Obama camp tries to 'fight the smears'

Posted: Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:05 AM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
So here's how the Obama camp is going to try to make sure the Internet is on balance a help to the campaign rather than a source of harm: a "fight the smears" Web site.

VIDEO: The Barack Obama campaign launches a Web site to fight smears. MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell talks with Time Magazine's Michael Duffy.

Obama's campaign has mastered the use of the Internet for fundraising. His backers have used viral videos like the "Yes we can" mash-up and the 'Empire Strikes Barack'-style videos to rev up supporters. But there have also been instances where the Web has hurt Obama, like the Rev. Wright playing on a loop on YouTube. There have also been numerous emails about Obama being a Muslim and a man who refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance and most recently messages accusing his wife Michelle of uttering a racial epithet at Obama's former church. (The first two are demonstrably untrue, and Michelle has denied the latter and Obama himself has challenged anyone with video of his wife making the remarks to produce it.)

This Web site appears aimed at harnessing the Internet "for good" in the campaign's eyes to refute any rumor circulating on the Web.

Time magazine has more on the site.

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Comments

When the GOP can't attack Obama on anything substantive, they have no choice but to try and smear him with rhetoric.

This is typical of a party that has no platform and is slowly dying a painful death right before the American people.

http://www.politivine.com

Politivine (SC) (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:10 AM)

John McCain WILL WIN BACK Women voters !!

John OPPOSES Roe vs Wade
John will appoint judges who will OVERTURN Roe vs Wade

But, John McCain is offering a tax credit for wire coat hangers !!

John McCain, keeping you barefoot and pregnant

(then, dumping you for a younger woman)

John McCain, More of the same
Johm McCain: Bomb, bomb, bomb ... Bomb, Bomb Iran

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:15 AM)

WE WILL DEFEAT THE REPUB SMEAR CAMPAIGN WITH TRUTH!!

Here's some:

On McCain's gaffe saying that the return home of our troops is not important, but the reduction of casualties should be our only concern, consider this people.

It routinely reaches 120 degrees in Middle Eastern deserts, even in the winter months. I have been there, and know first hand how burning hot it is. Bare skin gets cooked. After seconds exposed to the sun, bare skin begins to sting.

When I see our military running around in the heat of the desert, buried under all their equipment, my heart breaks.

What Bush, Cheney, and McCain have done, and want to continued are the heartless actions of madmen.

donna (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:16 AM)

Well, you can't have it both ways...you live by the internet you can die by the internet too...

Rick, NC (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:16 AM)

Michelle is too intelligent for that.

New Indie
The irony is that we have an all volunteer military and nobody currently serving is there that does not want to be.
Yes, many Americands do not like the way Iraq has gone and most of us feel betrayed by the current administration. But this is not at all the point...although it is the drum the Dems want to keep beating.
***********************************************
Yes, it’s true my sun volunteered; but the real irony is he now realizes he was DUPED and doesn't like the incompetent of the way the orders come down nor having the right equipment. So please don’t insult me and other Democratic families who are suffering emotionally.

Btw: there are REPUBLICAN mothers who feel the same way. In addition to your comment, why can you spell American? Real patriots can.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:17 AM)

As much as I hope that he succeeds, trying to stop Internet smears is equivalent to the story of the little dutch boy trying to save Holland by stopping a leak with his finger. Noble but futile, as long as there are Internet trolls, there will be disinformation.

It's time to come together for our country. Bush/Cheney have created a fascist state with corporations running our government. The Republican Congress has "borrowed and spent" us into an inresponsibly huge deficit, with the paper being held by the Chinese and some oil rich states in the Middle East, and McCain is willing to borrow.

It's time to join together to work towards electing a Democratic President with a workable Democratic majority in both the House and the Senate.

This time do something smart and vote for your wallet, vote for the economy, vote for the environment, vote for jobs, vote for America!

Vote for the smartest candidate in the race, a real leader (and no that's not McCain -- not by a long shot)

Vote Democratic 2008 -- don't let the corporations and their Republican stooges win again.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:18 AM)

Did ANYONE see Chris Matthews, yesterday ?
He interviewed 3 women, Kathleen Kennedy, Moran of emily's list and Anne Richard's daughter

Campaign on WOMEN'S ISSUES !!

John McCain OPPOSES Roe vs Wade
McCain will APPOINT judges who OPPOSE Roe vs Wade
It just takes one more Supreme court Justice to overturn Roe vs Wade

Welcome back, wire coat hangers !!

McCain OPPOSED S-Chip
McCain OPPOSES universal healkth care

McCain DUMPED a loyal, loving wife for some hot floozy !!

John McCain, more of the same

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:19 AM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
Obama is starting to sound bitter. Next thing you know he'll be going to church and buying a gun.

twocanpete (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:21 AM)

I'm glad they did this b/c on rightwing forums and blogs there are tons of these rumors floated..and sometimes end up on political gossip sites. As an Obama partisan even I can't really tell if all of them are false b/c there is no evidence proving their falsehood. I mainly assume they are false, but I'm sure most wouldn't take that position. Now I can simply look to one source.

CJ (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:21 AM)

This is a good idea, but so is fostering a real dialogue on issues. I am concerned about John McCain's statement that US troops should be just like those in Germany or Korea. Let's talk about issues!

http://ilfamilypolitics.blogspot.com

Midwest Mom (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:21 AM)

Excellent, excellent idea! Obama and his supporters have always been way ahead of the curve in the use of the Internet(s). Let them now use it to counter the RePIGlican Smear Machine and all the potential swiftboaters out there. Let their internet(s) savvy sink Mcfossil and the Repiglican swiftboaters!

class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:23 AM)

Hillary had one of these MONTHS ago: the FactHub. So I guess it's just a case of the lesser following the lead of the greater.

Way to lead, Barack.

Chris, NYC, New York. (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:23 AM)

The Obama folks should aggressively fight the perpetual lies and ignorance. Yet, they should also realize that there are some people who don't want to know the truth. They will continue the smear campaigns regardless.

Stupid is, as stupid does.

Obama 08/12

Elise Denton, TX (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:24 AM)

Re: poll numbers. Suburban women have issues that need to be addressed by the candidates. It's time to have the dialogue on issues like education, healthcare, and a realistic talk about taxes. This "smear" stuff is just a distraction!

http://midwestmoms.blogspot.com

Midwest Mom (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:24 AM)

Oh good, a team to protect The Messiah from 'smears.' (It's called a political campaign). He's already got the entire media and all of you to defend him. What else does he need?

Elizabeth, NYC (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:25 AM)

Could be an interesting approach...it will be interesting to see how effective it is!

Lisa in New Britain, CT (mourning our fellow Boy Scouts in Iowa) (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:25 AM)

That website looks like an act of desperation. I can understand the Obama's camp concern, because if you spend anytime in the political "blogsphere" Obama is really getting beat up. People are bringing out is state voting record,his liberal senate voting record, how he has sheltered millions, talking about Resko, sharing information about the "Washington Insiders" that make up Obama's election team. And it looks like there are alot of people doing a lot of digging into Obamas past.I can see how they re worried, but that sight, aside from looking pretty lame, my 10 year old has a better looking sight, really says nothing new.

No McGovern Repeat in 08 (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:26 AM)

hmm, a website about truth...how....radical

we see what we want to see (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:28 AM)

Michelle Obama comes across as a bitter woman, with a bad temper.

Brother Odd (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:29 AM)

Interesting...

Snopes.com is all over the selective editing of Obama's books...

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/ownwords.asp

As for the story that Michelle Obama using the term "Whitey", the guy who's at the forefront of this story, Roger Stone, is scum. He formed an anti-Hillary 527 called "Citizens United Not Timid" (you figure out the acronym) and had to resign from his role as an advisor to NY State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno after leaving a voice-mail for Bernard Spitzer, former-Gov. Spitzer's father saying, "And there‘s not a goddamn thing your phony, psycho, piece-of-s___ son can do about it."

-----------------------------------------------------

Now if we could just do something about this...

"Fox News Calls Michelle 'Obama's Baby Mama'"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/11/fox-news-calls-michelle-o_n_106655.html

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:29 AM)

Speaking of smears:
All you people trying to bring up Larry Sinclair are (yet again) misguided. So basically, if I say that McCain, Hillary, and i were getting crazy in Flagstaff hotel room a few years back, my words will instill enough doubt to make you blog-arrhea all over the place?

When someone makes a CLAIM, they have to back it up, and Larry Sinclair can't. Period. Take it from someone who works in state service, there are ALWAYS baseless accusations being made against famous people, and just becuase someone knows how to get the word out doesn't mean they're full of it.

Read this article: http://deathby1000papercuts.com/2008/04/larry-sinclair-obama-accusers-murky-past/

Sinclair is a just a conservative's pipe dream, sorry guys.

P, CA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:29 AM)

He is BITTER twocanpete. He's still weak in the knees in terms of his political career and the only thing that keeps him in the spotlight are the garbage his handlers feeds him so that he looks good to the eye of the general public. I personally think he will implode before November 2008.

Boboy, WI (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:31 AM)

The more the Obama camp denies that they are bitter, the more stupid they look.

Shosho, NY (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:32 AM)

it's really a good thing "fight the smears" Web site is there to debunk Michelle Maulkin, Hannity, and the like.

Besides, "Michelle Obama" has more class and intelligence.

Diane from Illinois
***********************************************
I saw Scarborough and I agree. Nausea –ting Morning Joe, Buchanan, and Tucker Carlson give more bias for the purpose of driving wedges and to spew illogical distortions.
Morning Joe should admit that he is one of those thee educated, without a solution, as well as a despicable smear machine. Why didn’t he argue his talking point of Duel Personality’s McCain’s Senator’s record to Obama surrogate, Susan Rice? I know why. As Susan Rice pointed out it’s problematic, especially when, Duel Personality’s McCain…
Doesn’t know the enemy, which he has shown on several occasions
Doesn’t know who’s in power in Iran
Makes statements such it’s okay to be in Iraq as long as our troops aren’t harmed. That to me(Beverly) is stupid and comparable to Cheney’s “So”.
Plus, I, Beverly, personally think he has been privileged; how can he really know the economy?

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:33 AM)

If Obama loses in this election, he can switch careers to do voice-overs for one of the characters in "Bob the Builder" kid show in TV where his "Yes we can" has meaning.

Geoff (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:34 AM)

What color is your Obama?

http://www.236.com/news/2008/06/11/what_color_is_your_obama_7024.php

Terry, IN (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:36 AM)

I don't know if anyone has seen the children's movie "Monster House"? McCain seems more and more like the old fart protecting the house. "Get off my lawn, you punk kids!" It is hugely concerning that he is misspeaking on every topic, at least daily. I just don't see how anyone can objectively look at his miscues over the past month and say it is coincidental. Seriously?

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:37 AM)

I don't know if this is true: just my perception,

I have heard over the past six months for sure that Obama has only one 'loyalty' pledge and that is "NO DRAMA"! Apparently, if a news cycle lasts more than 24 hours on a distraction, the source of the distraction steps aside. I think it has been pretty effective, overall. That is how we know for sure Reverend Wright was never a part of the campaign. He clearly didn't get the memo. But, Johnson and Powers and a few others have. I think that is what is refreshing about Obama and his campaign; when he makes a mistake or gaffe - he immediately apologizes or tries to clarify. This is in STARK contrast to McCain's doubling down on every stray comment or remark (or war policy, for that matter). The fact that he argues about when he misspeaks, when the evidence is readily available on YouTube is 'mind bottling' (sorry-but I love Will Ferrell and Blades of Glory - and a deliberate misspeak is in order here). Again the contrast between an ‘archaic general election strategy and a technology forward strategy is night and day. You don't have to be a scientist to agree that politics have evolved and McCain doesn't seem to have opposable thumbs.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:39 AM)

It's sometimes hard to fight the smear if you are doing the same thing to McCain. What goes around comes around. Good luck Obamites!

Sherry Margolis, El Paso, Texas (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:42 AM)

Michelle O is an educated white-hating racists being indoctrinated from their Chicago Church. We do not want this kind of family representing the US post-Bush/Cheney era.

Concerned Grandma from HI (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:44 AM)

With Obama's empty promises, can it bring food on my table to feed 3 kids?

Single Mom with 3 kids, CA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:45 AM)

Barack Obama ahead in polls -

Iowa - +7
Washington - +18
Wisconsin - +13
MA - +23
NJ - +6

This is just the tip of the iceberg. He's going to win. David Axelrod knows what he's doing.

This is going to be your ultimate old fashioned knocking on the doors, pounding the pavement grassroots election all across this country.

And the more Barack & Michelle get smeared, the more votes they'll receive.

The country is sick to death of the Karl Rove politics. We want to talk substance. We want to talk issues. We want an intelligent conversation with the candidates.

That's why Senator Obama is raising all this money. That's why he has thousands upon thousands of new volunteers.

Get involved everyone. And most importantly, take joy in whatever you do.

It's going to be well worth it. For all of us. For all our troops.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:45 AM)

swiftboaters are ready with their religious and racial lies and smears but America is smarter than that these repub liars are using hitlers playbook of lies lies and more lies but then that has always been bush/cheney/rove/mccant mantre lie and scare.

thats a fact jack (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:47 AM)

Well, Mr. No McGovern Repeat, I guess we all see where you're coming from. How much does one get paid to be a Rovian plant? Don't you feel kinda icky pretending to be a Democrat in order to spread lies about a candidate? Or are you a Chinese spy?

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:48 AM)

The so-called 'lies' did not came to be without the actions the Obamas did in the past. Take it like a man Barak!

Ahkmed Salem, NJ (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:50 AM)

Thanks for the link to Time's Senator Obama's site that addresses the many false statements being put out against Senator Obama. Hopefully, many will take the time to look at it and use it to fight the Anti-Obama tactics.
Thanks, again.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome/

Linda (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:54 AM)

No amount of damage control in any form can keep michelle on a leash, wearing a muzzle for long. That woman is a rabid pit bull! It won't be long before she shows her true personality again.

Bobbi, Eau Claire, WI (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:55 AM)

Concerned Grandma from HI

Michelle has more integrity and class than most women. She'll be a First Lady we can be proud of. People who try to tear her down, don't know her, or aren't willing to give her a chance.

TLA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:06 PM)

I'd like to see the story about Cindy McCain's drug addiction... The kicker is, she was stealing her drugs from a charity she was working for. The medication was ment for the poor. John McCain returned from the war a hero, and ditched his "Army Wife" who had almost been crippled in a car wreck - and his 4 kids, so he could party like a 21 yr. old. He met Cindy a while later, and they married before the ink was dry on his divorce. I wonder how the kids lives were, considering Daddy was married to a very, very, rich drug addicted theif. Maybe this seems harsh, but it's true. Lets not forget about the keeting 5 problems. McCain a hot head, who's true colors will show before too long, he and his ageing Barbie are going to have some kind of public melt down, I've heard they aren't pretty.
Obama o8

jackieblu Seattle Wa White Woman 4 The Obama's (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:06 PM)

Bobbi,
Give documented evidence to your rabid claims, please.

MORE SMEARS (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:08 PM)

Bobbi, and you supported Hillary Clinton... because?
Cause you are a Limbaugh chaos-stirrer, not because you are a feminist. Equating Michelle Obama to a dog is just plain disgusting.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:09 PM)

Bobbi, Eau Claire, WI

If you are for real, you could learn a lot from Michelle. She has you beat in every way. I tend to think you are a Repub mole. Nobody could really be so stupid.

Zoolie (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:10 PM)

Obama's birth certificate
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/12/11012/6168/320/534616

The National Review's Jim Geraghty, who (ironically) helped debunk the "Michelle Obama railing against 'whitey'" video rumors, recently wrote about a new set of rumors:

Those rumors include the claim that Obama was born in Kenya, that his middle name isn't "Hussein", but "Muhammad", and that his real name is "Barry" and not "Barack". The first and third are attempts to reinforce the claims that Obama isn't "American" enough -- the first because he wouldn't have been born in this country, and the third because he would've taken a perfectly good "American" name and rejected it in favor of a foreign one.

Rumor two, about the middle name, is just weird.

banko (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:14 PM)

Please be fair and print thr TRUE story about Cindy McCain!
Thanks

jackieblu Seattle Wa White Woman 4 The Obama's (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:16 PM)

Ummm, Hillary Clinton did the same exact thing, AGAINST the Obama camp, whose holier than thou campaign came at a cost of funneling lies, exaggerations, and hypocrisies. See, the thing is, America doesn't like hypcrites, and the more Obama tried to pretend that he is against "hate politics" the more I laugh. What Obama does is set a standard, a bar, that only he can acheive, and moves it, or rationalizes it when it doesn't suit him. He is the "wrong by you" President in waiting, can't wait.

Jerimiah, NY, NY (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:18 PM)

When lies come out, challenge them with the truth. If what I heard about Obama's campaign and their ablity to use the web and social networking sites to counter act rumors is true, then it shouldn't be too long before many rumors among those that travel those sites understand. I just wonder how long that will take to trickle down to those that don't use the web at all. McCain's campaign is rumored not to use the web that well and could be a problem during the general election.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:19 PM)

"Hillary had one of these MONTHS ago: the FactHub. So I guess it's just a case of the lesser following the lead of the greater."
**************************

That's not the same thing. Obama has also had one of those up for months - before Hillary in fact. Check it out... http://factcheck.barackobama.com/

This one, however, is specifically designed to refute personal smear attacks, not address the veracity of claims on policy etc.

Linda. Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:25 PM)

No amount of damage control in any form can keep michelle on a leash, wearing a muzzle for long. That woman is a rabid pit bull! It won't be long before she shows her true personality again.
Bobbi, Eau Claire, WI (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:55 AM)

Yes Bobbi, just like you. You should be ashamed for the hate you display. Find somewhere else to spread you hate.....it is not welcome here!

MiddleTN (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:25 PM)

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