Barack Obama vs. the Internet rumor machine

Rumors have always traveled fast, but when it comes to politics, the whispering campaigns and defamatory leaflets of yesteryear don't hold a candle to the button that beats them all.

"Forward": the marvelous technology that allows truths and untruths alike to be propagated widely, instantly, and at no cost to the sender.

Thanks to Forward-thinking citizens, the online rumors are flying in this campaign like no campaign season before. Dozens and even hundreds of different e-mail chain letters -- most targeting Sen. Barack Obama -- are being circulated in the Internet's muggy back channels, where context suffers and falsehoods flourish. Add in the parts of the political blogosphere that survive on speculation and unsourced hearsay, and you have a petri dish capable of growing such vivid rumors that the best of them actually make it into the mouths of the Washington press corps -- without so much as a factoid to back them up.

At Snopes.com, the urban legends clearinghouse run by a couple in the San Fernando Valley, Barack Obama's page has 18 entries, only one of which Snopes determined to be true. Of the rest, Snopes rated 11 false, four partly true and two undetermined. The same pattern holds true at PolitiFact.com, a project of the St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly. In its "Chain Emails" section, 21 of the 25 e-mails they've reviewed are marked "Barely True," "False" or "Pants on Fire." Of those, 2 out of 3 were aimed at Obama, and the remainder at Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Why Obama is such a magnet for outlandish Web allegations, while Clinton and especially Sen. John McCain have gotten off easier, invites some tricky questions. No one I talked to for this story wanted to say that the candidate's race, an area that can bring out all kinds of rumor-fueling fears and resentments, is the primary factor. And maybe it isn't: The number of Americans online has grown plenty since 2004, and astronomically since 2000 -- there are a lot more great-aunts sending around e-mail petitions in big, colorful fonts. The Internet is now without a doubt the most effective rumor mill mankind has ever devised. But it's hard to ignore that the rumors about Obama tend to have something to do with his being black.

A glance at the Obama-related canards reveals that they mostly fall into three categories, which sometimes overlap: race, religion and patriotism. Part of the odd nature of Internet rumors which holds true here is that even after they've been debunked in multiple places and for some time, they continue to make the rounds.

Bill Adair, PolitiFact's editor, likened the chain e-mails to virus-like "organisms," calling them "a resilient form of communication that resists scrutiny" and is essentially unfiltered.

"It's not like Hotmail is going to say, 'Well, were not going to deliver that message because it's wrong,' " Adair said. "That message is going to get through, and it's going to be up to the reader to determine if it's true or not."

Obama's campaign has set up a rumor-busting task force that maintains a Web page at Factcheck.barackobama.com, to address some of these stubborn allegations. One section, entitled "Obama Is Not and Has Never Been a Muslim," collates several articles from national media outlets, including two from The Times, that weigh against the claim. Another section, "Obama Is a Patriot Who Loves His Flag and His Country," has an even larger collection of supporting excerpts.

When asked about the churn of questionable rumors, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor was not shy about noting that "disinformation campaigns are the hallmark of some of the most vicious campaigns on the Republican side. It's not something that's new to this campaign, but it may be getting particular attention this round.

"It's frankly disconcerting when the press corps start asking about rumors that have no basis in fact," he added, "but it's something that we realized early on would be a problem."

Last week one such dubious story made the rounds online -- but this time it was the blogosphere that was cultivating it. Larry Johnson, a former CIA employee and national security analyst, wrote several times on his NoQuarter blog about the existence of a videotape that purportedly showed Michelle Obama using the word "whitey."

But, as Reason Magazine's David Weigel pointed out in multiple critiques of Johnson's information, Johnson had no direct evidence of the video. He had not seen actually seen it, he wrote, but rather had "heard from five separate sources who have spoken directly with people who have seen the tape."

As Weigel told me over the phone, in the world of professional journalism, "No one who didn't want to just get fired would source a story like that."

Weigel also noted in his post that Johnson's account of the tape's key details -- where it took place and which famous personages were in it -- changed over the course of several days, but Johnson's insistence on the tape's existence did not. (I couldn't reach Johnson for a comment.)

Still, the rumor made its way onto more than a few blogs, most of which were conservative. And on June 3, Democratic pundit Bob Beckel alluded to the tape on FOX News, again as hearsay and without naming sources. The videotape of the Beckel segment was passed around in various incarnations on YouTube, adding to the speculation but not the evidence. Finally, a McClatchy reporter asked Obama for his thoughts on the rumor.

"We have seen this before," Obama replied, according to Politico.com's Ben Smith. "There is dirt and lies that are circulated in e-mails, and they pump them out long enough until finally you, a mainstream reporter, asks me about it.

"That gives legs to the story," Obama said.

And that's precisely the dilemma in reporting on rumors. As Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center's FactCheck.org, explained: "The problem is that if the mainstream media address" a particular rumor, "they run the risk that they're actually going to reinforce it. "

On the other hand, she said, in a medium such as e-mail that's largely hidden from public view and for which "there isn't any natural way to make a rebuttal, a whole lot of people are potentially exposed to information that's untrue, and they don't have any way of knowing it."

Jamieson and PolitiFact's Adair agreed that peoples' tendency to buy into forwarded information depends largely on who sent it.

"When you get the e-mail from a friend of yours, you're more likely to believe it than if you get it from a stranger." Only problem with that, Jamieson said, is that, if you consider its origin, "the stuff you're getting from a friend is from a stranger."

This is a campaign in which candidates have been all over YouTube, MySpace and Facebook, and the Web's connective power has awakened a generation of youthful voters. It figures then that e-mail — one of the Internet's oldest technologies — is also the one that's moving the political conversation backwards instead of forward.

Top Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski / European Pressphoto Agency

Lower Photo: viral image that's circulating online.  Click on it to be taken to the debunk page.

Comments

[Linda]

Is it even possible when could make this election about something other than race? Everyone seems hellbent upon making this the issue. It was a tough Democratic primary and I really do hope both sides of the Democratic party can get together and stop slashing each other for the primary.
More people have said they want to know who Obama is and what he stands for. We know he makes great speeches, but great speeches don't solve problems. Face it. This country has some problems. I supported Hillary Clinton during the primary. I feel sad she didn't win and I don't particularly care for how I perceive the press treated her and that is simply and opinion. I do want to see change. I just want to know more about the man who says he can do it and exactly what his plans are. Would that be fair to ask?

[Tyger]

Produce the piece of paper. What's the hoopla? I have one, has my little footie prints on it and my mother's thumb prints. So what? I'm 52. I bet Mr. O has one as well. Just put it out there. Kill the story now.

[Bruce]

Interesting quote "As Weigel told me over the phone, in the world of professional journalism, "No one who didn't want to just get fired would source a story like that." But a story using a fake air national gaurd memo did cost Dan Rather his job. It is interesting how internet bloggers revealed the lack of superscripted ths on typewriters being used at the time the memo was supposedly written and the reporting staff at CBS news missed it. And what about the new republic Scott Thomas Beauchamp fiasco, his wife was the source checker. interenet rumour fabricators are just not backed by the main stream medias editors. And I will not touch on the Duke Lacrosse case. I wonder how many of the factual reports by the press from vietnam would have survived as factual if the internet was around then.

[Larry Johnson]

You know the names of two of my sources, who are prominent in the world of journalism. You also should look at the non-denial denial by Barack and the subsequent attack on the reporter who dared ask the question. Then you should consider why Trinity scrubbed its site of videos that had once been available and why the local ABC station insists it will not provide video it has of possible dates when Michelle Obama was speaking in a public forum without a subpoena. I am thoroughly amused that folks on the left, who embraced my anonymous sources, when I talked about the Bush Administration cooking the intel on Iraq (I'm on the record with that on NPR in Mary of 2003) now pooh pooh such sources. I just wish they'd make up their minds. As long as the "news" fits a story line they like it is embraced. Present something that raises questions about his holiness, Barack, and all of sudden it is pure s***.

[Jonathan]

To Larry Johnson - writing a story with anonymous hearsay of hearsay is bad enough, but when you derisively call Barack Obama "his holiness" and curse in your response, you really look bad. Give it up - your credibility is gone.

[katiec]

It is scary and disgusting to see so many outlandish rumors dominating some of the b log networks. And the problem is, it is useless to confront these radicals with facts etc.
They resort to calling you names and spouting more outlandish statements.
Think best policy is to just ignore them and "maybe" they will go away.
The best quote for many of them is: "It is better to be thought a fool than speak
out and remove all doubts".

[Jeff Brooks]

Good choices!!!!!
Africa's highest-ranking diamond official is now viewed as the top contender to lead the Bureau of African Affairs if Obama gets elected in November. André Action Diakité Jackson, the chairman of Africa's largest holding company joined his team one month before Obama announced his candidacy. Jackson is currently a foreign-policy advisor and is well-connected to the African and Arab political machines. He is considered to be an incredibly valuable asset to the team and will definitely have the freedom to contribute in any capacity.
Nigerian businessman, Kase Lawal (who initially endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination) may also be considered for the position as well, however, his chances were drastically decresed when he ran into legal problems in Nigeria.

[James]

James, You've been part of this in the past. You should have known what would happen when you go against your beloved LEFT. No one in the media is going to help you. "Progressives" ( the code word for Liberals/socialist) are know being seen as the intolerant, close-minded and free-thought hating people they are. They HATE Senator Leiberman for being a "maverick",,BUT Love it when a Republican switches sides to vote. They are happy to print any rumor about a conservative/ Republican, but print the same story about them and they whine and try to destroy you. The Left has become professional Victims, they love being victims, which is why we conservatives are stronger. Darwinism at work, and it is working. The victims will fade away as the stronger minded people thrive.

The old media is dying and they are in their last gasp to try to convince Americans that the "Progressive/Socialist" agenda is moving forward, but they all know it is a lie( how many States have Right-to-carry Gun Laws? Hell, even Obama had to blow smoke and say he is pro-gun. How many states have gay marriage bans?) . You just got caught in their attempted cover-up of this fact. All you have to do is look at the small number of comments the LA Times receives on these blogs to know they are dying off. Fox News has the highest ratings, almost double of CNN and MSNBC, but supposedly ONLY conservatives watch it. hhhmmmm,,You gotta consider how many of us must be out here if this is true!

[Vic Arpeggio]

Hey Larry Johnson, I have a couple of friends who SWEAR they saw John McCain eating baby carcasses while stooping over what's left of your credibility. I mean, they say it's real, so how can it be not?

[Arthur Collins]

The antidote to rumors, whispers, etc. is to move away from personalities, and attempt rational discourse on issues. For example: I believe that the economics of solar, wind and biofuels make no sense with respect to reducing the cost of gasoline, while increased offshore drilling will reduce the price of gasoline. Similarly, the renewables economics make no sense with respect to providing cheap, reliable, 24 /7 baseload electricity, which is essential to a vibrant economy and a high tech civilization.

Therefore I support McCain, and not Obama, based on the realism of their energy policies, not on whether Obama is a Muslim or a left liberal Democrat, or McCain is a militaristic wooden head - whether these are true or lies is irrevalent to me. Similarly pro / con positions on the candidates, can be taken on foreign policy, health care, etc. etc.

Another suggestion: 'go by the numbers' and tradeoffs: 'low' cost of nukes? versus safety and waste disposal (a serious issue), fears of nukes versus more resource 'blood for oil' wars, be it on renewables, nukes, the cost of health care, retirement, taxes, etc. In spite of being a nuclear engineer, I don't 'like nukes' - in a very imperfect world I view them as the 'least worst' option - a point for discussion and argument.

Regards, Art Collins, Retired Aerospace & Nuclear Engineer
(i.e. I clearly state my background and bonafides, so you know where I am coming from!)

[Jimmy Riddle]

Are the anti-white writings from Michelle at Princeton fakes also?

[Stephen A.]

There are truly a lot of ridiculous rumors out there on the internet and in my email "in" box. Among them is the incorrect notion that he's a Muslim (he was obviously a member of a Leftist, America-hating Christian church, so that rumor's wrong.)

Obama could kill one rumor right now by instructing his campaign to release his birth certificate. I don't expect any "serious" papers to demand this, but I would expect the same outlets who hounded Mrs. McCain until she released her TAX records and hounded McCain until he released his medical records, would do the same with something as innocuous and insignificant as a BIRTH CERTIIFICATE. Right?

[DEIDRE]

What is with all this "anti-white" bs? We have a president in the white house right now who is anti-black and makes no bones about it. The same goes for almost every other president in U.S. history. Face it: what whitey is feeling right now is fear of retribution.
The only thing Obama can do at this point is call a press conference to assure white america that he does not have an agenda to make us all pay for what has been done to blacks in this country.

[David Sarno]

@Jimmy: Which "anti-white writings"? You're doing exactly what I'm talking about in the article, which is passing along a damaging rumor without offering any kind of facts or documentary evidence to back it up. Michelle Obama's senior thesis from Princeton is linked to, in full, from this Politico.com article: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8642.html.

Have you read it? If so, please excerpt the passages that you deem "anti-white" and reproduce them here so readers will have a chance to agree or disagree with whether the facts support your interpretation.

[hecowe]

Wow -- so politics has a seamy side. I've even heard that politicians "mis-characterize" their opponents' positions. Unbelievable! I'm sure none of this has ever come from either of these two honorable, unsullied men who are without guile.

It's a good thing Obama and McCain -- pure, honorable, lacking ego, incapable of lusting for power -- are the candidates this year. It's like choosing between Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon -- how do you want your country ruined?

Together, they have all the depth of a sugar cookie and may almost be as intelligent. If this is the best we can do, we're going to hell in a handbasket.

[patrick]

i saw the supposed tape where Michelle Obama supposedly used the term "whitey" and i never heard the term "whitey" once in the tape. In fact the tape was actually cut and edited by miserable efforts.

I commend Obama on owning up to the controversies he has been confronted with.MCcain on the otherhand simply like to imply his gaffes are misinterpretations. Misinterpretations about the economy and war is what is keeping food off working class peoples table.

obama 08'

[Vicki Baker]

If you look at the website the Times mentions for fact-checking, it did check into all these rumors about Michelle Obama's thesis - suprise, it's a lie - and her remark about "why'd he" being turned into "whitey". Or the lies about her only just now as an adult, being proud of her country...what a crock! When you hear her speak, you know that these people are just lying to make her an issue, since she has kept a low profile. Every wife or spouse makes speeches, and to lift lines out of a speech isn't right - you could make it completely opposite of what the person was saying. Just like the photo of Obama supposedly not putting his hand over his heart during the Pledge was actually taken during the National Anthem, when you aren't supposed to put your hand over your heart. What I don't understand is why people are acting like the Obamas are not like everyone else. When you read the comments, you can tell they must have an axe to grind because they are so hateful and ridiculous in their statements. I'd sure hate to have every person I knew or met in my life now be part of how I am judged as a person...imagine what they'd say about all the people I've met online!!

[Balle Harry]

IFObama has been subjected to more rumors on the internet compared to McCain and Hillary, it is because the MSM has not bothered to vet Obama as they should because they clearly want him to be the next president.

[Joe S.]

The Liberal Corporate Media has a collective glass jaw.
This post is exhibit A.

Notice how you focused your whining on email rumors that are the online medium most likely to target Obama (often at the behest of the Clinton attack machine).

Now let's expand beyond the insults to your Progressive Messiah and take in the giant Black Holes of disinformation and cynicism like Soros-funded MoveOn.Org which links George W. Bush to a racial homocide in Texas, or the Huffington Post which accuses Bush and his Christian supporters of conspiring to trigger the Apocalypse (a rusty old hook, admittedly). Or maybe you've not looked at Michael Moore's website lately???

You get my point by now: you Lefties have only yourselves to blame for the ugliness that displays itself every election year. Feel free to submit your Obama smear complaints to Reverend Wright.

[Brooklyn Democrat]

The worst MSM outlet for spreading hate-filled, racist stuff is Jake Tapper's Political Punch on ABC's website. I enjoy Tapper's blogs but someone needs to start moderating the comments suggestion. Everytime I think that its gotten as ugly as it could get, someone crawls out from under a rock and manages a new low. The other day, someone accused another commentor of being black and responded in "Negro" dialect. Another anti-Obama comment ranted about anal sex and semen. Someone else claimed that Obama was President of Kenya and couldn't wait to turn the country over to the Muslims.

Given the genuine issues that the country is facing, I'm amazed that this is what people want to talk about.

[Rob]

Rumors???? Everything I hate about Obama and his angry wife I have heard them say! I don't need stupid rumors to not vote for Obama. I don't like McCain much either, but at least I don't think HE hates me or America.

[Adam]

And, on the other hand, the "smears" could simply be due to the fact that the press has refused to vet this candidate. That, rather than race, could be the reason the blogs have taken over with their amateur vetting. This is a candidate that has repeatedly reinvented himself.

For example, you say that he was never a Muslim, and never prayed in a mosque. I have heard that this claim was removed from his website after the contradiction was pointed out in a Los Angeles Times story:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/bal-te.obama16mar16,1,7181735,full.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

Children remember going to the mosque with him, and at his school he was registered as a Moslem. The memories of his childhood friends were also published in an Indonesian newspaper.

This article was published a few months after the LA Times denounced the "smears" that Obama was once a Muslim.

I have no reason to believe Obama is a Muslim now. But why has he lied about his childhood background? Why is former membership in one of the world's great religions considered a "smear"?

These would be interesting questions to bring up with the candidate, if we could ever get him to admit the truth. This was his great teaching moment, when he could have said, "Yes, I had a Muslim father, and attended mosque as a child. What's wrong with that? It's a major religion, and I learned from it." Instead, he blew it with denials. What does that tell us about him?

[sillypeople]

for the silly person above who has their panties all in a bunch over Obama's birth certificate, his campaign posted it on his website:

http://www.fightthesmears.com

oh....and why is it that the black candidate has to show his birth certificate?? Oh, yah, b/c a black person named Barack could not *possibily* be american! Ugh, dumbasses!

[JeromeM]

Of course she said it just like Obama did cocaine for 10 years and was proud of inhaling when he smoked pot. What is the matter with that. They are black people in America and white people like me have oppressed them severly. I will do whatever I can to wash away my sins of not providing for them throughout their lifetimes. They deserve to be millionaires without working and the free educations at Princton, columbia, and Harvard to make up for the awful things I did for them. They should call me 'whitey' and themselves 'Nxxxxx' like most black people do. And the gang fist bump is just the culture that white people can never understand and wish they could be a part of. I want more white people to commit crimes so that they can fill up k\jails.

[PATTY]

Heys, wonder boy, why dont you now put a real birth certicate on your site, yes fool, everyone born in the USA knows an official birth certificate has an embossed seal and a certificate number UNLIKE the one you posted.. FOOL!