Barack Obama campaign sets up 'Fight the Smears'

Fed up with all the nasty rumors, Barack Obama and his campaign have set up fightthesmears.com*, a website devoted to zapping the recalcitrant untruths that have been dogging him for months, especially online. 

Clearly Obama is acknowledging the necessity of addressing, rather than ignoring, the growing number of virulent online rumors that have repeatedly received wide attention despite a lack of establishing evidence.

Topping Fight the Smears' four-item list is the canard that Michelle Obama used the word "whitey" in a speech at her church. The site marks this as a lie, saying, "No such tape exists. Michelle Obama has not spoken from the pulpit at Trinity and has not used that word." 

This is more a denial than a fact-filled rebuttal, but it has the effect of putting the Obama campaign on the record about the issue, whereas it had declined to comment before. You would suppose that if there had been any truth to it, a flat-out denial would not have been a good idea. I wonder whether this will finally satisfy commentators like Larry Johnson, who took Obama's refusal to comment on this rumor as evidence of its veracity. 
 
* I originally had the name of the site spelled without a final 's'. 

Comments

[A Better reporter that you, and I'm not.]

I see you don't bother to check even the URL. There is no such website.

[William Sprus]

Obama's thugs are stealing our names!

I have found this to be true!

[Dr. Don Key]

Rightwing-extremist Repubs will attack Obama from start to finish. Expect Karl Rover, FOX News, and the Texas Swiftboaters for Lies to make up anyf bologna they can, to allow a third term of Bush Jr., via McCaain. Kerry should have had a similar site in Y2K4. To the best my knowledge, he didn't.

[Young Atheart]

There is no stronger evidence of unpatriotic intent than the use of rumor, name-calling and inuendo to question a person's motives. It makes a mockery of this democracy in which so many lives were lost to defend free speech in the hope that it would lead to equality, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[TheDiplomat]

When I read the stupidity in some blogs it makes me wonder if Barack's name was John Smith and he had more of his mothers features would we be bothered with this?

Is 'thug' now the new racial slur?

[Adrian near Seattle]

Appropriately, this item is in the LA Times "Entertainment" section.

Those Stone / Rove / Atwater / Cohn types in the Republican smear tradition -- so comic, and so tragic.

[Derrick]

I'm really glad that Obama is doing this. Online blogs are nasty. People have attacks pre-written and slam Obama about stuff all the time. The first time I heard there was a tape of Michelle Obama saying whitey I new that was a fake. Its a classic attack by the right. Its like me saying I have a tape of McCain saying something racist. Or, I know someone who knows someone who has a tape of McCain saying something racists. But people believe these stupid attacks because they are unsure about Obama.

[Darr West]

I like to call republicans not "repubs" or "GOP" or "righties" .. I like to refer to them as "pubes" it fits nicely. Spread it around. Are we playing in the schoolyard? I believe we are. Take em out early and make their eyes lock up with details.

[A better typist than you]

Re the comment from "A Better reporter that [sic] you, and I'm not":

I see you don't bother to check the link. The site does exist.

And responding to all of those racist emails that are circulating, especially the ones who emphasize his middle name (Hussein) and claim that Obama is a Muslim and allied with terrorists:
a) Barack (Barak) is a Biblical name, and he was an Israelite
b) King Hussein was a US ally; not everyone named "Hussein" is an enemy

[john1117]

Very very smart idea and LONG OVERDUE!!!! Excellent preemptive approach to counter the Republican smear machine. Kudos!!!!!!!!
Let's get the word out, everyone!

[Linda]

I personally would not trust any of Obama's sites . He says that he publishes and states the facts only but unfortunately he has been caught lying more than once and often will not answer questions with a yes or no. He can use the term "white folks" connected with greed ,racism etc. and no one ever questions him as to why he feels the need to single out "white folks" when he supposedly is uniting the country. With such double standards, I really doubt his integrity and would doubt that his smear site is anything too factual.

[jon]

Remember the picture of Obama and the other Democratic candidates while the national anthem was being played. Much was made about him not saluting.

Saluting, while not in uniform, is simply not required.

HOWEVER, STANDING AT ATTENTION IS THE PROPER THING TO DO...OBAMA DIDN'T STAND AT ATTENTION...HE IS STANDING WITH HIS HANDS IN FRONT OF HIMSELF IN THE SEMI-FIG LEAF POSITION.

HAVING been responsible for rendering honors to the Flag, as a soldier, I know AND WOULD HOPE THAT A POSSIBLE COMMANDER IN CHIEF would know, that you FACE the FLAG and stand at attention (see any soldier). And if you hear the music and cannot see the flag, you face the music and stand at attention.

[Milvard]

Frankly, I would like more information about it all. Of course Obama is going to deny rumors which are going to cost him the presidency. Bill Clinton didn't inhale. Bill Clinton didn't sleep with that woman. We know now that he lied. What do we really have to give us hardcore proof that Obama isn't the biggest liar in the country?

Sorry. Obama supporters putting up a website is fairy tale politics, and I want PROOF!

[Finklefarb]

Since the web site charged with dispelling rumors and misinformation, how about starting with the candidate himself? When is the lie that Barack Obama is fhe first Black presidential party-wide candidate going to be vetted? He is bi-racial not a true African American. His mother was white and he seems to gloss over that to capitalize on his slightly darkened skin color. In fact he was raised primariy by his mother and lived in some very high class areas of Seattle, Washington and Hawaii.
How can anyone believe in a person who presents himself as one race when he is in fact half black and white?

[roneida]

The picture of the candidates, including Obama, was not a pledge of allegiance but the singing of the national anthem, Civilians are expected to stand but not place hands on the heart. that is for the pledge of allegience

[Matt]

I find it funny that the whole - "He didn't stand at attention" thing is such a big deal.
Is it possible that I could love my country every bit as much as any other American, but don't stand at attention...or wear a pin? Our flag doesn't symbolize the same things to all of us. For some of us the flag has military roots and symbolizes the people that have given their lives to protect the country. For others it is a symbol of democracy. Still others believe it is a symbol or freedom...or justice.
Some of us don't stand during the national anthem, I've seen these people at baseball games.

Are we so ridiculous that we think this means they don't love their country?

If so, why are we fighting? Let the radicals that we fight have it, because we have already lost.

[roger]

I've been fielding a number of accusations from conservative friends of mine who have stated that:

Obama is part of an African conspiracy to take over the United States. If he gets elected, it will be the end of the US as we know it. And this is from a respected friend of mine who is a major in the army.

Obama keeps the Koran in his house and is therefore a practicing Muslim.

If Obama gets elected, the US will turn to communism.

If Obama gets elected, middle class taxes will go up and that includes families making $100K or more.

If Obama gets elected, gas will go up to as much as $10/gallon.

Obama has backtracked on every plan he's proposed so far.

Obama complains every time he is accused of something -- his behavior is therefore not befitting the behavior of a president.

[JustMusing]

Milvard:

"Sorry. Obama supporters putting up a website is fairy tale politics, and I want PROOF!"

So, Milvard, "When did you stop beating your wife?"

I want proof that you did or never did beat your wife. Proof to disprove a negative. You ask the impossible. But if all you want to listen to is rumors, than go and read John McCain's website. It has plently of policy rumors on it.

[pgchambers]

Milvard - Do you require the same proof from the people spreading the rumors? If you don't like Obama, fine, but requiring someone to prove the untruthfulness of another's lies is a bit ridiculous. Guilty until proven innocent doesn't sound very American to me. McCain got nailed by the Republican rumor machine once himself, so should we also require him to prove he is not a liar?

[Oopali Operajita]

Way to go, Barack! Give 'em hell!

[Nobama]

Obama '08 Finaly a candidate that will bring the war on terror back home where it belongs

Yes we can - raise your taxes!!

Obama '08

[roger]

Finklefarb, Obama lived with his grandmother in Makiki, Hawaii, which is hardly a high-class area.
Further, how many people in Hawaii do you think are multi-racial? It's not unsual to find people who are Chinese/Irish/Hawaiian/Portuguese. Or Portuguese/Hawaiian. Or Japanese/Hawaiian.

Obama doesn't present himself as anything other than who he is, and race is not something he brings up unless he's forced to. This is not him trying to misrepresent himself. This is typical of culture in Hawaii.

I believe in him because I KNOW where he's coming from, even so far has having met his mother. If he is anything like his mother, he will be an outstanding president -- one who will make us all proud.

[Peter Truong]

There's a fire; there's a smoke. The rumor may not be the whole truth but it can be a partial truth.

[NS]

Quote:
"How can anyone believe in a person who presents himself as one race when he is in fact half black and white?"

Obama isn't the one calling himself black. Everyone else is. Same goes with Tiger Woods - everyone and their mother calls him black when he himself has said he is multiple races (some proportion of black, white, and Asian, I think). Obama himself has admitted to being multiple races, but of course, people only see the black side of him.

I think it's great to finally see someone running for office who isn't the usual crabby old white man. The spotlight is on him for being different, so people are going to pick out every little thing about him that they don't like - such as his stance during the National Anthem a few posts up. I don't salute or put my hand over my heart either. Does that make me un-American? Same goes with the flag pin fiasco. I think it's great to see a politician not feel forced to display his patriotism for everyone to see. I know he's an American, and that's all that should matter to me.

It's that type of mentality that could prevent something great like Obama becoming president from happening. People are so obsessed with bringing him down because he's different. Seriously, lighten up. Otherwise we'll be looking at John McCain's wrinkly old yellow-toothed crooked smile for 4 to 8 years.

[DoTheMath]

The Republicans are not going to be able to steal this election with smears, lies, and innuendos - NOT THIS TIME.

Too many of Obama's supporters are highly educated and highly motivated. We can tell the difference between reliable and unreliable sources, and when we see unreliable sources spreading misleading information, we are ready, willing, and able to respond effectively.