"Let the smearing begin..."

(ONNpolitics) -- We all know that you can't have campaign season without mudslinging and desperate attempts at destroying a candidates image. Its a staple of the American political system, and truth is -- it wouldn't seem right without it. But, this round of presidential bidding has to be the worst ever, as it has taken on vicious rumors that voters will cling to when they go to the polls in the Fall.

The problem with campaign rumors is that most blue-collard Americans get their news via word of mouth; local news; or local news paper. Within these media forms there is little effort to put down rumors. Although, at times it is easier to pick them up.

With blue-collard Americans being an important swing vote in this election, the rumors matter, and this is why we've seen a steady stream of rumors coming from the right, to attack, Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama.

Senetor Obama has to take these rumors seriously, as he stands to loose valuable votes, due to ignorance and the fact that people are getting these rumors from people they trust. Its like the old adage "if a lie is told often, it becomes truth..." This is the mind state we are dealing with here.

Since Barack Obama launched his presidential campaign back in 2007, there has been numerous attempts to paint him into a corner with one rumor after another. He's been a Muslim, an atheist, a flag hater, the anti-Christ, and many others. Now the latest edition of right-winged rumors is aimed at his wife, Michelle Obama.

Rush Limbaugh, a popular conservative morning radio talk show host, made mention of a secret tape showing Michelle Obama using the term "whitey". This news sparked a media frenzy on Conservative television, sending the "shouting heads" into a panic.

The problem, however, was that the taped never surfaced, and I doubt it ever will. As in any genre of media, sleazy or not, if the source isn't quoted, then, there's a "dead cat on the line". But, the average listener or viewer of "sleazy" programming won't pick up on this fact. All they know is that "it was on T.V." or "It was on Limbaugh", so its true.

In reaction to the vicious rumor mill, that seems to crank out this stuff every couple weeks, Obama has launched fightthesmears.com, a new age way of dealing with one of politics oldest tricks.

Fightthesmear.com attacks some of the most damaging rumors floating around about the candidate including, the Muslim rumor, and the most recent aimed at his wife. It's an innovative approach, to say the least, but I doubt it will reach the demographic that is influenced the most by these rumors.

Taking this step is a serious effort to combat the situation. Obama needs to put the rumors on "front street", to expose the manner of ignorance that threatens to cause him votes in November.

In the end, I don't think any candidate has immunity to rumors or smearing, but the ones aimed at Obama have been some of the lowest, because they deal with one of America's trickiest subjects - "race". I believe he'll get past them, but as he has started to do, he has to take them seriously.