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...

[PaleoBob]

When you get right down to it, this entire matter of the Post citing FR is yet another case of the MSM contorting itself to cover up for the Clintons, who of course are the ones responsible for curculating the lie/rumor/fact that Obama was/is a Muslim. The more things change...

[Mechanicos]

Wonder if Ms. Allen could be subject to claims such as libel, defamation of character, disparagement, etc. by her publicly accusing “…. a couple of posters on the Free Republic website, plus a former political rival of Obama’s [of sending] out zillions of e-mails to reporters every day.” makes one wonder what would be uncovered in discovery? This could get interesting.

[britt reed]

I found this while perusing around this weekend? Any word?

THE ARROGANCE OF HOAX

This volume is a supposedly a wicked parody of Senator Obama's "The Audacity of Hope". The author's name is D. Everett Bigelow but I don't know the publisher (It may be a self-publish job). It basically exposes Obama as a flim-flam artist and a creation of several moneyed interests. Taking every side of an issue subtly as a magician.

excerpts:

"P.T. Barnum would have been most appreciative of what would have been referred to in his day 'the most errant of humbugs'"

"Barrack mesmerizing speeches are little more than oratory Three Card Monte, the willing marks falling deeper and deeper into intellectual debt all the while leaving the audience happy their pockets had been picked!"

Any help would be appreciated!

...

The Arrogance of Hoax

Empty Platitudes and Elitist Attitudes

The Unauthorized Story of One, Unqualified Man's Odyssey to Capture the White House

Author: D. Everett Bigelow

some blockbuster revelations and interviews

[Gondring]

Then go after the funding.

[Gondring]

To be fair, it was FFranco who gets credit for fixing the math and terminology (that a "Percent" change is not the same as "Percentage Point" change). I just responded when SoldierDad stuck to using LeftieMath^TM and referred to the FFranco's as New Math."

But the increase from "5% to 6% percent increase is only 1%" game is only part of the liberal lies bag o' tricks in counting on peoples' ignorance when it comes to percentages. They also say, "we've had the same taxes for years, and things are more expensive now...we have to raise the rate just to keep pace!" and people fall for it.

[MajorChaos]

Egads, man! Use paragraphs and links, please.

[dennisw]

bttt

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

You probably read it here at FR.

Some intrepid reporter should ask him what jihad means. If he lies by saying it's a peaceful personal struggle, or some such similar crap, then we'll know he's a muzzie.

[vox_freedom]

This has nothing to do with the WA Post, but it probably is a good place to post it anyway...

[bvw]

That Obama slogan "Change We Can Believe In" is such a great example of a logical conundrum. I mean, what are these persons believing in -- the state after the change? But then what -- I mean they still believe in "Change", so the next state after a change would be no good either!

A logical conundrum is a statement, that if accepted, is self-denying. In other words, it may be grammatically perfect, but logically it is inscrutable -- a total confusion!

So it is with a statement like "Change we believe in!". What does it mean? It means nothing. But it sounds SO CUTE and RAZOR SHARP!

[Bigg Red]

Actually, FR is one of the places outside of the DNC where Obama was being discussed.

&&&
Ah, you are so right. I had completely forgotten about that. Guess I did not pay enough attention to the discussion, since I did not remember BHO’s name....

[UltraKonservativen]

BarryO is a cross-dresser...

I knew it! I knew it!!I Knew it !!!
Somebody else claims he is black too. Imagine that.

[HollyB]

For some reason, I don’t think there is a record. Even in his own words, his description of Jesus & his Christian Faith is more like something out of the new age movement. This link is from his 2004 interview with a religion columnist GG. It was previously posted on FR, but here is the link, because it is an interesting read. What I found very weird was this quote

OBAMA:
Yeah. I mean, something like it.
Looking for, … IT’s interesting, the most powerful political moments for me come when I feel like my actions are aligned with a certain truth. I can feel it. When I’m talking to a group and I’m saying something truthful, I can feel a power that comes out of those statements that is different than when I’m just being glib or clever.

GG:
What’s that power? Is it the holy spirit? God?

OBAMA:
Well, I think it’s the power of the recognition of God, or the recognition of a larger truth that is being shared between me and an audience.

What an inflated ego, no surprise.

http://falsani.blogspot.com/2008/04/barack-obama-2004-god-factor-interview.html

[HerrBlucher]

Barrack mesmerizing speeches are little more than oratory Three Card Monte

My new tagline....thanks!

[SoldierDad]

Petard? Interesting how you use this tactic. Let’s say I have 8 dollars in my pocket. I find 5 more dollars, giving me 13 dollars. The increase is 5 dollars. Using the “math” employed here I’ve just increased my money by approximately 62 percent. However, how much have I increased my buying potential? Not by much. Now, let’s look at this particlar case - 8 percent of some category of people in the U.S. (it’s not clear where the percentage was drawn from) indicated they believed Obama is a Muslim. Then, it is claimed this internet rumor increased that percentage to 13. This, statistically by the math used here, means a 62 percent increase - however, the percentage of people who do not believe Obama is Muslim went from 92 percent to 87 percent. So, you still have a huge majority that do not believe the rumor - thus, the increase is meaningless (except statistically - which means nothing as statistics are easily manipulated to obtain the impression of a particular outcome). Interesting that the tactic being employed here is the exact tactic the liberals employ on a regular basis in order to confuse the average person into believing what these liberals wish them to believe.

[livius]

Not only did she mention that, she went out and searched through their posting histories for clues and tracked them down, revealing their names in the article. This is meant to intimidate, folks.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

They might want to look into the monkey-god idol story. It's up on WorldNetDaily: Is Obama devotee of monkey-god idol?

Assuming Dr. Zaius has not placed any limits on pagan idol studies at the IAS.

There's a seminar course here somewhere: "Lord Hanuman and the dialectical Fabian Socialism of the Barack Hussein Obama Cult, 2008."

And good to know wacko liberals are wasting research grant money hours getting agitated over posts on FR. Maybe someone will pony up for a year in Bellagio to design the course?

[weegee]

BarryO is a cross-dresser... He's certainly a wolf in sheep's clothing. Or a Marxist in the garb of a political moderate.