Though I support Barack Obama, I am going to let other blogs sort out the Obama-Clinton slugfest tonight. As I type this, Clinton is up 39% to 36% with just over 30% of the precincts reporting.
Recently, a well-intentioned friend sent me an email about Senator Obama. It was one of those emails that seems to spread like wildfire on the internet. I will not paste the text of the email, as I don’t want to help the growth of yet another political urban legend. Suffice it to say that the email questioned the Senator’s choice of church and tried to tie him to the Muslim faith. A quick surf over to the Snopes website did a good job of debunking it.
But the email still frustrated the hell out of me. Why? Because I know that there are dozens more like it floating around in cyber-space. Obama is the first African-American with a credible chance of becoming President. In a post 9/11 world, he is also the first major candidate to have spent significant time living in cultures and countries other than our own. (Can any of my friends from across the aisle enlighten us as to President Bush’s exposure to other cultures before he was elected selected? 
) These two factors will result in internet rumors that by the time they end up in the average voter’s ear, will somehow end up as fact. At the very least, the level of noise that results from these rumors will compete with the facts to influence voters for or against Obama’s candidacy.
That’s where each of us has a role to play. Most of my intended audience for this blog can speak with passioned reason for their candidate or party of choice. Yet we all know people who are convinced that the Clinton’s murdered many of their political opponents, Al Gore said he invented the internet and my personal new favorite - John Edwards has fathered an illegitimate love child.
We each have a responsibility to seek the truth and share it. Electing our leaders is our most important task as citizens. We have to make sure that facts rule the day rather than half-baked perceptions. If you get one of these emails, delete it. Please don’t be a part of the internet rumor mill. If you hear something about a candidate that seems really weird - go check it out for yourself. Most important - make sure you check it out from a variety of sources, not just sources whose politics you agree with.
A better informed electorate results in a stronger democracy. The truth shall set us free.
8 responses so far ↓
Genie // January 8, 2008 at 10:09 pm
SMD, I hate to tell you the truth…but I am John Edwards’ illegitimate love child.
Kidding! I totally agree with what you’ve said here — the Internet rumor mill is ridiculous, and it amazes me that people still don’t question what they read/see/receive in their inboxes. Or on Wikipedia. Don’t even get me started on Wikipedia. (Excellent resource…if taking with a huge grain o’ salt and used as a starting point for doing the real work of research…)
I’d like to think the voting populace is smart enough to do their own legwork, but I think we know the truth…that’s not the case. And, unfortunately, it’s not the case on both sides of the aisle.
That Girl // January 8, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I couldn’t agree more SMD. How sad would it be if our country were to lose out on the right (errr correct) person to lead us because of false rumors? I agree with you that it is our role as citizens to make sure that what we tell others is fact and to research things others tell us rather than just accepting them as truth. Further, I think we have a HUGE responsibility to question others when they spew these ridiculous rumors. Just today, a woman at my doctor’s office said to me, “what about Edwards’ illegitimate love child?” I asked her where she had heard that and all she would say is “the news”. She wouldn’t reveal the “news” source, but I have my ideas. Regardless, I looked her right in the face and said “do you really believe that is true?” “have you done anything to determine the validity of that before you pass it on?” She squirmed and I felt better and hope that maybe, just maybe next time she’ll think before she talks. I think that is the bigger challenge for those of us who care so much about politics, who take the time to read blogs like this one. When we hear these things, it is our job to CHALLENGE the bearer and set them straight right then and there.
Stay informed and inform others!
2008voter // January 9, 2008 at 1:04 am
i am one of those “right wing” horror creatures called “republicans “
i am just wondering is this concept : “If you get one of these emails, delete it. Please don’t be a part of the internet rumor mill.” applied to stupid rumors such as “9/11 is an inside job? ”
or these rumors you will gladly spread across the internet?
sorry if asked a wrong thing in a wrong crowd
Genie // January 9, 2008 at 8:08 am
2008voter, it absolutely goes both ways — all stupid rumors should be stopped. Besides, when it comes to the Bush-Cheney administration, there’s no need to go to rumors…it’s just a matter of taking a look at the facts!
Vanilla Ice // January 9, 2008 at 8:34 am
Family. Religion. Friendship. These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in politics.
Homer Simpson // January 9, 2008 at 8:49 am
Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, SMD. 14% of people know that.
Big Momma // January 9, 2008 at 9:10 am
I’ve lusted in my heart, in my living room, in a hot tub at the Red Roof Inn and in the back of an El Camino. We all have secrets, secrets that eat away at us. The truth shall set us free. And when that day happens, oh will it be a happy day.
southernmaledemocrat // January 9, 2008 at 9:36 am
2008 Voter - Indeed, you are correct that the “9/11 was an inside job” rumor falls into this same category.
However, I would add that 9/11 rumors don’t seem to get the same traction among the average voter that all of these other urban legends seem to. In terms of a left and right comparison, you certainly don’t have as many of these on the right as you do on the left.
President Bush using cocaine is about the only one like that I can think off of hand. (Does anyone else have examples of prevalent urban legends about Republicans that spread around the net like wildfire? I’m honestly askin’.)
My more partisan view is that the Republicans base demographics make their voters more susceptible to these urban legends to start with.