Who is Barack Obama, really?

Next time Patricia Eaton considers questioning publicly the patriotism of a fellow citizen, I suggest that she do a little research. Upon reading her editorial ("Who Is Barack Obama", March 2, 2008), I did a brief bit of research on the internet to see what facts I could find to support or debunk her claims about Barack Obama. In less than five minutes I was able to discover that each of her claims about Senator Obama is false. For those who wish to read about these rumors, how they have been circulated by biased media sources, and how they have been addressed head-on by the Senator, visit www.snopes.com and search for "Obama rumors". Several other sites, as well as the Senator's own campaign site, discuss what amounts to a rather transparent smear campaign.

Shame on you, Ms. Eaton, for letting yourself fall victim to these rumors, and for actively spreading them! Perhaps even more seriously, shame on you, Courier, for printing her letter without first checking the "facts" she put forth. Your own printed guidelines for letters to the editor state that letters containing "unfounded allegations or unverifiable information" will be rejected.

Senator Obama has stated repeatedly that he is not a Muslim. I suspect that a great many American Muslims would be offended by Ms. Eaton's statements which seem to lump them together with those who perpetrated the atrocities of 9/11. Obama had the misfortune of being photographed ONCE without his hand on his heart during the playing of the national anthem - somehow this has spiraled into claims that he refuses to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and other assorted nonsense. As for taking the oath of office on the Quran, that particularly outrageous lie was exposed months ago.

Further, I am dismayed by Ms. Eaton's suggestion that we judge the patriotism of a fellow citizen based on whether he wears a flag lapel pin. Has the substance of our political dialogue really sunk that low?

Ms. Eaton states that she doesn't know who Obama is, what he has done, or who "was behind him from the start". Obviously a little research was in order before she bought into the rumors and decided to spread them around.

I haven't decided who will receive my vote in November. I hope and pray that all of our decisions will be based on the best information possible, and not on rumors, innuendo, and lies.
Carl Johengen
Bath