Be afraid. Be very afraid. The Hate Talk Express is speeding down the track, trying to distort and suppress truth and skewer reason. On Tuesday I received another email filled with hateful nonsense about Obama - lies that have been thoroughly debunked by numerous independent groups and fact-checking organisations. The message was sent to my business account, from a high school friend's second husband. I've never met him and didn't know he was a right-wing Conservative. And he apparently didn't know I have a blog and am an Obama supporter.
After reading the innuendo-strewn missive, I wrote him back, saying such idiotic allegations have been disproved. I directed him to some fact-check websites. I told him "I'm proudly voting for Obama, because he's the best man for the job. And all the smear campaigns in the world can't change that fact." After sending my response, I made another online donation to Obama for America. So there!
Speaking of which, the McCain campaign's conference call Monday with reporters called for transparency about individual donors making small donations. I think the Obama campaign's transparency is not an issue. Last week, Obama campaign headquarters in Chicago phoned me in Paris, asking for my passport number to verify I'm a US citizen. Because, unlike the previous donations I've made online to the campaign, the last one (before Tuesday) was made via my friend Tangobaby's Movie Marathon in San Francisco, a fund-raiser for Obama. As I couldn't attend the event in person, I sent money via Paypal for a donation in my name. Hence the Obama campaign's call to confirm that I was an American citizen abroad, as it is illegal to accept donations from non-American residents of other countries.
Bob Herbert writes in the New York Times about the Republicans' attempts to suppress votes. An excerpt:
"...Even better than demonizing opponents is the more powerful and direct act of taking the vote away from their opponents’ supporters. The Republican Party has made strenuous efforts in recent years to prevent Democrats from voting and to prevent their votes from being properly counted once they’ve been cast.
"Which brings me to the phony Acorn scandal.
"John McCain, who placed his principles in a blind trust once the presidential race heated up, warned the country during the presidential debate last week that Acorn, which has been registering people to vote by the hundreds of thousands, was “on the verge of maybe perpetrating one of the greatest frauds in voter history.”
"It turns out that a tiny percentage of these new registrations are bogus, with some of them carrying ludicrous names like Mickey Mouse. Republicans have tried to turn this into a mighty oak of a scandal, with Mr. McCain thundering at the debate that it “may be destroying the fabric of democracy.”
"Please. The Times put the matter in perspective when it said in an editorial that Acorn needs to be more careful with some aspects of its voter-registration process. It needs to do a better job selecting canvassers, among other things.
“But,” the editorial added, “for all of the McCain campaign’s manufactured fury about vote theft (and similar claims from the Republican Party over the years) there is virtually no evidence — anywhere in the country, going back many elections — of people showing up at the polls and voting when they are not entitled to.”
"Two important points need to be made here. First, the reckless attempt by Senator McCain, Sarah Palin and others to fan this into a major scandal has made Acorn the target of vandals and a wave of hate calls and e-mail. Acorn staff members have been threatened and sickening, murderous comments have been made about supporters of Barack Obama. (Senator Obama had nothing to do with Acorn’s voter-registration drives.)
"Second, when it comes to voting, the real threat to democracy is the nonstop campaign by the G.O.P. and its supporters to disenfranchise American citizens who have every right to cast a ballot. We saw this in 2000. We saw it in 2004. And we’re seeing it again now.
"In Montana, the Republican Party challenged the registrations of thousands of legitimate voters based on change-of-address information available from the Post Office. These specious challenges were made — surprise, surprise — in Democratic districts. Answering the challenges would have been a wholly unnecessary hardship for the voters, many of whom were students or members of the armed forces.
"In the face of widespread public criticism (even the Republican lieutenant governor weighed in), the party backed off.
"That sort of thing is widespread. In one politically crucial state after another — in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, you name it — the G.O.P. has unleashed foot soldiers whose insidious mission is to make the voting process as difficult as possible — or, better yet, impossible — for citizens who are believed to favor Democrats.
"For Senator McCain to flip reality on its head and point to an overwhelmingly legitimate voter-registration effort as a “threat to the fabric of democracy” is a breathtaking exercise in absurdity..."
- Meanwhile, John McCain appears delusional; insists his campaign is about the economy, yet talks about Bill Ayers and other stupid distractions.
- After two Republican congresspersons - both McCain supporters - make abhorrent statements, they lie about what they said - even though the video evidence is clear for all to see.
- Keith Olbermann calls McCain out for his silence, as Republicans try to inflame hatred against those who disagree with their narrow-minded "base."
- Sarah Palin still doesn't understand the vice president's responsibilities, as evidenced in her incorrect response to a third-grader's question. But she does know how to get the State of Alaska to pay for her children's travel expenses! Also, she knows how to shop, while someone else is paying.
Looking for a socialist? Uh, that would be Bush.
McCain and Palin, desperately trying to find smokescreens to detract from their lack of ideas, keep casting aspersions about Obama having socialist tendencies. Not only are their claims ridiculous, they're dead wrong. It wasn't Obama who nationalized America's banks: that would be the sociaist George W. Bush and McCain as his biggest supporter. I've said it before: Bush + McCain = More of the same. What a shame, McCain.
Dear Tara,
I have been following your blog for almost a year and thoroughly enjoy reading your notes and love your photos of France (my family and I visited the Loire valley and Paris in April).
I live in Vancouver, Canada and although we obviously cannot vote in the Presidential election, there are many of us who support Obama. Personal attacks against Obama and yourself are simply juvenile as an intelligent person would critique one's policies, not one's personal choices. It is unfortunate that there is little separation between church and state and fear mongering is the best one can muster to defend their political ideology.
Those of us north of the U.S. border will be watching the results very carefully and hope Americans will vote for the best person.
Keep your chin up and the great work. You speak for many people. Take care.
Posted by: Janny | 23 October 2008 at 03:54
Why can't we all just play nice, darn it????
Posted by: Joyce Ellen Davis | 22 October 2008 at 22:58
Though I didn't have any doubts that the wild aspersions I've heard made about foreign donations was off-base and nothing more than last-ditch mudslinging - it's still nice to have some confirmation, and a first-hand account I can point out to others. Thanks for sharing about your experience, Tara~xo
Posted by: tinker | 22 October 2008 at 22:27
Say it sister! I was so proud this past weekend at my Mom's for my class reunion when she berated her neighbor's child for repeating ignorant, racist rhetoric.
Posted by: Michelle | 22 October 2008 at 22:22
This is good to read and know. I can't remember a time when so many other countries were interested in our presidential race. I believe in my heart the world wants the us to have the best man lead our country. Go Obama!
Posted by: Christina | 22 October 2008 at 19:55
The latest news: Al Quaeda backs McCain. I'm sure you've seen that by now.
In any case, I am solidly behind you, as you know. Hope and honesty and humanity MUST override dirt and thievery and racism.
Posted by: Colette | 22 October 2008 at 18:49
This really has become an international election hasn't it? Great response to that guy Tara. And my friend from SF made a donation to Obama when he was in New York this last week. A day later he received a call on his cell from the Obama campaign verifying the info and thanking him for his contribution. Thanks for keeping us informed and inspired.
Lisa & Alfie
Posted by: lisa & Alfie at The Pickled Hutch | 22 October 2008 at 18:10
Dear Tara,
If you look at the following links, the first is the only reliable source regarding polls and the second is some kind of conclusion regarding the first link, then you must be ready for a party on the 5th of November 03.00am CET in Paris..)
The elections are de facto over...
First link: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/search/label/today%27s%20polls
Second link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27296223/
Do the math..)
Kindest
Hans in Istanbul
Posted by: Hans | 22 October 2008 at 11:34
Good for you for taking the high road and responding appropriately to that man. I'd have lacked your composure.
We hope Obama gets in, the majority of Canadians I've spoken to on the matter feel the same. (In my circle anyway.)
I think McCain and Palin would be awful and yes more of the same. You don't need more of the same!
I love your fighting spirit. I also love how this blog educates. Thanks Tara.
Posted by: Gillian | 22 October 2008 at 05:53