• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Fight the Smears

joobz

Tergiversator
joobz
Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
17,998
It seems that Obama's website has started a spin control page setup to counteract the various rumors which circulate about him.

I think over all, it's a smart thing to do. At the very least, if done correctly, it goes a long way towards avoiding non-denial denial claims. Also, I think it's an honest step away from politics as usual. Directly attacking rumors instead of pretending they don't exist would be an example of that.

Unfortunately, I can see it backfiring if there is ever a rumor which isn't addressed. People would instantly jump on "he doesn't even deny it on his website" as proof of the validity of that rumor.

What's everyone's take? Do you think this is a political candidate's snopes page, or is it merely fanning the flames of the rumors?


ETA: Here's the website: http://my.barackobama.com/page/conte...thesmearshome/
 
Last edited:
joobz said:
Unfortunately, I can see it backfiring if there is ever a rumor which isn't addressed. People would instantly jump on "he doesn't even deny it on his website" as proof of the validity of that rumor.
Click to expand...

If the rumor is too obscure for his campaign to notice, it's probably too insignificant to have a significant impact on voting. Just debunk those that have a certain critical mass.
 
This looks like a snopes type effort debunking the internet chain mail smears.
 
Thank You for Helping Fight the Smears

Your donation will help push back on the petty and divisive methods of our opponents.
Click to expand...

Wow, they use this mini-snopes not just to combat these hoaxes but to slyly collect funds and imply that McCain is behind them. That's change you can believe in.

He needs your money to fight these smears. Maybe he'll recant paying lip service to the 100 years of war smear since he has seen the light on this issue.
 
corplinx said:
Wow, they use this mini-snopes not just to combat these hoaxes but to slyly collect funds and imply that McCain is behind them. That's change you can believe in.

He needs your money to fight these smears. Maybe he'll recant paying lip service to the 100 years of war smear since he has seen the light on this issue.
Click to expand...

There you go again. Are these the McCain rules? You can't use McCain's own words against him? Recently McCain said it's "not important" when American troops can come home. If McCain wants to change his position by commiting to a timeline for withdrawal, he can do so at any time. These are his own words, nobody made him say them.

In 2004 Bush kept hammering on Kerry's remark about how he voted for one version of a bill before he voted against a different version of a bill over and over again. Now Republicans get a taste of their own medicine and cry that it's a smear.
 
Heheh, they get a big strawman:

Barack Obama Won't Say The Pledge of Allegiance/Won't Put His Hand Over His Heart

LIE: Barack Obama won't say the pledge

LIE: Barack Obama won't put his hand over this heart during the pledge of allegiance
Click to expand...

And in response they post a clip of him leading the pledge in the Senate. Except that he did not salute the flag that famed time.

 
Brainster, that photo has been debunked long ago. If I remember correctly, they were singing the national anthem when the photo was taken, not saying the pledge.
 
Brainster said:
Heheh, they get a big strawman:
Click to expand...
Those are accusations that have been made about him. How, then, is this a strawman?

And in response they post a clip of him leading the pledge in the Senate. Except that he did not salute the flag that famed time ...
Click to expand...
... during the National Anthem, when it was behind him.
 
Bush_Hand.jpg
 
I think it's a great idea. The only way I think it could backfire is if he starts calling things "smears" when they aren't really smears. The "Obama doesn't say the pledge" thing is a smear. That's a good thing for a site like his. On the other hand, when someone points out, accurately, things in your past that you would prefer hadn't happened, that isn't a smear campaign. In my lifetime, I've seen a couple of very effective "smear campaigns" that worked because the people who were the target thought they were smear campaigns, when really they were pointing out legitimate issues.
 
Meadmaker, that's a good point. I guess that's when the site becomes less of a snopes page and more of a spin page. We'll see if it gets used in that fashion.
 
SezMe said:
Brainster, that photo has been debunked long ago. If I remember correctly, they were singing the national anthem when the photo was taken, not saying the pledge.
Click to expand...

So it's really a strawman, because the actual accusation is Obama doesn't salute the flag during the national anthem.

 
Brainster said:
So it's really a strawman, because the actual accusation is Obama doesn't salute the flag during the national anthem.
Click to expand...
Has it occurred to you that there might be two smears, similar but not identical in content?

The viral email that snopes quotes says that he does not put his hand on his heart during the oath of allegiance.
 
NotJesus said:
Which is perfectly acceptable etiquette for civilians.
Click to expand...

Interesting.

I have never saluted as a civilian. Is that the hand-over-the-heart thing? Moreover, it pisses me off when military personal salute on TV while not wearing headdress! In Canada, you salute only when wearing headdress. Is it different in the States?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom