Our favorite Barack Obama rumors
When Barack Obama's campaign set up its Fight the Smears website a few weeks back to refute baseless -- yet persistent -- rumors about the candidate and his wife, it sparked a spate of commentary about the concept (see here, here and here).
Our favorite take on it, which we ran across while catching up on our reading over the holiday weekend, came from Christopher Beam in an article on Slate. Beam's brainstorm: Obama and his aides should focus on perpetuating rumors they don't want to correct.
Such as:
"Barack Obama wears a FLAG PIN at all times. Even in the shower."
"Barack Obama is a PATRIOTIC AMERICAN. He has one HAND over his HEART at all times. He occasionally switches when one arm gets tired, which is almost never because he is STRONG."
"Barack Obama has the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE tattooed on his stomach. It's upside-down, so he can read it while doing sit-ups."
"Barack Obama's new airplane includes a conference room, a kitchen, and a MEGACHURCH."
These are just some of the gems from Beam; the others are well worth checking out.
On the subject of flag pins, a new poll confirms what Obama learned -- presidential candidates eschew them at their own political peril.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey found that 41% of Americans believe contenders for the White House should always have a flag pin on a suit lapel, and 13% think the accessory should be worn frequently. The rest of the results: sometimes, 16%; only occasionally, 19%; never, 9%.
Opinions on proper display while showering were not sought.
-- Don Frederick
Photo credit: Associated Press
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Posted by Don Frederick on July 7, 2008 in Candidate spouses , Democratic Politics , Humor , Polls , Presidential Campaign | Permalink
Don Frederick has served as an editor helping guide coverage of every presidential election since 1984. He is a third-generation Washingtonian, so watching the political world comes naturally to him.
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000.
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Mirror, Mirror on the wall which is the best rumor of them all.
VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
ps Obama is the Neville Chamberlain of the Democ"rat"ic Party, and that is "CHANGE" for the worst.
Posted by: VJ Machiavelli | July 07, 2008 at 10:00 PM
I think this one is the best.
"Barack Obama is a DEVOUT CHRISTIAN. His favorite book is the BIBLE, which he has memorized. His name means HE WHO LOVES JESUS in the ancient language of Aramaic, which is the language JESUS SPOKE before he learned English. He is PROUD that Jesus was an American."
Posted by: TheDiplomat | July 08, 2008 at 09:22 AM
rumors are for idiots
although, these are hilarious
Posted by: ash | July 09, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Am lookiing for info. on whether Obama took the flag off of the airplane which transports him? I have read that he had the plane painted and put another symbol in place of the flag. Fact or fiction? If fact, why?
Posted by: Pat | August 07, 2008 at 12:09 PM