In Retrospect, A Poor Choice of Metaphor (UPDATE: Attack was a hoax.)

Thursday, October 23, 2008

BARACK OBAMA

"I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors. I want you to talk to them whether they are independent or whether they are Republican. I want you to argue with them and get in their face."

Drudge Headline, today:

'B' CARVED INTO 20-YEAR OLD WOMAN'S FACE... DEVELOPING...

SHOCK: MCCAIN VOLUNTEER ATTACKED AND MUTILATED IN PITTSBURGH

Of course, it's unfair to hold Obama responsible for hooligans and nut cases claiming to act in his name. But then again, for the past two weeks, we've seen the press holding McCain and Palin responsible for what a few hooligans and nut cases shout at campaign events.

UPDATE: A few of my left-of-center readers suggested this was a hoax. (Funny how credulity and skepticism seem to shift around this time of year...) I suppose it is possible that this story did not play out as described, but there is a photo of the face of victim.

ANOTHER UPDATE: A reader writes in, claiming the "B" is backwards. Only if the attacker and victim were standing face-to-face during the attack. If the two were facing the same direction - say, she had been attempting to flee - and attacker was standing over the victim — she's looking up at him, he's looking down at her — he would cut/scratch the "B" as it is depicted on her face in the photo.

KEY UPDATE: The woman has recanted her story. This appears to be a particularly cruel hoax.

10/23 04:07 PM Share