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Right Wing Goes Nuts Over Obama's "Muslim Faith"
Today I read a blog comment from a Republican gloating that Obama made a verbal gaffe by talking about his "Muslim faith" today, the right-wing radio was going nuts over it, and now "The Race Is Over!"
Of course, I knew the source of the rumor must be the Drudge Report. Sure enough. Today it linked to a story on the right-wing Washington Times website about Obama's "Muslim faith" gaffe. The link was broken.
So I found this today on ABC News: "Obama didn't change religions on ABC". Long story short: Obama referred to the right-wing smears on his so-called "Muslim faith", but unfortunately he didn't use the snide tone of voice or the "quote marks" gesture in the air, and Stephanopolous took him to be making a verbal gaffe. Obama didn't immediately correct Stephanopolous' misunderstanding ... he corrected it about a sentence or two later.
Nevertheless, the smears have begun. I guess my take is summed up in the words of a commenter on another blog. He wrote:
Obama needs to stop fighting imaginary demons and figure out why he is slipping in the polls despite the landscape being as good as it gets for a democrat to take the White House.I keep hearing these TV clips and YouTube clips of Obama summarizing the smears against him and then responding to these "imaginary demons". I wish he'd either stop this self-defeating practice. Or ... if he feels he must ... then he's got to start showing some real outrage. And don't just say he's outraged. He needs to get a little passionate about it.
Comments (8)
Sorry that link to ABC News was not correct. It should be Obama Didn't Change Religions on ABC".
September 8, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bigotry is alive and well:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/scurrilous-antiislam-dvd-arriv.php
These are evil days we are living through!
September 8, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama needs to start smoking again. Nicotine is a stimulant.
September 8, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL. I'm beginning to think of Obama as a Doctor Jekyll / Mr Hyde campaigner.
Mr. Hyde shows up at the Faith Forum on August 16 and he's a bambi.
Dr. Jekyll shows up in an AP interview and he's a fighter.
Dr. Jekyll shows up at the DNC speech, Obama wows everyone, beats expectations, and we know he's a fighter.
Mr. Hyde shows up at the O'Reilly Interview. (I hope nobody watched that performance.)
Calling Dr. Jekyll!
September 8, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
"in an AP interview" ... I should have said "in the campaign as reported by an AP story".
September 8, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's an idea: How about we DON'T talk about the Rightwing Topic of the Day, an instead focus on attacking the rightwing and McCain.
The Wingnut's strategy is to suck up all the oxygen in the press so there is no vetting of both McCain and his VP.
Muslims smears are redmeat for bigots/rightwing. Fight the smear but don't get trapped in the smear 24-7.
I expect new rightwing distractions daily from here on out. We already saw the stunt over the stolen flags in denver. Expect more lies and bs every day so that we don't talk about issues and why McCain is more of the same/worse.
September 8, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. You've just encapsulated the attitude that's been plaguing the Obama campaign for the past two weeks. "Let's bury our head in the sand."
September 8, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
But that's not to say that you don't have a point. I had to think for a while whether or not to post this because I didn't want to add fuel to the fire. I decided it really didn't matter what I did, because somebody out there would post something on the topic (so it might as well be me; at least I was going to focus on the absurdity of the right-wing smear and keep the post short). I guess the Obama campaign must be going through a decision making process like this every time they consider whether or how to tackle these absurd, offensive lies. I feel for them.
September 8, 2008 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
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