WaPo After Free Republic Again, Now Over Barack-is-a-Muslim Email

Newsbusters.org ^ | 6/28/08 | Warner Todd Huston

[Mobile Vulgus]

The Washington Post published a June 28th piece geared to protect Barack Obama from the nagging rumors that he is a secret Muslim, rumors that have been circulating since 2004. The Post's Matthew Mosk penned an attack on Free Republic, based on an Obama flak who claims she has somehow discovered that Freepers are to blame, if not initially responsible, for floating the Barack-is-a-Muslim chain email that so many millions of Americans have found in their email boxes over the last four years. But, the Washington Post's article is so filled with assumptions and a singular desire not to really investigate the matter that it boggles the mind. Naturally, all the journalistic missteps serve to shield Barack Obama from any controversy and make all opposition seem nefarious or unhinged.

The Obama flak in question is one Danielle Allen of the Institute of Advanced Studies at Princeton. Mosk wishes to assure us that she is one smart cookie, apparently. To settle any question to the contrary, we are treated to some earnest, if over-the-top, adulation for good Doctor Allen. Allen is called a "razor-sharp, 36-year-old political theorist," that she's "gained valuable insight into the way political information circulates," and that she works at the institute "most famous for having been the research home of Albert Einstein." Mosk tells us that Allen "boasts two doctorates, one in classics from Cambridge University and the other in government from Harvard University." The Post tells us that one winter morning Allen was "studying in her office at the Institute for Advanced Study, the renowned haven for some of the nation's most brilliant minds." Mosk also tells us that Allen "works alongside groundbreaking physicists, mathematicians and social scientists. They don't have to teach, and they face no quotas on what they publish. Their only mandate is to work in the tradition of Einstein, wrestling with the most vexing problems in the universe."

Jeeze, next Mosk will be telling us that Danielle Allen is the virtual reincarnation of Einstein himself!

Byron York saw how silly all this puffery was, too. Over at NRO's Corner Blog, York takes a jab at those vaunted “vexing problems in the universe” and succinctly sums up the big nothing that is the real underlying conclusion of the Washington Post's extensive four-page story.

And one of the most vexing problems in the universe, which Allen has decided to pursue in the tradition of Einstein, is the origin of a number of e-mails claiming that Barack Obama is a Muslim. Using the advanced research tools at her disposal, the razor-sharp Allen found…a couple of posters on the Free Republic website, plus a former political rival of Obama's who sends out zillions of e-mails to reporters every day.

The piece goes on and on in grave tones about the chain email that seems to have first surfaced sometime in 2004. Allen "obsessively" worries about such things as chain emails we come to discover. Allen tells the Post, "I started thinking, 'How does one stop it?'" She then informs Mosk that the whole mysterious, shadowy email has a nefarious and unidentified genesis. Mosk assures us that this email is the "modern version of a whisper campaign," and worries about the "secret identities" of the Freepers that Allen reveals to him.

We are dealt the conclusion that all this email and Freeper stuff is… well, dontcha know it's scary, kids? I wondered if Mosk wanted his Mommy to keep the nasty Freepers away from him by the end of this curious piece?

So, what about this email saying that Obama is a secret Muslim? Where did it come from? Matthew Mosk doesn't know and neither does his main source, the brilliant Doctor Allen. But they are both sure it has something to do with the website Free Republic. Or maybe a perennial candidate from Illinois named Andy Martin... or a guy in Philadelphia who operates a website and posts on Free Republic... or maybe not. But whatever the case, Matthew Mosk of the Washington Post just took the word of open Obama supporter Danielle Allen as gospel, assuming that her "research" was indisputable.

Allen began her "investigation" by using key phrases that appears in the email and Googling them to see where else they appear. As a result, she found Andy Martin of Illinois.

Back in 2004 in Obama's hometown, Chicago, a fellow named Andy Martin was attempting to launch his own attempt to become Obama's opponent for the Senate. Martin is a political gadfly and perpetual candidate in Illinois who has never been elected to much of anything, the sort of guy who has been hanging on the fringes for decades without ever getting much traction. To be sure, he was an actual candidate in the last primary to determine who will be the poor GOP sacrificial lamb to face Dick Durbin in the coming general election, so he did get on a ballot for a change. One thing is for sure, that Martin is tenacious and knows how to publicize himself is beyond doubt.

In the run up to the 2004 election, Martin admitted to the Post's Mosk that he had circulated the claim that since Obama was born to a Muslim Father, Barack himself would be considered a Muslim by birth to any other Muslim. Martin also pointed out that the Obama campaign then, as now, rejects any claims that Barack is now or ever has been a Muslim. Martin was quite upfront that he believes that Obama is not being truthful over the whole Muslim question.

But, it is also completely obvious that Martin did not write the original email nor that he is a member of a secret anti-Obama conspiracy. Martin’s activities are well known to many and are completely out in the open.

On top of all that, there is no indication that Doctor Allen ever contacted Andy Martin during her "investigation."

See the rest at NewsBusters.org...

[Mobile Vulgus]

We've done it again, Freepers. Got the left's and Barack Hussein Obama's panties in a bunch.

[library user]

Got the left's and Barack Hussein Obama's panties in a bunch.

That's not too hard - they're an intolerant, ultra-sensitive bunch.

[mnehring]

Barack Hussein Obama's panties in a bunch.

Oh great, with the Washington Post's history of journalist integrity(sic), they will now say we are starting a rumor that BarryO is a cross-dresser.

[Mojave]

Barack Hussein Obama is as American as camel pie.

[sinanju]

Well all I can say is I’m disappointed in both the WaPo and the “brilliant” “Dr.” Allen.

Can’t they go a few yards further and tie the Freeper can to John McCain’s tail?

Why just last night, I saw Keith Olberman insist that Grover Norquist is a racist because one of his flacks called Obama “John Kerry with a tan” AND call him a McCain surrogate because they have apparently buried the hatchet in the years since the 2000 bitterness.

Surely the WaPo writers can make a persuasive case that us Freepers are a bunch of cross-burners and that we are hired McCain goons.

Well dang it! One of us may have to email the link to Olberman’s website. “If the mountain won’t come to Muhammed...” Ooops! There I go again...

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Overall, I'm heartened by this attention for FR by MSM outlet WaPo.

“If you're taking flak, that means you're over the target.”

and

“They don't boo nobodies.” - Reggie Jackson

[BallyBill]

I heard some guy on a Philly station today and he mentioned FR. I pricked up my ears and sure enough he was some journalist and he was talking about this rumor.

I realized the BO crew was out trying to divert the Hillary angle and make it a "right wing" rumor.

The media has no embarrassment about taking orders from the DNC.

[SoldierDad]

Laid out before Allen, a razor-sharp, 36-year-old political theorist, was what purported to be a biographical sketch of Barack Obama that has become one of the most effective -- and baseless -- Internet attacks of the 2008 presidential season. During that time, polls show the number of voters who mistakenly believe Obama is a Muslim rose -- from 8 percent to 13 percent between November 2007 and March 2008.

Wow, that's one effective attack - changing the percent that believe Obama's a "radical Muslim" by 5 percent (based on their claim alone)./sarc

[McGruff]

Just trying to live up to Bill O’Reilly’s description of us. :^)

[RasterMaster]

Guess they’re calling OSAMA Obama’s own brother a liar....

http://www.anobamanation.net/2008/06/obamas-brother-confirms-barack-grew-up.html

[RasterMaster]

[puppypusher]

Geing criticised by the Washington Post should be looked upon as a badge of Honor.They need to do that more often.

[B-Cause]

Barack Hussein Obama is as American as camel pie.

---

You are aware, probably, that Barack Obama lost his bearings recently and said that he was going to campaign in all 57 states. You heard this? And everybody chalked it up to, "Well, he's tired."

Barack Obama says he's gonna go out and campaign in 57 states, he was just tired, you know, it's been such a long campaign, he's been so many places, he probably thinks there are 57 states. Well, I have here a printout from a website called the International Humanist and Ethical Union. And here is how the second paragraph of an article on that website begins. "Every year from 1999 to 2005 the organization of the Islamic conference representing the 57 Islamic states presented a resolution to the United Nations commission on human rights called combating." And the title of the piece here is, "How the Islamic states dominate the UN human rights council," and there are 57 of them.

Obama said he's going to campaign in 57 states, and it turns out that there are 57 Islamic states. There are 57 Islamic states.

So did Obama just lose his bearings, or was this a more telling slip, ladies and gentlemen?



Obama's "57 State" lapel pin

[missnry]

In the run up to the 2004 election, Martin admitted to the Post's Mosk that he had circulated the claim that since Obama was born to a Muslim father, Barack himself would be considered a Muslim by birth to any other Muslim.

There is one thing that Barack Hussein Obama Jr cannot change. He was born to a Muslim father. That is the truth that he cannot dispute!

People email and post about him being sworn in using a Koran, which is false. Emails which include the Koran swearing in discredit the other truths about his Muslim background.

[NonValueAdded]

Send that out in an email, will ya? Let's see where it leads.

You'd think they'd be more interested in the prominence of the birth certificate posts ... I wonder why they won't touch that story???

[Redcloak]

Nice to know that our VRWC creds are still intact.

[SevenofNine]

I think we be consider internet version of Chicago Political machine God I feel like Godfather LOL!

All we need is Jack Woltz character telling that Barek won’t get that damn picture LOL!

[puppypusher]

Geing criticised by the Washington Post should be looked upon as a badge of Honor.They need to do that more often.

That should read Being criticised by the Washington Post should be looked upon as a badge of honor.

[Redcloak]

Y'all gotta see this!

[Ratblaster]

I swear to Allah and his prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him,) that I am not nor have ever a Muslim.

Salam, Allahu Akbar Barack Hussein Obama II