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The Perils of Obama's Open Community Blogs Policy

June 09, 2008 10:48 AM

Apparently there is little to no vetting for the community blogs on Sen. Barack Obama's homepage.

That's meant that some anti-Semites, presumably on the Left, have posted stories on the "Socialists for Obama" section of My.BarackObama.com -- scrubbed once conservative blogs made note of them -- blaming Israel for 9/11 and blathering on about the "Jewish Lobby."

Those two articles are down, though the conservative site Little Green Footballs captured the images, which I linked to above.

As an Instapundit reader notes "The Community Blogs at Obama 08 are no more 'official' than the rantings of BDS sufferers at an Obama rally. I have a blog there, just to prove how easy it is to get one, and Senator Obama has ZERO chance of getting my vote. You could have one. It’s as simple as signing up. There’s no vetting process of any kind. Any nut with an axe to grind can post any offensive material on the Community Blogs, and the Obama campaign will be unaware unless someone raises a stink. In fact, it’s entirely possible that a McCain operative could go on the site, create a blog, post offensive material, and then leak the URL to LGF to 'prove' how disreputable the Senator’s supporters are. Shades of Dan Rather!"

For instance, Monday morning, there's a Jemaah Islamiyah for Obama page which seems far more likely to have been penned by a conservative who hates Obama than an actual member of Jemaah Islamiyah.

While this is a problem for anyone with a relatively open commenting policy -- witness the issues DailyKos has had to deal with, as Bill O'Reilly has tried to damn the liberal blogger with the more hateful postings on that site; or some of the nastier posts about Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass, on the Washington Post website -- one wonders how long the Obama campaign will be able to keep it going.

ABC News reserves the right to remove postings that include crude language or personal attacks, but frankly we don't have the manpower to monitor it 24/7. And it seems quite obvious that some of the people posting are not who they say they are.

But the harsh glare of the media spotlight amidst the hateful views of some supporters, or internet dirty tricks, might make it difficult for Obama to continue.

-- jpt

UPDATE: Please note our blog post on some of the more offensive remarks posted at Sen. John McCain's home page as well as his Youtube page. Bottom line -- if activists are going to make an issue out of this kind of thing, they need to prepared for their preferred candidate to be slimed as well.

June 9, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (58)

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'not that noble a profession'....helping the poor get on their feet, helping the poor get some sense of normalcy, of hope back in their lives....nope, not a noble profession at all.

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 1:02:47 PM
**********

Apparently Jackie thinks sitting on the WalMart Board of Directors is a Noble profession!!

Posted by: Fired "Hussein" UP!! | Jun 9, 2008 1:10:58 PM

Jackie, I was serving on an Air Force base the first time I saw the tape of Dr. Strecker.

I was a little skeptical until I actually sat down and watched it...did my own research...would I put it past our government? No I wouldn't.
I have experienced 'ill' treatment due to the color of my skin only. So I actually KNOW the experience. That experience did not/does not make me racist. I always chalk it up to ignorance, as that is what I was taught....in the middle of all the 'whites only' signs, I was taught to recognize ignorance, as not all people display that trait.

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 1:10:45 PM

my own version of racism???

lol what are you talking about?

I know the man is white AND black....a lot of us are jayhawk.

And what exactly does that mean to you? Until you walk a mile in my shoes, you would NEVER understand what I experience....nor I, you. But I'm not going to call you a racist by a gaffe you might make. Actions speak much louder than words sometimes....what you DO shouts louder than anything you can say.

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 1:06:06 PM

LA in Indiana,
Cling, rely who cares? Both wrong.

Posted by: geevill | Jun 9, 2008 1:04:00 PM

Jackie, were you there?? Did you sit next to the Senator and his wife? Did you see his kids in church sitting next to him?

How do you know exactly WHAT he has 'exposed' his two girls to??

Or does it just make you feel so much better if you make it up as you go along....whatever you can find to make him sound worse.

'not that noble a profession'....helping the poor get on their feet, helping the poor get some sense of normalcy, of hope back in their lives....nope, not a noble profession at all.

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 1:02:47 PM

LA, you just don't get it.

Barack Obama is just as white as he is black.

The Obama pandering to blacks is a political ploy at best.

And, your comments allow your own version of racism to prevail in all of your comments.

Sad...

Posted by: Jayhawk | Jun 9, 2008 1:01:56 PM

Mr Coffee you have used it more then once sweetie.

Posted by: Independent | Jun 9, 2008 1:01:23 PM

LA in Indiana


Do you believe that the government invented AIDS to destroy Blacks because of your google research? Would you believe it if it was taught in church? Do you think Obama believes it?

Did you research the links between Wright and Farrakan? Did you know that for years Farrakan has used the "sound bite" defense to claim he is not racist?


When Obama says his church was "not controversial" and he never heard any of these things there do you believe him?

Posted by: Jackie | Jun 9, 2008 12:59:38 PM

Flowers and candy will not get us over to your side.

Posted by: maggie | Jun 9, 2008 12:50:35 PM
*******
No, but I pray that common sense and intelligence will.

Posted by: Fired "Hussein" UP!! | Jun 9, 2008 12:59:00 PM

So,

Reality according to LA is that anyone who fails accept the words of the messiah or his wife is a "fake Christian?"

Double standard at best...

If Barack and Michelle Obama have to have their speeches clarified or interpreted every time they speak, perhaps they need to return to school for a refresher speech course.

Or, maybe they just need to fire their speech writers and do some of the work on their own.

This is still America, LA. And, in America the Constitution allows us to voice opinions and assessments whether the positions agree with you and the Obamas...or not.

Or, with the attitude you express, perhaps an America under the yoke of Obama would not honor the concept of freedom of expression unless such is approved by a "real Christian" Obama supporter...like LA.

Posted by: Jayhawk | Jun 9, 2008 12:57:52 PM

Oh maggie, get over yourself. And continue to protest....vote for McCain if it makes you feel better.

No one is offering you candy and flowers, sweetie!

And this woman AND veteran will be voting for Senator Obama. He needs to do something about education in this country....as it is sorely lacking.

It's loses, not looses.

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 12:57:02 PM

To a certain extent, I believe that candidates are responsible for the views of folks they attract to their "cause". The lefties who are anti-Israel and anti-Semitic, even a considerable number in academics and the media, are with Obama. I can't say that this doesn't cause concern. When elected, politicians remember who voted for them and who they failed to win over, and reward and punish with a vengeance.

Posted by: hopesprings52 | Jun 9, 2008 12:55:44 PM

LA in Indiana

Obama is not responsible for every word spoken by others....true

But he is responsible for what he exposes his children to. And I believe that he has tolerated both "hate talk" and false teachings in his own church.

I would never allow my children to be exposed to anti-Black hate talk.

There is in the Black community the false rumuor that the government invented AIDS...it is a lie/

Does Obama....who may possibly be our next president believe it or not?

Would you tolerate this environment on Sunday mornings for 20 years in your church? So far I have not seen anything noble in Obama's actions and record in his personal life or public service...

I was a community activist in Dallas TX in the 80's and my own experience was that it is not relevant to a presidential racs and not that noble a profession.

Posted by: Jackie | Jun 9, 2008 12:52:37 PM

No vetting of blogs, no vettng of Barrack. Gee, what a big suprise....NOT.

Posted by: SadStateOfAffairs | Jun 9, 2008 12:52:29 PM

LA in Indidan" You'll care when your candidate looses because of the women vote. They are the swing vote and they are made. They are protesting. They will not vote for Obama. Some are switching to McCain...Again...they are mad.

Flowers and candy will not get us over to your side.

Posted by: maggie | Jun 9, 2008 12:50:35 PM

The Media was brutal to Hillary. Her female supporters are not going to take it anymore. There are so many sites with protests and letters to Howard Dean voicing their disenchantment with the way this woman wasa treated by her own party and the media.

There is even a site :Hillary SUpporters for McCain. There is already close to 1,000,000 hits.

Obama will loose because of the majority of the Hillary Voters.

NObama, NOway......NEVER!!!!!

Posted by: maggie | Jun 9, 2008 12:46:57 PM

Great maggie....who cares?!

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 12:44:14 PM

Democrats for McCain..
Obama has no experience,
Hope.. Hope for what? A race war..
Vote for McCain

Posted by: joebuck | Jun 9, 2008 12:43:40 PM

See Jayhawk, these are the comments I find disingenuous....

Senator Obama apologized for his remarks in San Francisco, and even stated the words he should have used....instead of cling, he should have said rely....instead of bitter, he should have just said angry or frustrated.
But most of you fake christians just continue to beat him over the head with it, and pretend like he never acknowledged the 'gaffe', like he never addressed his intention in his comment.

I also notice how FakeNews continues to run Michelle's comments without the word 'really'....to give the appearance that she has 'never' been proud....also disingenuous. Michelle even stated what she meant in relation to the political process....but again, all you fake christians continue to pretend as though she never addressed the issue, and use it to describe her.

If you don't want to vote for Senator Obama, then don't....but stop distorting his statements and views, throwing in additional words to completely change the entire meaning.

Most of you call him sexist or racist, with no actual statements or quoted comments to prove your argument.

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 12:41:32 PM

What grates many people about Michelle Obama's thesis is the same, arrogant attitude evident in her "proud for the first time" statement.

A majority of Americans do not feel insecure because others gravitate towards those who are similar in either physical characteristics, culture, or of a like mind.

Yet, there are those like Michele Obama who feel that unless they is catered to in a special way that they deem appropriate, such is due to intentional hatred and racism of others.

Happiness in life comes down to being content in the place that you are at a given time.

The Michelle Obamas of the world will never be content enough to deal with their own insecurity.

Posted by: Jayhawk | Jun 9, 2008 12:38:27 PM

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