With all the attention on this week's New Yorker cover, it should not be overlooked that one email that inspired it is still circulating, though long repudiated by the alleged author.
A friend of mine received it just this week from a close (rightwing) relative. It's cute that it cites Snopes as a source -- since Snopes mocks it.
I will reprint most of it here and then the denial from the "author" and church (in Florida).
Here it is.
"A man will come from the east...."MAY WE ALL PRAY FOR WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT AND PRAY FOR EACH OTHER AS WE MAKE THIS DECISION OF A LIFETIME! OUR LIVES, CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN'S LIVES WILL BE CHANGED FOREVER BECAUSE OF OUR CHOICE THIS ELECTION. MAY GOD BE WITH US ALL!
God help us if this man is elected!! But it is all stated in the Bible and it will happen sooner or later.
This is from Darlene Millican, wife of the pastor of Trinity Bapt. Church here in Sun City:
"I have felt for sometime now that Obama is the one person that 'Frightens Me'. I believe the Bible has warned us that 'A man will come from the East that will be charismatic in nature and have proposed solutions for all our problems and his rhetoric will attract many supporters!'
"When will our pathetic Nation quit turning their back on God and understand that this man is 'A Muslim'... First, Last and always... and we are AT WAR with the Muslim Nation, whether our bleeding-heart, secular, Liberal friends believe it or not. This man fits every description from the Bible of the 'Anti-Christ'!
"I'm just glad to know that there are others that are frightened by this man! Who is Barack Obama? Very interesting and something that should be considered in your choice.
"If you do not ever forward anything else, please forward this to all your contacts...this is very scary to think of what lies ahead of us here in our own United States...better heed this and pray about it and share it. snopes.com confirms this is factual. Check for yourself.
"Who is Barack Obama? Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu , Hawaii , to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHEIST from Wichita, Kansas ....
"Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, 'He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school.' Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that that he is not a radical.
"Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran. Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegiance nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches. Do you want someone like this as your PRESIDENT?
"Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy. The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States, one of their own! The Bible says 'He will come from among you!'
"Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this man leading our country? NOT ME!!! WITHOUT GOD, WE ARE NOTHING!!!"
Ms. Millican has denied she wrote the email and her church has sent out the following:
It has been brought to our attention that an e-mail has been circulating from our pastor's wife, Darlene Millican about Barack Obama, with the subject line: "Is He the Anti-Christ?".This is absolutely NOT TRUE!!
Mrs. Millican has absolutely no idea how this horrible e-mail was started AND named her as the originator of such slander.
Luke 6:47 (NKJ) states, "Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: "He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock."
Darlene has spent her life teaching others to be and do their best for Christ . . . which includes not slandering others!
We also have no idea how it would be sent out using the Church's e-mail. Trinity Baptist Church's statement is that, "Everybody is somebody . . . and Jesus Christ is Lord" and our Pastors and Administration is absolutely aghast that this slanderous message is circulating about Barak Obama.
Trinity Baptist Church
of Sun City Center, FL
Greg Mitchell's new book is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq.