Rumor Mill Takes Aim at Presidential Candidate Barack Obama

E-mails based on political agendas, are causing the facts to be blurred and changing the real picture to one of forcefully mistaken identity.

(SALEM, Ore.) - With less than twenty-four hours before the New Hampshire Primaries are conducted, an old rumor has resurfaced that threatens to confuse uninformed readers.

Formerly posted on rumor filled websites, and only circulated minimally through e-mail, the dirty political rumors of the Internet have returned full scale to combat the serious rise of Barack Obama's chances to be President Elect.

If you have opened up your e-mail recently, you may have noticed two things were new. One, there is a new person listed under your contact list, Mary, and two, Mary has sent an e-mail claiming that Barack Obama is actually a Muslim extremist.

Mary then goes on to list a site, Snopes.com, that would tell you why Barack is actually a Muslim extremist, and why you should not vote for the man who will "destroy this country from the inside out."

The e-mail attacks his birth to Muslim parents, and a random picture where Obama did not have his hand on his heart during the national anthem. They also attack his repeated comments that he is not, nor ever was, a follower of Islam. They bring up the school he went to as a child, and claim it was a madrassa an Arabic secular or religious school often referred to in this country as an "Islamic religious school." The e-mail goes on to call him a liar, and say he is "an instrument of terrorism".

These e-mail rumors were presented sparsely in January of 2007, but made their way to the attention of the Washington Post who reported that, "The rumors about Obama have been echoed on Internet message boards and chain e-mails... Human Events, another conservative magazine, published on its Web site a package of articles called 'Barack Obama Exposed.' One of them was titled 'The First Muslim President?'"

But a closer examination of the Snopes.com data under 'Barack Obama' tells a very different story than the e-mail. The site in fact specifically states that the information in the e-mail is not true, as cited in the graphic below.

Everything. Because this time, the e-mail chain lettering and falsified rumors about Obama's religion have been re-issued with no time for New Hampshire voters to re-evaluate the truth.

When the rumors first came, they could be found and debunked, long before any real damage could be done. But, in light of the elections, and with little time to fight back, it seems that these new e-mails may affect voters before those voters will know the truth.

These e-mail senders are putting forth their own political agendas by causing the facts to be blurred, and changing the real picture to one of forcefully mistaken identity. Do not let these lies cloud the vision of what's real, or allow the words of rumor mills to change true history.

Despite repeated e-mail attempts to the sender, Mary, no reply has been received. The people will give an honest response to Mary when tomorrow's elections are at an end, and that will require no reply.

The video below from CNN takes the viewer to Barack Obama's school in Indonesia which the bogus email claims is a "radical Muslim" school, and shows that the allegation couldn't be any farther from the truth.

Cody Sheets is the latest addition to the Salem-News.com writing staff. President of Verbatim et Litteram at Chemeketa Community College's Writing Organization, Cody brings a fresh perspective to Salem-News as a freshman college writer. Cody's experience in the field of journalism is extensive for a person his age. He has served as the Editor-in-Chief of two papers, including both his middle school, and high school newspapers. We at Salem-News.com welcome Cody aboard and we are very excited about featuring stories that appeal to a younger audience through the eyes of a dynamic young student writer. If you would like to reach Cody Sheets, you can email him at this address: LordTekrin@live.com

Salem-News.com Top Stories

2025: Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

Two Wars with No Way Out

No One Owns the Future

The Ugly Origins of Trump's America First Policy

A One-State Solution Could Transform the World

Comments Leave a comment on this story.

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

Carla Sanders January 4, 2009 9:18 pm (Pacific time)

I would like to know where the image of Barack Obama standing and pointing with the American flag colors behind him featured June 8, 2008 as part of the

Editor: Carla, that was done by Austin King. He is on our Salem-News.com staff page or you can check his myspace at myspace.com/elementfourfold

Cody January 17, 2008 12:13 am (Pacific time)

Jefferson, I find your comments to be grossly misleading, and not backed by relevant facts. Show me this...disturbing information. You like to talk, but I have yet to see facts that matter.

Jefferson January 13, 2008 6:39 pm (Pacific time)

Sue I've received a considerable amount of troubling ifo about Obama, but after investigating this info, I found it to be accurate. I am confident that after this demo personality contest is over and both Clinton and Obama have to respond to real world issues other than their "pie in the sky" rhetoric you will see them fall very quickly as more American's become informed...

Sue Deaunym January 11, 2008 2:17 pm (Pacific time)

Please REPLY to Obama email attack! Even if you don't intend to vote for him! If you have received the slandering email about Obama, send the following email (or your own version) back to the sender, and to any addy in the cc: or the text of the email: ______________________________________________________ You have sent me this email which is offends and frightens me, and which is simply wrong. It states - falsely - that Barack Obama is a radical Muslim who is a threat to America. These and other erroneous allegations were made by some cowardly and hateful scoundrel who has no understanding of, nor respect for, true Christian values or American ideals. If you go to www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp you'll find all of them refuted. I'm assuming you forwarded this nastiness on to me, and our friends and family, out of ignorance, not with any malevolent intent. I'm also assuming you will make it right by acknowledging your error and sending an apology to me and to everyone else to whom you have passed this poison. And I am asking you to forward this email, or one similar to it, to whomever sent the offensive email to you in the first place, cc:ing it to everyone else who received it. _____________________________________________________________

janie barber 7rw65 January 9, 2008 3:23 pm (Pacific time)

Cody, what a great article. You are such a young man to have written such an eloquent and informative article. Salem News should be glad that have you aboard. Keep up the good work and will look forward to more of your informative work. You are well on your way to a fine jornalist!!

janie barber January 9, 2008 3:19 pm (Pacific time)

Cody, this is a fine article and for a young man your age so intelligent and very informative. Keep this good work going and look forward to more of your articles. You are on the right track and so glad that you have joined the Salem News. I believe they have found a good journalist in you and what a way with words.

janie barber January 10, 2008 7:46 am (Pacific time)

Cody, this is a fantastic article. Your writing, information, and the way it is all brought together with facts is great. It sounds as if you have found your niche as you are an awesome writer. Salem News really has an asset going for them. Hope to see more of your articles in the future.

Henry Ruark January 10, 2008 6:28 am (Pacific time)

To all: To make double-damn sure clarity is insurmountable, this outline is what is wellknown as "loaded question" so that, no matter how answered, it becomes negative due to distortion via canny "framing" -- as in "Do you still beat your wife ?"

Henry Ruark January 10, 2008 5:25 am (Pacific time)

To all: Great contrast here in straight-story report by Cody and crafty distort seeking full disclosure from Obama and Hillary, already well on record and brought up again, with added "bad light" where possible, simply to pervert the communication. Racist is as racist does, and here you "see with own eyes" one way in which it is still done, with neocon record for longtime promotion of slavery in south on record, too, leading on to Civil War. Then they were politely termed "planters" and "slave traders" butsame philosophy and "principles." So why should waterboarding surprise us, now ? See "Revolutionary Characters: What Made The Founders Different""; Gordon S. Wood;2006; ISBN 978-1-59420-093-9; Pulitzer Prize Winner. Can N-N cite any P/P Prize winner supporting his racist views ? Remember: Hamilton called one-such "a dangerous man", leading to his assassination by duel, one of key killings shaping our history.

Albert Marnell January 10, 2008 1:34 am (Pacific time)

Decade after decade people get excited about elections because they expect someone to save them. I have heard the same B.S. speeches since Eisenhower. There is no one to save you but yourself. If you listen to good public speakers, they may move you but so does one of your favorite songs. Then it is time to get back to reality.

Jefferson January 9, 2008 1:51 pm (Pacific time)

Rumors are very counter-productive and all political parties/organizations appear to engage in this kind of behavior, unfortunately. What could really help Obama (maybe not!) is if he would go off script and sit down with some journalists of different ideologies that will question him about some pertinent issues, and to also have follow-up questions. His view on illegal immigration (past and current) and illegals getting driver's licenses would be two I would like to see answered. Maybe even the philosophy of his church that he belongs to in Chicago. For example what does he think about statements that it is Afrocentric over American-centric and it's stated online philosophy many find racist. Let's clear up the above and more. He's running for president, why would he have a problem addressing questions like the above? Hillary should also be called to task and respond to some unscripted questions. Also, regarding her experience, and Obama's, what is it? Can they detail it out for us?

Lisa Essex January 9, 2008 12:07 pm (Pacific time)

Cody, what a well written article with great sources to back your piece up. Good job and good luck with your future accomplishments.

Neal Feldman January 9, 2008 6:57 am (Pacific time)

Sounds like someone or some group is trying to emulate the actions of the Swift Boat Liars for Shrub against Sen. Obama. Pathetic but unfortunately the tactic has proven effective. Ah well...

Skipper Osborne January 8, 2008 7:16 pm (Pacific time)

Cody, great article! Your article shows how very, very, very! Important it is to read the fine print.

Jack Barlow January 8, 2008 4:42 pm (Pacific time)

Good piece Salem-News, this is important data if there ever was.

Cody January 8, 2008 4:13 pm (Pacific time)

Hey, thanks, I appreciate it. As for why,....well....it appears that politics aren't being at all as honest as they should be. Misdirection seems to be the order of the day...

Henry Ruark January 8, 2008 1:05 pm (Pacific time)

To all: Couldn't be more pleased than to find someone like Cody "on his way" in an intriguing profession. Welcome Cody, and first sample is right on the money. Wonder why what you show so conclusively re use of plain old lying misdirection seems somehow so familiar right now, right in this channel ??

[Return to Top]

Rumor Mill Takes Aim at Presidential Candidate Barack Obama

Quick Links

DINING

MUST SEE SALEM

AUCTIONS - APPRAISALS

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

ONLINE SHOPPING

Advertise with Salem-News