Wednesday, October 15, 2008

ABC: Michelle Obama Africa 'Interview' Is Bogus

A lot of folks ran with this item today and I was skeptical since I couldn't locate any actual news links to this. Mind you, I could see Mrs. Obama lashing out at people, but found this item just too conveniently damaging.
Accusing API of colluding with American internet bloggers in an effort to bring down her husband, Mrs Obama said she decided to call API because of what she termed, API’s help to spread rumours created by American bloggers and other racist media outlets in their efforts to damage a black man’s name, saying she hopes African Media was mature enough to be in the front to give unwavering support to her husband, a man Africans should identify themselves with.
Not sure how she would have found a number to call them with since they don't provide a contact number anywhere.

Well, the Obama camp has responded quickly to say it's completely bogus and for once I believe them.
The conservative blogs are all atwitter about a bizarre interview allegedly with Michelle Obama on a website called "African Press International."

“My husband was born in Hawaii and adopted by his step father, does that make him unpatriotic," she supposedly said "on a direct telephone to API" the "interview" hypes. It goes on from there.

This morning my inbox is filled with the "WHY ARENT YOU COVERING THIS?" emails on the subject. The answer is: because it doesn't appear to be in any way real.

Obama campaign senior adviser Robert Gibbs says the interview is a complete and utter fabrication. "It's bogus, she didn't call, it's all a lie," he says.

And I have to say -- I find their pushback quite believable. The Obama campaign does not tend to directly engage fringe websites making wild charges, and if they were to do so they certainly wouldn't have Michelle Obama make the call.

Maybe the folks at API were taken in by an imposter. Maybe they made it up, I don't know.
it could well have been an imposter or a clever bit of astroturfing by the Obama camp trying to dupe people into running with bogus information. Or just whoever runs this site making things up.

Update: Conservative Punk says audio will be released.
ABC News is saying the Obama Camp is completely denying this story 100%. If there's audio, they're going to look like fools. If not, we are.

Developing...
I'll be happy to update if there's audio. If there is and it's authentic, the Obamas are going to be in a world of hurt. I just find it hard to believe someone would be so reckless as to dial up a website nobody has ever heard of to go on some tirade like this.

More from Allahpundit.

Assorted reaction via Memeorandum.

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