Away from news and Internet since yesterday afternoon...

[OneGrassRoot]

Would appreciate what has been hashed out here with regard to two anti-Obama stories being discussed and which I'm being pounded about by right-wing relatives and a few truly undecided voters (I know...I can't believe anyone is TRULY undecided now either...I think it comes down to race with these people, so I don't want any BS stories to sway them and give them a reason to ignore their racism).

1. The Obama aunt story. I see the campaign issued a statement, but the argument is that he wrote about her in his autobiography and should have had more knowledge of her situation. Any new, clarifying tidbits or wisdom to refute this developing story? (I know he only met his father once, so this shouldn't be a big deal, but since he wrote about her, they are making hay out of this, though I honestly don't know what he wrote about this aunt)

2. The kicking of three media outlets (Washington Times, Dallas Morning News and another) off the plane after they endorsed McCain.

I'm countering with the fact that McCain has kicked reporters (Dowd) off his plane as well. And, to me it makes good business sense that if space is truly limited, as is time, you need to have media who can help sway your targeted audience, rather than media which is already preaching to McCain's choir. It's not that they're not FOR Obama, but their audience isn't who Obama is focused on right now in these last few days.

Any feedback and insight are most appreciated. :)

[LiberalAndProud]

1. If these are the important issues for them in this election,

really don't have much for you. Bush, with McCain's help 90% of the time have made a hash out of our economy, our budget and our foreign policy. If they're worried about this, they are the same ones who worried about Bill and Monica. No one will be swayed by this unless they need an excuse.

[Mojorabbit]

2. Conyers is looking into

who leaked the aunt info. Hope someone gets popped for it.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Our system is so f*cked right now, that priorities are definitely skewed....

That said, Obama has run probably THE most brilliant campaign I've ever seen, so I'm also surprised that something like this wasn't addressed long ago, in anticipation (the aunt thing) of fuckwads searching for anything and everything. They've anticipated everything else so well, so the aunt thing is an odd development.

No deal breaker for anyone in their right mind, but certainly seems to be a blip or misstep...something that wasn't necessary to ever have become an issue. I'm not going to give it more energy beyond asking the question here, and hopefully it will go *poof* in the media, but you know they're gonna go crazy 'cause they HAVE NOTHING ELSE.

The media thing (kicking certain papers off the plane) is a nothing. Good business sense, IMO.

[ColbertWatcher]

4. I don' t know the answer to these questions, but debunk threads should always be kicked. n/t