I watched Obama's interview on Face the Nation yesterday and thought it was quite reasonable and good. I didn't think anything more of it until this morning when I read an email from my mom.
The email was a bald-faced lie about a completely made up "interview" Obama supposedly did on another Sunday talk show in which he "said" some outrageous quote meant to scare people. I couldn't believe it! The author just made the whole thing up from beginning to end and people like my mother bought it hook, line and sinker because it seems like something that "crazy Muslim radical" would say!
I told her that the thing was a complete farce and then pleaded with her: "Mom, this election is important, could you at least TRY to get the facts?"
I can respect someone voting for McCain because they're wealthy and he would lower taxes for rich people or because they support the war in Iraq but to vote for him based on outright lies about Obama, that just deserves no respect at all. That deserves pity.
If this is how some people get their "information" (or more accurately misinformation) then I truly fear for our country but honestly, after my day of canvassing in Virginia last Saturday, I sincerely believe that my parents are part of a small outlying faction of fanatical wingnuts and most voters are acting more responsibly/rationally this year.
On a personal note, it does make me sad and worried for my folks. I don't want to have delusional far-right extremist parents! Conventional, conservative, small town Republicans I can live with and understand and even respect. Delusional wing-nuts spreading outright lies and misinformation, is another matter.
UPDATE: Here's a link to the article on Snopes.com debunking the email hoax. It's not even a new one. It's from a year ago. sigh.
UPDATE: Maybe I shouldn't worry so much. Apparently it's not just my mom. The Republican party generally is being wracked by reactionary fear politics. See this article in the Politico.









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