Fake Michelle Obama Interview Fascinates Blogosphere

Over at The Corner, Byron York has had to post an item officially alerting the right wing of the blogosphere that an article purporting to be a genuine interview with Michelle Obama, is in fact a fake. The article, from an organization calling itself "African Press International," claims to have gotten a phone call from an irate Michelle Obama, in which she railed at the outlet for "spread[ing] rumours created by American bloggers and other racist media outlets in their efforts to damage a black man's name," and "evil people who are out to stop her husband from getting the presidency." The fake Michelle Obama insists that her husband "loves his country" and promises the organization favorable treatment if they "write a good story about her husband."

Naturally, a mere contemplation of the obvious should have short-circuited the belief that this interview was real, thus sparing York from having to point it out. The Obama campaign has been, throughout the season, notoriously disciplined and highly aloof from the press, so it's unlikely that Michelle Obama would have the green light to be calling up random bloggers to yell at them. If she did, she'd be doing that all the damned time! But Michelle is clearly working hard to avoid courting controversy. For crying out loud -- her appearance on "Paula Deen's Party" could be aptly described as "rigorously on-message," and all she was doing was frying some shrimp with one of the most ridiculously lovable hosts of the Food Network.

Beyond that, there were obvious signs that the interview, and the organization, is fakety-fake McFake. For example: there are two "r's" in "Farrakhan." "Inauguration" is not spelled "innoguration." And you'd think that a writer for "African Press International" would be clear on the concept of capitalizing one's own publication's name. Nevertheless, these obvious signs proved too elusive for some people, hence Byron York's involvement.

Comments

[lwilkerson50]

01:21 PM on 10/16/2008

That is not Michelle. I was trying to get the picture to enlarge but couldn't, but it is defintely not Michelle.

[PLDChicago]

11:45 AM on 10/16/2008

They are not beyond trying any tricks to deceive the American people. I no longer feel sorry for the GOP ticket. God willing, only three more weeks and they will be history.

[Matt-K]

11:22 AM on 10/16/2008

I believe this to be a fake too and have told my readership likewise. Michelle Obama is too smart to get caught in such a trap, though I think someone could have tried to fake her voice if someone did call API purporting to be her:

http://www.matthewkeegan.com/african-press-international-im-doubting-the-story/

[Blivet]

10:44 AM on 10/16/2008

The scariest part of this affair is seen on the website of the phony African Press International (API) web site. Out of almost 900 responses, the vast majority of them are violently critical of Michelle Obama and their comments are unseemly, ugly and racist. And I suspect from the comments that most are American voters.

[CindyM2008]

09:00 AM on 10/16/2008

Oh great. Now they will have to try and figure out another lie to get outraged about.
Where is the w h i t e y tape?

[JScott]

08:37 AM on 10/16/2008

Oh good, now we know who to scam with the deposed Kenyan who has the large sum of money that he wants one to hold for a substantial 'deposit' and how they can help 'baby Jessica' get a transplant and that they can get Bill Gates personal email, and that they should flash their headlights to keep gang members away and that.....etc......etc......

[CindyM2008]

09:01 AM on 10/16/2008

So true!

[rektruax]

09:44 AM on 10/16/2008

I'm not kidding... At lest once a week my dolt uncle in Ohio sends me some scare spam that I usual find debunked at snopes.com instantly. Is there no bottom to the gullible well?

[XME]

02:11 AM on 10/16/2008

Seems to me they just WANT to believe so badly that that is what Michelle is really like that they were to thrilled to allow a reality check!

[curmudgeon]

12:34 AM on 10/16/2008

I am always cynically amused at those who criticize people for not putting their hands over their hearts "to honor the flag" or during the National Anthem. There are no laws that state that behavior is required.

Similarly, people obsessing over some one NOT wearing a flag pin need to think. According to U.S. flag protocol, the U.S. flag is not to be worn as a decoration or as clothing. Nor is the U.S. flag to be inaccurately rendered. So think: A pin, probably made in China, possibly with lead-based paint, with eight stars and nine stripes is a symbol of our leaders' patriotism?

I noticed McCain did not wear the phony badge of patriotism on his lapel tonight. Maybe someone told him about the decades old U.S. flag protocol.

One more: Acording to the U.S. flag protocol, the flag should be displayed with the stars to the left when both sides are not visible. Take a look at the shoulder patches worn by the Iraqi troops. Backwards flags.

Doesn't all that tickle your own cynical sense of humor?

[lwilkerson50]

01:24 PM on 10/16/2008

Thanks I didn't know that. I have been to ceremonies with the Army and not everyone covers their heart. To include me sometime, it does not make me less of an American nor anyone else.

[shockmagog]

12:25 AM on 10/16/2008

The wingnuts need a diversion of their own to distract them as their party erratically lurches to its inevitable conclusion.

[NTO08]

12:02 AM on 10/16/2008

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

[CindyM2008]

08:49 AM on 10/16/2008

Wake up.

[jwb]

11:54 PM on 10/15/2008

"Beyond that, there were obvious signs that the interview, and the organization, is fakety-fake McFake. For example: there are two 'r's' in 'Farrakhan.' 'Inauguration' is not spelled 'innoguration.' "

This is not true. Hiring and/or appointing incompetents and general shoddiness are hallmarks of the McCain campaign. In the midst of the William Ayres and Barack Obama being members of different boards of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge controversy, a McCain press release misspelled Leonore Annenberg's name on her endorsement of him. From Sen. McCain's website:
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/1b838127-b4a0-4868-9906-62f555376089.htm
There is at least one other error in this press release.

[hughbetcha]

11:43 PM on 10/15/2008

Is it true they are making a porn film with some chick who looks like Mrs. Obama?

[pupbayer]

11:59 PM on 10/15/2008

It's probably tby hat porno czar who is one of O's biggest money raisers.

[shockmagog]

12:23 AM on 10/16/2008

Bill O'Reilly raises money for Obama?

[WinstonSalem]

08:56 AM on 10/16/2008

dunno about that ... but I heard there's a porn flick about Sarah Palin that's scheduled to release on Election Day.

[munki]

11:09 PM on 10/15/2008

Americans are angry... this is not right SNL... we all know it is a comedy...
Therefore, whoever did this... will find their happiness behind the door...
"You are FIRED"... said Donald Trump

[Roschelle]

10:54 PM on 10/15/2008

Palin as President. This you've gotta see!!

http://roschellenelson.blogspot.com/2008/10/palin-as-president.html

[shelobo]

01:57 AM on 10/16/2008

LMAO,thats a funny site ....kinda started scareing me after I hit the door with the dog ...LMAO

[RFBorjal]

10:49 PM on 10/15/2008

Right-wingers are just plain gullible.