Paper perpetuates a false smear

Jason Korzen
Published: July 13, 2008

I have read some ridiculous letters in your newspaper lately regarding Barrack Obama. But a recent letter from A. Vic Poillucci just might take the cake. 

Mr. Poillucci wrote in because he is upset about a quote from Senator Obama regarding our national anthem.

The problem is that Senator Obama never actually said the words Mr. Poillucci quoted. The “quote” was a piece of satire written by a syndicated columnist named John Semmens and posted on a Web
site called The Arizona Conservative.

I assume Mr. Poillucci probably received the quote forwarded to him in an email and like many other Americans just didn’t bother to check his facts. Who can blame him really?

Forwarded mass e-mails are always such reliable sources of information.

Unfortunately, thanks to Mr. Poillucci and your newspaper, many people in Prince William County will read this incredibly ignorant letter to the editor and won’t bother to check their facts either. 

They will believe that regarding the national anthem, Barrack Obama actually said, “It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to
Sing.’ If that were our anthem, then I might salute it.”

So, I am really writing in to commend both your newspaper and A. Vic Poillucci for helping to spread a smear and a complete lie.  You have just put the Potomac News on par with the e-mail I received
today from a Nigerian prince who wants to send me $20,000. Spam.

JASON KORZEN

Montclair