Below is an email exchange which originated with an email that one of my family members (whom I love deeply) sent to me and his/her entire email list (yes I do know whether this family member is male or female – I’m just protecting the privacy and identity of everyone involved, except of course myself). You may have received this email as well recently if there are people in your email list who send you jokes, political emails, chain emails, etc. It was the one about Obama on Meet the Press which claims that Obama made some outrageous statements about his views on the flag. Anyway, I quickly debunked the email as a hoax for everyone who received the original email. Within a few minutes I received a reply from someone on the list that I don’t personally know. That reply prompted a rant from me. I have removed all names and email addresses to protect the privacy of those who sent and received the original email, although I point out and take responsibility for my own comments below.
Original Email (I apologize for the formatting. Apparently the people who send these types of emails are fond of multiple font types, sizes, and colors)
Subj: The most damning email yet !
If you do nothing else . . . . please read this entire frightening, arrogant, disgusting interview starring Barak Hussien Obama. Pass this on to everyone you know. People need to wake up . . . we only have 4 weeks!!!!!
This is absolutely amazing that someone running for president of ‘the United States’ said this on a public television program.
MY God! I hope every one is listening, before it is too late.
Perhaps there are SOME out there who are beginning to get ‘the picture’.
The following is a narrative taken from Sunday Morning’s televised ‘Meet
The Press’. and the author is employed by none other than the Washington Post!!Yeah……the Washington Post of New York and Los Angeles Times fame!!
Must say that I’m dually impressed………………
From Sunday’s Televised ‘Meet the Press’ Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag. Obama Explains National Anthem Stance
Sun, 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, General Bill Ginn’ USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain why he doesn’t follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
The General also stated to the Senator that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171… During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. At the very least, ‘Stand and Face It’
Senator Obama Live on Sunday states, ‘As I’ve said about the flag pin, I don’t want to be perceived as taking sides, Obama said. ‘There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose.
I like the song ‘I’d Like To Teach the World To Sing.’ If that were our anthem, then I might salute it. ‘We should consider to reinvent our National Anthem as well as to redesign our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It’s my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren.
If we as a Nation of warring people, should conduct ourselves as the nations of Islam, whereas peace prevails. Perhaps a state or period of mutual concord between our governments. When I become President, I will seek a pact or agreement to send hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation have placed upon the nations of Islam an unfair injustice.
My wife disrespects the Flag for many personal reasons. Together she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past, many years ago. She has her views and I have mine’. Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put aside my hatred. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path of hope. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country’s First Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America.
WHAAAAAAAT the Hell!
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you heard it right. This could possibly be our next President.I, for one, am speechless.
Dale Lindsborg, Washington Post
My Reply
I would be pretty angry also if it were true.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/stance.asp
The reply which prompted my rant
I know that a lot of people want to believe everything SNOPES says, but I have found many items where they said something was true or false and then found PROOF that THEY were wrong. I recommend that everyone use a different fact checker or several, but don’t just believe everything SNOPES says.
My rant
I don’t know what your point is. Although my suspicion is that the original email aligns with your own beliefs so you prefer to direct your skepticism at SNOPES as opposed to the claims in the email. I do applaud your restraint in stopping short of claiming that the email is true and SNOPES is wrong in this case. No man or woman who publicly made such statements or held such beliefs would be a viable candidate for the presidency of this country in this election. My personal philosophy is to assume that EVERY email or story from the internet is FALSE until I have personally verified its veracity through several sources. And to demonstrate my approach, I’m skeptical of your claim to have found PROOF of many items where SNOPES’ was wrong without you providing evidence of such claims. I do believe that there is a possibility that SNOPES has been wrong, so I’m not claiming that they are infallible. Although, their aim is to be the primary destination for debunking rumors and urban legends, so they have a strong vested interest in doing a thorough investigation and checking facts before publishing the results of their evaluation. However, it should be very easy for you to provide evidence of just one of the many times that you have found PROOF that they were wrong.
Since it only takes one white crow to prove that not all crows are black, here is a viable source which proves that Obama was not even a guest on Meet the Press on September 7, 2008. The guests were Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee and Tom Friedman, Author, “Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution – And How it Can Renew America”; Columnist, New York Times. Here’s a link to the full transcript: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26590488/
What everyone needs to do is break the cycle of blindly voting for whoever has the (R) or (D) behind their name. Until we do that, the politicians have no incentive to reform themselves or government. Hold your own party as accountable as you hold the other. Make them earn your vote. Educate yourself on what both parties are doing with your money and your country. I mean how can a bill or judicial or cabinet appointment that is not worthy of a “yea” vote on it’s own merit suddenly become good for America now that the politician’s constituents receive a $3 Million projector (Obama – Democrat) or a $398 Million Bridge to Nowhere (Ted Stevens and Don Young – Republican) AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE? We the people have no way of limiting or eliminating this behaviour in Washington other than letting the politicians know that it’s unacceptable, they are being watched, and will be held accountable at the next election.
I usually don’t rant like this or even reply to these emails and certainly don’t forward them to my friends, but the original email is right by stating that people need to wake up. I’m awake and I think many others are or soon will be. Unless something drastic happens to change my mind between now and November 4, the candidate that will be getting my vote has an (L) after his name, and Obama looks extremely likely to be the next President of the U.S. If so, I wish him well and hope that he does a good job. But I’ll be watching and keeping score – not only the President, but more importantly my senators and representatives. I hope you will be too.
You hear that Washington? No one gets my vote unless they earn it!
Well stated Kevin! They throw lies from both sides and its up to us to decipher it.
Thanks Brian. I plan to vote on Friday, so in the next few days I’m trying to find out all I can about everything on the ballot.
I just got a variant of this “Dale Lindsborg – Washington Post” from my honor guard commander and emailed him back:
“Hate to tell you this, but this is actually an old rumor that’s been circulating around the Internet for at least 2 years now. Here’s some facts:
1. There is no Dale Lindsborg that is now working for or has ever worked for the Washington Post.
2. I did some research on this topic and found the following: http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/stance.asp. This is from the website snopes.com, a website that either proves or disproves rumors circulating on the internet and in email. This email was proven false.
I also found the following at the Washington Post website:
Anonymous: I have received an e-mail ostensibly sent from Dale Lindsborg of the Washington Post. It refers to an interview with Obama on this past Sunday’s “Meet The Press” where he talks about why he doesn’t believe in saluting the flag. Is this really a person who works for The Post?
Anne E. Kornblut: We just checked the database here, and I can’t find a Dale Lindsborg. I’m going to make sure people here know about it. Can you send us the e-mail?
(Anne E. Kornblut is National Political Reporter for the Washington Post)
These were also found:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/.....anthem.htm
Netlore Archive: Circulating via email, an alleged quote from Barack Obama explains why he doesn’t wear a flag pin or salute the flag during the national anthem.
Description: Email hoax / Satire
Circulating since: March 2008
Status: False
There’s tons of stuff like this out there circulating on the internet and I’d like to believe that it’s done “in fun” or is in some other way harmless, but I can’t. This kind of rumormongering is intended only to spread fear, mislead and misinform. By luring good citizens like you and me away from the truth, they do nothing less than undermine the foundation of our democracy, an informed electorate.
Just wanted to let you know.”
You have the right attitude in not voting just (D)/(R) and holding BOTH parties accountable. It’s unfortunate that the vast majority of people here (both [D] and [R]) view politics as some kind of sporting event so that as long as “my side” wins “I” win and “you” lose. It shouldn’t be that way, but that is the way it is. That is why I’m an independent.