Posted on 06/13/2008 4:27:08 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
Campaign no longer ignoring Internet rumors about speech by Michelle -- it's launching Web site to push back
WASHINGTON -- When I phoned the Obama press shop a few times in recent weeks to check out rumors about whether there was a videotape with Michelle Obama using the word "whitey," the campaign declined to issue a denial or to pass along the question to Michelle's staff to find out what might be fueling the rumors.
That's been a standard tactic in dealing with the mainstream press. Unless there is some evidence, ignore the matter and reporters for mainstream outlets probably won't publish anything about racially charged language without proof.
But the rumors about Michelle were kicking around the Internet and working their way into some broadcast outlets; Rush Limbaugh, for example, said rivals of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama were "waiting to use it in October of Michelle going nuts in the church, too, talking about 'whitey' this and 'whitey' that."
Talking a week ago, Obama gave a frosty answer to reporter Margaret Talev, who asked about rumors concerning his wife.
"There is dirt and lies that are circulated in e-mail," he said. "And they pump them out long enough until finally you, a mainstream reporter, asks me about them. And then that gives legs to the story."
"He was visibly angry at being asked to dignify the rumor by denying it -- and so was his staff," said Talev, writing in her blog.
Note that Obama never simply said it was not true; he was concerned, as he said, that if he did, he would create a story. But the exchange got Obama to thinking it was time to shift tactics.
As detailed by Time magazine, Obama then told his "top aides it was time for a more aggressive solution to the rumors that have been popping up on the Internet about him and his family for months."
The result was the launch Thursday of an Obama Web site called www.fightthesmears.com. Though the Obama campaign has been running a fact-check site, there was no special attention to smears. Now there is.
From now on, rather than try to ignore rumors when they start -- that Obama was a Muslim, did not say the Pledge of Allegiance, was not born in the U.S., etc., the Obama team will activate its millions of followers into an Internet-based truth squad to separate lies from facts, based on information at the anti-smear site.
There is even a copy of Obama's birth certificate. Barack Hussein Obama II was born at 7:24 p.m. on Aug. 4, 1961, in Honolulu. (I did not know about the II.)
"The Obama campaign isn't going to let dishonest smears spread across the Internet unanswered. Whenever challenged with these lies we will aggressively push back with the truth and help our supporters debunk the false rumors floating around the Internet," Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement.
If you hear that Michelle Obama gave a 'whitey' rant from, of all places, the Trinity United Church of Christ -- the church the Obamas quit recently following controversies with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the Rev. Michael Pfleger -- don't believe it.
"No such tape exists. Michelle Obama has not spoken from the pulpit at Trinity and has not used that word," the campaign said on the site.
Will an anti-smear Web site stop all the divisive, destructive chatter about Obama that is not true? I'm not sure. But it's better than trying to pretend that questions don't exist.
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For the record, Limbaugh speculated that Michelle Obama was saying “why’d he” as a contraction of “why did he”. With a low quality internet audio, “why’d he” could easily sound like “whitey”.
What if she was in the church conference center?
Well, Obie, which is it? Does this fit into the "DIRT" category? Or, the "LIE" category?
There’s enough true stuff out there, so there’s no need to lie.
Just like Bill Clinton never had sex with "that" women!
I don't know if a tape exist or if Michelle used this racist term, and we were cautioned about not excepting these rumours whole heatedly, but I do know these facts.
Obama supported an anti-American racist preacher for twenty years. I know Obama's has ties to terrorist, and other unscupulous characters. I know Obama wants to coddle dictators and call it "diplomacy." I know Obama has absolutely NO experience or qualification to be POTUS!
If it exists the Clinton’s will make sure to get it into the right hands before the convenvention.
If we don’t see it by then, it’s just a rumor.
It's not a matter of whether Mzz Obomination has used the "W" or "H" words, we know she's used both.
There is the 3rd category, they are the truth
***”No such tape exists. Michelle Obama has not spoken from the pulpit at Trinity and has not used that word,” the campaign said on the site.***
It was at a conference. Nobody claimed it was from the pulpit.
What’s the “H-word” and why would any caucasian get upset about the use of such a word?
Truth would fall into the "DIRT" category. "DIRT" is the truth that doesn't help your case.
One of Hilary’s supporters cranked up this rumor and even posted here that he would supply it at 9am last week. Now the thing about the birth certificate. Obama has it posted on his site, but it has the certificate number blocked. Why would you block it. This could still be a forgery easily put together through Chicago politics.
I for one want to see a copy issued by the State of Hawaii. THis could have been forged years ago.
What name did Obama use when he started schools?
BOTTOM LINE, THE HILLARY CAMPAIGN STARTED THESE RUMORS. THEY FINALLY GOT FEET TO THEM AND AS YET HAVE NOT DONE MUCH DAMAGE.
It’s a disparaging term (origin: somewhat vague) for white folk but most of them really don’t get too offended by it.
What the heck is the H-word?
Michelle doesn’t go around using sixties slang, shocking I tellz ya!!!!
ho
I believe a tape/dvd exists, too many people in the know have commented on it, way too many. Michelle was a member of that church long before she met the messiah, I believe her thoughts and beliefs are right in line with Reverend Wright’s. I also believe Obama probably was not into the church as much as his wife, I truly believe his sole purpose was to use everyone in the congregation he could to further his political career. I can see him sitting there every Sunday with his family pretending to listen to Wright’s rants while his wife was totally mesmerized by her long time pastor. Obama is an empty suit lightweight glass jawed phony, his wife is the one I believe has the fireball temper and the truly scary beliefs.
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