The American Spectator

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Criticize Obama? It's a "Smear"

By Robert Stacy McCain on 6.12.08 @ 2:00PM

Very clever tactic by the Obama campaign -- launching a Web site called "Fight the Smears," pushing the idea that any negative information about Obama is a vicious right-wing lie.

Notice how Team Obama presents the rumor that Michelle Obama had been captured in a recording using the slur "whitey" in a Rev. Wright-style rant:

Lie:

On May 30th, Rush Limbaugh said he had heard a rumor that a tape exists of Michelle Obama using the word "Whitey" from the pulpit of Trinity United Church of Christ.

Truth:

No such tape exists. Michelle Obama has not spoken from the pulpit at Trinity and has not used that word.

The brilliant trick here is to suggest that the "whitey" video rumor originated with Limbaugh, which it did not. In other words, only a (presumably non-credible) right-winger could be behind such mischief. Getting out front with the idea that Obama will be the victim of "smears" is a way of preparing supporters to dismiss as invalid any criticism of Obama's record or of his associations with Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright, Tony Rezko, etc.

This tactic is also aimed at the media. Note the approving manner in which both Karen Tumulty of Time and Nedra Pickler of the Associated Press present this story.