Freemasons to ‘Birthers’: rise of D.C. conspiracy theories (Flop Sweat continues...)

Crhistian Science Monitor ^ | 8/4/09 | Alexandra Marks

[pissant]

Political conspiracy theories – like the so-called “birther” allegation that Obama is not a legitimate US citizen – are as old as the nation.

In the late 1700s, it was rumored that the Freemasons were actually a Satanic cult and George Washington was a member who was elevated to the presidency so they could control the country. Such views were generally held by a few fringe groups and were viewed by the mainstream culture as a bit nutty.

But in the past few decades, conspiracy theories have tended to become a part of mainstream political culture, say political analysts. They point to Lou Dobbs’s promotion of the “birther” controversy on CNN, and to the Research 2000 survey that found 28 percent of Republicans think Obama was not born in the US and another 30 percent “aren’t sure,” despite overwhelming evidence that he was born in Hawaii.

The rising popularity of political conspiracy theories can be tied to a variety of factors, say analysts, from the growing distrust in government since Watergate and Vietnam to the expansion of the national security apparatus to the rise of the infotainment cable news culture.

Conspiracy theories are also thriving on the Internet, where people can choose what to read and what to ignore.

“The Internet perpetuates these things because of the ease with which you can look up all of this so-called ‘evidence’ on the web - no matter how far flung the idea is - and build whatever worldview you want while ignoring other evidence,” says James LaPlant, who teaches a class on political conspiracy theories at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Ga.

[KTM rider]

"like the so-called “birther” allegation that Obama is not a legitimate US citizen"

Mike gallagher radio pundit came out with this BS crap today too.

LET ME REPEAT, the " bither" message THAT EVERYONE IS MISSING ! ! !

in 1961 anyone could fly into Hawaii with an already born baby and get a birth certificate saying the baby was born there ,in order to get their little basterd black sex mistake US citizenship, the practice was stopped later

that is the birther message ! that he is NOT eligible by not being "natural born"

IT is NOT ABOUT the CITIZENSHIP OF OBAMA, IT IS ABOUT MEETING THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR POTUS !

gallagher is an idiot and so are these masons

[pissant]

Mike Gallagher is a mental midget.

[Marty62]

Yes but the Freemason smears were an attempt to SCARE people into not following them into the revolution against the British.
Luckily the people were not stupid enough to stop fighting for their Freedom. I’m sure the Nazi tactic of having people REPORT anyone that doesn’t agree with the Zero to the WH, is a threat that many will not be able to stand up against. Face it, the majority of Americans will disappear into the woodwork at the first threat from the Zero.

[john mirse]

But in the past few decades, conspiracy theories have tended to become a part of mainstream political culture, say political analysts. They point to Lou Dobbs’s promotion of the “birther” controversy on CNN, and to the Research 2000 survey that found 28 percent of Republicans think Obama was not born in the US and another 30 percent “aren’t sure,” despite overwhelming evidence that he was born in Hawaii.

******

The big difference between this Obama birth certificate issue and so-called conspiracies is this: The voting booth that voters will enter in the 2010 and 2012 elections.

My point is this: If Obama continues to stonewall and frustrate the public by refusing to release his 1961 Hawaii birth certificate and his Occidental, Columbia, and Harvard college records, then birthers will enter the voting booth---in the upcoming 2010 and 2012 elections---and loudly express their anger/frustration by voting against any Senator or Representative who defends Obama by saying that Obama does not have to release his Hawaii long form birth certificate and his college records if he does not feel like it.

[Seruzawa]

Somewhere over the rainbow.....