# Senator Obama, have you ever been a member of ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 9, 2008, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114 "2008-10-09T03:04:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/21 "2008-10-09T13:50:29Z")
> [@UnwrittenNocturne](#): > > But the really interesting part of your post concerned ducks on acid. I think I’d like video footage of this. Do a search for early Looney Tunes. Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo! ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/22 "2008-10-09T13:54:34Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Oh, and to the OP: Link to the Obama denial, just in case I need to slap someone down with it? First off my apologies for the sloppy McCainesque misspeak of New Party’s name in the op. And for my uncritical acceptance of their portrayal of New Party. My only link to a denial is the original cite’s claim that there was one. Take its reliability as you will. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/23 "2008-10-09T14:09:43Z")
For your interest and further perusal, my friend sent me this link to an Investor’s Business Daily editorial entitled [“Barack Obama’s Stealth Socialism”](http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?secid=1501&status=article&id=302137342405551). It’s part of a series called “The Audacity of Socialism”. She wanted me to tell her whether this was fact or opinion. I don’t think they’re going to go McCarthyesque - I think they’re already there. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/24 "2008-10-09T14:13:53Z")
> [@C3](#): > > For your interest and further perusal, my friend sent me this link to an Investor’s Business Daily editorial entitled [“Barack Obama’s Stealth Socialism”](http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?secid=1501&status=article&id=302137342405551). It’s part of a series called “The Audacity of Socialism”. She wanted me to tell her whether this was fact or opinion. > > I don’t think they’re going to go McCarthyesque - I think they’re already there. With the entire western world busy in effect nationalising the Finance sector we’re all socialists now. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/25 "2008-10-09T14:16:26Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > With the entire western world busy in effect nationalising the Finance sector we’re all socialists now. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/26 "2008-10-09T14:26:52Z")
> [@C3](#): > > For your interest and further perusal, my friend sent me this link to an Investor’s Business Daily editorial entitled [“Barack Obama’s Stealth Socialism”](http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?secid=1501&status=article&id=302137342405551). It’s part of a series called “The Audacity of Socialism”. She wanted me to tell her whether this was fact or opinion. > > I don’t think they’re going to go McCarthyesque - I think they’re already there. Have you considered getting smarter friends? Or at least less lazy ones? ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/27 "2008-10-09T14:29:33Z")
Yeah, I’m learning all sorts of things about people this election. This is a woman with a graduate degree from UNC, a professional, married to a surgeon. It’s like people have completely lost all their critical thinking skills. And I’m getting a little annoyed that people keep sending me stuff to research for them…do your own damn investigating, it’s not my job to debunk all the crap you get in your inbox. (sorry, feeling a bit ranty today) ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/28 "2008-10-09T14:38:01Z")
Right there with you, **C3**. I’m getting the same thing. I have to keep reminding people “I’m not an expert on ANYTHING. You want to know, do the research, just like I have to.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/29 "2008-10-09T14:41:56Z")
> [@UnwrittenNocturne](#): > > Well you’re not seeing a lot of black magic right? I think I saw some on _The Daily Show_ last night. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/30 "2008-10-09T14:43:32Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Yeah well, you don’t need the anti-witchcraft protection until you need it. Better to have anti-witch protection and not need it than not have it and need it? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/31 "2008-10-09T14:44:49Z")
I had a conversation a few days ago that made my head spin. I was in the company cafeteria with a cow-orker, who is a McCain supporter. I’m an Obama supporter. We were just goofing around with a couple of the women who work in the cafe, talking about the debates and the elections and all that. One woman said she was voting for McCain. Joking (but making a serious point), I said, “I have three words that ought to scare you: Vice President Palin.” Her response was, “Oh, I love Sarah. I want her to be president.” But that wasn’t even the dumbest part of the conversation. The other woman, who quite honestly struck me as about as intelligent as rutabaga, said she supported Obama. My cow-orker said to her, in jest (but still a little seriously), “Did you know his middle name is Hussein?” She blanched, and said, with all due shock and awe, “Oh my god, really? I didn’t know that. That’s so bad.” I had to explain to her that his father was Kenyan and Hussein was about as common as John over there, but it didn’t sink in. The only saving grace is her conversation ending quip, “Oh I never vote. Never have, never will.” One less possible vote for Obama, but in this case I don’t mind. I don’t think I want people that stupid in a voting booth. In conclusion: don’t misunderestimate the power of ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/32 "2008-10-09T15:01:44Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > With the entire western world busy in effect nationalising the Finance sector we’re all socialists now. “Crown corporations” anyone? Also at that link: > [@](#): > > Among his proposed “investments”: > > • “Universal,” “guaranteed” health care. > > • “Free” college tuition. > > • “Universal national service” (a la Havana). > > • “Universal 401(k)s” (in which the government would match contributions made by “low- and moderate-income families”). > > • “Free” job training (even for criminals). > > • “Wage insurance” (to supplement dislocated union workers’ old income levels). > > • “Free” child care and “universal” preschool. > > • More subsidized public housing. > > • A fatter earned income tax credit for “working poor.” This is supposed to be scary? Most of this stuff I would want! Then again, I still call them French fries, so he must be tapping into my inner European. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/33 "2008-10-09T15:04:44Z")
We (a group of 25 or so soldiers/civilians) were watching TV at breakfast Monday and the FOX/Sean Hannity expose of Obama’s college years was playing. (We were kind of hoping for Sports Center but …). It was great for laughs. It was as if Hannity was doing Colbert doing Hannity. Most of the details have passed but myself and some others lost some food (and possibly part of my lung) when it was disclosed that an Obama associate during this time was an “Orthodox Muslim”. Not a fanatical, not a radical, but an orthodox. What’s next? Will he be accused of being a, “Practicing Heterosexual”? I vaguely remember a politician in history using a similar strategy - branding his opponent with large(relatively unknown) perfectly harmless adjectives that the uneducated populace took to be derogatory statements. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/34 "2008-10-09T15:05:28Z")
It’s getting very ugly out there. Yesterday, on a local call-in radio show, a guy called in to say Obama smoked crack cocaine and had sex with a man in the back of his limo. The host seemed pretty excited about this ‘lead’ and questioned the called about his source. After three tries to avoid naming his source, the caller finally said he read it in the National Enquirer at the grocery store. And I heard Limbaugh say that the ‘independant moderates’ were really secretly ‘leftist liberals’ who have been hiding out (for years?) just waiting for a situation like this to make their appearance. He also told a caller who said she was ‘depressed’ about the polls to not watch the next debate; that he would watch it for her and tell her the important parts. I may have to pull the blinds and turn off all the electronics for the next couple of weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/35 "2008-10-09T15:10:51Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > Yesterday, on a local call-in radio show, a guy called in to say Obama smoked crack cocaine and had sex with a man in the back of his limo. The host seemed pretty excited about this ‘lead’ and questioned the called about his source. After three tries to avoid naming his source, the caller finally said he read it in the National Enquirer at the grocery store. Yeah, that guy’s a fraud . ::waits for you to feign surprise before proceeding:: That allegation went public quite a while ago. The loon finally took a polygraph test and flunked. It’s not going to hurt Obama because it’s so dumb that only desperate idiots would believe it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/36 "2008-10-09T15:16:29Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > I vaguely remember a politician in history using a similar strategy - branding his opponent with large(relatively unknown) perfectly harmless adjectives that the uneducated populace took to be derogatory statements. Hijack: [The urban legend about what George Smathers said about Claude Pepper:](http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=101;t=000379) > [@](#): > > During this period, with additional writers covering the grind of the campaign trail, the most famous thing George Smathers never said was reported as fact. The origins of the alleged remark are unclear. Whether the product of worn-out journalists or an ambitious small magazine called “Quote,” the quote attributed to Smathers had him preying upon the limited vocabulary of “backwoods” Florida townspeople by informing them: “Are you aware that Claude Pepper is known all over Washington as a shameless extrovert? Not only that, but this man is reliably reported to practice nepotism with his sister-in-law and he has a sister who was once a thespian in wicked New York. Worst of all, it is an established fact that Mr. Pepper, before his marriage, habitually practiced celibacy.” (43) > > The sensational quote was published by Time magazine on 17 April 1950 and then by Life magazine in its 23 October 1950 issue. The infamous lines by then were considered fact, though they had never been printed during the campaign by any Florida newspaper following the candidates, not even by Nelson Poynter’s St. Petersburg Times. Eventually, the attributed statement was included in a book coauthored in 1954 by William F. Buckley entitled McCarthy and His Enemies.[…] > > As late as 1964, Smathers’s Senate office was answering inquiries regarding the quote. (45) Never, not even as a humorous aside to a friend, did Smathers accept responsibility. Finally, after leaving office, he made a standing offer of $10,000 to anyone who could provide proof that he ever uttered the remarks. (46) The offer stands yet. [pp. 65-67] ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/37 "2008-10-09T16:27:22Z")
The OP’s link/blog’s also added a claim (with another Web link/scan) that Obama attended an actual Socialist meeting in '96 (or something along those lines). Like I said, though, I’m not sure how heated up the average American is gonna get over someone pointing a finger and yelling “socialist!” these days… ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/38 "2008-10-09T19:32:50Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > The OP’s link/blog’s also added a claim (with another Web link/scan) that Obama attended an actual Socialist meeting in '96 (or something along those lines). > > Like I said, though, I’m not sure how heated up the average American is gonna get over someone pointing a finger and yelling “socialist!” these days… That’s all I’m hearing on another MB where I post. In the spirit of a bit of fun, we were discussing the candidates healthcare plans and I posted some stuff from Obama’s site (with links) in one post. The ideas were attacked as socialist, etc., as I expected they would be. In a follow up post, I posted quotes from McCain’s website, but did not attribute or link them. Predictably, these quotes (assumed to be from Obama) were attacked as socialized medicine, also. Big fun was had by all! ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/39 "2008-10-09T19:58:30Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > That’s all I’m hearing on another MB where I post. > > In the spirit of a bit of fun, we were discussing the candidates healthcare plans and I posted some stuff from Obama’s site (with links) in one post. The ideas were attacked as socialist, etc., as I expected they would be. > > In a follow up post, I posted quotes from McCain’s website, but did not attribute or link them. Predictably, these quotes (assumed to be from Obama) were attacked as socialized medicine, also. > > Big fun was had by all! Smooth, dude. I almost want a link to it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114/40 "2008-10-10T00:54:54Z")
Quoth **elucidator** : > [@](#): > > But this stuff with getting anti-witchcraft protection? That’s crazy as a duck on acid. No, no, that’s the counterattack they’ll use when McCain et al bring up Rev. Wright. You’ve got to stay on target: “Well, I wasn’t going to bring it up, but since you say it’s relevant…”. Back to the parties, the evidence is about the same concerning Obama once haing been a member of the New Party, and Palin once having been a member of the AIP: The party and the candidate both deny it, and neither appears on the party’s official rolls, but there’s some evidence that members of the party think the candidate might have been a member, anyway. Meanwhile, though, any connection between Obama and the New Party is pretty far back in the past, but Palin as recently as this year was still giving keynote speeches to the AIP. That’s both a stronger connection, and more recent. So I think it’s a perfectly valid avenue of counterattack. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-obama-have-you-ever-been-a-member-of/467114.md?page=3)