Cyber-Wars: Hate-Mail And The Obama Internet Campaign

With the end in sight, we're faced with an ever more outrageous barrage of nasty, negative, anti-Obama emails. Relief comes in the form of the other email campaign, the one conducted by (we're real Americans, too) supporters of Barack Obama.

The difference in cyber-war tactics is as stark as is the difference in the candidates.

Compared to the scurrilous, name-calling internet attacks from McCain/Palin fanciers on the far right, a cyber-trip with the Obama faction is a Walk on the Mild Side.

Are they passionate? Yes. Are they fired up? Yes. Do they mean to win this thing? Absolutely. Are they making a practice of calling McCain a fascist? Do they call him a "convenient" Christian who aligns himself with the likes of Hagee and Parsley in a cynical attempt to attract the same pseudo-religious fringe -- "Don't confuse us with the facts" fundamentalists -- which narrowly propelled George W. back into the Oval Office in 2004? No way.

The fundamental difference between the internet left and the internet right? The cyber-right is not campaigning hard for a John McCain in whom they have great faith to bring about real change. They're not arguing for public policy or for humane governance. They're just fighting against the other guy. They're led in that direction by an increasingly desperate and angry McCain/Palin camp.

The cyber-left is campaigning hard for something. They are for Barack Obama. They are for an end to a belligerent, no-diplomacy, big gun foreign policy. For accessible health care for all Americans. For better public schools. For a fair tax code which doesn't spell the demise of the middle class. For a minimum wage which means your "minimum" is enough food to eat and a roof over your head. For a solution to abortion that keeps the predominantly rich old white guys in Washington out of a everywoman's uterus and gets them, instead, into programs which actually address the social problems that lead to unnecessary abortions. Internet Obama supporters are no saints; they bicker amongst themselves like nobody's business. But Campaign 2008, to all of them, means something more than an outlet for the anger they've been swallowing for the past eight years. These folks are four-square for something. They want change. Positive change. Humane change. And they are deeply committed to the candidate who best represents hope for that change. They've been led in that direction, from day one, by a steady, unflappable Obama/Biden camp.

Their emails ring like testimonies at an interfaith revival meeting. They do not scream "Satan!" or holler "Sinner!" No hellfire and damnation, no demonizing the opposition, no fear and loathing. Their message is as positive as their vision for this nation with Barack Obama and Joe Biden at the helm:

From a white, middle-class Florida voter:

"...I've got a wife and two kids. Because the kids had no school today, I took a vacation day from work and took the kids downtown to vote early. Fifty-nine minutes later, two smiling children and I proudly sported 'I Voted' stickers.

"But I didn't vote for Obama.

"I voted for my ancestors, who believed in the promise of this country and came with nothing as immigrants. I voted for my parents, who taught in the public schools for decades. I voted for Steve, an acquaintance of mine from Kentucky (killed by an IED two years ago in Iraq). I voted for Shawn, another who's been to Iraq twice and Afghanistan once, and who'll be going back to Afghanistan again soon -- and whose family earned eleven bucks a month too much to qualify for food stamps when the war started. I voted for April, the only African American girl in my high school -- it was years before it occurred to me how different her experience of our school must have been. I voted for my college friends who are Christian, Jewish, Mormon, and yes -- Muslim. I voted for my grandfathers, who worked hard in factories and died too young. I voted for the plumber who worked on my house, because I want him to get a REAL tax break. I voted for four little angels from Birmingham. I voted for a bunch of dead white men who, although personally flawed, were willing to pledge their lives, fortunes and sacred honor, and used a time of great crisis to expand freedom rather than suspend it. I voted for all those people and more, and I voted for all of you, too.

"But mostly, I voted selfishly: I voted for two little kids, one who has ballet in an hour and one who has baseball practice at the same time. I voted for a world where they can be confident that their government will represent the best that is in this country and that will, in turn, demand the best of them

"I voted for a government that will be respected in the world. I voted for an economy that will reward work above guile. I voted for everything I believe in. Sure, I filled in the circle next to the name Obama, but it wasn't him I was voting for -- it was every single one of us and [for] those I love most of all."

From PJ Locascio, a sixteen year old junior at Heritage High School in Lynchburg, VA. He's not old enough to vote yet but, apparently, he's old enough to have received an "Obama is the antichrist" email. PJ chose to join the cyber-campaign and wrote, in response to that horrific email:

"This is one of the most absurd and racist things I have ever seen. You would rather believe that he, Sen. Obama, is the 'antichrist' than believe he's simply the better candidate. It's definitely not funny because a lot of voting-eligible Americans actually do think he's Muslim or the antichrist...This was all done by the Republican agenda that continues to try to make Americans...believe that he's...out to destroy America; or that he is a socialist [who] will ruin the fabric of democracy...Anyone who believes this or passes this along...is terribly misinformed...it's what's called running a 'Fear campaign'...This kind of campaign is very dangerous...Every single one of you is old enough to think for yourself...Next election, when we are finally old enough to vote, I really hope and encourage you to examine both of the candidates meticulously, without partisanship and really check the facts...be your own person."

Clearly, a Virginia teenager has a keener view of where the mature voter's responsibility lies than too many hot-tempered bloggers who set their fingers loose on the keyboard before their brains are fully engaged. Too bad PJ can't vote.

Whatever the outcome on November 4th, those of us who've been observing both sides in this long campaign and writing about it all have learned a great deal about "real" American values and the true worth of the American conscience. And much of what we've learned that's worth believing in, worth fighting for and worth keeping, we learned from everyday Americans who support Barack Obama.

Win or lose, that is no small lesson to have learned.

Comments

[skeletnwmn]

I can't express how grateful I am for this article and the thoughts shared by the Voting Dad and PJ not even old enough to vote. Over the past couple of months I've fielded a variety of nasty, incredibly ignorant emails from one member of my family -- who can't figure out how to take my email address out of her contacts. After checking into her "facts" on a couple of these demonic emails, I started to reply to her emails pointing out the lies contained within them -- only I hit "REPLY ALL" quite purposefully! So far I've gotten two snide emails from this "Christian" group telling me to lay off my aunt -- she's only trying to help me see the truth!

On top of all the crude and despicable emails I heard a joke today -- at least the person who told it to me said it was a joke. I can't repeat it because it's just too horrible, but to watch her laugh about the "JOKE" was like being punched in the stomach.

Thanks for reminding me that the emails I've received are not Pro-McCain, they're just ANTI-Obama. And the "JOKE" -- well I guess its sad, but I never want to have another conversation with anyone who can laugh at JOKES like that.

[showmestategal]

DICTIONARY: CHANGE=make or become different

Finally a change to Believe IN----to be involved in out of the different level of Rspect for We The People----
to Participate in Because we are the difference needed for YES WE CAN--
TO HOPE WITH because we know that together WE can make this a better Democracy & Country with ALL of our TALENTS & Life experiences coming into use for the Good of ALL.

The ability of All to keep Obama/Biden In all our Thoughts & Prayers as they Bring us to a Better Future with the knowledge that some of the Past is not needed to repeat ITSELF.





Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass..........
It's about learning to Dance in the rain!
OBAMA MAMA ! ^j^

[DeanieMills]

It's nice to know that I can still learn from someone 40 years younger than me. You go, PJ! Standing up for truth in the face of great hostility takes real courage. Welcome to the world of the activist!

Deanie Mills

[Oregon Ivy]

I copied and pasted the relevant parts of Obama's very inspiring, unifiying Ohio speech yesterday (leaving out anything that would identify the speaker as Obama). Then I sent it to all on my email lists who send me the "OMG OBAMA IS THE ANTI-WHATEVER" emails... But I did something really sneaky. At the beginning of the email, I told them it was a John McCain inspiring speech, so that they'd read it.

Then at the end. I said... I have a confession to make. What you just read were Barack Obama's words. Because I know many of you would never listen to him .... so now you know he's not the horrible monster he's been made out to be.

link to transcript of Obama's speech in Ohio (I shortened it a lot, because most folks won't read a really long email and I also left out a lot of things that identified it as Obama speaking.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/27/us/politics/27text-obama.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

[Pupadup4oBama]

Wonderful!!!

[leshanne]

this is a beautiful post, and a post that motivates.

[ladydriver]

Wonderful post! I want to hug PJ, and the Florida voter's message made me cry. Wow.

[NoDrama]

Recalling McCain's promise to run an honorable and respectful campaign, one can only wonder if he was deliberately misleading or lacked the strength of character to enforce his will upon his party and campaign staff.

[SuboSubo]

Hooray for another smart post! I love it that you included the long narrative of the guy who "didn't vote for Obama" . . . but cast his ballot for Obama in a vote for the future of his country and his children.

I love your PJ story. Here's a young man who gets it. Really gets it. He knows that the Hopers will sometimes win against the Haters . . . and he wants to be on the side of hope and a unified America. I've been doing voter registrations with a 12-year old who is so devoted to the future of our country it would embarrass most adults.

I hate it when folks say, "The youth are our future!" Pay attention, folks! The youth is our present!

[futuresenator]

This was a well said blog. I especially liked the email from PJ. That was a very articulate, well thought out email. You remained calm, cool and collected much like our candidate Sen. Barack Obama. The message of being a mature voter with a mind of your own is one that more people need to heed. I wish we could vote!

[MsDuckie]

Wow. Great job, PJ. Thanks for showing the world that the future will be in capable hands, that today's teens are smart, savvy, and eloquent. Well said. Be proud.