AFL-CIO mailer debunks Obama rumors

Posted: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:42 AM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
The AFL-CIO is announcing that, beginning today, it's sending mailers to more than 600,000 union households in the battleground states of Michigan Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin that debunk some of the email falsehoods about Obama and promote his economic agenda.

One mailing -- entitled "A message from your union" -- features this question: "Have questions about Barack Obama? See inside for answers." And inside, the mailing says that Obama does wear a flag pin on his lapel; that he is a Christian; that he was sworn in on the Bible (not the Koran); that he was born in the United States; and that he places his hand over his heart when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

A second mailing features a testimonial from union members who support Obama's economic agenda. "We're voting for Obama because he's committed to ending special deals for big business and putting working families first. There's too much at stake to risk voting for anyone else," they say.

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Comments

Living in Ky, I am astonished when I listen to people spout these very lies and smears. They often are ignorant of the truth and do not want to hear the truth or find it on their own. These are the people that have been hurt the most by the current administration yet, vote on little no knowledge of the issues. Our area holds a very religious, family values electorate. Unfortunately they have been "duped" by the current administration, naively believing it held the same values they did. The only ones to benefit from G. Bush and his adm. is big business. I may pay increased taxes under an obama administration due to being in a high income household, and will do so willingly if it will help the middle class and poorer people in my state. When I look at the policies of both campaigns the choice is clear.

OBAMA 08'

angie in KY (Sent Tuesday, July 29, 2008 12:26 PM)

Reality Check: Spot on. The real question is how do we effectivly debunk the GOP lies and misinformation to help them make a more informed decision.

Leni,michigan (Sent Tuesday, July 29, 2008 12:26 PM)

You recite five points about the first mailing. Only one - that he was born in the US - matters (because it is a legal requirement). It is a very sad and also frightening commentary that the other points should even be considered. I don't give a rats ass about lapel pins, Christianity, the bible, or the pledge of allegiance. What is wrong with you people?

jdoe (Sent Tuesday, July 29, 2008 12:26 PM)

jp,michigan (Sent Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:58 AM)

If everyone were truly paid according to what they added to any companies' growth, there would be no social problems to be remedied. Also there would be no need for higher taxes. No one wants America to become socialist, but there is a need to make sure folks are able to earn a decent wage for their work. Using the model Warren Buffet works by; we need to make sure our advantages are of a "durable" and sustainable nature...that includes taking a fair minded approach to labor in this country.

At the end of the day jp; it makes no difference whether you are rich or poor, if our national economy fails, we will all suffer. Burying our heads in the sand and screaming "socialism" will not bring about the changes necessary to make America's natural advantages DURABLE and SUSTAINABLE again!!

GA GUY (Sent Tuesday, July 29, 2008 12:31 PM)

Paul Miller, travel a few hours outside your home in Woodbridge and go sit in a diner for a couple of hours. It's stunning and extremely sad the extent to which these cancerous lies have flooded the bloodstream of small town America. This is not something that's going to be addressed effectively through a simple mailer. In fact, I doubt there's anything at this point that can be done about it. After having just spent 3 days in a typical American small-town with well-meaning friends and family, I'm amazed at how deeply these rumors have been rooted in less than a year. It's truly stunning and incredibly sad.

Amazed American (Sent Tuesday, July 29, 2008 12:32 PM)

Thank goodness for the AFL-CIO. McCain and the Republicans will do anything to win the election, including lie and prey on uneducated voters' fears. How they sleep at night, I'll never know.

I hope Obama surrogates also get more aggressive about McCain's gaffes and memory lapses. I don't want a president who would potentially bomb the wrong border.

Cindy Lou, TX (Sent Tuesday, July 29, 2008 12:33 PM)

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