Mayor: Obama Purposely Blocked "Peanuts"

(CBS/AP)  A small town mayor is under fire for what he wrote about the President online.

Mayor Russell Wiseman of Arlington called President Obama a Muslim on his Facebook page, attacked Obama's supporters, and said the president's primetime address on Tuesday about the U.S. military's strategy in Afghanistan was a deliberate effort to block the airing of the cartoon "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

The Commercial Appeal reported Wiseman's comments, posted on his Facebook page, which included the claim that the president is Muslim.

Mr. Obama is Christian.

According to the newspaper, the mayor's first posting read, "Ok, so, this is total crap, we sit the kids down to watch 'The Charlie Brown Christmas Special' and our muslim president is there, what a load.....try to convince me that wasn't done on purpose. Ask the man if he believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and he will give you a 10 minute disertation (sic) about it....w...hen the answer should simply be 'yes'...."

In another posting Wiseman attacked the President, his supporters and Muslims, by saying "...you obama people need to move to a muslim country...oh wait, that's America....pitiful."

Area voter Jeff Shackelford told CBS Affiliate WREG that the President of the United States had "more important things to be thinking about instead of trying to block Charlie Brown on TV."

Ryan Williams told WREG, "I just think it's ridiculous that people blow stuff like this way out of proportion. He's trying to lead a country, not change religious values here."

Wiseman downplayed the posting when contacted by the newspaper Thursday. He did not immediately return media phone calls.

(Facebook)

On Saturday his Facebook page (left) was down, although competing Facebook groups were started by both supporters and critics.

On the Facebook page, "Tell Russell Wiseman To Respect Charlie Brown And Our President," a retired Army major and Afghan veteran wrote, "I am astonished that an elected municipal leader would be so ill-informed as to not know that the president was scheduled to deliver a major policy speech on our efforts in Afghanistan. Second, I find the Mayor's allegations about the president's religious views repugnant."

On the "Support Russell Wiseman" page, a Facebook user wrote, "Russel is human and needs to vent. That was his personal site and it is nobody elses business but his and his friends. He did not post on the City website, it is his right as an American!"

[antoniof123]

Is this idiot for real?

I hope the voters remember him on election day!

[environmental_wacko]

Peanuts blocker!

[stn_sage]

Given a choice between listening to Obama distort the truth about Afghanistan and try to convince us his lousy decision to escalate the war is a GOOD idea, AND watching a traditional Christmas time cartoon promoting the ideas of peace, harmony, togetherness, charity, love, and hope...I'd prefer to watch the LATTER, and NOT the former!

And, it's just as obvious why a show promoting these VIRTUES was preempted, because THEY ARE VIRTUES! And, it was this administration's way of telling the public that not only will we stupidly remain in Afghanistan, but I'll use my power to interfere with the public's positive sense of Christmas and family!

And, you have to be a moron NOT to see what we was trying to do!

[trohunt00]

Ummm You do know which party got us into Afganistan in the first place and then just forgot about the war to go wage another war right? Quick, tell me the other shows that were preempted on other stations so we can see his anti-virtues conspiracy! Bet you can't huh? HEeonly targeted Charlie Brown. The other shows were just bonuses right?

[lmartink]

Does this pathetic loser realize he gives all Christians a bad name?

[babooph]

We should by considerate & always have cartoons on tv for the conservatives-the flock is usually controlled by a dog or preacher ,both can do this as they are a little smarter than the flock...

[moonphaz]

For that person who asked what church Obama attends I would say - why do you have to attend a church to be a Christian? I see most "Christians" who attend a building then go out & do the opposite - they could not live less like the very sermons they listen to. I believe the saying "the Kingdom of God is inside you, and all around you, not in mansions of wood and stone. Split a piece of wood... and I am there, lift a stone... and you will find me."

[doggril]

Wonder if they asked the same question about GWB. If they had, they would have learned that he rarely attended church as President. Of course, I suspect that's not their REAL issue with Obama.

[erasmus111]

"Mayor: Obama Purposely Blocked 'Peanuts'"


Anyone that can make a ridiculous statement like that needs to be removed as mayor. This guy has a mental problem.

[burneb]

True, true, true, that Wiseman has the right to post ridiculous statements and moronic diatribes on his personal Facebook page, just as any other American citizen.

But just as private employers often consider what a job candidate has posted online, in gauging their level of mental stability and responsibility, Wiseman's employers (the voters of Arlington) might do well to consider the same.

[45ford]

It's readily apparent that Mister Mayor is such a so-called christian and a positive person too. Hardly! He desperately needs to get a grip on life rather than sounding utterly foolish while spewing ignorance and hatred.

[jtsbrown]

Is this really newsworthy? These nut cases will continue this bullsh*t as
long as the media gives them coverage.