From The Road
June 12, 2008 9:46 AM

Obama Camp Takes On Internet Rumors

By
Maria Gavrilovic
Topics
Barack Obama
(CBS)
From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

CHICAGO -- The Obama campaign launched a new Web site today to combat Internet rumors and what they call a "smear" campaign against both Michelle and Barack Obama. The website, www.fightthesmears.com, is being run by current staff in the communications, policy and research departments.

The first rumor to be addressed head on by the campaign is Michelle Obama's alleged use of the word "whitey" from the pulpit at Trinity United, which some conservative bloggers claim to have on tape. The campaign denies that such a tape exists on the new Web site. Last week, when Obama was asked about Internet rumors, including the "whitey" comment, he blamed the mainstream media for giving the story "legs."

Visibly annoyed by the question, Obama told one reporter, "There is dirt and lies that are circulated in e-mail and they pump them out long enough until finally you, a mainstream reporter, asks me about them. And then that gives legs to the story."

Obama added, "Simply because something appears in an e-mail that should lend it no more credence then if you heard it on the corner. And, presumably the job of the press is to not go around and spread scurrilous rumors like this until there's actually anything, one iota of substance or evidence that would substantiate it."

However, despite Obama's dismissal of internet rumors and e-mails, the campaign admits that the issues need to be addressed. Some of these emails, such as those claiming that Obama is Muslim, have been circulated on the Internet since last October.

Spokeswoman, Jen Psaki said, "The best antidote to a smear campaign is the truth and it is incumbent upon the campaign to make sure the most accurate information about Barack Obama is available."

The new Web site has an additional tool designed to combat these rumors -- an option to send mass emails denying the Internet buzz. The campaign is looking to supporters to be more proactive and to disseminate information on their behalf.

Add a Comment
by alicerea1 June 13, 2008 10:45 AM EDT



Senator Obama is embarrassing to the American people.

He gives speeches, that''s it.

He has no experience so what does he really have to talk about.
We can''t talk about his wife
We can''t talk about his muslim father
We can''t talk about his pastor
We can''t talk about his friend Rezko
We can''t talk about his friend William Ayers
We can''t talk about his church supporting Farrakhan

He just keeps throwing everyone under the bus. It''s getting crowded under there wouldn''t ya think?

All candidates should be transparent.
If Senator Clinton or McCain had these friends or attended a church that supported the Ku Klux Klan, shouldn''t we question their values?

This man is running for President of our beautiful country. We really should know everything about him.
Reply to this comment
by hopeful08 June 12, 2008 7:22 PM EDT
In Obama''s 20 year public life, he made thousands of friends from every walk of life.

''06 Barack Obama helped Ben Cardin (Jewish) defeat Michael Steele (African American) for the Maryland Senate Seat. Cardin lost the White vote but won over 70% of the Black vote.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjSI726ta48&feature=related

''04-Present US Senate: got real change started by crossing the isle with Republicans
**the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more.
** Honest Leadership and Open Govt. Act (became law)
** joined Chuck Hagel (R-NE) in introducing legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism (partial passage)
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/04/obamas-outreach.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633

''96-''2003 Illinois Senate
*- 800+ bills sponsored in 8 years (240 passed) including healthcare reform for 150,000 blue-collar parents/kids
www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html

''93-''95 Associate at Law Firm, employment discrimination cases

''91-92 Lead the biggest registration drive in Chicago history (150,000 new voters) Project Vote!
Reply to this comment
by hopeful08 June 12, 2008 7:13 PM EDT
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 and liberty for all.
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 June 12, 2008 5:39 PM EDT
Please examine the THIRTY-FIVE! Impeachable Offenses committed by George W. Bush and the Republican Whitehouse.

http://chun.afterdowningstreet.org/amomentoftruth.pdf

Please consider the Impeachment of John McCain before election day...
Reply to this comment
by alicerea1 June 12, 2008 4:59 PM EDT
Obama has lied and deceived the American public.
He has to have a sight to prevent them from being in the public domain.
He can''t lie about
Reverend Wright- twenty year friend
(anti American racist pastor)

William Ayers- 17 year coworker
(domestic terrorist)

Father Pflaeger- 20 year mentor
(racist and hatemonger pastor)

Tony Rezko- friend and coworker
(syrian criminal)

All these are true facts. Check these Obama


Reply to this comment
by alicerea1 June 12, 2008 4:55 PM EDT
Obama is such a fraud. He is pretending to be an "All American" guy.

How many more people is he going to throw under the bus.

It''s getting crowded under there.


Reply to this comment
by ob08 June 12, 2008 2:58 PM EDT
Obama is the most honest President that we would ever have. People can spread whatever they want. Americans who are tired of these fear mongering lies can look beyond it.

God Bless President Obama and his family.
Reply to this comment
by shingles1 June 12, 2008 1:13 PM EDT
"There is dirt and lies that are circulated in e-mail and they pump them out long enough until finally you, a mainstream reporter, asks me about them. And then that gives legs to the story."

Um, Maria? Isn''t this exactly what you''ve just done?

It''s amazing how no one has actually SEEN this video - it''s always a "friend of a friend"...It would be like me saying that a friend of a friend has seen the video of Cheney shagging a chicken and it''s shocking, I tell you. But for various reasons I can''t show you the video. And then a bunch of angry wingnuts start running around with pitchforks demanding that Cheney address this chicken-shagging controversy.

Back to the Obama thing - this rumor of such a tape first popped up on Larry Johnson''s website. Johnson is an angry and unhinged Hillary supporter who has repeatedly changed his story about the video. David Weigel of Reason, a libertarian magazine, looked into this rumor (posted as Everything''s Gonna Be All White) and concluded that Larry Johnson was full of it.
Reply to this comment
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