Maureen Dowd Becomes Fictional Actor In Obama Smear

A comically absurd Barack Obama smear email is making the rounds right now involving a fabricated column by famed New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. The email, presented as a June 29 op-ed (replete with The Times' font, layout, and Dowd byline) presents the "shocking" revelation that Obama's prodigious Internet fundraising apparatus is really driven by wealthy financiers from -- you guessed it -- "Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries."

Taking her cues from anonymous Obama campaign "Internet geeks," the fictional Dowd column reads:

"What I learned from this insider was shocking but I guess we shouldn't be surprised that when it comes to fund raising there simply are no rules that can't be broken and no ethics that prevail. [...]

"I guess we should have been somewhat suspicious when the numbers started to come out. We were told (no proof offered) that the Obama internet contributions were from $10.00 to $25.00 or so.

"If the $200,000,000 is right, and the average contribution was $15.00, that would mean over 13 million individuals made contributions? That would also be 13 million contributions would need to be processed. How did all that happen?"

Where to begin? For starters, the average Obama contribution has been around $100, not $15. The campaign, by law, must disclose all donors who have given over $200. And, most obviously, a review of the paper of record shows that Dowd's column on June 29 was not on Obama fundraising but rather Hillary Clinton supporters.

Dowd herself found the email an exercise in absurdity, not to mention -- quite possibly -- the first time she's been indirectly involved in a smear campaign.

"The line about it being the 'most shocking revelation,' I don't think I've ever said those words, except in a satire. Also, it is about money, which I never write about," she told the Huffington Post. "Sometime you try and protest things you hear about, but sometimes it's just not worth it... It is hard to track down and control these things, and anyone who reads my column knows that this wasn't me. I got to the second line and I knew it wasn't me."

The Obama campaign, as is now its practice, addressed the fake Dowd column in a post today on its website, Fight the Smears. But sometimes it's worth noting just how outrageous and offensive -- both to Obama and the public's intelligence -- these attacks can be.

Comments

[gloriar8]

I'm sorry, "I got to the second line and I knew it wasn't me". I read Mo Dowd often and that was a crazy comment, from her. She should have known from the subject line.

That being said, I wouldn't have believed that she did that esp. since she skewered HRC.

[djwfutbol]

I know it's hard to see a wink on paper but I'm pretty sure she was making a joke.

[ZsaZsa]

If they were going to make up a Maureen Dowd column, they could at least make it read like a Maureen Dowd column. No way could anybody confuse this doggerel for Dowd's writing.

[Butai]

What do you expect from Republicans?? the truth? Pleaaaaaaaaaaaase wake up! After all they have been lying for years and the american public has rewarded them.

[Scarllatti]

I wonder who keeps this "chicken" Maureen as a wife at home. Does she have kids at home or keeps pets as kids?

[Budokan]

When are fictional columns about McCain going to start making the rounds on the Internet? When are we going to wake up and realize we must fight these lying criminal RepubliCONS on the same playing field and the same rules they use if we want to win?

Oh, that's right, we're Democrats. Better to huddle in a corner, whimpering, and beg the GOP not to take away our baby toys.

I hate the RepubliCONS. But I hate the Dems more for not willing to stand up and fight. This nation is on life support, and no one is willing to destroy these right-wing animals in the way they deserve...­.no one.

[condew]

I think some very good emails could damage McCain with nothing but the truth. Just list all the Lobbyists who have worked his campaign and written his policies, with and asterisk for those who left in disgrace. Add some of his patently false statements with a concise and attributed rebuttal, and reams of quotes with McCain pushing both sides of an issue; on one side 8 years ago, on the other side last year, and probably another side now that he's running for president.

[SteveOh]

Read up on strokes -- you need help.

[peaceplez]

McCain's real statements are more outrageous and damning than fiction. There is no need to sink to his level let's just continue to point out his words and actions.

[richardgordon]

The truth is you cannot possibly address all of the smears or inuendo and misinformation that is put out in the public domain. If there is one thing I have learned. its that many people cannot separate fact from fiction. For example, how many people believe in UFOs? What about astrology? or Scientology? Or the entire load of garbage the Republican party have been propagandizing over the past 8 years?

I've given up trying to convince people of common sense. If they want to believe in all the garbage out there, then that is their privileged and their problem. Eventually they will learn the hard way.

[Countdown09]

NO way to control this garbage I just hope people would do what I did -- a friend sent me and her entire address book that Obama is a Muslim email, I go so peeved I sent a response but not just to her but everyone she sent it to debunking it and basically called her stupid for sending it. She's not spoken to me since -- mission accomplished, she voted for Bush twice so I was glad to be rid of her.

[condew]

Good job.

You were nice, but I'd like to find a way to make spreading lies expensive; like taking her to court with one count of slander for every name in her address book.

[YankeeCanuck]

Congratulations! It feels good to take out the trash, no?

[qwr]

By UFOs, I assume you mean aliens. Kucinich believes in aliens, but not everyone who reports a UFO believes in aliens. Apparently, some shockingly high percentage of military fliers, not a group prone to believe in extraterrestrials, has reported UFOs; that is, unidentified flying objects.

[YankeeCanuck]

Kucinich never said he believed in aliens. He said he saw an Unidentified Flying Object in the sky.
What's your point?

[SouthpawSass]

Who gets these emails? Do you have to be on some Republican­/Conservat­ive mailing list to receive these bogus attacks on Obama...

Besides, if all they do is attack the Dems and the Libs, in whose interest are they serving? The Republicans. So, we at least know who's behind them...

But to be sure, anyone see Bill Clinton lately?

[in4success]

no... you have to know people or have ignorant relatives whom, just like the politicians and 24 hour "news" programs or lying radio talk show celebs they adore, have a fundamental and treasonous disregard for truth or facts, because those debunk their ideologies, platforms and agendas, so they peddle any propagandistic garbage they can to their ilk (the dumbest a**holes in amerika) and hope it sticks to enough to create confusion.

[macbabe]

my 86 years old mom shut off her TV news and asked me to buy Obama book to read.. not bad for old lady who's had enough!

[BookDesigner]

It took her to the SECOND line to realize it wasn't her?

[Big0725]

Yeah, I kinda flashed on that one too.

[gapanther]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one.

[midknightryder13]

Well, maybe they used an opening sentence from one of her previous columns.

[nellie]

Doesn't this type of "impersonation" run the risk of a lawsuit?

[dsbsh]

I knew immediately it wasn't Dowd. False she can do, but she doesn't write about substance. Campaign finance is out of Dowd's league.

[clsmithj]

lol

[Big0725]

Maureen Dowd can't write about substance? What friggin' planet are you from? I'm sure that she can write intelligently about any subject. Could it be that you, dsbsh, can't comprehend her writing?

[dsbsh]

Dowd writes about personality, wardrobe and other such trivia. She does not write about substantive issues-- never has and probably never will. She writes about what candidates are wearing, or their tone, or their hairstyles, when they talk substance, not about what they say. At best, she writes about why SHE thinks a politician might have said something-- and she makes much of that up-- but she does not delve into the merits of any political issues. The best analysis of Dowd can be found on Bob Somerby's site www.dailyhowler.com. I recommend you go back over her columns and see how much "substance" you can find. Or, you can always just come back and insult me, I'm sure it's less work than getting the facts.

[contrariandy]

Gee, if Conservatives are so right about everything, why do they have to lie about everything? We expect and accept a little exaggeration and hyperbole in our politics, but the level of lying by the Republicans has become downright un-American in it's intent and anti-American in it's objectives.

For example, if Mini-Mac's tax plan is so superior to Obama's, why are the GOP talking points nothing but lies about Obama's plan. And, why doesn't anyone in the media ask them to support their bogus numbers? If you're so right, why do you have to be so crooked? If you actually believe in American Democracy, please lay the facts out straight for the voters to see. Play like Americans, or get off our field.

[dhinds]

In view of the current state of the national economy and a consensus that the present administration has led the USA down a disastrous path, the Republican Party has no choice other than misrepresenting, obfuscating and distorting the truth!

Although the issues at stake are clear cut and the differences between the two principle candidates on those issues are obvious and profound, highly paid Republican pundits (and their pliable errand boys) are already making a major effort to confuse and / or distract attention from those issues.

This effort can already be observed at present on almost all political blogs.

[diogeron]

Why can't we find these people who were the origin of these lies and out them? You might not be able to sue them, but I'd love to see an investigative reporter with ambition and integrity ambush these liars and embarass them on national television.

[condew]

How about we just prosecute the most recent sender? It doesn't matter who started it, prosecute those who kept it alive. Basically, I want to make it dangerous to forward an email that contains lies and impose accountability on EVERYONE who is involved in passing the lies along. I want people to consider it risky to pass along an email that they cannot independently verify.

Kind of like the recording industry occasionally ruining some poor college student to make the point that piracy is illegal; bankrupt one bitter old republican right-wing "christian" lier, and make the point to thousands that libel and slander are dangerous to your freedom and bank account.

[wbramh]

Interesting solution and comparison.
Maybe not so crazy . While nothing will stop these sick bastards, it would certainly take some of the bluster out of their poison pen pal accomplices and probably help smother much of this crap before it hits my email.

[nonconformist2]

So how long before this becomes the top story on Fox News (treated as truth)? They don't care if it's false. I wish I was exagerating. Shawn Hannity is foaming at the mouth as we speak. This is just the kind of fake story they live for.

[rudyacuna]

Only in America

[atila]

just because of this i'm going to donate 100 more this night...

[speakingtruth2power]

It is getting past ridiculous already and average Joes and Janes are eating this Bu$7!t UP!

My wife's brother emailed back an argument to hers that was chock full of easily recognized

talking points about how Obama was going to ruin things!! As if the weren't F'd up already!!!

We can't afford to take what should be a cake walk, not seriously. We must PLAY TO WIN!!!!