Stomp on the lies before they gain traction

These lies are about Barack Obama. The Anonymous Liberal did the legwork.

Furthermore, while the term "Madrassah" is often used as shorthand for a specific type of radical Islamic school where new jihadists are indoctrinated, the term simply means "school" in Arabic (and, by extension, a number of other languages). There is no reason to think the school Obama attended was anything other than a typical Indonesian school.

So let's recap the facts:

1) Obama was not "raised as a Muslim." He was raised primary by his mother and grandparents, none of whom were Muslims. His step-father, whom he lived with for only four years, was a Muslim, but a very traditionally Indonesian one. Obama is currently a practicing Christian.

2) Obama did not attend a "radical Madrassah" during his time in Indonesia. During his four years there (from age 6 to 10), he split his time between a local Muslim school and a local Catholic school.

3) Obama has not concealed any of this information. To the contrary, it is all laid out in detail in his two autobiographical books.

4) Mark Steyn is a massive tool.

Make no mistake. The GOP is laying the groundwork right now for the possibility of Obama winning the Democratic nomination. They're planting seeds and hoping these narratives will have gained a life of their own by the time the general election rolls around. Should Obama become the nominee, I expect that his Republican opponents will try to play up his "foreignness," to portray him as un-American, exotic, even dangerous. His name and his heritage open him up to this sort of attack, and there are a number of people on the Republican side who will readily exploit the American people's worst instincts.

That's why it's important to set the record straight now, to keep these claims from going unchallenged and thereby gaining the aura of truth. If you notice any false claims being made about any of the 2008 candidates, write about it or bring it to the attention of someone who will. It just might make a difference.