Here are responses to those who would claim ridiculous things about Barack. Each response has three crucial elements: 1) correct the misperception from the sound bite or advertisement with a simple sentence explaining the truth; 2)point to Obama's character, intelligence and hard work in this campaign; and 3) point out how the accusation, if true, would derail his campaign immediately, which is why he wouldn't do it, or why it makes absolutely no sense in light of what we know about Obama the man.
Accusation: "Barack called Sarah Palin a pig when he talked about putting lipstick on a pig the other day."(This, of course, was when Barack was talking about McCain's policy proposals being exactly the same as the failed policies of George W. Bush and then said to assert they are different is like trying to put lipstick on a pig.)
Response: "Do you honestly think anyone as intelligent as Obama, someone so smart that John McCain calls him an "elitist" because Barack graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and was president of the Harvard Law Review, would be so stupid, self-destructive, and insane as to call Sarah Palin a pig? Are you really saying that? Because on its face it makes absolutely no sense. Barack Obama is extremely good at expressing himself. He didn't work this hard, come this far, remain this disciplined, and become this successful only to resort to using the word "pig" to attack a female vice presidential candidate. That is just ridiculous."
Accusation: "Barack Obama is a Muslim."
Response: "In this time in our nation's history, electing a Muslim president would be impossible. And it would also be impossible to hide the fact that a candidate was a Muslim because of the faith requirements of Muslims. If Barack was a Muslim, someone would have seen him dropping down on a prayer rug at least once (Muslims are required to pray on their knees facing Mecca five times a day.) If there was even the slightest evidence that a candidate was a Muslim, he would be unelectable. The Democratic Party wants to win this year more than ever before. They vigorously oppose the policies of George W. Bush, they despise what he has done to this country, and they are terrified of Republicans winning again. There are a lot of really smart people in the Democratic Party. Do you honestly think the Party would be so suicidal as to nominate a Muslim for president? The idea is absurd. "
Accusation: "Barack Obama wants to teach sex education to kindergartners before they can read." This accusation is meant to scare parents into thinking Barack is way too liberal, schools to butt into parental responsibilities regarding sex education, teach things to children they don't need to know, and take away their innocence.
Respponse: "Barack Obama, like many responsible legislators who work on educational issues and the protection of children, was interested in looking at programs that would teach young children how to protect themselves should someone try to touch them inappropriately. Such programs help the millions of children who are at risk of victimization by molesters. Barack Obama has two beautiful young daughters with whom he and Michelle must have already discussed such things. But there are children whose parents do not discuss such issues with them, and some schools think it is important to reach out to children who otherwise might not know what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior from an adult who has power over them. Millions of children are molested by family members or family friends each year, people whom they trust. These children need to be told they can say "no" and tell another adult what is happening. How anyone could twist this responsible attempt to help children, preserve their innocence, and try to paint it as something lurid and obscene, is beyond my comprehension."
