Opinion: Our favorite Barack Obama rumors
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
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