secondary to station, giving an "out" for one's behavior based on how society views that position... akin to such preposterous (yet once highly respected) ideas as "divine right" and "papal infallibility".

Saying Bush should be respected because he warms one of the chairs in the Oval Office, despite the fact that his administration has run this country into the ground, is really no different than when a Hollywood celebrity sees a mere two hours of jail time or, as is more often the case, NO penalty whatsoever, because of his or her fame.

I look at the individual, not the job title.


But there are other ways to challenge someone's creditability. You seem like an intelligent individual that doesn't have to lower yourself to name-calling. If you want to attack his policies, beliefs, etc., that's fine, but the name-calling displays immaturity on your part and I think you are above that.