There are some little ironies that make me grin. Like Republicans are from the "Red states", that "Right brain thinking" is creative and intuitive, that "right" means "moral", left, sinister. But the email I got recently about the latest "political rumor" is not just comical, it shows some interesting dynamics at work in the political process and the disconnect in supposedly "right thinking" people.
The email, forwarded to/from groups of medical and legal professionals, claims that they have information that:
"On or about October 5th, Biden will excuse himself from the ticket, citing health problems, and he will be replaced by Hillary. This is timed to occur after the VP debate on 10/2."
Heavy stuff, no? Now, where did our intellectual think tank get this chestnut that they clearly acknowledge is only a rumor? From "a man who generally checks things out before sending," a man, who they claim, is in the DNC.
This would be pathetic except that this is the kind of nonreality-based wishful thinking pap, like the supposed Palin affair, that seriously distracts us from the discussion that we need to have. And, what is really scary about this email is to see just exactly how a whisper campaign is intentionally set out by these fools.
Again, the email:
"There have been talks all weekend about how to proceed with this info. Generally, the feeling is that we should all go ahead and get it out there to as many blog sites and personal email lists as is possible. I have already seen a few short blurbs about this - the 'health problem' cited in those articles was aneurysm. Probably many of you have heard the same rumblings."
"However, at this point, with this inside info from the DNC, it looks like this Obama strategy will be a go. Therefore, it seems that the best strategy is to get out in front of this Obama maneuver, spell it out in detail, and thereby expose it for the grand manipulation that it is."
"So, let's start mixing this one up and cut the Obamites off at the pass - send this info out to as many people as you can - post about it on websites and blogs - etc."
What could the intentional spreading of a lie hope to accomplish? And, what happens to the credibility of the folks spreading the lie after the date comes and goes for the unveiling of THE SECRET PLAN? Well, first, its spread anonymously. Secondly, even when pegged as a prevaricator, one can fall back that it was "just a rumor". Most importantly, it keeps the "faithful" pumped up and if you're driven by faith you can avoid reason. That's how we spend time on irrelevant issues like someone's middle name or the wearing of a flag pin and avoid topics like a melting economy, the effects of deregulation or any of the other really important issues that we have before us. Unfortunately, it has always worked in the past. It scuttled Kerry and was effectively used by the right wing against McCain himself. SEE SWIFT BOATING VIDEO USED AGAINST MCCAIN BY CLICKING HERE.
But the fact that McCain and Obama are the candidates left (oops) standing this year may signal a move away from the effectiveness of such silly crap. Let's hope so.
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