Current Netlore: Petitions, Politics & Protest
Internet hoaxes, email rumors and urban legends
Dame Edna Insults Hispanics in Vanity Fair
Email petition urges a boycott of Vanity Fair magazine due to alleged racism in its "Ask Dame Edna" column.
Darrell Scott's Columbine Testimony
TRUE: Darrell Scott, father of a victim of the Columbine shootings, delivered an impassioned speech before Congress which has since been widely distributed by email.
Deb Frost on Sarah Palin
Email by Wasilla, Alaska resident Deb Frost hails Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin as the "U.S. answer to Margaret Thatcher."
Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep Interview w/Katie Couric
Circulating via email: embellished version of a politically-charged TV interview hosted by Katie Couric and featuring 'Manchurian Candidate' stars Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep.
Dick Cheney to Be Dumped by Republicans
Is the Republican Party planning to substitute a vice-presidential ringer in the final hours of the campaign?
Dick Cheney: Naked Woman Reflected in his Sunglasses? (Photo)
A photo released by the White House of U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney on a fishing trip in Idaho appears to show the blurry reflection of a naked woman (among other possibilities) in the dark sunglasses he is wearing.
Discount-Mats.com - Web Retailer's Rude Reply to U.S. Soldier in Iraq
Forwarded email shows rude response sent by online retailer Discount-Mats.com in answer to a product inquiry from an American soldier stationed in Iraq.
Does bin Laden Own Snapple?
Email rumor and call for boycott: Terrorist Osama bin Laden has financial ties to major corporations like Cadbury-Schweppes (makers of Snapple), General Electric and Motorola.
Dolphin Slaughter in Japan
However worthy you may feel this cause is, the email petition is useless. Just delete it.
Don't Buy Gas on May 15
Latest version of familiar email chain letter urges Internet users in the U.S. to boycott gas stations on May 15, 2007 to "put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry."
Don't Buy Gas on May 19th
Yet another variant of the 'Gas Out' chain letter, this one urging consumers to boycott gas stations on May 19, 2004 to 'send a message' to the oil companies.
Don't Buy Gas on September 1st
Variant of a variant of the 'Gas Out' chain letter, in this case urging consumers to boycott gas stations on September 1, 2005 to 'send a message' to the oil companies' about high gasoline prices.
Don't Wear Campaign Gear at Polling Places
Email rumor warns Barack Obama supporters not to wear Obama shirts, pins, or hats to polling places because it is considered campaigning (electioneering) under the law and grounds for officials to turn voters away.
Dr Pepper Leaves 'Under God' out of Patriotic Promotion
Outdated email protest declares the Dr. Pepper/Seven Up company guilty of "anti-Christian political correctness."
Eisenhower Quote on Abolishing Social Security
Authenticated: A quote attributed to President Dwight D. Eisenhower in which he says that any political party attempting to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, labor laws and farm programs would never be heard of again in our political history.
Election Day Switch
Email alleges that this year's U.S. presidential election will take place over two days instead of one.
Encounter with President Bush at St. John's Church
Forwarded email describes a personal encounter with President G.W. Bush at St. John's Church, Washington, D.C.
EPA to Use Poor Kids as Guinea Pigs in Pesticide Study
Email flier says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is launching "an outrageous new study in which participating low income families will have their children exposed to toxic pesticides."
Exxon/Mobil Gasoline Boycott (2004)
2004 variant of a chain letter campaign to boycott gasoline from Exxon Mobil (circulating since 2000).
FCC Approves Use of "F" Word on TV and Radio
Email protest: American Family Association urges letter-writing campaign in response to an FCC ruling allowing limited use of the 'F-word' in radio and TV broadcasts.
'Gas Out' 2000
Forwarded email incites Americans to protest high gasoline prices by skipping three days at the pumps.
Gasoline Boycott 2001
Chain letter urges recipients to protest high gasoline prices by refusing to patronize Exxon/Mobil service stations. Shades of the "Great Gas Out!"
'Gay Jesus' Film
Email petition incites Christians to protest the making of a film depicting Jesus and the disciples as gay.
G.W. Bush Dubbed 'Walking Eagle' by Native Americans
According to this forwarded email, President G.W. Bush was recently (dis)honored by tribal elders at a Native American gathering with the Indian name "Walking Eagle."
G.W. Bush's Favorite Bible Verse: John 16:3
According to this forwarded email, President G.W. Bush declared his favorite Bible verse to be John 16:3 ("And they will do this because they have not known the Father nor Me").
On G.W. Bush's IQ (or Lack Thereof)
A new but hardly original specimen of Bush-bashing by email.
G.W. Bush Leads a Teenager to Christ
For the new President of the U.S., there's always time to save souls - even at public banquets attended by thousands.
G.W. Bush Nigerian Scam Parody
"I [G.W. Bush] am writing you in absolute confidence primarily to seek your assistance in acquiring oil funds that are presently trapped in the republic of Iraq...."
G.W. Bush Quote on Firing Missiles at Empty Tents
Did he really say "I'm not going to fire a $2 million missile at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt"?
G.W. Bush Quote: How 'Too Much Education' Affects Voting Preferences
Attributed to G.W. Bush: "As people do better, they start voting like Republicans, unless they have too much education. Then they vote Democratic, which proves that there can be too much of a good thing. After all, it is easier to govern sheep because they don't have to think."
G.W. Bush Refers to Fetus as 'Feces' in Right-to-Life Speech
Did President G.W. Bush really say in a speech to a right-to-life group that 'all human beings begin life as a feces'?
G.W. Bush Runs with Amputee Soldier (Photo)
Emailed photo shows President Bush running beside U.S. Army Sgt. Mike McNaughton, who lost his leg in a land mine explosion in Afghanistan.
Gertrude M. Jones' Anti-Bush Obituary
October 2, 2003 obituary for Gertrude M. Jones, dead at 81, requests that memorial gifts be made to any organization that seeks the removal of President George Bush from office.
Handgun Tax - Senate Bill S. 2099
The premise here is that a secret "backdoor bill" in Congress will require listing every gun you own on your federal income tax forms.
'Hanoi Jane' Fonda
Allegations about Fonda's activities as an anti-war activist are partly fact and partly fiction.
Harry Potter Turns Kids to Satanism
Chain letter contains alleged quotes from 10-year-olds who say they hate Jesus and love Satan.
Harvey Milk Day
Forwarded email urges California residents to call the governor and voice their objections to AB 2567, a bill designating May 22 as Harvey Milk Day to commemorate the San Francisco Supervisor slain in 1978.
Hershey Boycott
Email fliers urge boycott of Hershey Co., which has lately announced worker layoffs in U.S. plants while outsourcing jobs to new facilities in Mexico.
Hillary Clinton and the Black Panthers
This email alleges that Hillary Clinton was a "defender" of murderers in the Black Panther Party 30 years ago.
Hillary Clinton 'Marxist' Quotes
Circulating via email, a set of quotes attributed to Senator Hillary Clinton purportedly demonstrates her Marxist leanings.
Hillary Clinton Snubs the Gold Star Mothers
Did Senator Hillary Clinton refuse to meet with the American Gold Star Mothers when they visited Washington, D.C. on a lobbying junket in February 2001?
Hillary vs. Arnold
Did Hillary Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger exchange insulting witticisms during a chance encounter at a party?
Holocaust Memorial Chain Letter
Email chain letter urges remembrance of the Holocaust, claiming the U.K. has removed all mention of the event from its school curriculum for fear of offending Muslims.
Howard Dean on Middle East Policy
Email flier accuses Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean of backing away from U.S. support for Israel by calling for an 'even-handed' approach to the Middle East conflict and labeling Hamas terrorists "soldiers."
Hugh Downs: Obama Will Lose
Circulating online, an op-ed piece falsely attributed to Hugh Downs predicts Barack Obama will lose the 2008 presidential election because he is a "flake."
I Am a Bad American
Email rant on behalf of political incorrectness is falsely attributed to comedian George Carlin and other celebrities.
IQ and Voter Preference in 2004 Presidential Election
In which the results of the 2004 U.S. presidential election are correlated with purported average IQ of voters in each state.
Israel Omitted from Fuji Co. Maps
World maps supposedly distributed by the Fujifilm Company allegedly omit the state of Israel. This forwarded email alert calls for a boycott.
Jamie Bulger's Killers to Be Released
Outdated, pointless email petition decries the release from prison of murderers Jon Venables and Robert Thompson.
Jay Leno Hits the Nail on the Head
Article attributed to Tonight Show host Jay Leno labels the majority of Americans 'ungrateful, spoiled brats' for saying they're unhappy with the current direction of the country.
'Jedi Religion' Census Campaign
An email now circulating in Australia and England claims that if enough people enter "Jedi" as their religion on census forms, it will become an officially recognized faith.
Joe Biden's Character
A widely-forwarded email written by Maryland accountant Bruce D. Riddle calls vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden a 'liar and a cheat' and a 'man of bad character' for failing to pay for services rendered to his political campaigns.
Joe Biden to Quit Campaign in 'October Surprise'
Internet rumor predicts Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden will "excuse himself" from the ticket for health reasons and be replaced by Hillary Clinton.
Joe Lieberman: Open Letter to the French
Did Senator Joe Lieberman pen an open letter excoriating the French people for being soft on anti-Semitism?
John Brady Kiesling's Letter of Resignation to Colin Powell
Circulating by email: Text of U.S. diplomat John Brady Kiesling's letter of resignation to Secretary of State Colin Powell over the Bush administration's "fervent pursuit of war with Iraq."
John Edwards to Blame for Flu Vaccine Shortage
Email flier blames 2004 shortage of flu vaccine in the U.S. on "frivolous litigation" by vice-presidential candidate and former trial lawyer John Edwards.
John Edwards, My Neighbor
Message purportedly written by a neighbor of Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards says the politician is aloof, pretentious and disliked by fellow residents of Raleigh, North Carolina.
John Glenn vs. Howard Metzenbaum
Responding to a remark allegedly made by opponent Howard Metzenbaum to the effect that he had "never held a job," Ohio Senatorial candidate John Glenn lashes back by citing 23 years service to his country in the Marine Corps.
John Hancock Lesbian-Friendly Olympics Commercial
Yes, the TV ad described in this email will run during the Olympics - but its controversial content has already been toned down in re-editing.
John Kerry's Comments at Reagan Funeral
Did presidential candidate John Kerry, speaking at Ronald Reagan's funeral, call for Democrats to 'confirm the demise of the man who is solely responsible for turning the American people away from liberal philosophy'?
John Kerry Criticized by Swift Boat Veterans
Circulating via email: critical comments about Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry by former military personnel.
John Kerry 'Didn't Have Time' for Briefing on al Qaeda
Email flier claims presidential candidate John Kerry told interviewer Larry King he "hasn't had time" to be briefed by the Bush administration on possible al Qaeda attacks.
John Kerry's Favorite Bible Verse: John 16:3
Like President G.W. Bush and Vice-President Al Gore before him, John Kerry stands falsely accused of declaring his favorite Bible verse to be John 16:3 ("And they will do this because they have not known the Father nor Me").
John Kerry's 'Foreign Enterprises' (Heinz Outsourcing)
Email flier claims presidential candidate John Kerry, who has decried the outsourcing of U.S. jobs to foreign countries, owns overseas factories by virtue of his marriage to heiress Teresa Heinz Kerry.
John Kerry's 'Front Porch Meeting' in Canonsburg, PA
Email flier purports to expose the 'truth' behind presidential candidate John Kerry's 'front porch meeting' in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on September 6, 2004.
John Kerry's Many Homes
Email flier (with photos) purports to enumerate the personal property holdings of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
John Kerry Meets Satanist Anton LaVey
'Newspaper clipping' circulating on the Internet purports to show a youthful John Kerry shaking hands with Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey.
John Kerry's War Record
Forwarded email criticizes Senator John Kerry's record as a Vietnam War hero/dissident.
John Kerry w/Jane Fonda
Image making the email rounds purports to be an Associated Press photo showing John Kerry standing at a podium beside Jane Fonda as she delivers a speech at a 1970s peace rally.
John McCain on the Pledge of Allegiance
Circulating via email: A text attributed to Senator John McCain on the meaning and importance of the Pledge of Allegiance.
John McCain's Sons
Forwarded email states that three of Republican presidential candidate John McCain's sons are in the military, and one, Jimmy McCain, served as a Marine infantryman in Iraq.
Judge Forbids Black Mothers from Naming Own Children
Emailed "news item" claims a U.S. federal judge has ruled that due to the proliferation of "ridiculous names," poverty-stricken black women no longer have the right to christen their own children.
Julius Caesar Quote
Caesar didn't say it, Shakespeare didn't write it, but everyone's quoting it - a passage allegedly stating Julius Caesar's opinion of warmongering heads of state.
KKK Endorses Barack Obama
Emailed "news item" dated Feb. 7, 2008 claims the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan has endorsed Barack Obama for the presidency.
Long Distance Toll Charge for Internet Access
A "new" old rumor - the U.S. government is going to make us pay long distance rates for dial-up access.
MADD Petition
You are invited to help solve the problem of teenage drunken driving by reading a sappy poem and "signing" an email petition to be sent off to any number of destinations.
Marines Intentionally Dishonored Bill Clinton
Is the president's Marine helicopter crew treating G.W. Bush with more respect than it treated Bill Clinton?
Mastectomy Bill in Congress
Email flier urges women to sign an online petition in favor of the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act, which would require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy.
McDonald's Donations to Palestinians Injured in Uprising
A good example of what happens when a grain of truth is fed into the rumor mill in the midst of political discord.
McDonald's Importing South American Beef
This chain letter calls on American consumers to boycott McDonald's because the burger chain has allegedly begun importing "much of its beef" from South America.
Michael Moore vs. Bill Timmins on the Firing of Linda Ronstadt
Purported exchange of open letters between Michael Moore and Aladdin Casino and Hotel president Bill Timmins regarding the expulsion of singer Linda Ronstadt from the Las Vegas showplace.
Michael Moore: Open Letter to President Bush on Katrina
AUTHENTIC: An open letter to G.W. Bush from left wing pundit Michael Moore excoriating the president for his handling of the Hurrican Katrina disaster in New Orleans.
Military Casualties Under Clinton vs. Bush
Email flier purports to demonstrate that there were more U.S. military casualties under the Bill Clinton administration than there have been during the Iraq War under George W. Bush.
MSN Messenger Petition
Is MSN planning to start charging for instant messages? Can you stop them by circulating this chain letter? No and no.
Muslim Postage Stamp Boycott
Email urges a boycott by "patriotic Americans" of postage stamp commemorating Muslim holidays.
Muslim 'Religion of Peace Demonstration' (Photos)
Emailed photos show Muslims brandishing signs advocating violence against anyone who insults Islam at a purported 'Religion of Peace demonstration' in London.
'Mystic River' Boycott
Email flier urges Americans to boycott the film 'Mystic River' because two of its stars, Sean Penn and Tim Robbins, have made outspoken statements against President Bush and the war in Iraq.
