Chicagoist: "Obama Is A Muslim" Rumor Starter Meets The Press

happyfunball

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:49:36 -0600

But... Wilco IS overrated!

mikely1

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:19:17 -0600

Obama endorsed Todd Stroger, calling him "a friend" and "the only choice" for leading us "into a new era of Cook County government." Oh wait ... that one's true. Rats.

aldos07

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:24:50 -0600

cut his mic!

matilda

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:34:34 -0600

You've addressed nothing I said. Nor have you, my friend. You merely offer up another protest to your brilliance instead of addressing any issue I raised. For instance, I offered ideas to counter your media neutrality/objectivity post, which I found wanting. You responded with defensive personal stuff, as usual for you. That is why I urge you to gain some maturity to balance your smarts. You could really be a force for persuasion if you did. We're critiquing each others grammatical skills now? Well, when you ignore basic grammar so that you can twist the meaning of what I said, what else should I do? Remember, you are always telling us how literary you are. Odd. Which way shall you have it, then?

Albanyparkour

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:26:34 -0600

Even you don't believe that Ward and secretly you're bummed about Palin too. My 67 year old aunt is a dyed-in-the-wool Illinois Republican. When Palin came on to the McCain campaign she said she felt "heartsick". She's voting for Obama. I think it's the first time she's ever voted for a national candidate who was not a republican.

Navin

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:07:30 -0600

"....Sometimes it's actually dangerous and inciting, because these clods don't know just how whipped up their adherents are getting..." Actually, it is the foaming-at-the-mouth, Palin-hating left that is the "whipped up" side. Yeah right, That's why "the left" is simply saying she's simply not up for the job while "the right" is saying that Obama is a terrorist, Muslim, calling him Barack Osama etc. Even you don't believe that Ward and secretly you're bummed about Palin too.

Albanyparkour

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:05:51 -0600

You've addressed nothing I said. Congratulations on adopting the tactics of the rumor monger this post is about. Evade and accuse, go on the offense when your comments can't be defended. I stand by my words, you can't seem to face just how small your words make you appear. We're critiquing each others grammatical skills now? Welcome to the internet circa 1998.

matilda

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:54:04 -0600

Perhaps, Albany, you missed the use of commas in my list, as your grammar is imaginative. Listen, all I am saying is that, on this site, you often attempt to tell people how brilliant you are, and how stupid and/or ignorant they are when they disagree with you. That's fine, but what's funny is you often engage in short-cuts to thinking. Stop trying to pick fights, you're all noise and precious little signal. Do you get paid for each time you use the phrase "you're all noise and precious little signal?" I think you might want to invest in a new script. And disagreeing with the great Albany is hardly picking fights. It's a simple disagreement; it happens, even with brilliant people such as yourself. Not everyone is trying to war with you. Please grow up. You have the smarts, now you need the maturity.

Albanyparkour

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:37:45 -0600

@Matlida: You're playing the same game as the right, and it's a losing on. All things are not equal, there is not always tit for tat. People who read a variety of news sources are generally better informed than someone getting hand-fed spin by talk show hosts and talking heads. And you've offered plenty of talking points, slogans and ideological thinking on this site, so don't act like you are different from the right wing nuts. Your statement collapses under its own inaccuracy. Talking points are not slogans are not "ideological thinking". Talking points are direct spin from the campaigns, often used to direct the tenor and tone of the political chatter on talk shows and repeated, often verbatim, by both sides. Slogans, like "Drill Baby Drill" are pablum. "Ideological thinking", that I'll happily cop to, if I understand it, as yes, I share the ideolology of the left. But my thinking, such as it is, is my own. Stop trying to pick fights, you're all noise and precious little signal.

matilda

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:23:16 -0600

Albany: I'm just saying that your choice of words, over and over, suggests you think you are above many people and many things. Not trying to pick a fight, only understand a certain mindset that considers itself superior to others nearly all the time. Yes, I think people who get their information from talk radio and 'the teevee' aren't very bright. They are ill-informed and repeating talking points from talk shows. And I've met many stupid and/or ignorant people who spend more time with books and newspaper than talk radio and TV. You really need to get out more, I think. And you've offered plenty of talking points, slogans and ideological thinking on this site, so don't act like you are different from the right wing nuts.

Albanyparkour

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:12:26 -0600

@Matilda: Seriously, clods? Are you really that full of yourself, so confident in your assumed brilliance? You're trying to pick a fight, don't bother. Yes, I think people who get their information from talk radio and 'the teevee' aren't very bright. They are ill-informed and repeating talking points from talk shows. Do I think they're "proles"? Please. Anyone can be shown the light of reason, yourself included. Actually, it is the foaming-at-the-mouth, Palin-hating left that is the "whipped up" side. No. You're not going to get away with equivilancy here, that's been the right's game for years and it's over. Pointing out that Sarah Palin is ill-informed, unqualified and cloying is not the same as saying Barack Obama "Pals around with terrorists". Note the plural. You want to argue his qualifications, I'll go for that. Argue his politics? I'm down for that too. But these people are accusing him of nothing shy of treason. They're using the tactics of fear to get your vote. Don't you feel the least bit insulted at how stupid and panicked team McCain thinks you are? They're appealing to the very lowest of emotions to get your vote. How shameful.

dopplerd

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:49:00 -0600

Actually, it is the foaming-at-the-mouth, Palin-hating left that is the "whipped up" side. Please. Calling someone who is unqualified out as unqualified is not the same as the fear mongering and terrorist baiting that Palin has espoused. Yes Obama sat on a board with Ayers. IT WAS THE FREAKING ANNENBERG FOUNDATION MONEY that funded the board. So as Obama sat next to Ayers an ambassador under Nixon and longtime friend of Reagan FUNDED Ayers. No one is Calling Walter Annenberg a funder of a terrorist but that would have to be true to also say that Obama fraternized with a terrorist. I have not heard of a single person at an Obama or Biden rally ask to have McCain or Palin killed, insinuate false religious beliefs, or other hateful language. Please provide examples of such Palin hating. I would like to know.

Ward Up

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:56:23 -0600

matilda

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:31:58 -0600

There is no neutral, there is simply the continued effort to be objective. Well, objective is a fairy tale goal, too--perhaps computers can do it, but not people. The best one can hope for is to be accurate, honest, fair, sober (as in, not sensationalistic or bombastic) and as comprehensive as possible. The media has never, and will never, be neutral. Well, they can, if one defines being neutral as not taking part in political activities (some of the media refrain from voting, and all serious reporters are prohibited from donating to political causes and doing political work). There are not always 2 sides to every story Agree 100%, though probably not the way you mean. Sometimes, after all, there are 6 sides to every story, or 3, or 12, or 20. Sometimes it's actually dangerous and inciting, because these clods don't know just how whipped up their adherents are getting. Thank god someone is looking out for the proles as you are, right? I mean, all those riots started by Fox News--man, when will the proles ever learn? Seriously, clods? Are you really that full of yourself, so confident in your assumed brilliance?

dopplerd

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:20:07 -0600

Ward: My point is not that I want you to leave the site. I enjoy the range of opinions expressed here. But your original post does nothing to advance the discussion on the topic but is trying make a point by attacking the choice of running this story. If you don't like the story don't post. Meta is a weak place from which to base your argument. I seem to remember a whole lot of articles here about Democratic corruption in Cook County and City Hall. Your decision to cherry pick a few stories about a Chicagoan who is running for president and is the Senator from IL who was falsely labeled a Muslim by a person who has run for Mayor of Chicago and Senator of IL as the basis to call Chicagoist a leftist blog rings hollow. I don't worship at the alter of the "Obamassiah" but it IS a topical story (see previous sentence).

clarenceweatherspoon

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:10:21 -0600

Ward Up- I would prefer that you would not leave this site. Where else will I learn the terrifically inventive and massively smart nicknames you give to the things that you dislike. For example: Funny how Leftcagoist works. An article or two about the Obamassiah. OMG! That's so funny! You express your disgust by tweaking the names of things! Why, it's positively inspiring! Please, everyone: call me Clearance Weakerpoon from now on, because I'm obviously just another lefty LIB weakling who's massively invested in installing my Obamassiah in the White House and selling off all that makes America great so that the communists can FINALLY take over and save my weak ass. Right, Ward Up, or should I say Word Top since your gift for the language is so obvious? BTW: Obama is from Chicago, this site focuses on Chicago and stuff. Why is it so difficult to imagine that this site would have a bunch of stuff written about him, especially when the other major candidate is so positively uninspiring to most that live here?

Sears Tower

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:54:16 -0600

Lets get this straight. Obama is a terrorist who helped plan 9/11 and assassinated Lincoln, not a Muslim, or Arab. What's with these people?!?!?! Anyway, while you all enjoying bashing these rather uneducated McCain suppoorters (extra O intended), don't act like all Obama supporters are intelligent. Many voters will vote for him based solely on skin color, and a good deal of others are the working class democrats who love the Top 40 music, chain restaurants, and suburb housing blocks which are cast as so evil on this blog.

Ward Up

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:33:36 -0600

"......Ward: Are you being chained in front of a computer being forced to comment on Chicagoist? I don't eat at most of the places that are profiled on the food posts but I don't decry their existence. If you don't like what the editors of Chicagoist choose to cover, move on and start your own blog....." That's a great comment. It unintentionally makes my point. The liberals who populate the threads of this self-professed Chicago-oriented website don't like it when non-liberals point out that a Chicago-oriented website is a cheerleader for the Democratic party. In fact, some commenters, such as the one above, would prefer that non-liberals leave the site. You can picture them singing to the melody of Pink Floyd's 'The Wall': "Hey, non-Libs, leave this blog alone."

Albanyparkour

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:23:19 -0600

The difference is that Hannity, et. al., don't make a phony claim of neutrality. No, that's simply inaccurate. First, Sean Hannity is a talk show. He's no different than Oprah or Jerry Springer or Montel, save that his focus is politics. He can talk about anything he likes as long as it sells ad time. Fox News and other conservative outlets have made it their stated purpose to blur the line between opinion and reporting. Between editorial and story. It's laughable nonsense most of the time, sensationalist, over-hyped drivel. Sometimes it's actually dangerous and inciting, because these clods don't know just how whipped up their adherents are getting. The media has never, and will never, be neutral. Neutrality is something little children believe in. There is no neutral, there is simply the continued effort to be objective. Does the media fail at this at times? Oh yes. Dan Rather was sloppy in 2004 and was pilloried for it. Plenty of other examples. There are not always 2 sides to every story, you do not always have to be "fair and balanced" that's fox's attempt to game the argument. Obscure the topic by claiming the whole set-up is rigged from the get go. It's a broken way of arguing that's all noise, and precious little substance.

Marcus Gilmer

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:13:34 -0600

Prescott is actually in the Obamaist doghouse for not taking the blood oath and swearing allegiance to the Obama cause.

Prescott Carlson

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:59:02 -0600

Ward, I'm not an Obama supporter, and would wager I'm the most "conservative" writer on staff. Wow, I've been accused of playing Drudge and now Kos -- I'm really an Independent after all! :sobs:

dopplerd

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:57:14 -0600

CNN.com picked up an interview with the guy in FL who made the "Muslin" sign. Upon being confronted about his accusation that Obama is a type of fabric he was very confused, "How do you spell it?" Here is the video. Ward: Are you being chained in front of a computer being forced to comment on Chicagoist? I don't eat at most of the places that are profiled on the food posts but I don't decry their existence. If you don't like what the editors of Chicagoist choose to cover, move on and start your own blog.

CL

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:39:56 -0600

well, even if a lot of it's true Obama isn't that far off the boat......Wilco IS overrated.

Marcus Gilmer

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:11:02 -0600

actually jennyblur, if you mean the pic, our post went up about an hour and a half before the wonkette post using the same pic did. so maybe they're a fan of us?

jennyblur

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:03:22 -0600

Someone on Chicagoist is a fan of Wonkette.

Navin

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:55:18 -0600

So that's like half-cotton, half-polyester, right? Ha, As I thought when I first saw that sign too! My god a half man half fabric monster! Agghhhh!

Ingrid

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:47:04 -0600

heh heh, good one Ontology :)

ljpljpljp

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:46:45 -0600

I wanna see all the cable news shows produced by the Bang Brothers.

Ontology

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:37:33 -0600

Well, the CNN, MSNBC, and the massive mainstream media, i.e., the Obamediah, far outnumber anything on Fox News. The difference is that Hannity, et. al., don't make a phony claim of neutrality. Hi. I'm "Fair and Balanced," Fox News's slogan of choice. Have we met?

Chuck Sudo

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:36:21 -0600

How's Ohio this time of year, Ward Up?

Ward Up

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:27:48 -0600

Funny how Leftcagoist works. An article or two about the Obamassiah. Then an article exposing a right-wing nut. Then the lefty population of the site uses the subsequent thread to go after Fox News commentators. Well, the CNN, MSNBC, and the massive mainstream media, i.e., the Obamediah, far outnumber anything on Fox News. The difference is that Hannity, et. al., don't make a phony claim of neutrality. Why is Chicagoist acting as a local version of the Daily Kos?

sfrazer_chicago

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:24:38 -0600

Half-breed Muslin? So that's like half-cotton, half-polyester, right?

Slaphappy

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:07:37 -0600

These people likely don't believe this nonsense, they just sell it. Red/Blue...fuck that, it's GREEN that matters. Exactly. That's why the press is talking about "McCain making a comeback" -- not because it's true, but because a landslide is bad for business.

Albanyparkour

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:57:52 -0600

You all know that Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck are comedians right? It's an act. A very lucrative one. These people likely don't believe this nonsense, they just sell it. Red/Blue...fuck that, it's GREEN that matters. Getting angry at these people is like getting into a fight with a comedian. They're just noise.

Ingrid

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:51:30 -0600

Choose Sanity. Not Hannity. check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYX-HvCYaVA I think you all will enjoy it :)

Rob Christopher

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:42:26 -0600

Nutcase. I'm talking about Hannity.

staticfritz

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:34:30 -0600

"... He is a law school graduate, but his admission to the Illinois bar was blocked in the 1970s after a psychiatric finding of "moderately severe character defect manifested by well-documented ideation with a paranoid flavor and a grandiose character."... "