CALHOUN'S OBAMA SUPPORTERS WANT TO DISPEL LIE

(06/30/2008)

Obama supporters talk about dealing with "the big lie"

One of several thousand "Unite For Change" gatherings across the USA was held Saturday at the Upper West Fork Park, supporting the presidential campaign of Barack Obama.

"One big problem Obama has is dispelling a widely-spread lie that he is a Muslim," said Ronzel Haverty, indicating the anti-Obama lie has been spread on the Internet since last year.

Haverty says it is hard to change public perception after such intensive political spin, the e-mails stringing together a few truths, a few half-truths and then the lies, suckering the reader.

"Such propaganda is powerful," he said.

Another example, polls show that as many as 40% of Americans believe that Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq was directly involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of 9-11, when they had nothing to do with it.

Such tactics seems to work, a group member said.

The Bush campaign effort by Carl Rove demeaned John Kerry's efforts as a soldier hero in Vietnam and made George Bush look like an American "Mission Accomplished" hero, even though he attended reserve drills sporadically.

Because of his race and being constantly pilloried, Larry Cottrell said "Obama has had to work harder than any presidential candidate ever to prove his American values."

"Obama is a person who came from very poor roots, but now he is being portrayed as an elitist, not in touch with the American middle class," Cottrell said. "He's a man who pulled himself up by his bootstraps."

The group said Obama's position on the Iraq war has been clear, he was against it from the beginning.

"McCain's position is really clear too," said Haverty, "He will stay the course, even if it takes a hundred years."

"Unite for Change" is scheduling a public meeting to be held at Arnoldsburg Community Park July 13th at 5 p.m. on the park stage.

Organizer Ali Haverty said we're looking forward to having folks who are interested in discussing the political issues.

For further information call Ali Haverty at 655-8199.