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

[benevolent rapscallion]

Well let's face it ... the right wingers are easy to fool. After all, they do support McCain and Palin.

[lmvd3]

This was clearly fabricated...it doesn't at all suit Michelle Obama's smart, sensible, calm demeanor. Clearly someone who hasn't bothered to observe her on even one occasion cooked up this thing to damage the Obamas. Michelle Obama is clearly far more intelligent than the author of the fake piece.

[Irksome]

Oh, like that's a major achievment. My left foot is more intelligent than the entire Republican party.

[dajay]

I've noticed that MO has restrained herself enormously during this election. Watching her on an interview, you can almost see how hard she is trying to talk in that soft, agreeable tone.

It is so fake.

[borderorder]

Not as fake as you.

[GreenCanadian]

AAMERICAN????

Put it through a spell check.

[Javarod]

This really doesn't surprise me, as i've commented at work, i get this impression that the Republican Party is roughly a decade or so behind on technology, so it shouldn't be surprising that they'd be fooled like this. I think we have to thank Howard Dean for why the Republicans are such easy targets, back in 00 his campaign grasped what a tool the internet is, something he brought with him when he took over the DNC (about the only thing he brought with him), a skill that the RNC still needs to learn. Hmmm, i wonder what Jon Stewart will do when they learn it, then he'll have no one to make fun of, as the DNC already rarely gives him the kind of easy targets the RNC does.

[formerprosecutor]

Liars think all people lie; thieves think everyone else steals; therefore people that are the worst are easy to believe the worst in others

[jamie461]

Good grief, wingnuts are dumb.

And God bless Michelle Obama. She has endured more BS with more grace than anyone I have ever seen. I don't know how she has done it. She is an extraordinarily strong woman.

[jnratliff]

it is easy to fool a party full of fools!

[Ged2012]

If there's a woman with genuine and sincere self-control it is Michelle Obama. Fake ones come from Cindy McCain.

[BlueStateMan]

I don't know about that..... I'm AMAZED that Cindy didn't show him the door after the "C" word incident.

[borderorder]

Effing test ... ;)

[MelArawak]

The Republican Campaign -- yes the GOP -- and its supporters are conducting themselves in an extraordinary manner and it should give pasue to any one who wondered about the slow creep of fascism (e.g. in Italy). How do people become so extreme even as they deny the existence of racism (and certainly claim their innocence) and purport to be colourblind? (i) An attempted smear of Michelle Obama using invented racial discourse; (ii) in Sacramento the GOP had on its official web site graphic falsely linking Senator Obama to Osama bin Laden and calling for the waterboarding of Obama; and Craig MacGlashan, the Sacramento County GOP Party Chairman defended it; (iv) the Prince William County, Virginia GOP Chairman Jeffrey M. Frederick outrageously told volunteers to compare Senator Barack Obama to bin Laden; (v) there are the monkey dolls with Obama's name sold at GOP events; and (vI) grotesquely there is the extreme discourse and responses generated by Governor Sarah Palin. How can any rational person not raise questions about the cumulative effect of this racist discourse, in which the lunatic fringe now are at the heart of the Republic Party under its so-called mavericks? The Republicans need some grown up time out. I hope they get the electoral thumping they deserve.

[globalcitizenlinda]

Okay, I must be loosing my mind - why are these right-wingers ready to believe the worst of Michelle?? Could it be because of all the sterotypes and bigotry they hold against black women?

[BlueStateMan]

Yes.

[borderorder]

I think the most sinister thing about this article is that Paula Dean is ridiculously lovable - well sure, if your favorite food is cheesy grits and you think laughing at your mutant relatives is humorous.

[pattio66]

hey I laugh at my mutant relatives all the time!

[bikerdude]

I laugh at HER mutant relatives all the time too.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

I really love how the Obamas have not really said much of anything about instances such as this.

Instead, they let these people have their bi goted say, and then it hangs out there long enough for intelligent non-shee ple to process the information and realize the incredible double-standard that's so pervasive in our society.

Example: Can you imagine the commentary by rei ch wingers like Bill Be nnet if the Obamas came out on stage with a pregnant, UNMARR IED 17yr old daughter???? Not a word from the Obamas....

[powwow500]

Even my brother who is voting for Obama doesn't like Michelle. I don't get it (I think she's "the bomb", but in a good way). That one early comment about being proud of the USA for the first time in her adult life blah blah blah is the one he cites. I just don't know what his issue is. Granted, he doesn't have any black friends, lives in a lily white NJ suburb, but he does like Barack. Go figure.

[BlueStateMan]

She's going to be the BEST 1st lady EVER.

[lmvd3]

I had a family member who liked Barack but not Michelle. He then watched her speak and was very impressed by her quiet, intelligent strength. Now, he's sold on both the Obamas...he now agrees that they are great role models for parents, leaders, students, children, and every American.

[grata2ude]

I don't kno why people can't understand that comment comes from her background and growing up Black at a time when in this country they struggled in everything. My God how proud of a country can someone who's repressed feel?

Now, after years of struglling and fighting their country is saying hey, you are not inferior, Your husband make brake that barrier and just may become this countries first black president.

That comment didn't bother me in the least. I'm glad she's proud. I'm proud of her and her husband.

After all these years. YES WE CAN

ps.....I'm a white middle aged woman.

[Maloysius]

This would make sense seeing how they have been fooled by a fake candidate and his even faker running mate. Faker? Faker.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

How can you be fooled if you are the author of the lie?

[BlueStateMan]

Self delusion.

[whoizit]

Anyone who believed it isn't going to listen to Byron York anyway. That's the way it goes..."oooh bad stuff!!! What do you mean it's not true? You are WRONG! I heard it there first so it must be true!"

[DBtv]

Big surprise.

Right wingers have been fooled by fake leaders for at least 28 years.