The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
As it turns out, campaign workers for Barack Obama may have unwittingly played a role in events that led to the distribution of a phony election flier telling Republicans to vote one day and Democrats another.
The flier that bore the Virginia seal and the State Board of Elections logo falsely claimed that the state legislature had taken emergency action to divide the election into two days - Nov. 4 for Republicans and Nov. 5 for Democrats.
The flier's existence was confirmed and reported Oct. 27, a little more than one week before the Nov. 4 election, sparking outrage among some people and amusement among others.
As word about the flier spread, the story was picked up by national media outlets and political Web sites.
So concerned were Obama campaign officials about the spread of misinformation to voters that they hastily called a news conference with U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-3rd District, last week to address the flier.
During an ensuing investigation, state officials said it had become a viral e-mail.
Officials have since revealed that the person responsible for the flier would not face criminal charges - typically filed against those who spread false information to voters - because the flier was a joke gone awry.
Thursday, more than one week after the flier surfaced, State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller explained the incident in more detail. Here's what happened:
An unidentified Hampton Roads man who created the flier showed it to a few co-workers, one of whom alerted officials at an Obama campaign office in Hampton Roads.
The document was forwarded to a campaign attorney, who contacted state election officials about the flier and also scanned it into a computer as an electronic file to share with other campaign staff.
State election officials, in turn, contacted State Police to investigate the situation.
Around the same time, the flier began making the rounds, going viral in the online community.
When word of the flier broke early last week, state officials said the document had "circulated" in several Hampton Roads localities, including Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
That characterization, Geller now says, was not entirely accurate.
"It was in no way physically circulating," she said. "The way it circulated by the Internet was via one of the campaign's attorneys who scanned it and forwarded it to some folks. That's how it circulated."
Authorities determined that criminal intent was not present, and Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney Linda Curtis declined to file charges.
Efforts to reach officials with Obama's Virginia campaign for comment were unsuccessful, as the operation was largely disbanded after the election.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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Again just the truth,
You're reading ideas not present in my comments. I didn't write that you mentioned Obama staffers had created the flier. I wrote that some posters did infer that from their reading of the article. I asked you to explain how any one could conclude that after reading the article. The article doesn't infer that any intention, on any one from the campaign , to distribute the flier. It clearly states any actions as to distribution of the flier as inadvertent & unintentional. If anyone wishes to read "conspiracy" or some such idiocy into the article; again, I know not from whence that could be concluded.
Noon
Ha ha, I purposely did *not* compare Mr. Obama to the Messiah, but only to the Pope!
I have seen some rather snarky stuff on this board about not following Mr. Obama's lead no matter what, but those are the fringe folks, I believe (either racists or they really did convince themselves he is a Muslim terrorist).
Many R's I know are saying "give him a chance." I keep thinking that JFK was a pretty great American, even though he was the dreaded "D" (smile!), so maybe Mr. Obama will follow in his footsteps. I am encouraged that JFK and Abe Lincoln are two of his heroes. We are all shaped by those around us when we are young (and older), but I have to believe that Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Lincoln will triumph over Rev. Wright when it comes to the voices advising President Obama on the decisions he faces!
Perhaps you should actually read the article before commenting
"So, I don't buy the 'it was just a joke' story about this flyer."
When your comments reveal that you haven't read the (very brief!)article you're commenting on, it makes you look silly at best. I'm sorry the Pilot didn't package this article in the 20 second fear and smear factiods you've become comfortable with. Also, your experience is a non sequiteur if it is even true. Based on your cavalier treatment of facts I know, I surmise a lot of what you say (where I don't happen to know the facts) is likely not trustworthy.
RE: Let's all move forward, work together, and get along!
Democrat-speak for, "Bend over, do as we say and keep you mouth shut!" While I didn't see this flyer, my home phone was bombarded with calls from the Obama Campaign. They kept doing so even after I asked them to stop calling. The same man kept calling, from different phone numbers listed as private real estate companies. The same man I asked repeatedly to stop calling me. Additionally, I received several calls from the Teamsters Union, endorsing Obama and each and every call listing a different voting location for me to go to on election day. All of the above calls asked for me by my full given name, which they extracted from my voting records according to the registrars office here. So, I don't buy the 'it was just a joke' story about this flyer.
Mary, you're too smart for deflections
I agree that no one is perfect and have no problem acknowledging the mistake, but think that your "Obama as Messiah" is a purposely derogatory strawman. Obama opponents are now setting impossible standards for his administration. When he enivitably fails to meet those standards his opponents can (and are)whip[ing] out a thousand variations on "I told you so." Your last set of comments serve that devisive end. I'd like you to address that point; explain why "Obama as Messiah" is a myth you're giving breath to. My point is that the paper doesn't say how the flier was passed on to the Obama campaign and in what context. You accuse me of making excuses, albeit implicitely. I'm accusing you (us) of not knowing enough to support your accusations. There is nothing about the flier itself that makes it explicit that it was a joke. Your original comments were deriding Obama supporters because they weren't calling for blood now. I tried to point out how the situations has changed. I've convinced myself at least. Out of words. Take care.
Hey, Noon!
It seems to be hard for D's to just come out and say "someone on the Obama election team didn't read it right and published it as a serious flyer." That intrigues me, as Mr. Obama said the other night that mistakes will be made but he will always be honest about them. I am not sure why so many D's want to treat him as more infallible than the Pope and now, by association, treat his team as though it cannot make mistakes. It did--the Pilot said that. I actually have more respect for someone who realizes that human nature means that we *all* make mistakes than I do for those who treat their group as perfect and, therefore, go around blaming all mistakes on the opposition.
NEED TO READ
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/11/beach-candidate-sessoms-flier-shows-him-obama
Folks do you really think it affected the election ??
This flier on the other hand did!!!!!…Sessoms exploited Obama and the voters..He won by 6800 votes but handed out over 30’000 of these on election day to exclusively black polls..I think Meyera is rolling over because they are promising her a higher seat….Guess we'll see……
Mary Mary
Mary Mary:
We don't know where the context shifted from joke to voter suppression (the person who sent it on to the campiagn could have (apparently did?) taken this prank seriously) or how widespread the distribution was.
justhetruth:
I can't tell if you're serious. Generally, I've had trouble buying into conspiracy theories but if you want to believe those sorts of Rudebergian schemes, be my guest. You do seem attached to a whole raft of odd assumptions though. I'd recomend you examine some of them once you've calmed down. One last thing. I bet exponentially more people have heard half-truths about Acorn, circulated by the right of course, than have heard anything about our little flier. In fact, I bet any response you might make will include some of those half-truths. Care to wager?
Noon, good point but?
It does matter…. because how many in the US read this paper that explained what really happened. Due to the Obama Camps' request Bobby Scott got on National News, and 100 of millions all over America heard that McCain’s camp was up to no good with these flyers. Have you heard anything outside the Pilot's reader base that really knows what happened? I don't think Obama camp will make it widely known, they will make the apology to less then .01% (Pilots reader base) of the US Voters that they "Unwittingly Distributed" the flyer at the expense of the world/US believing McCain's group did it. That was a pretty good ratio I believe, evolve 100 percent of the American voter base, but less then .01 percent knows what really happened. Black ops at it’s finest.
Noon
Except it is quite clear that at some point someone in the Obama campaign did not read and get the context. That person or persons forwarded it as a serious move, believing the flyer because it became a viral e-mail.