Obama Campaign Pushes Back Against Underground Email Attacks

The following piece is published on Iowa Independent as well as OffTheBus.

If you are an Iowa Democrat with an email address, you may have received a chain email over the past few weeks attacking Sen. Barack Obama's patriotism. While different versions of the emails vary in their wording and tone, they appear to have been sparked by a photo from Sen. Tom Harkin's annual Steak Fry.

In the photo, which was taken during a rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner," Obama stands in the foreground with his arms at his side, and two of his Democratic rivals appear in the background with their hands across their hearts.

One version of the email erroneously claims, "Barack Hussein Obama not only REFUSED TO PUT HIS HAND OVER HIS HEART DURING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGI ANCE, BUT ALSO REFUSED TO SAY THE PLEDGE.....How can a man like this expect to be our next Commander-in-Chief????" It then asks readers in large, red, bold-faced lettering, "IF THIS UPSET YOU, PLEASE PASS IT ON," followed by nineteen exclamation points.

"Suffice it to say, we're hitting back hard against these false attacks," one Obama aide told Iowa Independent.

False, quasi-anonymous attacks like these are nothing new, and they tend to emerge in the final months of any high-profile political campaign. Obama is not the only candidate who finds himself the subject of negative emails. In fact, one could argue that the under-the-radar email attacks against Sen. Hillary Clinton, which Iowa Independent receives on an almost daily basis, make far worse allegations than the ones made against Obama.

But unlike the Clinton emails, the Obama attacks appear to have gained at least a small amount of traction. According to media reports, the Illinois Senator has encountered a few questions about them at events across Iowa.

In Muscatine Tuesday night, Obama himself became "irritated" when the issue came up, noting "This is the classic dirty trick of the campaign."

Thursday, the campaign released a letter that it must hope will put the issue to rest. Signed by retired Air Force General Merrill "Tony" McPeak, retired Air Force Major General J. Scott Gration, and former Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig (all of whom have endorsed Obama), the letter reads, "These accusations are outrageous. As retired generals in the U.S. military and civilians who have served at the highest levels in the Department of Defense, we know something about patriotism, and Senator Obama is one of the most deeply patriotic Americans we know."

When the campaign receives a copy of the chain email from a supporter who received it, they will attempt to send the letter to each previous recipient of the email whom they can track down.

The Obama campaign appears to be leaving no stone unturned when it comes to setting the record straight about their candidate's patriotism. Although email chains are notoriously difficult to break, the letter may go a long way towards mitigating its impacts.

One example of the false email is reproduced below, as is the full text of the Obama campaign's response letter:

False Email:

(Again, the above email is false. It is printed here for information purposes and should not be construed as fact.)

Obama Campaign's Response Letter:

To Whom It May Concern:

As you might have seen, vicious smears are being circulated in anonymous emails attacking Senator Obama's patriotism. These accusations are outrageous. As retired generals in the U.S. military and civilians who have served at the highest levels in the Department of Defense, we know something about patriotism, and Senator Obama is one of the most deeply patriotic Americans we know.

What makes Senator Obama patriotic?

We admire his long record of public service. Over the last two decades, he has served the American people as a community organizer, a civil rights lawyer, constitutional law professor, a state senator, and a U.S. senator.

We also admire his strong support for our troops and veterans. As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, he has fought to improve care for wounded troops, slash red tape, and reform the disability review process. He also passed legislation to combat homelessness among veterans. As President, he will expand housing vouchers, and launch a new supportive services housing program for at-risk veterans and their families. In addition, he will improve mental health screening and treatment at all levels: from enlistment, to deployment, to reentry into civilian life.

Above all, we admire Senator Obama's courage in putting his convictions ahead of his political prospects by opposing the war in Iraq from the start. In 2002, Obama said the Iraq War could lead to an occupation of "undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences." Today, he's showing the same good judgment by fighting to responsibly end the Iraq War and by standing up to the rush to war with Iran, including opposing the Kyl-Lieberman amendment that would provide cover for an attack on Iran.

Senator Obama's personal history represents the best of the American Dream. His grandfather fought in Patton's army and went to school on the GI Bill. His grandmother worked on a bomber assembly line during World War II. His father crossed an ocean in search of the promise of America. And his mother taught him that America has a place for everyone's dreams.

Senator Obama's attackers are peddling lies and smears because they disagree with his strong opposition to the war in Iraq and the rush to war in Iran. They know that as President, Barack Obama will end the ugly, divisive, slash-and-burn style of politics that they have mastered. To all those trying desperately to discredit Senator Obama's patriotism, take it from us: we have served this nation for decades, and we know a true patriot when we see one. Barack Obama is a patriot. America needs him now.

Sincerely,

Gen. Merrill "Tony" McPeak, USAF (Ret)

Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration, USAF (Ret)

Richard Danzig, Secretary of the Navy (1998-2001)

Comments

[MizLiz]

Hmmm...I never thought about that...the Clinton Camp is responsible for the email? Maybe they picked up Karl Rove, now that he's unemployed­....frankl­y, I wouldn't put much past her. She scares the wits out of me, but I will vote for her if she's the niminee. To vote for a Republican after what they've done to this country is unthinkable.

[GeoLee]

Well, for all the right wingers who sent me the email, I deliberately paid attention two minutes ago to just how many in the typically conservative crowd at the Phoenix International Raceway NASCAR Race had THEIR hands over THEIR hearts during the playing of our National Anthem. Probably 50 percent of the race car drivers and their crews did not...and this was a week or two after the obnoxious emails seemed to come in droves to my email box. Most of the crowd I saw in the background did not. Now if polls are correct, THIS crowd should have been nearly 100% aware that one does put one's flag over one's heart during the National Anthem. So the message to me is that they will find all kinds of excuses to criticize politicians with messages that have substance and will swiftboat anyone who does not adhere to their neocon views.

[UDbmas]

It's just too bad that some voters are over-reliant on the "appearance" of patriotism rather than the substance of it. As long as you wear the the flag lapel-pin, you can invade any country you wish. As long as you sing "God Bless America" every chance you get, you can ignore the cries of the victims of African genocides. As long as you put you hand over you heart during the "Star-Spangled Banner," you can turn away from those still in need of help in the Katrina-stricken bayou. And as long as you say the "Pledge of Allegiance," you can continue to spend our future hopes on an endless, illegal war. As long as you claim to be a "God-fearing" Christian (or Mormon), you can ignore your own incompetency and dodge responsibility for your own failures. As long as you claim to be "pro-life," you can ignore all those who are "post-birth."
But remember, appearances can be deceiving. Just look at who is the current Captain of the Ship of State.

[globalcitizenlinda]

The source of these email campaigns is very clear and makes me even more determined to see that Obama wins the nomination and the presidency.

Obama's candidacy challenges the establishment at all levels and institution and the incumbents are really petrified.

Over the generations, many have made a living by dividing and conquering the American people over trivial differences and instilling fear.

President Obama would shake the dividers to the core and deny them a way to make a living and this to me explains why those who have benefited from fragmenting this nation are so afraid of him.

I can smell that deep fear in the political elite class and this is reflected in the efforts to undermine the People's Candidate Obama.

Some in the political sphere who have been aways regarded in high esteem are choosing to side with the status qou rather than standing up and be counted.

People who have met and paid attention to Obama know exactly what he is trying to do in this campaign and give the democratic process back to the people.

These emails will back fire in the end. In honor of this posting, I will double my efforts to recruit more people to Obama's campaign so keep them comin because they make supporters like me FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!!

[Norm]

This email really does have a lot of traction, although I wouldn't read more into it than exactly what it states. The email I received, in Massachusetts, first asked if I knew his middle name was Hussein. The point seemed to be that he was a closet Muslim so unpatriotic he could not pledge allegiance to the flag. I do not think it was racist, but played on fears of Muslims. Strangely, or not so strangely, the email seemed to have originated in the state government of Louisiana. If not, it certainly made its way through the Louisiana state offices. The bigger question is exactly who initiated the letter.

[imperfectfilms]

I am starting to see how deep the legacy of racism is in America. It is becoming clear that many African Americans just don't believe a black man can be elected. Many white people, including a number of "liberals", are satisfied to find the same.

[Chris1345]

I got the email from my Republican aunt from Georgia, and I'm in California!

[lafrance]

I'm sorry but, I feel it's Hillary's campaign.
why?
these emails went around about a month or two ago and those were probably from the republicans.
they were not noted much and it passed.
Now they are back with a vengence during the week that Obama stepped up attacks on Hillary's turthiness and the clintons are known for underground smear attacks on democrats and republicans. They like to make their smears look like it is from the republicans so she is not suspected.
the republicans really have not paid much attention to Obama or Edwards, thinking they won't face them so, they really have no reason for this.
Hillary , on the other hand, is worried 24/7 about Obama.

[akhinaten]

In the American mindset a man like Obama cannot be real, so they are trying to deconstruct him because they believe that he must be wearing a mask.

He is not black......
He is not patriotic
He is not Christian
He is not liberal read (anti-gay)
It is unbelievab­le........­......

He can’t be real so he must be impersonating:

He is really white....... even though he seem very convincing as a black man
He is realy ant-America ........even though he seem to care allot about America
He is really a Muslim....­.........e­ven though he has being a member of a Christian church for the past 15 years.
Obama is a manifested impossibility, that is slowly being deconstructed to find his tribal allegiance. The idea of America is dead what is left is a republican tribe and a liberal tribe , black tribe and a white tribe, Christian tribe and a non Christian tribe.
Obama seem to be the threads that hold these patches together, when the general believe is that we cannot be united.