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Friday, June 20, 2008 12:00 AM

Barack Obama is a Muslim, and other stories

The Democratic nominee's campaign is working overtime to combat rumors -- yet misinformation is still running rampant across the Internet.

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  • Friday, June 20, 2008 09:05 AM

    Why the Smears Work

    is because you keep printing them over and over. Every repetition reinforces the lie. Your headline just reinforced to all those 13 percent of people that he is, in fact, a Muslim. And I just did it with that sentence.

    Cognitive science teaches us that the first time you hear something, it is stored in your brain as information. The second time you hear it, it is 'verified' and is then made permanent. First hearing: Obama is a Muslim. Second hearing: Obama is not a Muslim. Unfortunately, the brain is also quite selective and 'wants' to verify previously held information so when you say Obama is NOT a Muslim, the brain hears and verifies that he is.

    Obama has made a huge mistake on his Fight the Smears website because he repeats the smear flat out and then goes about trying to debunk it. However he has just reinforced it yet again - and from a source that is truly 'credible'.

    The only way to fight this stuff is to STOP SAYING IT AND STOP SAYING ANYTHING THAT EVEN VAGUELY SOUNDS LIKE IT.

    For instance: Obama is a committed Christian and is a member of Trinity United Christian Church. Period. Do not reference being Muslim. Do not put it in a sentence anywhere near this. The people you are trying to reach will only hear the smear. Again. If you do.

    Obama has served this country well by working for poor people on the South Side of Chicago.

    Obama has served in the Illinois Legislature and the US Senate.

    Obama says all the time that this country is the reason he has the opportunities he has, and that he is truly grateful for them, and for this country.

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