The Obama / Kenya Connection
Wednesday April 30, 2008
My theory is that with so many ordinary citizens now having the means (and meanness) to launch homespun political smear campaigns via the Internet, paid political operatives will soon become a thing of the past. In the latest of the many concurrent attacks against candidate Obama -- so many I have lost all hope of keeping up with them -- a pair of Christian missionaries in Kenya claim that the Illinois senator is a Muslim, that his full name is "Barack Hussein Muhammed Obama," and that he is a true believer in "worldwide jihad" who personally fomented political violence in Africa and hopes to do the same at home. Really. Read more...
Comments
The Obama/Kenya Connection
1. What possible motive or gain could Davis’s have to lie about this matter? Knowing how Christians are persecuted and tortured–yes in our world today–I imagine their very lives and the lives of those around them are now in jeopardy. To assume that they did not respond because their statements are false, is ridiculous. What would make any one think the Davis’s could or would reveal their sources and risk the life or lives of that source? Maybe it would be wise to take a trip to Kenya, live with the Davis’s, and then make assumptions.
2. Odinga (Kenya’s Prime Minister) has verbally stated Obama is his cousin. But, Obama’s uncle says he isn’t. How can anyone say which one of this people are lying? Why assume Odinga is lying when Obama’s uncle has the same chance of also lying?
3. A document lists “Friends of Senator BO” as a contributor to Odinga’s presidential campaign. Yet, because Obama and the mainstream news sources haven’t reported it, we should assume the document doesn’t exist. Let’s face it, maintream media isn’t quite known for revealing the complete truth on some subjects. Why would Obama report it and hurt his campaign?
3. Who would knows exactly how many times Odinga and Obama have spoken? As stated, the record shows that the met and have spoken “on occasion” since. Who defines how many times “on occasion” represents? The fact remains that they do correspond.
David Emery seems to think that his contrary opinion regarding Obama’s actual religion constitute “debunking”. Sorry David, I get that you want a black man to be president regardless of the risk but you really don’t have heavy enough qualifications to have your unsupported opinion count enough to “debunk” that particular item. In fact, youought to be ashamed for sneaking your personal political opinions into an “Urban legends” column. Nothing about Obama is an urban legend, as you well know. But, what the hey? You’ve got the power right? So why not use it and letjournalistic ethics be damned. Disgusting.
Sharon - what reason would they have to lie? How about a right-wing attempt to smear Obama as a Muslim (patently false) in order to stir up a mostly Christian electorate? Much worse has been done in God’s name, trust me.
Doug - Obama’s actual religion is a fact, not an opinion. He is not now and never has been a Muslim. And as for journalistic ethics - it’s about.com, dude, not The New Republic!