Obama Denies “Whitey Tape” Rumor… Or Does He?
June 6th, 2008 at 06:16pm Matt Margolis
Politico’s Ben Smith reports…
Sen. Barack Obama on Thursday batted down rumors circulating on the Internet and mentioned on some cable news shows of the existence of a video of his wife using a derogatory term for white people, and criticized a reporter for asking him about the rumor, which has not a shred of evidence to support it.
“We have seen this before. There is dirt and lies that are circulated in e-mails and they pump them out long enough until finally you, a mainstream reporter, asks me about it,” Obama said to the McClatchy reporter during a press conference aboard his campaign plane. “That gives legs to the story. If somebody has evidence that myself or Michelle or anybody has said something inappropriate, let them do it.”
Asked whether he knew it not to be true, Obama said he had answered the question
Now it appears to me that Obama isn’t so much denying that his wife gave such a rant, but rather denying the existence of the video (which has yet to be released if it exists) and he’s also choosing to attack the messenger for daring to ask about it.
Now, I don’t know if the videotape exists. But, I’m wondering why Obama didn’t say “The tape cannot possibly exists because my wife never has made any comments like that.” But, it doesn’t appear from Ben Smith’s report that Obama made such a definitive denial. His response sounded more like a strategically crafted response a politician gives when they don’t want to lie just in case whatever they are trying to hide does become exposed.
Obama’s focus on attacking the messenger seems highly suspect.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats
31 Comments
1. bongoman | June 6th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
At least he doesn’t refer to his wife as a “trollope” and the C-word in front of 5 other men.
2. Pain | June 6th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Five other WHITE men. Gasp!
3. Tractatus | June 6th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Lame post, but hey, anything to avoid talking about the biggest increase in the jobless rate in years and the release of the Phase II report detailing the Bush administration’s lies in the leadup to the Iraq invasion, huh?
4. CanadianObserver | June 6th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Matt
I can’t recall what post it was but a while back Mark said he would not tolerate unsubstantiated prattle being written about a certain individual. He said he would not accept rumor or gossip but insisted on take-to-court evidence.
Has that policy changed?
5. SEW | June 6th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
“the biggest increase in the jobless rate in years”
Not to mention the increase in energy prices since the Dems took over in 2006, and an $11 increase today because BO is the Dem nominee, and a 3% drop in the stock market. Thanks Barry.
Be afraid, very afraid. The messiah is here.
6. The Michelle Obama Tape S&hellip | June 6th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
[…] Obama Denies “Whitey Tape” Rumor… Or Does He? […]
7. Pain | June 6th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
5. SEW | June 6th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
That is really idiotic of you.
The jobless report, a local media story of a quote from an Israeli minister about attacking Iran and the decline in the dollar cause the DOW drop and the Oil spike.
Stupid partisan.
8. Evergreen | June 6th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
June 6th, 2008 at 06:16pm Matt Margolis
Either produce an authentic tape or keep quiet. Neocon lies have lead to 4000 dead. It is time to move in a different direction. Stupid post.
9. js | June 6th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
congress really sucks
gas prices up 600%
unemployment jumps
the dollar is devaluating
and the demon crats just argue about what?
obama and the salvation of america?
lol….really sucks huh.
10. amused observer | June 6th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
even national review knows that this rumor is completely absurd. i hope you have better things to do than help spread garbage that further lowers the tone of the 2008 debate and detracts from the issues. jim geraghty:
“Why is a conservative blogger putting this much effort into dispelling a rumor that, on paper at least, would hurt Obama? Because those who prefer a president besides Obama should not go through the summer and fall convinced that a magic-bullet devastating tape is going to appear as an October surprise to save the day.
Also, there are a lot of good reasons to vote against Barack Obama; but what people claim Michelle Obama says on a tape that no one can produce and no one has seen isn’t one of them.”
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Mzc3ZWNhNThmM2JhMzliZDUxMWNmMmU5M2ZiNmM1YTY=
11. Danish Artist | June 6th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Liberals will not admit to or believe anything unless there is a TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
Any other result it never happened.
Meanwhile, liberals can make crazy accusation after crazy accusation with no supporting evidence. Then, they hold hearings because of “the seriousness of the charge”.
Liberals are a hypocritical lot!
12. Eric T | June 6th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
js-
I agree, the democrats have not done much to address the issues they complain about,
when have we heard Pelosi, making a bill to keep jobs from getting outsourced, or a bill to make energy more affordable, yet everything is blame the republicans, even though they have a majority in both houses,
13. Sampson | June 6th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I recently read about a “rumor” that Matt Margolis and Mark Noonan were into farm animal bestiality. They would alternate between sheep and cows.
I don’t know if this rumor is true or not, but I have not read anywhere about them denying this heinous act.
One can only hope that for the sake of their families, they make some kind of statement either acknowledging the ‘rumor” or denying it.
14. Republican Killer | June 6th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
easy, because it is beneath him to answer just stupid questions. If this video exsisted, the republi-turds would have already posted it. You kool-aid drinkers will believe anything!!
15. William Teach | June 6th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Whew! Matt opened a serious can of Liberal Seething with this post.
Anyhow, since the Libs want to deflect away, perhaps they could answer the question as to what the Democrats are doing to lower the cost of gas, safeguard the homeland, and help the economy, along with the rest of the 6 for ‘06 that they ran on, and have done nothing about.
16. Republican Killer | June 6th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Sampson I too have heard the same thing! Yet I haven’t seen the proof nor have I heard any denials, but if the kool-aid drinking republi-turds can believe Bush is still a great president, these idiots will believe anything!
17. Republican Killer | June 6th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Hey william teach, I guess from 2000 to 2006 the Republicans didn’t spend like crazy, didn’t expand the size of government, and did such an amazing job that Americans voted to keep them in power…..NOPE Republicans suck, so if you think less than 2 years on the job can undo 6 years of Republican crap, than you’re superman!
18. Republican Killer | June 6th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Blogs For Victory is privately owned and maintained. All contributors are volunteers unaffiliated with any campaign or political party.
Now this is the biggest bunch of horse crap I have ever read!!! You where sadly once called Blogs For Bush!! Everything you idiots write about is Democrats this or Democrats that, while your crappy party loses seat after seat after seat!!!
Your own party memebers think The Republican Brand unworthy of being Dog Food!!!!
19. js | June 6th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
so whats so odd about this? the obama family spends 20 years in a racist black supremacy church, and you think its odd that michelle would come out against whitey? what are you liberals, totally daft or what?
20. neocon | June 6th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Republican killer,
Gas was $2.71 when Pelosi and Reid took office in ‘06, with the promise to lower energy costs.
I can’t afford anymore of their promises.
And why are you so angry? Have you failed at most things in your life and now looking for more successful people to take it out on?
I was flying the other day up north and as we flew over a snow covered mountain range, some twenty year old in the seat behind me looked out the window and exclaimed:
“is that sand?”
I am not kidding you. And it does show why Obama is so popular. Unfortunately there are a dangerous amount of empty heads out there. Am I hitting a little too close to home for you republican killer?
Oh and it wasn’t sand killer, just didn’t want you to keep guessing.
21. neocon | June 7th, 2008 at 12:08 am
And then I find the following article in the SF Chronicle that proves my point yet again:
Many spiritually advanced people I know (not coweringly religious, mind you, but deeply spiritual) identify Obama as a Lightworker, that rare kind of attuned being who has the ability to lead us not merely to new foreign policies or health care plans or whatnot, but who can actually help usher in a new way of being on the planet, of relating and connecting and engaging with this bizarre earthly experiment. These kinds of people actually help us evolve. They are philosophers and peacemakers of a very high order, and they speak not just to reason or emotion, but to the soul.
22. SEW | June 7th, 2008 at 4:54 am
Neocon, Definitely a Kool Aid drinker. Cult Obama. The opening statement is a dead giveaway. “MANY spiritually advanced people I know.” Uh, Cult Obama acquaintances maybe?
23. William Teach | June 7th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Republican Killer, the Dems said they would pass their 6 for 06 in the first 100 days. They haven’t done anything. Still waiting for their energy plan.
But, I guess like most liberals, you are too caught up in your venom to think like a rational adult and debate. Not that I am surprised. That is the way of the Liberal.
Ann Coulter was right. Debating liberals is like debating a 5 year old.
24. js | June 7th, 2008 at 9:24 am
“Many spiritually advanced people I know (not coweringly religious, mind you, but deeply spiritual) identify Obama as a Lightworker, that rare kind of attuned being who has the ability to lead us not merely to new foreign policies or health care plans or whatnot, but who can actually help usher in a new way of being on the planet, of relating and connecting and engaging with this bizarre earthly experiment. These kinds of people actually help us evolve. They are philosophers and peacemakers of a very high order, and they speak not just to reason or emotion, but to the soul.”
funny how the blind tend to follow the blind…the only real spiritual advancement in obama is on the way to hell…these people have been fooled by a charlatain….of mediocre caliber to boot.
25. Republican Killer | June 7th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Gas was $2.71 when Pelosi and Reid took office in ‘06, with the promise to lower energy costs.
Of course you failed to mention that from 2000 to 2006, while under a HUGE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY (unlike the 1 seat majority the Democrats enjoy), Republicans expanded governement to levels not seen since WWII.
Americans are stupid enough to buy “The Democrats” are fiscally unsound, because if you think 2000-2006 Republicans did such a wonderful job, then why in the hell did they get kicked out?
Also why did republicans lose seats in Mississippi( which republicans have held for over 20 years) and Louisana( which they also held for 30 years)?
So please stick to the issues. And as for Ann Coultergest, who cares what she says? When was the last time you saw her ugly man face anywhere?
26. What? | June 8th, 2008 at 2:47 am
I find it strange that conservatives on this website, who bemoan any government regulation, suddenly want the government to do something about gas prices.
Isn’t this regulating the free market; and aren’t you against that?
27. neocon | June 8th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Republican,
“stick with the issues”??? - and then you do everything BUT address my post. LOL
The GOP deserved to lose their seats because they acted like liberals. However that doesn’t even come close to explaining why gas prices were $2.71 in 2006 when Reid and Pelosi promised to lower energy costs - care to explain that for me?
The two Democratic candidates in LA and MS ran very conservative campaigns. In fact more conservative that their counterparts. Look it up. I see you follow the talking point script though.
“ugly man face”???? - why does Coulter bother you so? I actually find her observances quite poignant and LOL funny. It Good job.
What? - what?
28. js | June 8th, 2008 at 9:05 am
“Isn’t this regulating the free market; and aren’t you against that?”
When there is a threat to the free market economy, is it the governments duty to protect foreign corporations in the free market by letting them destroy the US economy, or is it the governments duty to address the threat, and protect the free market economy….all things being equal, in that no entity has the ability to take unfair advantage over any other…then no…but thats not whats happening, is it? we are a nation at war…and congress’ failure to act to protect our economy will have serious effects in the long term….the damage has already been done…and it will get worse if they dont act….
29. Some Assembly Required | June 8th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
“The GOP deserved to lose their seats because they acted like liberals.” Neocon
Hilarious! They were not actually republicans in office, nope they were liberals. President Bush was really a ’secret’ Liberal too.
They lost their seats because they acted like Liberals, but then were replaced by Liberals? Man, you have some crazy ways of justifying the failures of your party.
30. Rana Quijotesca | June 8th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Just thought I’d point this out, but right in that quote, Obama refers to those circulating emails as “lies.” That sounds a little like a denial to me…
Also, I fail to see where Obama “attacks the messenger.” He says a bogus story got media play, so the reporter asks him questions about it… it’s all right there…
When will you guys learn to read?
31. Dan R. | June 14th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
This is typical Barack Obama: show indignation but never actually come out and say “No such tape exists.”
Oh, and Tractatus, you might want to read the Washington Post re: those supposed “lies” that you say the Bush Administration told us to get us into Iraq. The WaPo is most certainly no friend of Bush, yet their investigation concluded that all of Bush’s decisions re: Iraq were supported by the intelligence at the time. Because that intelligence turned out to be wrong, it doesn’t mean that anyone “lied.”