GOP Pride

Yesterday I was the proud recipient of a chain email titled "obama.......WHY????????" which was apparently originally written by CPT Jeffrey S. Porter. The email is critical of how Obama shunned the troops in Afghanistan on his recent visit there.
It took me about a minute using Google to discover that this email was a stunt, a smear, meant to be mailed anonymously throughout Republican circles, sort of a cyber Republican circle-jerk. In Republican circles, it seems, perceptions are all that matter, the truth be damned. Pass that lie to all your friends. Don't bother to check any sources first.
Since late July, the Internet has been full of websites exposing this email fraud. Another early post here. All you have to do is Google the guy's name and tons of places that discuss this email come up. There's no way to claim innocence for anyone who forwarded this email after the truth had been exposed. Yet that little fact doesn't stop Republicans from smearing their feces all over the Internet, does it?
Obama had an interesting thing to say about this sort of thing. He was speaking of how Republicans have been mocking his claim that simply running tires at the proper pressure could save more oil than could be produced by expanded offshore drilling. From TPM ElectionCentral, Obama responded:
"Now two points, one, they know they're lying about what my energy plan is, but the other thing is they're making fun of a step that every expert says would absolutely reduce our oil consumption by 3 to 4 percent. It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant."
Did you catch that? Republicans seem to take pride in being ignorant.
On that note, here's the email I received. I admit to removing the header from it. I wonder if I should email all these good people to inform them of the mistake.
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From: emt6989@hotmail.comTo: bassman_4001@yahoo.com; blpk61@hotmail.com; chrisdjn@comcast.net; chubs700@comcast.net; lanemedic@yahoo.com; deekal409@hotmail.com; dmartin@pulsenet.com; drdonna@gmail.com; fridgedaddy@yahoo.com; cfnurses@yahoo.com; fred.simpson@comcast.net; gcole@wpahs.org; cowboyc20@yahoo.com; suns_moons19@hotmail.com; emjschmuck@comcast.net; bobo15347@comcast.net; jeepwrangme@yahoo.com; ffmedic94@yahoo.com; ffemt011@yahoo.com; mjwystepek@yahoo.com; mustangjason00@hotmail.com; nancytopolski@livenation.com; pete316@bentcom.net; robinsanders5@yahoo.com; sharonl1969@comcast.net; sparkyg3@juno.comSubject: FW: obama.......WHY????????Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 18:15:08 -0400--------------------------------------------------------------------------------From: 763wright@comcast.netTo: emt6989@hotmail.com; bassman_4001@yahoo.com; reepsveb@comcast.net; Free2ride527@comcast.net; TGray@baxglobal.com; pbutler2004@comcast.netSubject: Fwd: obama.......WHY????????Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 05:45:48 +0000-------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- From: mukiwasteve@aol.com To: nick6835@optimum.net, garandgunner@hotmail.com, suntanfit@msn.com, sp33mm@msn.com, toys4totsusmcr@aol.com, bluewisp@aol.com, ESSELLCEE172@aol.com, RAZukowski@comcast.net, zuke@kmdodge.com, dgtay@aol.com, champagne@airadv.net, 763wright@comcast.net, janetknaupp@hotmail.com, oldbetsy1776@yahoo.com Subject: Fwd: obama.......WHY???????? Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 01:50:43 +0000 pass this around.................-----Original Message-----From: Tim Hesse To: Walt Serafin ; Tom Ibinger ; Terry McGinnity ; Steve Winiecke ; Scott Hesse ; Ryan Hesse ; Matt Hesse ; Kevin Kumpf ; Ken Detmer ; Gary Amble ; Dave home ; Brian Buckingham ; Bill Home Hesse ; Alex Winiecke ; Alex Hesse Sent: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 10:06 amSubject: FW: obama.......WHY????????-----Original Message-----From: m [mailto:mmmtait@yahoo.com]Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 9:02 AMTo: mSubject: obama.......WHY????????I don't know each of your personal political convictions, and apologize ifanyone finds this offensive. I thought it was important enough to share.This is Jeff's first hand view of Senator Obama.---------- Forwarded Message ----------Hello everyone,As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted to pass alongthat Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan for about an hour on hisvisit to'The War Zone'. I wanted to share with you what happened.He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the areatomeet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at Bagram.As the Soldiers where lined up to shake his hand he blew them off anddidn'tsay a word as he went into the conference room to meet the General. A s hefinished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big toptentthat military personnel can play basketball or work out in with weights)so hecould take his publicity pictures playing basketball. He again shunned theopportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for their service.So really he was just here to make a showing for the American's back homethat he is their candidate for President. I think that if you are going tomakean effort to come all the way over here you would thank those that areproviding the freedom that they are providing for you.I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the DallasCowboy Cheer leaders than from one of the Senators, who wants to be thePresident of the United States. I just don't understand how anyone wouldwant him tobe our Commander-and-Chief. It was almost that he was scared to be aroundthose that provide the freedom for him and our great country.If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to knowwhat kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news isa ll fake.In service,CPT Jeffrey S. PorterBattle CaptainTF WasatchAmerican SoldierDon Herpenherpen@comast.netAmerican by birthMARINEby the grace of God Semper Fi