Obama Fights Whitey

Presidential Democratic Nominee Barack Obama last week launched a website,fightthesmears.com to combat the usual gossip and pettiness that seems to dog most high profile campaigns these days. The particular inflammatory gossip that inspired this counter-attack seems to be a persistent report claiming there is a video of Michelle Obama, "Blasting 'whitey' during a rant at Jeremiah Wright's church."

Never mind for a minute how ridiculous that claim is or that no one has been able to produce such a tape...

Although not resorting to launching a website, Republican Nominee John McCain asked on Friday that all candidates' wives be treated with respect. It seems Cindy McCain has had her own run-ins with the rumor mill.

Which brings about the questions, what constitutes fair play? And - How do we fight unsubstantiated and ridiculous rumors that pass as news?

In one of my favorite political movies "The Contender", Joan Allen almost losses her chance at becoming the first female Vice-President of The United States because she will not dignify rumors of sexual misconduct as a college student with a response. A Gandi, and a high road response to be sure but is it the right reaction in the 24 hour news cycle, internet, blogger world in which we now live?

Should one's private life be off limits once again?

I think if Cindy McCain has investments in Halliburton we should know about it, or if Michelle Obama stayed on the Wal-Mart Board after Barack criticized them - but the claim Cindy had a love child or Michelle was ranting about 'whitey' is not only untrue but out of the bounds of good taste.

What happens when news organizations report this petty smut on the news channels and talk shows?Intelligent people would be fools not to just turn off such channels and never listen to these programs again.

But, what if they do listen? We have a friend for instance who believes Fox News Channel is a reliable source for facts, a relative who gets his news from Lou Dobbs and another relative who believes lock stock and two smoking barrels that a candidate cannot win a Presidential Election without winning the "big" states.

What happened to common sense and independent judgment? It makes me crazy when people believe nonsense over good sense. When it is people I know and care about it makes me particularly crazy. I stopped reading "The Nation" magazine because in an article about legalizing marijuana such blatant lies were used to make a point that I never picked up the magazine again. It seems both sides are guilty of this indiscretion.

But what about speaking truth to power? I think Barack Obama may be on to something. Flat denials just seem like agreement and propaganda to me anymore. "I didn't inhale", insults my intelligence - but a replay of the facts or a request for proof of such rumors almost seems revolutionary in this day and age. I am so hungry for a direct, truthful answer that I hope Obama's website works and is just not wasted effort.

But maybe these questions just shouldn't be asked in the first place. What if Barack Obama or John McCain simply stated, "That question is not relevant and I refuse to answer questions wholly unconnected to this election". Would that help put the conversation back on the right track?

One can only hope.