Less than a week ago Obama said that we're better than the last eight years and I agree with that statement but wonder if some of his staunchest supporters understood the point he was trying to make. Here, let me answer my own question: No. No, they weren't listening or seemingly capable of knowing what Obama meant in his use of the words "better than" otherwise how do you explain this crap?
"Sarah Palin is NOT the Mother" is the title of this DailyKos blog that accuses Bristol, a completely fit-looking adolescent teen, of having a "baby bump" in a photo they allege was taken March 9th of this year.
"Sarah, I'm calling you a liar" wrote blogger ArcXIX. "And not even a good one. Trig Paxson Van Palin is not your son. He is your grandson. The sooner you come forward with this revelation to the public, the better. " Photos of Bristol with detailed commentary about her abdomen are contained in the post.
Not that Obama or any of his campaign people are going to read this but I'd like him to know that this kind of behavior—from the very core of his base—is not better than the last eight years, it's not better than the last two-hundred and thiry-two years.
REDACTION Apparently I ragged way too early this morning when, in hindsight, what I should have done was wait a few hours for a weird situation to get even more so.
Join the fray by reading through and commenting at the end.
I agree that such accusations have no place in a campaign. But I'm curious: Did Markos write that stuff? Does he rigorously police who can register to post on dailykos.com? How do you know that "ArcXIX" (if that's his/her real name) is more than just a troll? Does shamelessly attacking a Republican automatically make one an Obama supporter?
I'm willing to bet that this kind of tripe is relatively common among the rabble in the blogosphere, but it's a stretch to attribute it to Markos himself or even to a sane Obama supporter. Isn't it equally scurrilous to use this kind of crap to accuse the Obama camp of foul play?
If we had a better healthcare system these people would be getting the care and attention they need, not running around, flinging drool and feces about, exposing the world to whatever insane hallucinations they are forced to endure by their unbridled madness.
But really, that's pathetic. Whose side do they think they're on?
Part of the community aspect of DailyKos is that members have their own "diary" page where they can post articles. The entries on these pages are not vetted by the DailyKos staff before they go up. This user has only posted on one other issue, back in 2005, so it's not (openly, at least) being posted by a regular, contributing member of the site.
I don't think it's fair to criticize Markos on this one. Sure, they could take the post down, but that's more likely to trigger the Streisand effect than to help matters.
I suspect nasty stuff gets posted to the diaries every day. It's the danger of a public forum. However, if this does become a big deal, I'd expect DailyKos to denounce the rumor as the filth it is.
In part McCain picked her as bait for just this kind of attack. But don't forget the very real possibility that the GOP machine will put out fake attacks to generate sympathy.
It won't work, the Obama trend is much too strong for a point or two to make the difference for McCain. All the evidence points to a fairly easy Obama win, I'd say he ends up somewhere around 320-ish in the electoral college, give or take a few.
Greg, Obama's staff sees this stuff, though (Referenced on your blog anyway). And, while they do not appreciate it (and think it's deplorable), there just isn't much they can do about social media like Daily Kos, where everyone can sign up for a blog.
> Did Markos write that stuff? Does he rigorously police who can register to post on dailykos.com?
Does Markos believe in integrity?
> Does shamelessly attacking a Republican automatically make one an Obama supporter?
In a race with only two options?
> Isn't it equally scurrilous to use this kind of crap to accuse the Obama camp of foul play?
You're right and I should have added that I would hope Obama's campaign would rather not have the election fouled by false accusations against a minor.
> The entries on these pages are not vetted by the DailyKos staff before they go up. I don't think it's fair to criticize Markos on this one. Sure, they could take the post down, but that's more likely to trigger the Streisand effect than to help matters.
I understand that not everything is vetted before it goes up but given his communities prominence in the news cycle I expect that Markos would be concerned about integrity over a sour community response.
When the Wall Street Journal published a story on Obama's ability to be president based off his weight I canceled my subscription because a group of editors thought that story was fit for print under the WSJ brand.
> While they do not appreciate it (and think it's deplorable), there just isn't much they can do about social media like Daily Kos, where everyone can sign up for a blog.
Come on, he's Obama! There's nothing he can't do.
I heard Barack Obama found a new way to balance freedom of speech and freedom from being or being near an asshat. Not only that, but it also is carbon neutral and all-American.
I heard Barack Obama found a new way to balance freedom of speech and freedom from being or being near an asshat. Not only that, but it also is carbon neutral and all-American.
I heard he can fly!
You make a point but in fact, they're not going after the daughter, that's not it at all, they're going after Sarah Palin for attempting to make political hay out of her steadfast right to life stand where, knowing what she did about her Downs baby in time to abort, she had the baby anyway because she believes every life is precious.
Whatever your feelings are about abortion, making political hay out of that act should be troublesome to any woman who believes it is her right to terminate a pregnancy.
This has nothing to do with who had the baby, it's about using what she claims is a personal act to make a political statement with.
The Governor of a State ought not be pushing that agenda or creationism in schools or any of those far right ideas that go against federal laws.
If, in fact, this seeming gossip is true it means that Sarah Palin took what ought to have remained a private family affair and made public political hay with it. Once you use it in a political platform I think it's fair game for folks to look into. I'm not saying it's appropriate fodder for Kos, but it's appropriate for someone to look into.
Even though I don't subscribe to the Daily Kos, blaming Markos for what happens in the diaries seems to me to be just like blaming Matt Haughey for something someone posts to Metafilter. I did however used to subscribe to this website.
Here's the explanation: Teen daughter of GOP VP pick is pregnant.
Apologies everybody, I should have known better than stick up for someone from Wasilla.