Fighting Whispers

Newsrooms, by definition, are awash in rumors.

People in this line of work hear things, often outrageous things that may or may not be true.

I remember Marcia Kramer of New York's WCBS-TV telling me how she'd heard a vague rumor that Eliot Spitzer might be involved with prostitutes. She dutifully called the governor's office, but wasn't able to confirm anything before the New York Times broke the story.

When public officials deny rumors that can't be proven, a journalistic dilemma arises. Publishing such a story--even making clear that it's false--has the unavoidable effect of spreading the falsehood. On the other hand, remaining silent does nothing to quiet the inevitable whispering campaigns.

Presidential candidates and their aides usually do everything in their power to keep scurrilous yarns out of print and off the air. But Barack Obama's team has made a different decision, launching a Web site to combat what it says is garbage being circulated about the Illinois senator.

Here's an example from Fight the Smears:

"Lie: On May 30th, Rush Limbaugh said he had heard a rumor that a tape exists of Michelle Obama using the word 'Whitey' from the pulpit of Trinity United Church of Christ.

"Truth: No such tape exists. Michelle Obama has not spoken from the pulpit at Trinity and has not used that word.

"Lie: Blogger Larry Johnson wrote on May 31st that he would add 'New and dramatic developments. This is a heads up. I'll post the news Monday morning by 0900 hours. Now I know why people who have seen the videotape say it is stunning. Barack's headaches are only starting.'

"Truth: Johnson posted no such update.

"Lie: Proven GOP sleazemeister Roger Stone said on Fox News on June 1st that 'there's a buzz, which I believe now to be credible, that some indelible record exists' of a tape of Michelle Obama using the term 'whitey.' "

Well, we heard that one at The Washington Post, too. I remember being skeptical that such a tape, if it existed, hadn't already surfaced.