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...

[txhurl]

I was thinking just before signing on to FR, that his Muslim background doesn't seem to bother most Americans even a little bit.

OK. Sorry. I apologize.

[TAdams8591]

I already read them.

I am not arguing the truth about Obama's comments. I am arguing their EFFECTIVENESS in persuading people not to vote for him. What persaudes you, often times does not persuade others. Obama's Muslim background has no traction with most voters. Please don't tell me you're so egocentric you can't understand that.

[RasterMaster]

Obviously doesn’t know D!CK about “most Americans”....a simple google search of “OBAMA MUSLIM” returns Results of about 9,250,000 hits.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

LMAOROF,,,OK

ALLAH~ALLAH~FUBAR to you too...;0)

TANKS a Bunch for the good Laff,,,

I needed one...;0)

[TAdams8591]

Thank you. Apology accepted.

[TAdams8591]

It would appear Elfman was correct about you. Pleasant dreams, RM. : )

[RasterMaster]

This thread isn’t about persuasion, effectiveness or anyone’s ego. It’s about OSAMA OBAMA’S muslim past, where he attended grade school and how he’s trying to hide it rather than be proud of where he came from. In case you missed it, I didn’t write the article or post it....just the links that back it up as FACT not the myth that the Osama Obama campaign has manufactured.

[RasterMaster]

Trolls and elves should stick to working for the DUmocrats, rather than lecture others when they’ve lost any and all credibility.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Roger Dat,Raster,,,

Folks I know don’t give a sh!t for O’Bammy or most any

Moozzi,,,

Lotta Vets in that bunch as well as 10th.Mt.Div. GIs...;0)

[txhurl]

http://obamawtf.blogspot.com/2008/04/debunking-seven-unproven-smears-against.html

[anymouse]

I agree, almost worse than Albright photos posted on babe threads. :)

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Well said and well done!

[TAdams8591]

Actually, the thread is about the following:

"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."

You're an egocentric maniac with a propensity for crying "troll" when someone disagrees with you. I have sacrificed greatly to go after Liberal democrats in the protection of the first amendment and have been a conservative since college. I understand more about strategy than the likes of you. Don't EVER call me a troll again. Got it?

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

Better lighten up, people.

I think you hurt his feelings.

That will probably cost us all at least thirty or forty posts-that-we-skim-by-and-ignore, and my PAGE DOWN finger is already tired.

(Where’s the da** IGNORE button when you really need one?)

[ETL]

For the *facts* about Obama and his revolutionary communist friends and associates, please visit my FR home page at:
http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/

Hopefully, these clowns at the Washington Post will get hold of it AND have the courage and integrity to report what else we are posting about Obama. I'd love to see them try to dismiss these things (of course they'll ignore it, dishonest cowards that they are).

[sageb1]

” Just trying to live up to Bill O’Reilly’s description of us. :^)
9 posted on Saturday, June 28, 2008 10:40:50 PM by McGruff (This is not the [insert name here] I knew.) “

Just don’t forget who it was who complained on air to O’Reilly about Free Republic. Lanny Davis.

[xtinct]

Oh dear... someone ratted out the Freepers for a fake email...

Unbelievably, although I've been a Freeper for 4 years now... I've never received an email with a racial reference in it.

See, Freepers don't hide what they're thinking. That's why it's called FREE Republic... (unless I cuss...then I get schmacked... :o) )

Furthermore, I believe Barack Obama is a Muslim. His, until recently Church, spouted anti-semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-White rhetoric. Who else does that? --> Muslim fanatics.

Operative word is Muslim fanatics.

Believing that Birds of a Feather, Flock Together... Obama's former Church is a Muslim front organization.

And, Obama who attended that Church for 20 years is a Muslim fanatic in sheep's clothing... END

[cake_crumb]

Mosk tells us that Allen "boasts two doctorates, one in classics from Cambridge University and the other in government from Harvard University."

Doesn't that boil down to her being nothing but a liberal arts major?

[RasterMaster]

You don’t have any “creds” with me or any one I know for that matter. Someone should call a WAHHbulance for you if you can’t hack it here.

Funny, I never called you a troll....just your buddy that you agreed with. I did post to your comment the “elf was right” - trolls and elves should stick to (working for the JACKASS party) fairy tales .

Maybe that struck a nerve, but I guess reading comprehension was never your strong suit, since you have yet to stick to the thread topic. GOT IT???

[cake_crumb]

Wait a minute, when the emails were going around, it was traced to the Ron Paul campaign. Not FR, his CAMPAIGN.