Do people here believe misperceptions/rumors about the Obamas are an issue or non-issue?

[HardWorkingDem]

What I'm getting at is, do those here think the Obama is a Muslim/Michelle a radical issues are beyond the Obama campaign and that the people who believe these idiotic things wold not vote for Obama for any reason? Also, that trying to reach them is a waste of time and effort?

Or do people think the misinformed are able to be reached?

[rpannier]

1. It's never a waste of time and effort

It's just more difficult to reach these people.

Every vote counts.

If we don't try we'll never know

[BlooInBloo]

2. Uh... millions upon millions don't *want* to be "reached"....

They'll make up and believe in anything to avoid supporting Obama. All for The Reason That White Folks Forbid To Be Named, naturally.

[Motown_Johnny]

3. the truth must be broadcast to all willing to listen. He will be President and informing them now

will make his presidency more productive

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. I know that these lies are being deliberately spread

My former employer believed them because his preacher and Glenn Beck told him. I tried to plant seeds of sanity in him, but if he sees what he perceives as a liberal magazine showing a cover that reinforces his ideas, he won't ever change his mind.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

5. Hard to say.

With some people, it's obvious they are looking for a reason to not vote for the black candidate and will seize onto anything that will conveniently fit the bill. With others, it seems they want to vote for Obama but they've heard some frightening things about him. They are looking to have their minds eased and concerns alleviated.

[cbc5g]

6. Their misperceptions and beliefs in hateful rumors are covers for their xenophobia and racism

I go to school in Appalachia and I hear that shit all the time and it's blatantly obvious that it's racism. Being openly racist isn't accepted anywhere except KKK meetings so they come up with new words to replace the old ones. But the hate and fear are still there.

[jody]

7. "The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold." Aristotle n/t

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

8. People who think he's a muslim=12% People who think Bush is a good Pres.=24%

I believe that answers the question about persuadability.

At Least Half the people who are so fucked in the head they still approve of Bush don't think he's a muslim.

So it's not much worth worrying about.

At this point the Muslim thing is an auto de fe, not a real belief. It's like the people who say Iraq's WMD are stashed in Syria. They probably don't believe that... they pretend to only to show what true-believers they are.

[Undercurrent]

9. It's a really good question.

I don't know. In most cases it is probably a lost cause, but there are some who are able to examine our fears and prejudices and grow out of them. There are examples in public life of folks who have changed. Like Senator Byrd for example.

[Pirate Smile]

10. I think there are people who are misinformed but still reachable.

The RW'ers and bigots are unreachable, of course, but I do think there are a lot of basically decent people who aren't all that well informed who've been influenced by the mass e-mail smear campaign.

There are people who WANT to vote for the Democrat but have "heard" or "read" things about Obama and aren't sure what is true. Those are the people we need to reach - not the crazy RW'ers or bigots.


My God, we saw multiple instances of Democrats at Clinton events with signs pushing this crap and a not tiny percentage who seemed very open to believe this crap, if not already convinced of it.

[LowerManhattanite]

11. A large number of those who claim to be “concerned” or “confused”...

...by these rumors are flat-out racists who are using the “concern” and “confusion” as a dodge so they can say “Hey, I was open-minded...until I heard...” instead of coming clean on their bigotry and wearing the brand of racism openly.

And the fucknuts who'll duplicitously pretzel themselves to use that dodge are not stupid or misinformed. They're game-players who want us to waste time giving credence to these “beliefs” of theirs by wasting time trying to de-bunk them.

I say—FUCK 'EM. They're a waste of time, and it's pretty obvious to folks who's real about being open-minded and who's gaming the system—a lot like the many transparent dead-enders around here these days. :(

[Lint Head]

12. People that are misinformed generally chose to be so.

Unless you have a mental disability and do not control what you know why you one not want to be informed by evidence and not hearsay. :dem:

[sandnsea]

13. It creates an excuse

to cover the reasons that can be argued, like greed, racism, or just plain stupidity.

[AndyTiedye]

14. No Chance of Any Of Them Voting for Obama

The ones who say they are rejecting Obama for those reasons are saying what they are saying
because it is more socially acceptable than their real reasons.