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Interesting and thought provoking post on The 463 tech policy blog on a dirty tricks email campaign launched against Democratic presidential contender Barrack Obama, targeted at Jews, claiming Obama is a radical fundamentalist Muslim.

I knew it was only a matter of time before the hate campaign started against Obama. It’s the nature of our country. It’s the nature of the right.

I hate to say it, though, but with all of the idiotic urban legends that arrive in our inboxes daily, the Nigerian 419 scams, the chain letters, and the lottery winnings awarded to people who never entered a lottery, why haven’t people become more discriminating about what they believe when they see it in their inbox?

“It’s in an email. It must be true.” It certainly doesn’t ring true for me. People need to think about what they pass on to friends, no matter the source. Here’s why email works so well for these disinformation campaigns: people are lazy. And they want to be seen as clever by their family and peers. So with a few clicks of the mouse they can forward these dire predictions and ground-breaking revelations to dozens of people. And I guess they are trying to be helpful. But they should cut it out.

Spotted this in the mall in Capitola, California today:

Note that only Clinton is referred to by her first name, and that all candidates are counting down to victory, an historical impossibility but a great way to sell calendars.