My daughter called a little while ago, asking about allegations Obama is not a US citizen.

[Left Is Write]

*sigh*

She didn't believe it, of course, but her SO was listening to some rightwing radio show (I don't know whose show), again dredging up cockamamie stories about Obama's birth, the idea that his mother was not American born, and that this disqualifies Obama from serving as president.

I gave her a quick history of Obama's life and told her to fill in her SO on just exactly how much garbage he's hearing every day. While I was at it, I debunked the "palling around with terrorist" allegations for her also.

These are younger voters (my daughter is 21 and her SO is 25), and her SO grew up being treated to Republican propaganda. He listens to these wingnut shows and takes them at their word - the essential "low information" voter getting his only info from wingnuts.

My daughter has been taught to take nothing at face value and to find out what the truth is, which is why she called asking about these allegations.

[Gato Moteado]

1. why did your daughter marry a guy like that?

didn't she know i was available?

[Left Is Write]

7. No, I'm pretty sure she didn't know that.

;)

He's otherwise a nice person, just grossly misinformed. I spent quite a bit of time with him when I was in Minnesota for the birth of my grandson, and we did talk politics, and I did give him my perspective. I don't know what his private thoughts on the issues were, but he was willing to listen to me. He's a former marine who did two tours in Iraq, and he is loath to discuss his time there, so I didn't ask him his thoughts on the war.

[Essene]

2. It's frustrating, esp with the internet and all the crud that flies around

I think the way Obama handles is it the way the rest of us should.

Laugh off the nonsense and just talk about the economy.

[AlCzervik]

3. I'm glad she has you, for real.

[Left Is Write]

9. I think...

that she will vote for Obama but may not tell her SO that she's doing so.

[AlCzervik]

10. i think that probably happens a lot, especially for moderate republican women

because there are a good many of them that are pro choice. My sil is one of them, her husband is a retired 30 year army col. and wingnut living in Florida and she votes pro choice.

[polichick]

4. My aunt from Oklahoma told my dad this week that Obama is from Kenya...

This is a woman in her 60s ~ good grief!

[gauguin57]

5. It's this stupid crap (all debunked)

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/citizen.asp


http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertificate.asp

And Corsi's book of lies.

[Vinca]

6. Actually, the candidate not born in the United States is McCain. nt

[karenha5]

8. Yes, it's McCain

There is some question about whether John McCain is qualified to run for office. And it's "undetermined" rather than "false" at Snopes. Though with the military connection, I don't think anyone would ever challenge it.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/mccain/citizen.asp

[eleny]

11. I heard Corsi's interview this morning on local radio

So this crap is going to be part of the drumbeat until the election. Some people will believe anything.