Obama Fights Foes, Seen or Otherwise: Anonymous e-mail charges he's Muslim plant to take over U.S.

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Obama Fights Foes, Seen or Otherwise
By JEFF ZELENY
Published: November 10, 2007


(Ozier Muhammad/NYT)
Barack Obama’s campaign is placing renewed emphasis on telling his personal story.

JOHNSTON, Iowa, Nov. 9 — Senator Barack Obama’s political appeal has always stemmed in part from his biography. For nine months, he has been telling his story in dozens of visits across Iowa, amplified by a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign and a robust network of admirers. But as voters start narrowing their options in the Democratic presidential race, Mr. Obama is trying to re-establish his story line in the face of misinformation, the long shadow of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and perhaps prejudice as well.

“You have e-mails saying that I’m a Muslim plant that’s trying to take over America,” Mr. Obama told voters the other day at a rally in eastern Iowa. “If you get this e-mail from someone you know, set the record straight.”

Now his campaign’s effort to reach Iowans who have received anonymous e-mail messages questioning his patriotism or faith has grown more organized. In each of his 33 state field offices, workers are armed with two letters of rebuttal. The first is signed by three Iowa ministers, a nun and a church elder, who write, “Senator Obama is a committed Christian who found Christ long before entering politics and has been outspoken about his faith ever since.” The second, signed by three retired generals, is intended to refute widely circulated e-mail message questioning Mr. Obama’s patriotism by showing a picture of him not placing his hand over his heart while the national anthem played before a political speech.

“Senator Obama’s personal history represents the best of the American Dream,” the letter says. “His grandfather fought in Patton’s army and went to school on the G.I. Bill. His grandmother worked on a bomber assembly line during World War II.”

In the closing weeks before the Iowa caucuses, Mr. Obama is placing a renewed emphasis on his biography as he tries to increase his appeal to working-class voters. Through his life story, he wants to offer himself as more than simply a political alternative to Mrs. Clinton and former Senator John Edwards....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/10/us/politics/10obama.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=todayspaper&adxnnlx=1194709957-jPTUVt7rlmYUzgs5mrQ6rQ

[MethuenProgressive]

1. He *can't* respond to this crap, it only encourages it.

Recruiting ministers, nuns, and generals to write him a note??
Just laugh it off, Barack.

[Silence Dogood]

6. Sounds like RW crap for sure!

I read somewhere there is a disconcerting effort being pushed by the Neocon agenda to rid the country of Muslims. Couldn't Obama say his middle name stands for Harry? (in English)

[Countdown_3_2_1]

13. Kerry didn't respond to Swiftboat. Look what happened.

This is important. He needs to put this to bed NOW.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. Disgusting stuff.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

3. I really despise some of my fellow Americans. nt

[MindPilot]

4. This is one of the things that bothers me about the current candidates

The first is signed by three Iowa ministers, a nun and a church elder, who write, “Senator Obama is a committed Christian who found Christ long before entering politics and has been outspoken about his faith ever since.”

Instead of getting a signed letter of reference proving the veracity of his faith, he should be loudly and frequently explaining that here in the USA, we don't test one's religious beliefs as a prerequisite for public office.

AS far as his patriotism being questioned, I think an appropriate answer would be "I'm running for president, how much more patriotism do you want from me?"


Sidebar: The DU spellchecker still doesn't know the word "Obama".

[MethuenProgressive]

"I'm running for president, how much more patriotism do you want from me?"

That's certainly a better line than any of his speech writeres have come up with!
:dem:

[MethuenProgressive]

7. dupe, please delete

:dem:

[NMMNG]

10. I agree

But although there's no official test of religious beliefs, there is one by proxy. There's no way anybody could win the presidency without making their "faith" abundantly public in numerous ways.

[Colobo]

5. Republicans and bigots won't stop the O-Train.

Americans will reject them and embrace Obama.

[Gman]

8. I'd love to have one of those response emails

I got the email with the picture the other day. I went to Snopes to try to get information to do a reply all with and only found the explanation why he doesn't place his hand on his heart during the national anthem, which I have absolutely no problem with. But I didn't think it was the right information to reply all with so I didn't sent it. The email from the generals would be much more effective.

I couldn't find anything at Obama's website so if anyone can point me in the right direction to get the email response, preferably the one from the generals, I'd appreciate it.

See, us Hillary people aren't all that evil. I support all our candidates throughout the ideological spectrum because they are Democrats. I just prefer Hillary right now.

[DeepModem Mom]

12. I'm supportive of all our candidates, too. I hope someone will be able...

to get the e-mail response for you.

[Evergreen Emerald]

9. it is more petty nonsense that makes us look stupid

I think tho, that it works on some level in helping to focus the voters, to distract, to redefine the candidate. For example the "tip" is expanded to an issue of character, common man versus elite, with opponents getting lots of help in re-defining her.

And with lots of the stuff (ie Clinton) it eventually calls into question "electablity." Edwards hair, Clinton's tip (etc) , Biden's articulate comment, Kucinich's UFO. All really stupid, distortions. And it appears that we fall for it.

[AtomicKitten]

11. The GOP will leave no rock unturned to deliver slime.