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The Forum > Article Comments > The audacity of hate: birthers, deathers, deniers, and Barack Obama > Comments

The audacity of hate: birthers, deathers, deniers, and Barack Obama : Comments

By Walt Brasch, published 25/5/2011

What is it about Barack Obama that attracts conspiracy theories denying even the most provable parts of his life?

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Even as I type this, I know there are people reading your article and fuming that you would dare to challenge their beliefs re Obama and their right to hold those beliefs. However, as you state, why continue when their is irrefutable proof to the contrary? Sadly, I have minimal psychology training, so am not in a position to comment.

I am all for people having opinions and debating them robustly. In fact, I love it! However, once they start to argue against fact, I can only assume a political agenda. In the case of Obama, this would certainly seem to be the case. Argue about his policies all you like but stop spreading lies about the rest.
Posted by rational-debate, Wednesday, 25 May 2011 9:17:30 AM
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The United States of America is made up of some 300,000,000 people, a small, very vocal minority of which are firmly united in denying that the Civil War was fought and won to stop the enslavement of all Americans, that the Declaration of Independence is incorrect in its statement that "All men are created equal" and that the revered Founding Fathers did not really want "liberty and justice for all". In fact, another branch of 'flat-earthers', but firm in their belief that African-Americans are a lesser form of humanity than 'white Americans'. And now frantic in their attempts to do anything to remove Obama from the Presidency.
Considering the sad history of the USA in such affairs, only another presidential assassination will curb their lust for Obama's removal.
Posted by carol83, Wednesday, 25 May 2011 9:54:31 AM
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This is nothing new in US history. Franklin Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln were horribly vilified. They tried to change things and stepped on the toes of the powerful, the bigoted and the mean-spirited.

I am an American living in Australia and hope to cast my absentee ballot for Obama next year.

It should be noted that the US with a majority white Christian population chose to elect a dark skinned man with a Muslim father as president. A hotel maid accused a very powerful man, the head of the International Monetary fund, of sexually molesting her. He was arrested and is now in custody. Many other countries would not have bothered with the maid's complaint. The law applies to all.

Most countries in the world do not have an independent judiciary and free speech. Any resident of the US is perfectly free to condemn the US vehemently, and nothing is going to happen to that person because of that. See what happens if a Chinese does that in China.

One price for that freedom and equality is to have birthers, deathers and deniers.
Posted by david f, Wednesday, 25 May 2011 10:22:35 AM
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Well it is the nature of politics. Never let the facts get in the way of a good hate campaign. It is a mistake in politics to belive in the idea if you spin a lie long enough it will take on a truth of it's own. In reality it is only the wing-nuts that take on those lies as it serves a self-fulfilling agenda. The thinkers are not impressed.

Donald Trump was a worry, one would assume a level of intelligence given his propensity to make money. I was waiting for someone to say April Fools.

Some of it is down to the sour grapes over the loss of the election and blind prejudice around race and one only need look at the demographic these attitudes spring from.
Posted by pelican, Wednesday, 25 May 2011 10:51:41 AM
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Well said David f.

It's easy to point a laugh at the US but the fact is we have plently of own nut jobs on both side of the fence.

Hi Runner.
Posted by Kenny, Wednesday, 25 May 2011 2:13:53 PM
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Let's be fair: the same kind of charges were levelled against Bush Jr, against Clinton, against Bush Sr, against Carter, against Ford, and for all I know against every President back to Washington. Obama's racial background obviously makes his defenders more sensitive to what might be construed as racial slurs, and rightly so. But there's nothing particularly new about ridicule and mockery being applied to Presidents or other powerful figures, and we should be very careful not to condemn what amounts to a powerful freedom of speech.

Where racial vilification and hate crimes are concerned Obama has access to the same laws as anyone else. As for being sent up, that goes with the job.
Posted by Jon J, Wednesday, 25 May 2011 3:42:05 PM
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>> the same kind of charges were levelled against Bush Jr, against Clinton, against Bush Sr, against Carter, against Ford, and for all I know against every President back to Washington. <<

They all had to produce their birth certificates and were accused of being Muslims?
Posted by Ammonite, Wednesday, 25 May 2011 3:45:32 PM
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I can remember Ford being accused of not being able to chew gum and walk at the same time, and Reagan of following his wife's astrologer's advice. Rude comments were made when Bush Sr spat out some bad sushi at a Japanese reception, and as for Clinton and Bush Jr...

Obama chose to produce his birth certificate: he didn't have to. And as for charges of being a Muslim, why is that worse than charges of being incompetent, corrupt or a sexual predator?

Even Lincoln copped abuse about his physical appearance: "Mr President, how long should a man's legs be?"
Posted by Jon J, Wednesday, 25 May 2011 9:28:05 PM
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Lots of experts are saying that Obama's birth certificate has been photo shopped.See the proof here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g30VCl_cgk It is not even a good forgery.Are they demonstrating the power of the media over reality?
Posted by Arjay, Wednesday, 25 May 2011 11:03:11 PM
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What is it about Barack Obama that attracts conspiracy theories denying even the most provable parts of his life?

As a Canadian, I'd like to offer my two cents to the above question. He's black, that's the answer plain and simple. He's smart, educated, likeable and the President. Some people simply cannot stand it. If he had been born in Kansas City, the nut bars would find something else to decry about him. They also can't get over the fact that it's more than likely he will win a second term.

What I can't personally understand is any black person supporting the right wing nuts. Yes I know the history of the Republican party in the south, but times have changed folks! Or maybe they haven't, given the attacks on Obama
Posted by WineVQA, Thursday, 26 May 2011 2:26:24 AM
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Arjay, is there any conspiracy theory you don't adhere to? If there was even the slightest chance that Obama wasn't legit, his opponents would have found the proof and he wouldn't be president. It really is as simple as that. How can you possibly believe otherwise?

Now if you don't like him or his policies, please say so - that is a valid argument to have. Personally, I have no opinion as I have no great interest in American politics, other than how it might impact on Australia.

I agree re this not being unique to Obama. All presidents, indeed all in public office, have to put up with this sort of thing. Small minds and all that...
Posted by rational-debate, Thursday, 26 May 2011 9:00:59 AM
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WineVQA

Exactly. Nor do I understand why gays, lesbians or women would sign up with Republicans. But humans are a diverse as they are numerous - and acceptance of that is a great start.

Arjay, Jon J.

Sigh.

I was not saying that other Presidents do not receive undeserved criticism. Simply pointing out the racial foundation of the attacks on Obama. If Obama was not born on USA soil, do you not think that the Republicans would've proved such long before he began the run for presidency?

I guess thinking would get in the way of a conspiracy theory.
Posted by Ammonite, Thursday, 26 May 2011 9:51:35 AM
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You lot don't get it.Obama's birth certificate was photo shopped.It is the media who have the power,not Govt and not you the people.You are living in the Orwellian world, where lies become the truth.They have achieved it!
Posted by Arjay, Thursday, 26 May 2011 6:40:54 PM
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Arjay,

Obama's birth certificate COULD HAVE BEEN photoshopped. Therefore it was. Love the logic ! Keep the laughs coming :)

Joe
Posted by Loudmouth, Thursday, 26 May 2011 11:44:54 PM
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Arjay

For Chrissakes, anything can be photoshopped - so what?

" Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961, at Kapi'olani Maternity & Gynecological Hospital (now called Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children) in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Ann Dunham, from Wichita, Kansas and Barack Obama, Sr., a Luo from Nyang’oma Kogelo, Nyanza Province, Kenya Colony who was attending the University of Hawaii. Birth notices for Barack Obama were published in the Honolulu Advertiser on August 13 and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin on August 14, 1961. Obama's father's immigration file also clearly states Barack Obama being born in Hawaii. "

A shame that rationality implants are still future technology.

Arjay, here's what you can do (no not that! I will be banned for saying that). I mean you go to Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children in Honolulu, Hawaii. Check it out for yourself. Report back.
Posted by Ammonite, Friday, 27 May 2011 9:21:11 AM
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But Ammonite, that would lead to the worst possible scenario - facts actually being included in this discussion. Can't have that...
Posted by rational-debate, Friday, 27 May 2011 11:18:02 AM
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