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Expect campaign smear machines to go into overdrive
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 10/27/8 | Joe Garofoli

Posted on 10/27/2008 9:10:34 PM PDT by SmithL

With seven days until election day, this is a terrible week to be an undecided voter. The rumor-and-smear mill is in overdrive, and credible, substantive information about the presidential candidates is as rare as a quiet moment on "Hardball."

The happiest Americans right now are the ones who have voted - they no longer have to pay attention.

Many of the attacks flying through the air are reheated versions of attacks that have long been discredited by The Chronicle in its regular "Lies, half-truths outed" feature, other news organizations and independent fact-checking organizations. So despite what voters may hear this week, Barack Obama is a Christian, John McCain is a citizen of the United States, and Sarah Palin never said she can see Russia from her house. That was comedian Tina Fey, who has become almost as famous as Palin by impersonating her on "Saturday Night Live."

Last-minute smear jobs are as old as the American presidency and are rooted in the darkest corners of the human psyche. The smearer usually supports the candidate who is trailing in the polls, analysts said.

"It's consistent with human psychology that people who are behind or feel they have nothing to lose are less risk-averse," said Jack Glaser, an associate professor of public policy at UC-Berkeley and an expert on politics and emotion. "So Sen. McCain and his supporters are throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks.

"They feel that they have less to lose. What's the difference if they lose by 3 points or 6? Of course, those Republicans further down on the ticket might disagree with them," Glaser said.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bluestatewhine
In other word, voters should ignore every thing The Chosen One has said or done as a politician.
1 posted on 10/27/2008 9:10:34 PM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL

Sheesh. Barack Obama is NOT a Christian. Just read his autobiography!


2 posted on 10/27/2008 9:12:32 PM PDT by SatinDoll (NO FOREIGN NATIONALS AS OUR PRESIDENT!!)
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To: SmithL
So despite what voters may hear this week, Barack Obama is a Christian, John McCain is a citizen of the United States, and Sarah Palin never said she can see Russia from her house.

But every stupid statement credited to Joe Biden was actually said by him.

3 posted on 10/27/2008 9:12:50 PM PDT by mlocher (USA is a sovereign nation)
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To: SmithL

Ugh..., The SF Chronicle. The official mouthpiece of the Norcal Khaki sucker....


4 posted on 10/27/2008 9:15:37 PM PDT by freebilly
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To: SmithL
...Barack Obama is a Christian, John McCain is a citizen of the United States,...

They shouldn't taunt like that.

5 posted on 10/27/2008 9:18:45 PM PDT by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: SmithL
The happiest Americans right now are the ones who have voted - they no longer have to pay attention.

Ignorance is bliss.

Meanwhile those who have been paying attention are scared as HELL that an antiAmerican Marxist may take control of this country and plunge us into a period of turmoil.

6 posted on 10/27/2008 9:19:34 PM PDT by weegee (Barack Hussein Obama is a SOCIALIST.)
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To: SmithL
So despite what voters may hear this week, Barack Obama is a Christian,

Lie. He is a secular humanist who's atheism mother brought him up to be skeptical of organized religion. He sees Jesus as a historical figure but does not find Jesus Christ to be the only way to salvation.

Perhaps he is a Unitarian, but he is not a Christian.

7 posted on 10/27/2008 9:25:51 PM PDT by weegee (Barack Hussein Obama is a SOCIALIST.)
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To: SmithL
The happiest Americans right now are the ones who have voted - they no longer have to pay attention.

Oh yes we do, well I do !

8 posted on 10/27/2008 9:30:38 PM PDT by 1066AD
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