Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Uber-wingnut Tom Tancredo continues to bring the crazy, this time repeating yet another of those urban myths passed along in emails from one right wing loon to another.
"I remember a little thing, like Ms. Obama saying she didn't want any Christian artifacts in the White House during Christmas time," Tancredo said.
No, you don't remember that because it never happened.
Another problem, Tancredo said, is "hosting Ramadan events there."
You mean like President Bush did? And President Clinton? Oh, I know -- it's totally different when someone with dark skin does it.
Politics
Comments
Actually, he may well remember it, even though it never happened. See, for example, (doi:10.1016/S0065-2601(06)39003-X); in particular, part IV(C).
Posted by: abb3w | September 6, 2010 10:50 AM
When I read "Christian artifacts", I thought "Please get that skull of Saint Stephen out of here; it's creeping me out!"
Posted by: Emily | September 6, 2010 10:56 AM
Mr. Tancredo was on Chris Matthews' Hardball a couple of years ago arguing for intelligent design creationism where he framed this notion as an innovative advancement in scientific understanding supplanting evolution within the scientific community. Given that position it's not hard to imagine where he stands on anthropogenic global warming (effectively a denialist); however given the law of unintended consequences in wingnuttia, it's kinda cute observing him taking on that topic and switching subjects back to his primary obsession:
Rudy Giuliani's response that for him all topics lead back to 9/11 comes to mind though that appears prety damn rational relative to Mr. Tancredo's point.
Posted by: Michael Heath | September 6, 2010 11:04 AM
I remember a little thing, like Mr Tancredo saying he liked to fuck goats in the outhouse during Christmas time.
Wow, this game is fun.
Posted by: ambulocetacean | September 6, 2010 11:07 AM
It doesn't matter that it never happened. These "wingnuts" realize that if you repeat a lie long enough, people start to believe it. Which is why we now have a Muslim president who isn't even a U.S. citizen.
Posted by: Fred | September 6, 2010 11:11 AM
@ 4
Tancredo only fellates goats in outhouses while fantasizing about Jesus and wearing a flag lapel pin. So that's OK then.
Posted by: Fifth Dentist | September 6, 2010 11:17 AM
No.
Tancredo is not repeating an urban legend. He is lying. He is a politician. Words are his professional tool, and he needs to be held to a professional standard in how he uses them.
I believe in the NHL, "slashing" (done with the hockey stick) is a penalty even if you don't do it on purpose. The presumption is that the player is a professional, knows how to control the stick, and is responsible for what he does with it.
I think politicians should be held to a similar standard about their speech.
Posted by: Jim Ramsey | September 6, 2010 11:38 AM
@ 6
Well, all right then. Just as long as he doesn't do it during Ramadan.
It's a given that all politicians lie, but I don't think anyone in the Western world does it like the American right.
No lie is too outlandish and no member of the intended audience is bright enough to see through it or honest enough to give a shit.
I don't know can keep a straight face through it all. I couldn't do it without killing myself laughing.
Posted by: ambulocetacean | September 6, 2010 11:57 AM
To be fair, given the way the human brain operates, it's perfectly possible to remember things that - objectively - never happened, and that effect plays a large part in the formation and spread of urban legends. This happens even more readily if the fake event fits a pattern of dearly-held preconceived notions. This is not to say, of course, that Tancredo is just plainly lying - he's done that often enough, as well.
Posted by: Phillip IV | September 6, 2010 12:25 PM
Fundie xians have an endless and constantly mutating supply of fake event emails that they circulate among themselves.
The staple is that satanists (or illegal immigrants) kidnap children and drain them of all their blood for use in their rituals.
Of course there is never any proof that this has ever happened but reality isn't all that important to them.
The latest is making up quotes proving the founding fathers were all fundamentalist xians. They were mostly Deists.
Posted by: raven | September 6, 2010 12:32 PM
I tend not to want to get into fisticuffs with folks at the bar, but I have a fairly short fuse when people start spouting off about the shit that is the stock in trade for the FRA (Fuckwad Religiotard Assholes).
Posted by: democcommie | September 6, 2010 4:13 PM
Next thing you know the wing nuts will claim that Obama will replace eggs next easter with IEDs.
Posted by: Paen | September 6, 2010 4:19 PM
I'm half-tempted to send that to a couple of wingnuttia sites/lists and see if it gets any traction…
Posted by: blf | September 6, 2010 4:47 PM
"I tend not to want to get into fisticuffs with folks at the bar..."
What "bar," what are you talking about?
Posted by: daniel rotter | September 6, 2010 5:43 PM
I've often thought about trying to start a few of these just to see how far they'd go. It'd be interesting to do a number of them in a well documented way then maybe write an article about it.
Unfortunately, there are more than a few people that would continue to believe and pass around the stories even after they'd been exposed as fiction, and I'd hate to feed the propaganda machine.
Still, I've got a couple of friends to whom I'd love to say "Oh, yeah, that. That was one of mine."
Posted by: Dave v. | September 6, 2010 6:56 PM
Wait now - Obama's gonna replace eggs at Easter with IUD's??
NNOOOOOOOooooooooooooo!
:) -Dingo
Posted by: DingoJack | September 6, 2010 7:36 PM
New in for Easter 2011! - Presidential Easter decorations!!
Get yours NOW!!!- Dingo
Posted by: DingoJack | September 6, 2010 7:47 PM
Daniel Rotter:
The bar as in the bar I go to for a few beers and, yes, there are some durably stupid people there.
Posted by: democommie | September 6, 2010 7:53 PM
"I tend not to want to get into fisticuffs with folks at the bar..."
What "bar," what are you talking about?
Posted by: daniel rotter | September 6, 2010 5:43 PM
Paddy O'Ladens
Posted by: occamseraser | September 6, 2010 8:01 PM
I agree with #6. I doubt very seriously that Tancredo believes a word of this; he's just flat-out lying. And sadly, many people will just accept ANYTHING bad that anyone says about Obama.
And while there's plenty of stuff to criticize legitimately, IMHO, those on the left have far more to be dissatisfied with than those the right (although given the same choice, I'd vote the same way again in a nanosecond).
Posted by: MS | September 6, 2010 8:22 PM
@18: Uh, okay, but what does that have to do with Ed's post here? The subject is (Tom) "Tancredo Repeats Urban Myth," not "Assholes in Bars."
Posted by: daniel rotter | September 6, 2010 8:30 PM
Demo - you don't get depressed and take a donkey in with you. I assume? - Dingo
Posted by: DingoJack | September 6, 2010 9:10 PM
"The fact is, Americans consume more energy than anyone else, so if a person moves here from another country, they automatically become bigger polluters."
Actually there are several Gulf arab states with higher epr capita GHG emissions than the US, so logically Tancredo should support increased immigration from those countries.
Posted by: Ian Gould | September 6, 2010 10:55 PM
@6. I heard it was a sheep
http://tinyurl.com/2c9b4hn
Posted by: The Dude Abides | September 7, 2010 12:42 AM
@Paen
#12
Given the level of salmonella in eggs, using IEDs might be safer.
Posted by: Colin Day | September 7, 2010 1:18 AM
Daniel Rotter:
Urban myths/baldface RWA lies get repeated by fuckheads in bars--a lot. When I'm having a beer and some shitforbrains redneck troglodyte starts trotting out those concerning race, religion, birthplace or secret political agendas re: Mr. Obama or others I tend to tell them they're full of shit. I would love to bend an elbow with that fucking prick Tancredo. Is that clear enough or do you require photos or video?
Posted by: democommie | September 7, 2010 6:27 AM
I have not said that Tom Tancredo is a goat fucker, others in this forum have made that charge--over 10% of the comments in this thread alone make reference to him fucking goats/sheep--and I, for one, can't refute that charge.
What I will say is that, afaia, Tom Tancredo is a christian. Timothy McVeigh was a christian, as are Eric Rudolph and Scott Roeder. Doesn't it follow that Tom Tancredo has been or will be involved in the murder/execution of those he and his fellow travellers see as "enemies"? Now he may argue with this, but as he's on record as being a liar (he violated his own "term limits pledge" to run for a fourth term in congress in 2006) so we know that he's not to be trusted. I am not making an accusation here, btw, just asking questions.
I love this game when it can be played both ways.
Posted by: democommie | September 7, 2010 6:47 AM
Democommie #27
Why hasn't Tom Tancredo denied that he fucks goats?
Posted by: ambulocetacean | September 7, 2010 7:14 AM
"Tom Tancredo gang rapes billy goats on Fridays and eats lived babies on Sundays" - Ellis Washington*
-----
** Or least that's what I'd imagine Washington would say about Tancredo and that's identical to a direct quote, don't ya know.
Posted by: DingoJack | September 7, 2010 9:23 AM
Tom Tancredo dreams of the day he can leave Congress and start blowing goats for a nickel a herd and gain his self-respect back.
Posted by: st.ace | September 7, 2010 9:30 AM
I'm half-tempted to send that to a couple of wingnuttia sites/lists and see if it gets any traction...
I wouldn't be surprised if they ALL got started that way.
Posted by: Raging Bee | September 7, 2010 9:44 AM
Are we still talking about Tom goat-fucking Tancredo?
Posted by: ambulocetacean | September 7, 2010 10:09 AM
As a Colorado resident, I have to say I don't think Tancredo is consciously lying - I think he truly believes all the bullshit he espouses. I'm sure in his mind, one of his staffers told him it was on Drudge report, therefore it's a fact. And because he's infallible, doncha know, once he's said it, his brain can't conceive that he might have been mistaken.
On a bright note, our Governor's race has been way more entertaining since Tommy joined the race as a 3rd party candidate!
Posted by: WScott | September 7, 2010 1:26 PM
If Tancredo isn't a goatfucker, why is it so many people think he is?
Why hasn't Tancredo gone on the record responding to the goatfucker allegations?
What does he have to hide?
A Google search for "Tancredo Goatfucker" produces over 250 results, not all of them from this thread.
When will the in-the-tank lamestream media address the Goatfucker story?
Posted by: Ian Gould | September 7, 2010 1:41 PM
I attempted to post this earlier but it mysteriously disappeared!
Tom "Goatfucker/fellator" Tancredo is keeping mum on this, because the first time that he was accused of goatfucking/fellating was on the same alleged night that Glen Bek might have abducted, raped and murdered a person of tender years belonging to one of two majorly recognized gender groups--with the help of an accomplice!!. So, which would you rather be know as, Tom "Goatfucker/fellator" Tancredo, or Tom "Aider and abetter of Glen Bek in abduction, rape and murder (alleged)?
I ain't making any accusations here, I'm just asking questions.
I don't think I'll be able to spend too much more time on this as I have to see if I can get to the bottom of the rumor I just started about Sarah Palin, Jean Schmidt, Michelle Bachman, Carrie Prejean, Sally Kern, Sharon Angle and Gary Bauer all being secret members of a Neo-crypto lesbofascistwiccanatheistsatanic coven.
Posted by: democommie | September 7, 2010 3:14 PM
"I don't think I'll be able to spend too much more time on this as I have to see if I can get to the bottom of the rumor I just started about Sarah Palin, Jean Schmidt, Michelle Bachman, Carrie Prejean, Sally Kern, Sharon Angle and Gary Bauer all being secret members of a Neo-crypto lesbofascistwiccanatheistsatanic coven."
I like the rumor about George W Bush being the illegitimate son of Babara Bush and the Bushes' "undocumented" Latino gardener and therefore, under Birther rules, ineligible for the Presidency.
Posted by: Ian Gould | September 7, 2010 3:19 PM
WScott #33,
I think we can be pretty sure that Tancredo is lying for one simple reason. If Michelle Obama had actually said anything like that, Tancredo himself and the rest of the right-wing jet-engine noise machine would have made it into the biggest story in the entire fucking world ever. It would still be all over Fox and Rush even now.
Surely Tancredo is not dumb enough not to know that. Fucking goats might make you a sick fuck but it doesn't make you stupid.*
* Unless you get goat syphilis and it spreads to the brain. Why hasn't Tom Tancredo released his veterinary records? Should he really be out kissing babies if he's carrying goat syphilis?
Posted by: ambulocetacean | September 8, 2010 7:30 AM
Ian Gould:
"I like the rumor about George W Bush being the illegitimate son of Babara Bush and the Bushes' "undocumented" Latino gardener and therefore, under Birther rules, ineligible for the Presidency."
That, my man, is beyond the pale! That is just SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fucking sick!! Have you, at last, Sir, no decency? Why do you so despise the poor gardener that you would have him fuck Barbara Bush? A donkey, sure, I can see that, but, Bar? Dude, say you didn't mean it!
Posted by: democommie | September 8, 2010 11:29 PM