The #1 Sign That Obama is the Democratic Nominee...
David Weigel | June 2, 2008, 10:46am
... is that the rumor mill that's churned out unsubstantiated smears for every candidate on a lucky streak—Clinton '92, McCain '00 (black baby), then Bush '00 (cocaine) Kerry '04 (intern affair)—is now attacking the grandson of a goat-herder. Amusingly (to me, at least), the founts for most of the smearing are two men named Larry. The first one's Larry Sinclair, a portly gay man who recorded a grainy YouTube video alleging a
wild night of drugs and sex with the candidate "between November 3 and November 9 in the Chicago, Illinois area." Which night? Eh, one of 'em.
Sinclair has produced no facts harder than his own hotel records and parts of Obama's schedule (which reveal he was in Chicago!), and he's failed a polygraph test. But the
Globe ran a story on his allegation.
Bill Cunningham (the Ohio radio host McCain ostracized for his anti-Obama rant at a rally) invited Sinclair on his show. Sinclair
even appeared on Super xClusivo, a Puerto Rican talk show (co-hosted by a puppet), to tell islanders about that fateful, fictional night. This weekend, as Eve Fairbanks
reported, Sinclair hobnobbed with Hillary supporters outside the DNC's delegate meeting. The reception was not cold.
The second smear has been burning up the internets for weeks. Larry Johnson, a former CIA operative best known for
claiming Karl Rove would be indicted over the Valerie Plame mess, has tried to add meat to a long-standing rumor: that
a tape exists of Michelle Obama "railing against whitey." There's always been something "off" about this rumor. In the year 2008, when videos of Jeremiah Wright sermons and Mitt Romney whoppers were uploaded to YouTube regularly, and with ease, who was still hoarding video tapes? And the rumor has been twisted and mangled as different people have spread it.
Last week, I learned of a Clinton donor who'd seen the video on an iPhone and was trying to push it onto liberal media. But iPhones display video from YouTube—where you can't find this video—or in digital format burned onto the phone. Could someone convert the video to an easily-downloable format and just decide to keep a lid on it?* Whatever! Last night, I learned that the same donor had actually seen a DVD of the "whitey" speech, and that Louis Farrakhan appeared in it. This was around the time that Johnson poured gasoline on the story by promising an "explosive" break in the story. Today's
update:
I learned over the weekend why the Republicans who have seen the tape of Michelle Obama ranting about “whitey” describe it as “STUNNING.” I have not seen it but I have heard from five separate sources who have spoken directly with people who have seen the tape. It features Michelle Obama and Louis Farrakhan. They are sitting on a panel at Jeremiah Wright’s Church when Michelle makes her intemperate remarks. Whoops!!
Philadelphia blogger Booman
has a theory, based on yet more heresay:
From what I understand, it is a tape of Michelle Obama criticizing the Bush administration.
How you'd write it:
Why did Bush cut folks off medicaid?
Why did Bush let New Orleans drown?
Why did Bush do nothing about Jena?
Why did Bush put us in Iraq for no reason?
How you'd say it:
Why'd he cut folks off medicaid?
Why'd he let New Orleans drown?
Why'd he do nothing about Jena?
Why'd he put us in Iraq for no reason?
How Larry Johnson wants you to hear it:
Whitie cut folks off medicaid?
Whitie let New Orleans drown?
Whitie do nothing about Jena?
Whitie put us in Iraq for no reason?
But this is, if anything, even weirder. Katrina came in August 2005, when Obama was a U.S. senator and the couple's notoriety in Chicago was at its height. The Jena controversy raged in 2007, when Obama was running for president. (It also occurred after Farrakhan
started to retreat from public life.) If anyone wants to compare Louis Farrakhan's travel records to dates the Obamas appeared at Trinity, go ahead (the last Farrakhan appearance at Trinity was 11/2/07, when the Obamas were presumably busy trying to win the Iowa caucus), but it beggars belief that he could join a panel with Obama's wife as late as 2005 and no one would hear about it. (An
alternate version of this theory has Michelle Obama only referring to "Katrina" and explicitly hating on "whitey.")
What to make from this? The Sinclair thing is pure kookery, but the "whitey tape" thing is a revealing example of how narratives swallow up candidates. The idea that Michelle Obama could "rail against whitey" would have been racist bilge a year or so ago. But since then we've heard her say that her husband's political success made her "proud of her country for the first time" in her adult life. We've seen her senior thesis about racial identity. We've learned about her church. Based on that, Obama has been transformed from a glamorous potential first lady into a female Louis Farrakhan. If she turns out to have given an on-camera bigoted rant? Shame on her. If Clinton supporters are trying to keep their hopes alive by spreading rumors about their opponent's wife?
*Edited this to make it clear why the iPhone story doesn't make sense to me.
krandl | June 2, 2008, 11:55am | #
Mrs. Obama is not only a fair target, but she's a perfect portal view into the retrograde racialist views of Barack Obama. Even though Obama appears to be God's son on earth (Sorry, Nas!), Obama is actually a professional politician AKA a practiced liar.
Michelle Obama really HASN'T been proud of her country.
Michelle Obama really DOES believe that the unfathomably liberal Ivy League is a bastion of racism. (It's in America, ain't it?)
It's reasonable to infer that Barack's beliefs are similar to those of the woman he shares his bed with. Ironically, since Barack is a good politicians, he knows that you can't tell racists (e.g. Americans)that they're racist to their face. That'll make 'em defensive.
But Michelle Obama is not a professional politician. She accidentally tells the truth about her ridiculous beliefs some times. (E.g., "As a Black Man in America, Barack could get shot at a gas station.")
So maybe Larry Johnson has the quote wrong.
I'm sorry, if Michelle Obama thinks that THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT should get involved to help the perpetrators(!)in a schoolyard fight where a few black kids tried to stomp a white kid to death (remember, Jena was Black-on-White violence), than she has NO RIGHT to complain about demagoguery.
Michelle Obama is a race hustler. She's been given a lot of stuff because her skin is the right color. And her response is to hate on America.
Fuck her.
papasmruf | June 3, 2008, 1:08am | #
Hmmm ...
I will try to be as objective as possible here.
I say put up or shut up. While this could be a last minute ploy to create doubt among superdelegates, all I ask is -- why wait until now? If Clinton or her proxies has this tape, this thing should have dropped way sooner. Perhaps it just got into her possession?
As many have already noted, it doesn´t make any sense for the GOP to let this thing drop right now. If the tape does exist, they would want to wait until later on, wouldn´t they? Nor does it make any sense for them to not be tight lipped about it. Republicans, traditionally, know how to keep their mouth shuts (McClellan aside). From a purely political standpoint, the Republicans are far more organized and operate more in sync with each other, compared to the more individualistic democrats. Now, perhaps Clinton acquired it, and plans on releasing this tape into the world, so that that Dems will view her as a savior. Perhaps.
My personal thoughts. The tape is bullshit unless there is proof. I think this is last-ditch effort to create doubt, and slime Obama.
Also, this Sinclair is a hack; I can tell just by looking at him. What is in it for him? He seems like an attention deprived individual. I say follow the money? Where does he get the time and money to file a suit against Obama? What does this man do for a living? If it were a person with a real job, in a real profession, or doing something meaningful with his life -- then I could maybe believe him more. This guy looks like he has nothing to do, and he looks like out there, if you know what I mean. Not legitimate. He seems to be a guy with a lot of time on his hands, enough to sit around and post videos of himself talking about how he sucked Obama´s cock. Either somebody is paying him or he just literally does not have a life. If this guy were in government or was a lawyer or something legit to where he had something to lose, then I might believe it (See: McClealan) But this guy seems to be the same type of guy that is littered in the gossip rags, claiming they saw a UFO, and that the UFO injected something into their ass. Does anybody have any background info on this guy? I cannot find anything via Google, other than the current (fake)controversy.
As for this other guy with the tape ...
The whole thing screams bullshit. Is anybody old enough to remember 1992 when Clinton was slimed with false tapes? If the scenario where the tape is true and it is released, now is the not the time. This will be a forgotten item come November. However, I think it could be a rumor instigated by a Clinton Proxy to circulate doubt among the Dems? If the tape exists, the same thing applies. However, if this is so damaging -- why in the hell wasn´t it released earlier? The person with the tape had to know that it was worth money, and I can guarantee the Clinton´s or Obama´s allies would have paid top dollar. The GOP would have paid top dollar as well, but there is no way in hell they would release it now, and I seriously doubt the inner circle that supposedly have it would break ranks. Just doesn´t add up.
Unless the tape is produced, the story is bullshit. Follow the money, what does the guy talking about this crap gain: Does he make money off all the traffic he is getting promoting this? Also, there seems to be a conflict of interest as he does seem to be a Clinton Partisan.
An interesting theory that one commenter noted was about Obama´s campaign circulating this to make Clinton´s side seem even more silly. While I don´t think this is the case, this seems like the sanest and most logical explanation, from a purely objective, political, and strategic standpoint. Of course, even then, it´ś reaching.
Mick for Obama | June 6, 2008, 8:55am | #
Krandl: You by far are a highly ignorant and bigotted person. Do me a favor; when and if you ever see a black person, spout your racist shit to them to their face. I think you should have the balls to speak your mind instead of being a coward; closeted hate monger. as for your little racist rant:
##Mrs. Obama is not only a fair target, but she's a perfect portal view into the retrograde racialist views of Barack Obama.
So Cindy McCain is a fair target; as is Bill Clinton, Mit Romney's many wives and Hucksters wives as well.
##Michelle Obama really HASN'T been proud of her country.
Who the fuck has? Iraq; Guantanamo; thousands of Iraqi's Dead, more people in prison than any other industrialized country, NAFTA, CAFTA, Telecommunications Act of 1996, Extrodinary Rendition; Ronald Regan trickle down economics, George Bush Sr. Tax Cuts to the wealthy; less money with more costs -- etc etc etc.
And rampant racist assholes spouting shit off when they're anonymous yet holding their mouth shut in public.
##Michelle Obama really DOES believe that the unfathomably liberal Ivy League is a bastion of racism.
That's a racial inference; I've never seen her say anything of that nature; speak truths not racist fears please. Or cite sources to back up your ignorant claims.
##It's reasonable to infer that Barack's beliefs are similar to those of the woman he shares his bed with.
I think rich ass white people are the bastion of America, and bain to their "Priviliedge" profiting off holding other cultures down, from the Irish to the Blacks. My woman doesn't feel that way; and cries when I speak like that. Its pretty night and day with us asshat. Opposites attract.
*I'm not black; but I am Irish fuck face*
##Ironically, since Barack is a good politicians, he knows that you can't tell racists (e.g. Americans)that they're racist to their face. That'll make 'em defensive.
Yeah; yet racists can't spout their racist remarks to people's faces because they're ignorant cowards.
(eg. Americans) as in "All americans" are racist; that's such bullshit in itself, 20% i'd say; you're the minority asshat; grow up; get educated and stop blaming others for your fears, darkie did nothing to you except be held down and called names.
##But Michelle Obama is not a professional politician. She accidentally tells the truth about her ridiculous beliefs some times. (E.g., "As a Black Man in America, Barack could get shot at a gas station.")
That's a truth. You obviously haven't been to certain cities and probably stick to your white power areas.
##I'm sorry, if Michelle Obama thinks that THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT should get involved to help the perpetrators(!)in a schoolyard fight where a few black kids tried to stomp a white kid to death (remember, Jena was Black-on-White violence), than she has NO RIGHT to complain about demagoguery.
Black on White violence caused after White on black violence and a fucking noose hung from a tree asshole. Racist faggot white kids started that shit; and the black kids fought back. Fuck you for trying to blame black people for what your kind did. *not all white people are racist just this asshat and his friends*
##Michelle Obama is a race hustler. She's been given a lot of stuff because her skin is the right color. And her response is to hate on America.
You're a racist; and you infer a lot of stuff because of your ignorant hatred. What has she been given because of her race? I'm sorry more blacks in this country are shit on than whites so fucking take that ignorant somewhere else, and as I said before, walk the streets and be open about your ignorance; you ignorant asshat.
And don't come back with this; she got her education because she was black shit; if that were the case; harvard/princeton would be full of black kids; instead of rich; upper class; white kids, who possibly share your beliefs. Obama's roomate in college said herself she was pissed when Mrs. Obama was her roomate; because she was Black. Asshat.
##Fuck her.
Fuck you; whitey -- you bigoted cowardly asshat.
