In the December 3rd edition of the LA TIMES, the editorial department alleges that there has been an ongoing effort on the Internet to "smear" Presidential Candidate Barack Obama.
In the Editorial section of the daily, unknown writers, state quite emphatically that - as a result - the "American Smear" is revealing its ugly head once again.
The editorial team reported that there have been persistent rumors circulating on the Internet that Obama (well-known to Chicagoans as a Christian) is actually a "stealth Muslim”, a "Manchurian Candidate", who would take the presidential oath with his hand on the Koran.
The paper asserts that the first rumors surfaced during Obama's run for Senate, but it was not until a recent "virile" e-mail campaign - wherein accusers labeled Obama of being the "enemy within" - finally stuck.
In fact, the false allegations became so serious, that the campaign team was forced to denounce Fox News for repeating what they assert was a false Insight Magazine report that "Obama spent four years in an Indonesian madrasa, an Islamic School".
Although CNN confirmed that the school in question had nothing in common with Pakistant incubators for jihadists, and the record has been set straight, the popular morning daily noted that the Washington Post proceeded to run a front-page story about Obama's alleged "Muslim" ties.
In response, Editors at the TIMES have summarily labeled the allegations "false and vile" - and further articulated - that the fact they persist in the face of the facts..."speaks to the power of the underlying calumny - that Muslim Americans in positions of power in the U.S. represent a fifth column, and internal security threat of the sort believed to have been posed by Japanese Americans during World War II."
They further argue that the issue..."speaks to the post 9/11 revival of the ancient Christian loathing of Muslims that predated by centuries the 1529 Ottoman Siege of Vienna."
Because American voters are probably not ready to vote in a Muslim President, it is conjectured that the "rumor-mongers" are spreading the hateful lies in a bold-faced effort to sabotage Obama's run for the White House.
In conclusion, the LA TIMES staff note that it is the duty of candidates of both parties - to not only denounce the smear against Obama - but the bigotry that lies beneath the movement.
Henry Adams once said,
Politics, as a practice - whatever its professions - has always been the systematic organization of hatreds.
I agree.