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Monday, May 21, 2012

Disinformation Overload

Posted Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 12:50 PM

Disinformation overload.

Disinformation is defined as the deliberate dissemination of false information.

It's saying Barack Obama is a fundamentalist Muslim so Americans will discredit him as a presidential candidate.

OK, so up until now I've not used this column to express my presidential views. But, a recent incident sparked me to write this ASAP.

When I heard someone tell me that on the presidential front she was favoring Obama until her grandmother told her he was a Muslim my mouth about dropped to the floor.

I replied with, "No, I don't think he's a Muslim. You might want to investigate that on-line..."

OK, so you can see where this is going.

I continued with the whole spill on all Muslims are not terrorists. In college, I met several people who were practicing Muslims and they were good-hearted folk just like anybody else.

They stayed up late, procrastinated on their studies, loved their families, and were sometimes homesick just like any other college student.

They were not all bad people. People cannot be grouped into bad and good categories so easily.

Back to the point at hand, I knew this Obama thing was a rumor floating around but I didn't realize how disinformation can easily be used to manipulate the American vote.

I'm not saying Obama should or should not be president but what I am saying is that portraying him as an evil Muslim terrorist to discredit him is just plain un-American.

The U.S constitution gives "We the People" freedom of religion. So, if you support the U.S. Constitution it shouldn't matter.

To make sure I wasn't losing my mind I quickly researched the topic on www.cnn.com and got the low down.

A quick check at http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/22/o... explains it all.

Obama is no Muslim. But, like I said all Christians aren't Christ-like...or maybe I didn't say it quite like that.

Not voting for Obama just because he is Afro-American or a Muslim or a Christian is like saying that the U.S. Constitution is irrelevant.

I'm personally voting for Ralph Nader because he has 11 toes. Might as well .....my cousin said so.


Comments
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]

A very good point, one that I think could be expanded to most all things, not just politics. I'm amazed at what some people will believe. The number of ridiculous chain letters passed around on the internet attest to that.

-- Posted by The Raven on Tue, Mar 4, 2008, at 2:18 PM

I believe that the lady stated that she was favoring Obama until her grandmother said that he,(Obama), was Muslim, not a "Muslim Terrorist". I see this to be a big difference. The Reverend Jimmy Jones,(not related), claimed to have been a Christian and look at how that all turned out. The great thing about being an American is that we do not have to explain or validate why we choose the people that we vote for. It is our constitutional right to have an opinion, being a dumb one or a smart one. It is still an opinion that we have as a right. I say let's ALL vote for the person that makes us feel safe as an American. The key word is ALL. The cemetaries are full of men and women who payed full price for our freedom to do so.

Thanks for listening, Timothy.

-- Posted by Timothy E. Jones on Wed, Mar 5, 2008, at 9:35 AM

Obama is not a Christian? So apparently this article is an outright lie.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22767392/

-- Posted by EggMan on Wed, Mar 5, 2008, at 12:35 PM

Many in this country didn't want a Catholic back in 1960, but I think JFK did pretty well for his brief administration. Many now, don't want a woman either.

I spoke to a couple of ladies at work today and I thought it strange that neither wanted a woman President. After they explained their rationale, I understood their position.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and shall cast or not cast their own votes. Some will do so with an educated opinion and others will do so based on hearsay and/or innuendo. It is up to the candidates and their supporters to provide the proper information for the public to be educated and, generally speaking, the winner will come from the camp that does the best job of this task.

In the end, our next President, like most of his or her predecessors, will be decided on who provides the most convincing sales pitch to the most voters over the extended length of the various primary and national campaigns.

-- Posted by simmons on Wed, Mar 5, 2008, at 4:39 PM

"They have broken the second commandment by making a god in their own image, as well as the first in not putting the God of the Bible first."

Your conviction is commendable, but your reasoning is ridiculous.

Barack Obama isn't a Christian, nor a Muslim.

He's a Pastafarian.

He loves ziti.

-- Posted by GarthHudson on Wed, Mar 5, 2008, at 11:52 PM

Who supports the slaughter of innocent babies? Do we have proof of this complicity to homocide? If so, someone needs to come forth and charge this person.

-- Posted by simmons on Thu, Mar 6, 2008, at 3:00 AM

junkmail hit the nail on the head in saying people change the perception of God to fit how they believe.

As for Obama supporting the slaughter of innocent babies, I provide the contrary.

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/arti...

If you read the second paragraph of that article you find the following...

"The conservative former diplomat said Obama's vote against a bill that would have outlawed a form of late-term abortion denied unborn children of their equal rights."

He also agrees with the abortion laws set forth by Roe v Wade.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_p...

So I guess going by your way of thinking the United States government, the Constitution and the Supreme Court do not follow the Bible.

-- Posted by EggMan on Thu, Mar 6, 2008, at 8:10 AM

ah, yay! The good Christian GCP is here to judge all of the people with different views and opinions. Just like Jesus told us to do...

oh, wait... I don't think that's quite right.

Oh well.

And I actually don't see anyone that said they support abortion.

-- Posted by MamaElle on Thu, Mar 6, 2008, at 9:42 AM

junkmail I'm just tired of the backwards and often uninformed views some around here hold.

So I guess that the US government, Constitution and Supreme Court are all of that same feather.

-- Posted by EggMan on Thu, Mar 6, 2008, at 10:19 AM

Okay, so I am a Christian. I believe that I am good and I do good things and yes, I worry about if I am doing things that God approves of. Am I perfect? Absolutely not! All people sin, everyone of every religion sins. And I also understand that it says we are to witness to others about Christ and lead them to him, but NO WHERE does it say to shove Christianity down peoples throats and make them choke on it. Splurting out biblical verses and using them as you see suitable to fit your particular situation impresses no one, not even other Christians. I would even think it could be safe to say that no one is standing back yelling "Amen!" to needgod's constant rantings about the opinions of our presidential candidates and that whether or not this man is Christian or Muslim.

Is this person, man or woman, black or white going to be able to keep America strong and safe? Will he/she be able to be a strong leader who we all feel safe with? Please people do not vote for someone over their religious backgrounds, but for their leadership abilities. For Obama's sake I hope he is a believer of Christ, because I want the best for everyone and I think that Christianity is the best practice. But if he is not, I guess I can continue to watch over my own soul and pray for his. If people insist on preaching, please go about it more tactfully and be less agressive. You scare more people away from Christianity than entice them to it.

-- Posted by Tralamala on Thu, Mar 6, 2008, at 3:01 PM

Speaking of the Democratic party and Christianity. It's little to me whether Hillary, (who claims to be Christian) has or has not "pimped out" her daughter to perpetuate the evils of the Pro-Choice Party. What bothers me is that Hillary and Barak (another dubious Christian) and all the rest of the Pro-Choice Party would pimp out the daughters and granddaughters of America as sexual entertainment; "hooking" at the next drunken teenage after school party with the promise that torturing to death the offspring of this "get together" is of no more consequence than getting a wart removed! If this is where we are headed then I'm...Terry Fyde!

-- Posted by Terry Fyde on Thu, Mar 6, 2008, at 5:45 PM

To junkmail. Since you brought it up lets talk logically. Let me ask you candidly, do you "support", with your votes, Democratic Party candidates who run for national office? Can you tell me the last national level democrat, that won, who didn't "support" abortion; legislatively and in the judiciary? You can't because there haven't been any for quite a long time! Candidates in the Democratic Party can't get beyond the office of dog catcher if they even try to slow abortion down! Yet by your hopelessly flawed reasoning you think that votes or "support" for abortion candidates doesn't perpetuate abortion. Just stop and think for a minute…if no one voted for abortionist and instead voted for pro-life candidates how long would it legally continue? It's clear to see that your problem is not belief. You're struggling with the concept of Christianity because it's beyond your intellectual capacity. If you can't understand things that are perfectly obvious it's easy to see how you can't understand things that require intellectual investment. TF

-- Posted by Terry Fyde on Thu, Mar 6, 2008, at 6:24 PM

"9. McCain would be more qualified to be CIC."

Why?

How would you, I or anyone else who has never been Commander in Chief of all of our Armed Services have any idea who is more qalified for this job?

-- Posted by simmons on Fri, Mar 7, 2008, at 12:17 AM

It always bothers me when Clinton attacks Obama over his lack of experience. President Grant had as much experience as one could have as a military leader, but he proved rather inept at running the country.

I am discouraged about the prospect of having any of these three candidates leading this country, but I've been discouraged now for quite some time.

-- Posted by simmons on Fri, Mar 7, 2008, at 6:29 AM

Please let it be known, that although I do not agree with "needgod's" approach to others on the views of Christianity and politics, I in NO WAY agree with "junkmail's" views on Christianity and politics.

Needgod may have been to aggressive but Junkmail, you are simply void in your views on Christianity and probably any other type of religion. You, in my opinion, are the only closed-minded person here.

Thank you.

-- Posted by Tralamala on Fri, Mar 7, 2008, at 7:19 AM

Didn't Obama denounce the support of Louis Farrakhan?

-- Posted by EggMan on Fri, Mar 7, 2008, at 7:51 AM

I don't care who else is running for president, I'm voting for mySELF. At least I'll know I'll be voting for someone I can believe in.

-- Posted by zenos on Fri, Mar 7, 2008, at 10:01 AM

"Therefore, as you make your man-made faith in yourself a reality, ask yourself this question: If I died today, where would I spend eternity?"

Under six feet of dirt?

-- Posted by EggMan on Fri, Mar 7, 2008, at 10:23 AM

Actually I'd prefer to be stuck in an oven and then spread out over Soldier Field.

-- Posted by EggMan on Fri, Mar 7, 2008, at 11:12 AM

To Junkmail

Yet again, failure to understand the obvious! Sticking noses into other people's business is what government is! And if you participate on any level, as a candidate, delegate or simply as a voter you are sticking your nose into the business of everybody who lives under the control of that government; or would you have anarchy? So, either grow up and take on the responsibilities of living in a democratic society or go live in a cave by yourself...you can't have it both ways!

TF

-- Posted by Terry Fyde on Fri, Mar 7, 2008, at 6:58 PM

It maybe time to consider ideas like "a new earth" that explores how our ego's feed on finding someone different to dislike and forming 'us and them' ideas both individually and collectively as a country. Time for ego's to die to unto themselves.

-- Posted by AnatasiaBeaverhausen on Fri, Mar 14, 2008, at 9:54 PM


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