by Frank James
So now we know the genesis of the false Obama-is-a-Muslim rumor.
According to the New York Times, Patient Zero in this particular epidemic which has virally spread around the nation thanks to the Internet is a fellow named Andy Martin, known for filing copious lawsuits that on occasion have contained very anti-Semitic language.
After reading the NYT story that places Martin at the starting point of the unfounded rumor (Obama is a Christian) you come away with the very strong impression that Martin is a man with some serious issues, to say the least.
As the NYT reports:
Until this month, the man who is widely credited with starting the cyberwhisper campaign that still dogs Mr. Obama was a secondary character in news reports, with deep explorations of his background largely confined to liberal blogs.
But an appearance in a documentary-style program on the Fox News Channel watched by three million people last week thrust the man, Andy Martin, and his past into the foreground. The program allowed Mr. Martin to assert falsely and without challenge that Mr. Obama had once trained to overthrow the government.
An examination of legal documents and election filings, along with interviews with his acquaintances, revealed Mr. Martin, 62, to be a man with a history of scintillating if not always factual claims. He has left a trail of animosity -- some of it provoked by anti-Jewish comments -- among political leaders, lawyers and judges in three states over more than 30 years.
He is a law school graduate, but his admission to the Illinois bar was blocked in the 1970s after a psychiatric finding of "moderately severe character defect manifested by well-documented ideation with a paranoid flavor and a grandiose character."
There's more:
He prepared to run as a Democrat for Congress in Connecticut, where paperwork for one of his campaign committees listed as one purpose "to exterminate Jew power." He ran as a Republican for the Florida State Senate and the United States Senate in Illinois. When running for president in 1999, he aired a television advertisement in New Hampshire that accused George W. Bush of using cocaine.
In the 1990s, Mr. Martin was jailed in a case in Florida involving a physical altercation.
Then there's this passage which gets to when Martin started the rumor:
Theories about Mr. Obama's background have taken on a life of their own. But independent analysts seeking the origins of the cyberspace attacks wind up at Mr. Martin's first press release, posted on the Free Republic Web site in August 2004.
Its general outlines have turned up in a host of works that have expounded falsely on Mr. Obama's heritage or supposed attempts to conceal it, including "Obama Nation," the widely discredited best seller about Mr. Obama by Jerome R. Corsi. Mr. Corsi opens the book with a quote from Mr. Martin.
"What he's generating gets picked up in other places," said Danielle Allen, a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University who has investigated the e-mail campaign's circulation and origins, "and it's an example of how the Internet has given power to sources we would have never taken seriously at another point in time."
Here's more on Martin and anti-Semitism:
Yet in various court papers, Mr. Martin had impugned Jews.
A motion he filed in a 1983 bankruptcy case called the judge "a crooked, slimy Jew who has a history of lying and thieving common to members of his race."
In another motion, filed in 1983, Mr. Martin wrote, "I am able to understand how the Holocaust took place, and with every passing day feel less and less sorry that it did."
In an interview, Mr. Martin denied some statements against Jews attributed to him in court papers, blaming malicious judges for inserting them.
It's remarkable that the originator of the rumor that has hounded Obama throughout the presidential campaign has been narrowed down to one person. The falsity seemed like one of those items that could have had dozens of authors.
As many of you already know, Sean Hannity gave Martin and his colorful fabrications major exposure last week when he had him on his show as part of a "documentary" on Obama's Chicago years.
Robert Gibbs, Obama's communications director, administered a memorable beatdown of Hannity for having Martin, who many people would consider a crackpot and with much justification, on his program. It's must-see TV if you haven't watched it already.
Here's a 2006 Chicago Tribune story on Martin with a few more details:
Perennial candidate back for another race
The self-styled consumer advocate has run unsuccessfully for office for more than 3 decades
Date: Friday, February 10, 2006
By John Chase and Rick Pearson, Tribune staff reporters
Dressed in a green sport coat, khakis and a beat-up pair of New Balance running shoes, Andy Martin stood on a downtown Chicago sidewalk recently for one of his numerous news conferences to deliver a message to the voters of Illinois.
"The bottom line is, the momentum has shifted," the 60-year-old Republican candidate for governor told a lone reporter. "There's an awareness statewide now that I'm a fully fledged player in this race."That's a view Martin has often espoused in more than three decades of unsuccessfully running for offices ranging from county clerk and mayor to legislator on to Congress and the presidency--sometimes as a Republican, other times as a Democrat--in Illinois, Florida and Connecticut.
Though his ads featuring "Stars and Stripes Forever" have aired on Chicago radio stations, political organizations, debate planners and the media usually shun Martin. More than just a perennial candidate, he bills himself as a self-styled consumer advocate willing to take on Microsoft, housing developers and other firms with legal action.
"I have 40 years of exceptional public service. Successful public service," Martin said in a recent letter addressed to the Tribune. "And true integrity fighting public corruption."
Yet the Illinois Supreme Court denied him a law license, saying he lacked the fitness to be an attorney. Federal courts have repeatedly sanctioned him for what judges have said is his filing of hundreds of largely meritless legal actions. He's had several stints in jail.
He has repeatedly refused to answer questions from the Tribune and has in the past unsuccessfully sued the newspaper for libel. On Thursday, during a telephone news conference, he threatened to sue the Tribune over a recent poll on candidates for governor that showed he had support from fewer than 1 percent of likely Republican voters.
Martin also has expressed anti-Semitic attitudes in the past. When he ran for Congress in Connecticut in 1986, the name of his congressional campaign committee included the phrase "to exterminate Jew power in America," Federal Election Commission records show.
In a 1983 personal bankruptcy case, he referred to a federal bankruptcy judge as a "crooked, slimy Jew, who has a history of lying and thieving common to members of his race."
In a related court filing in the case, he also expressed sympathy to the perpetrators of the Holocaust.
"I am able to understand how the Holocaust took place, and with every passing day feel less and less sorry that it did, when Jew survivors are operating as a wolf pack to steal my property," Martin wrote in an April 21, 1983, personal bankruptcy proceeding.
In 1973, the Illinois Supreme Court refused to allow Martin admission to the bar. The court's decision noted that Martin, a University of Illinois law school graduate who was previously known by the name Anthony R. Martin-Trigona, had a Selective Service record that showed he had a "moderately-severe character defect manifested by well documented ideation with a paranoid flavor and a grandiose character."
Still, the court noted that "issues raised as to [Martin's] mental stability" did not need to be considered in light of other matters it cited in deciding that Martin lacked the qualities of "responsibility, candor, fairness, self-restraint, objectivity and respect for the judicial system" required for the administration of justice.
Among issues the high court cited in denying his law license were Martin's criticism of members of a bar review panel as "emotionally ill" and "scum," his filing of a petition asking that a parking violation be lifted because it was "entered by an insane judge" and his description of an attorney as "shaking and tottering and drooling like an idiot," according to court records.
A decade later, the federal court system began issuing sanctions against Martin for his filing of what one federal judge, Edward Weinfeld of New York, termed as "a substantial number of lawsuits of a vexatious, frivolous and scandalous nature." The courts eventually required him to obtain prior approval to file any legal action at any federal court. The restrictions require that judges, who are not identified to Martin, decide whether the filings have merit and should proceed.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals noted Martin's litigious conduct appeared to be an attempt to "harass persons who have unluckily crossed his path." The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago noted Martin's tendency "to exaggerate, to believe himself the victim of conspiracies where none exist, and to suspect without any reasonable basis that others are persecuting him."
Martin often touts his background as an assistant to the late U.S. Sen. Paul Douglas (D-Ill.). Martin told a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in 1975 that his service was as a summer intern for Douglas in 1966 and that he received $152 in pay.
Martin is currently registered to vote in two locations, one in Chicago and another in Florida, according to an election official in Florida and records in Chicago. But those same sources show Martin has not cast a vote in Chicago since he registered in 2003 or in Florida since 1996.
Still, Martin has run or attempted to run for public offices in Illinois and Florida numerous times since 1996, including for the U.S. Senate in Florida in 1998 and 2004, the presidency in 2000 and Florida governor in 2002. In 1998, Martin was on the ballot in Florida and received 184,739 votes, or 33.6 percent, in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate. In 1996, he was the Republican nominee in Florida for a seat in the state Senate. He received 31,919 votes, or 27.4 percent of the vote.
In his current campaign, Martin has quoted from a 1978 Tribune editorial that called him "an absolutely brilliant campaigner" when he was running as a Democrat for U.S. Senate. But the rest of the editorial, which Martin does not quote, added that he "has no more business in the U.S. Senate than an elk has in a phone booth."
Martin has also had run-ins with the law. In 1980, he was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after being convicted of mail fraud. The conviction was later overturned.
Federal Bureau of Prisons records show Martin has spent several stints in several federal prisons on issues related to contempt of court.
Back in Florida, Palm Beach County Court officials say an arrest warrant for him remains active. Officials with the Palm Beach clerk's office said the warrant is still outstanding for Martin for violation of probation, stemming from a 1996 criminal mischief case in which he damaged a video camera belonging to a local TV station covering his campaign for state Senate. A judge ordered Martin to spend several months in jail but a paperwork glitch resulted in Martin's release after only about one month. They say he still has several months left to serve.
Comments
Robert Gibbs, is a joke, can't say anything that isn't a talking point. He's a joke.
Posted by: vla | October 13, 2008 8:05 AM
A motion he filed in a 1983 bankruptcy case called the judge "a crooked, slimy Jew who has a history of lying and thieving common to members of his race."
These are the type a whackos that the "great" American Sean Vannity use to promote his fear and smear against Obama. Vannity is a slime peddler who hides with an American flag wrapped around him thinking he can disguise his garbage as patriotic. A "great" American who clearly hates Americans unless of course they agree with him.
Posted by: bill"Hussein" r. | October 13, 2008 8:12 AM
Sounds like the perfect candidate for a Fox News Anchor position. "Flair and Unbalanced"
Posted by: kg123 | October 13, 2008 8:16 AM
Hates the Jews, hates the Muslims... this freak probably hates kittens too. Really surprising to learn he's now a staunch Republican...
Posted by: A Cynic | October 13, 2008 8:18 AM
I do belive that Louis Farrakhan cemented Barack Hussein Obama's muslim rumors when he called BHO the "Messiah" last week....so...why are you not talking about that?.....are you afraid of BHO?...or Farrakhan?....
Posted by: Rabbitinred | October 13, 2008 8:19 AM
I've warned American Jews not to buy into the right wing love embrace of recent years.
Never turn your back on the RW, American Jews; They will slip the knife in.
For the right wing and cons. the love fest with the Jewish community is a temporary politcal expedience. In reality they hate you and think you are all going to Hell.
Posted by: C.Hussein.Morris | October 13, 2008 8:27 AM
Nice story, but absent from this narrative is his past life as Anthony Martin-Trigona, Chicago political sideshow.
Posted by: Tracy | October 13, 2008 8:29 AM
Isn't "Andy Martin" the same person formerly known in Illinois as "Andrew Martin-Trigona"? I think so.
Posted by: David | October 13, 2008 8:34 AM
Two words: truly amazing.
Heh... somewhat ironic that Mr. Martin-Trigona met with the "last bastion of American journalism", Fox News and Innuendo.
Posted by: Dan | October 13, 2008 8:57 AM
>>
Sounds about right. Could probably go for Limbaugh as well.
Of course this won't convince any of the kool-aid drinkers that it's false. They'll blame liberal media bias or some other nonsense.
That whole right-wing media crowd needs to be called out for the lies and rumors that they continually spread. This has been going on for years and years now.
Posted by: FedUp | October 13, 2008 9:09 AM
They could not exist without a heavy constituency. Rush, Fox, Hannity, O'Reilly, etc. They have the people and funds to back them up. And oh yeah - McCain won all the debates and is ahead in the polls - so they say.
Posted by: The Truth | October 13, 2008 9:16 AM
Just shows how stupid people can be. There is just so much crap in email & the internet, and so many people eat it up & clamor for more. They give power to pariahs of our society like Martin. And Republican leaders in this election have fed that power. They could have done more to debunk these baseless rumors but largely have chosen not to do so. Same on them.
Posted by: Bill | October 13, 2008 9:21 AM
Has anybody noticed the contradiction contained in all these accusations about Obama's religious affiliations?
On the one side, HE'S A MUSLIM?
On the other, HE'S A LONGTIME FOLLOWER OF CHRISTIAN MINISTER J. WRIGHT?
Cannot have both ways, folks!
Religulous!
Posted by: Sig | October 13, 2008 9:23 AM
I didn't realize this clown was Anthony Martin-Trigona until Googling him this morning while reading the New York Times stroy.
This guy is used to be dismissed as simply a crackpot and a clown but now Fox News and the idiot Hannity elevate him to some kind of authority. Back in the '70s, anything this guy would say would simply be ignored. What a sorry state of affairs when anybody listens to him, much less puts him on the air as a supposed authority.
Posted by: Sitka Laker | October 13, 2008 9:30 AM
And the Fox News folk made fun of Dan Rather. Of course Hannity won't go down the way Rather did--that's how "liberal biased" the media are.
Posted by: Ironman Carmichael | October 13, 2008 9:51 AM
McCain must be proud to have a great American like this working on his behalf. He is the epitome of the modern Republican Party. I'm sure he'll have a prominent spot in the McCain/Palin regime. Minister of Truth perhaps?
Posted by: Hail McCain! | October 13, 2008 9:56 AM
How many times has the guy been abducted by aliens? What a crackpot conspiracy theory.
Posted by: reality | October 13, 2008 9:58 AM
How about a bit of substantive criticism; Was Barack Hussien Obama born in the United States?
http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district...
We shall find out on Wednesday.
Posted by: Edward | October 13, 2008 9:59 AM
Good at negative campaigning, lousy at governing, no positive vision to speak of: today's GOP.
Posted by: Joe | October 13, 2008 10:00 AM
Fear tactic only work in the short term. McCAin gave in to fear while Obama remained faithful to optimism. .......
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/12/obamas-journey-dont-stop-believing/
Posted by: Ohg Rea Tone | October 13, 2008 10:00 AM
Sadly, anyone stupid enough to support McCain at this point is probably not too bothered by this guy. So much for small town values and 'decent' folk. If the Tribune is still seriously considering endorsing McCain, the editors should take a hard look at who is standing behind him.
Posted by: Steve K | October 13, 2008 10:01 AM
Goes to show you how little these talk show hosts care about the truth. I'm sure they knew this nutcase history, an still called him a expert. Wow.
Posted by: minni | October 13, 2008 10:11 AM
Quoting "Media Mutters" in a Chicago Tribune article. Col. McCormack is rolling in his grave.
As to the slur aboutFOX News-I'm sorry..could you point out a specific anti-Semetic phrase from O'Reilly or from Limbaugh? For that matter, please specifically cite an anti-Semetic comment from Sean Hannity.For that matter, be specific in ANY anti-Semetic or anti-minority commentary on FOX News, and "well, just watch them, I refuse to" won't do.
As for "Media Mutters",they are shills and front for George Soros, moveon.org and some very,very dangerous people in liberal loon circles. Broderick is a tool; he is a conservative who, out of the blue goes off the reservation? As has been said, "Show Me The Money". In the case of the furry fuzzball brains at MM,they are the front group for the shadow government that backs Obama. Be very careful and very, very aware of who is behind what when you vote in November.
Posted by: monkfellow | October 13, 2008 10:12 AM
'Andy Martin' is as dangerous as he is wacky.
His e-mails that he sends out are delusional and should be Exhibit 1 at his commitment hearing.
That Hannity put him on his show is disgraceful, even for Hannity.
Posted by: John Moore | October 13, 2008 10:13 AM
I do belive that Louis Farrakhan cemented Barack Hussein Obama's muslim rumors when he called BHO the "Messiah" last week
Posted by: Rabbitinred | October 13, 2008 8:19 AM
The difference is....we don't believe and promote the whackos on the left. Yet you hold yours up as proof positive.
Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | October 13, 2008 10:15 AM
The funniest part is when Sean Hannity describes himself as a "journalist"....
Posted by: Rodger | October 13, 2008 10:15 AM
If you want to hate Obama/Biden you watch Hannity and friends. If you want to love Obama/Biden you watch Olbermann. Even though MSNBC, expecially Olbermann is obviously tilting towards Obama, they retain some semblance of integrity. Hannity has just become a fear-mongering, hate-mongering scumbag.
Posted by: James | October 13, 2008 10:18 AM
The really sad part about Hannity airing an unfounded report like this is that decent people that watch that network (like my 83 yo mom) who are more on the conservitive side slowly absorb this garbage repetedly and do start to believe it. I'm sure Hannity won't issue any type of apology for falsly putting this garbage out there. Shouldn't "internet journalist" be some sort of flag that the guy might not be a legitimate source and cause them to do a little more digging on his background before they feature him as a legitimate source of information. I am so glad that a paper like the Tribune is prining this story. I more mainstream news outlets will do the same!
Posted by: Julie | October 13, 2008 10:22 AM
Edward: Well, that depends... do you consider Hawaii to be a U.S. state? Dunno about you, but for nearly the last 50 years, us Americans do. Mr. Obama, Jr.'s birth certificate was issued by the state of Hawaii in 1961.
Don't know if you're aware, but Hawaii became a state of the Union in 1959, and is presently one of the 50 states comprising the United States of America. It's OK if you're not a citizen of this country -- can't be expected to know this stuff if you're a foreigner.
Posted by: Dan | October 13, 2008 10:24 AM
FOX NEWS: Maybe they should change their slogan to 'Fairly unbalanced'
Posted by: BLU MQQD | October 13, 2008 10:24 AM
Hannity a journalist!? Give me a break. This fear mongoring that the the Hannity's, Limbaugh's, and Palin's of this campaign are doing is shameful and franky un-American. Like it or not, Barack Obama is a Senator and should earn a level of respect for that. They have the potential to incite violent acts by the stupid people who actually believe them which is indefensible.
Posted by: CD | October 13, 2008 10:28 AM
Hardly a newsflash, but good to remind people about it. Andy Martin has been bragging about it for years.
Posted by: Tom J | October 13, 2008 10:29 AM
"How about a bit of substantive criticism; Was Barack Hussien Obama born in the United States?"
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/jun/13/obamas-birth-certificate/
The real question is - since McCain was born in Panama is he a citizen?
Posted by: Mike | October 13, 2008 10:40 AM
Robert Gibbs called Hannity out on this and Hannity went haywire and did the typical Fox News Noise thing where he tries to drown the accusation out with noise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kypi5yqUuTw&feature=related
Posted by: Greg Wahl | October 13, 2008 10:41 AM
How come it's OK to talk about Sen. Obama's ties to a "terrorist" (i.e. William Ayres), but it's NOT OK to talk about Sarah Palin's association with an organization that wants to rip a star off the flag of the United States? Don't Believe me? Google/Wikipedia the names Joe Vogler and the Alaskan Independence Party.
Posted by: Steve H. | October 13, 2008 10:45 AM
Enough! Barack was born in Hawaii, to an American born mother from Kansas and an African father from Kenya. His mother and father were both students at the University of Hawaii. Again, Barack was born in Hawaii.
Posted by: walterrhett, Charleston, SC | October 13, 2008 10:48 AM
What''s really more frightening is how long this rumor has lasted, and how many people have forwarded this foolishness to keep this lie alive. I'm very concerned about the ignorance of at least 1/2 the people in this country.
Posted by: p. smith | October 13, 2008 10:54 AM
"How come it's OK to talk about Sen. Obama's ties to a "terrorist" (i.e. William Ayres), but it's NOT OK to talk about Sarah Palin's association with an organization that wants to rip a star off the flag of the United States? Don't Believe me? Google/Wikipedia the names Joe Vogler and the Alaskan Independence Party."
Many of us believe that Todd was once a member and that Sarah did some speeches for the AIP, one of those speeches was just this year, however Obama does not want to go there. Unlike McCain and Sarah he wants to stay above the nonsense.
Posted by: Mike | October 13, 2008 10:54 AM
Earth to Edward, STOP SPREDING LIES and, for that matter, why did the swamp publish such crap like Edward's claim when you guys know he's full of it.
Obama was born in Hawaii. You can even see a copy of his birth certificate at this link:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/6/12/11012/6168/320/534616
Posted by: eddie | October 13, 2008 10:59 AM
This lunatic is not deserving of any coverage but shelve the politcal pandering.
How many times have the airwaves been turned to other nuts to discuss their own personal delusions. I assume you have all seen or heard the rants of one government cover-up after another. Ala, the CIA planned and execute the 9-11 attacks, a missle not an airplane hit the pentagon, the lunar landing was a fake or that the CIA killed Kennedy.
As the proponenet of those conspiracies, Andy Martin is not a rationale or sane member of our society. However, like it or not he is exactly the same as many other of our fellow americans that have been given their 15 minutes for one reason or another.
Exposing them for what they are is usually the best method of getting them back into their windowless office.
Posted by: CFC | October 13, 2008 11:23 AM
Isn't he still running against Dick Durbin for Senator this year?
http://www.andyforussenator.com/
Posted by: Tom J | October 13, 2008 11:24 AM
What's frightening about this rumor is that some idiots (there I said it-idiots) even on this board still believe that he is muslim.
This rumor was start by a hate monger who blames psychiatrist, the Jews, Obama and every other group for his failed life and failed political career. Its crazy that such a hate monger can gain any news time, but unfortuantely there is fox, once again, airing hate.
Posted by: Nora | October 13, 2008 11:25 AM
Andy Martin AKA -Andrew Robert Martin Elton-Newton & John Trigona -TallFeather/Wigwam is as nutty as a Stuckey's Log - but he's got nothing on domestic terrorist Billy Ayers or Nutty Uncle Jeremiah.
Dave 'The Come-Over' Axelrod is going to get a trimming along with his candidate in the next few days.
Obama said that the Race Card was expired way back in March.
Posted by: Pat Hickey | October 13, 2008 11:26 AM
This whole story continues to show that Hannity is absolutely the most ignorant of the Fox "commentators". He is an annoying, loud mouthed broken record. I too had to genuinely laugh when he referred to himself as a "journalist". I wonder if he can actually believe his own blather or is it really a "schtik" to gain followers. I cannot believe that anyone with a shred of intelligence can believe that he is for real or is serious. MSNBC and FOX are obviously in a battle for ratings and Hannity leads the FOX side in ignorance.
Posted by: Chico | October 13, 2008 11:29 AM
Sadly, the scandalous nature of his rumors about Obama have been forwarded by a racist public more than happy to forward e-mails that confirm their own fears, thereby shunting the respobsibility onto someone else.
It's a psychological phenomenon called Diffusion of Responsibility. When you see someone trip over their own feet, they will look down, as if to find a crack, an uneven pavement, or even a pebble, to blame for their own clumsiness. Much the same way that well-intentioned people who don't see themselves in any way as racists, will forward someone else's e-mails accusing a candidate of being a muslim extremist despite his christian faith, based solely on his name and skin color, because, after all, "it was someone else who said it, it wasn't me."
Think on that before blindly forwarding some crap that a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend might have forwarded to you.
Posted by: Urso | October 13, 2008 11:31 AM
I read the NYT article in full, and was quite disappointed it didn't include at least a partial list of people who have repeated the lie as fact:
(footnotes at http://obama.wikia.com/wiki/Muslim_and_madrassa_school_rumors )
Insight Magazine (Jeffrey T. Kuhner)
Debbie Schlussel
Daniel Pipes
Tom Roeser
John Gibson of The Big Story
Gretchen Carlson and Steve Doocy, co-hosts of Fox & Friends
Sean Hannity of Hannity & Colmes
So...Hannity STILL hasn't learned? He's pretending he had NO IDEA Andy Martin was lying? I don't think so...
Posted by: Tom J | October 13, 2008 11:37 AM
Well, Obama's father was a Muslim. And his stepfather was a Muslim. The hate-filled, racist, ant--Israeli, anti-American message preached at the supposedly Christian Church he belonged to for 20+ years bears a close resemblance to the messages delivered at extremist mosques. And the 'church" also honored the radical Muslim Farrakhan. Obama may not be a 100 percent Muslim. But the influence is there.
Posted by: john | October 13, 2008 11:38 AM
The new york times is the last paper i would ever use as a source they are so biased and one sided they can't even be considered a newspaper, so why does the swamp which is a chicago tribune blog use them as there source because the tribune like every other media outlet are losing revenue and readers and hope that a obama administration will give them the fairness doctrine which puts talk radio on the spot, they media could care less about fairness or the american public all they care about is their own existence, what they don't understand is they infuriated so many people no matter what they do they lost a big chunk of americans forever.
Posted by: John | October 13, 2008 11:44 AM
Quoting "Media Mutters" in a Chicago Tribune article. Col. McCormack is rolling in his grave.
Posted by: monkfellow | October 13, 2008 10:12 AM
If you watched the video clips, they were purely Fox News footage. There was no "quotes" from Media Matters. I almost tossed my breakfast watching them that this could actually pass for news. The scary music and editing with flashing lights along with LOTS of photos of (gasp!) black people used to foment the racist fears of small-minded little white people like yourself.
I think Olbermann lays it on pretty thick sometimes, but I'll take him over the likes of Hannity and O'Reilly any day.
Posted by: DD | October 13, 2008 11:47 AM
john wrote: Obama may not be a 100 percent Muslim. But the influence is there.
And my grandfather was a German officer in the Nazi Army but I am not a Nazi. Not even close.
Posted by: Mike | October 13, 2008 11:50 AM
One more reason to discount Fox news. Can I still look at their sports network, though?
Posted by: Trox | October 13, 2008 11:51 AM
Obama may not be a 100 percent Muslim. But the influence is there.
Posted by: john | October 13, 2008 11:38 AM
and out steps john to prove the ignorance of the right. They are willing to say the sun is the moon to advance their agenda. When offered the truth, they turn to deception as if a drink of water in the desert. Their "little" world doesn't include most Americans.
Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | October 13, 2008 11:53 AM
I just had a neighbor lady tell me that Fox news was a good and balanced source for news. I asked her how much she watched it, and she said she hasn't. I asked here who told her this, and she replied that the good folks from church said so.
Posted by: xcellentform | October 13, 2008 12:08 PM
Fox News omitted any mention of Martin's "credentials," presumably because they thought it would wreck his credibility with their viewers. As we've learned from this board, they were way off on that one-- as long as he's saying what they want to hear, nothing could discredit this clown in the eyes of some people.
Posted by: sarcastic teenager | October 13, 2008 12:11 PM
" I asked her who told her this, and she replied that the good folks from church said so. "
The religious right. The end justifies the means. So many people have been misdirected by religion. Did not your God state to love everyone as yourself and all of that stuff? Just words - do as I say not as I do.
Posted by: Mike | October 13, 2008 12:17 PM
Well, I see this as one more example of liberals promptly feasting an exhulting on a story that attacks the character of the author of a claim, but doesn't address the claim itself.
One of the distortions of this story is claiming that it all started from one man.
Mr Hussein Obama does have a notorious Muslim background.
All this fuss is nothing but smoke to divert from the reality that Mr Obama has a past tied to marxism and radicalism.
Posted by: Edisni | October 13, 2008 12:17 PM
What I find interesting is this is one of the sources that Fox/Hannity is tapping to discredit Obama/Biden. I view this as a desperate shot from supporters of a candidate falling further behind in the polls. Then I thought about the whole piece Hannity ran, not just the Martin interview, but their “reporting.” Barack Obama lives blocks away from Ayers, and Farrakhan. They suggest that this neighborhood in Chicago, if not the whole city is nerve center of an anti-American conspiracy and terrorist organization (Weather Underground is working with the Nation of Islam to install their puppet Obama in the White House– what a reach). This logic would also implicate Rudy Giuliani for living in the same neighborhood as any radicals or anti Americans (I can’t provide names, but believe me, if I had Hannity’s resources, it would not be difficult to find radicals within a few miles of Giuliani’s NY residence).
Give that a little thought and it becomes clear this “documentary” was not directed to anyone living in a major city or metropolitan area; it is directed at a small town rural audience. I lived in rural Southern Illinois for 10 years. Many “country folk” see major cities as drains on the economy; cities receive disproportionate amount of funds to the amount of revenue they generate. There is a negative tendency against cities (i.e. the term “city slickers”).
Many of the small towners that I knew would find a ring of truth in the guilt by association argument. None of these people would be caught dead in an organization or on a charitable board with a known radical or anti-American. Birds of a feather analogy is more true in rural areas than cities. If the Nation of Islam purchased a house in their communities the cities would “zone” them out (single family residential as opposed to business) or riot. I am reading many posts that Hannity’s “documentary” is a joke, but it is not directed at me or the citizenship of major cities. It is directed to solidify the McCain/Palin base with SMALL-TOWN soccer moms and Joe six-packs as Sarah would describe them.
Posted by: Mike Z | October 13, 2008 12:22 PM
What rumor? I saw & heard for myself during an interview of Obama by Stephanopolous that he mentioned his Muslim faith. He changed it to Christian faith upon Stephanopolous' correcting him! And all the while, he never batted an eyelash. Now why was this not headlining news by the biased media?
Posted by: Marie N | October 13, 2008 12:23 PM
"Quoting "Media Mutters" in a Chicago Tribune article. Col. McCormack is rolling in his grave.
As to the slur aboutFOX News-I'm sorry..could you point out a specific anti-Semetic phrase from O'Reilly or from Limbaugh? For that matter, please specifically cite an anti-Semetic comment from Sean Hannity.For that matter, be specific in ANY anti-Semetic or anti-minority commentary on FOX News, and "well, just watch them, I refuse to" won't do.
As for "Media Mutters",they are shills and front for George Soros, moveon.org and some very,very dangerous people in liberal loon circles. Broderick is a tool; he is a conservative who, out of the blue goes off the reservation? As has been said, "Show Me The Money". In the case of the furry fuzzball brains at MM,they are the front group for the shadow government that backs Obama. Be very careful and very, very aware of who is behind what when you vote in November.
Posted by: monkfellow | October 13, 2008 10:12 AM "
_____________
Neo-Con nut Jobs are out in force again, maybe there will be a job for you in the Ministry of Information once McCain and Palin "win" the election. As for the Trubune, it was started as a very progressive, Anti-Slavery newspaper, it has just changed with the times, just like most educated people do once they learn the truth.
Posted by: The Doctor | October 13, 2008 12:28 PM
Read his book and you will find out probably more frightening things than just Obama's muslim connection!!!!
Posted by: Skully | October 13, 2008 12:31 PM
It's not a rumor!
Thanks to his dear wife,Michelle.
She was the go between for her husband and Louis Farrikan,introducing the two.
Posted by: greg maliska | October 13, 2008 12:38 PM
Rabbitinred and Edward – Do you really think using Obama’s full name (Barrack Hussein Obama) scares anyone on this board? Do you think people are going to read that and suddenly have an epiphany? Are you really so narrow-minded that you think because a person has a middle name that’s the same as a deposed world leader that he is destined to be evil? Do you think the same thing about people named Adolph? Are all people named Jeffrey cannibalistic serial killers because the share a name with Jeffrey Dahmer? I can go on, but I think you get my point.
Monkfellow, no one in the mainstream media is stupid enough to be publicly anti-Semitic because it would be career suicide. The real question is how responsible is O’Reilly’s, Limbaugh’s, and Hannity’s brand of “journalism”? How can you knowingly feature an anti-Semitic crackpot on your program, sell them to the public as an “expert”, and still say that you’re a responsible journalist? Spouting off half-truths, rumor, and conjecture isn’t difficult – any person with a sounding board can do it. It’s the responsible dissemination of news that is ostensibly missing from Mr. Hannty’s network - rather than addressing his guest in a manner befitting an actual “journalist”, Hannity resorted to loudly speaking over Robert Gibbs like a guest on Jerry Springer. He’s repugnant!
Posted by: Frank | October 13, 2008 12:39 PM
Good work for exposing this idiot! Fox News should not have interviewed that idiot or given creedence to those rumors.
Now, if only the Tribune would be "fair and balanced" in it's reporting, and stop posting headlines from far-left apologist Frankie James as "news" on the front page. Or at least identify it as heavliy biased reporting or even an opinion piece.
Posted by: no name | October 13, 2008 12:44 PM
Oh, and by the way – I attended two Catholic Schools as a boy. Four priests from those parishes were all defrocked by the church for sexually abusing students/parishioners.
Using the logic of Hannity, Fox News, and some of the people on this board, if I ever run for public office, I will have been a known associate of pedophiles.
And here I was going to run for governor…
Posted by: Frank | October 13, 2008 12:48 PM
Look into EVERYONES background. Find all of the flaws and personal defects. Great reporting.
Why not expose 40 years of Rev. Wright. 40 years of Billy (the bomber) Ayers 40 years of Black Liberation Theology. Hmmmmm
Posted by: george from outer space | October 13, 2008 12:49 PM
Looks like the entire quasi-fascist propaganda machine is coming apart at the seams like a re-bundled credit swapped securitized burning bag of derivative dog cr@p on the front porch Halloween night.
Posted by: TheReamer | October 13, 2008 12:54 PM
Frank I have a Nazi background as my grandfather and uncle were in the German Army. Even though I have served the USA as an American soldier I can never run for public office because of the way some people think.
Posted by: Mike | October 13, 2008 1:01 PM
If you like erratic behavior, questionable ethics (Keating, Trooper Gate, et al) and racially tinged politics ...
McCain-Palin 08!
Posted by: Martin Edwin Andersen | October 13, 2008 1:30 PM
"But an appearance in a documentary-style program on the Fox News Channel watched by three million people last week thrust the man, Andy Martin, and his past into the foreground. The program allowed Mr. Martin to assert falsely and without challenge that Mr. Obama had once trained to overthrow the government."
Im shocked .. Fox did not challenge him?
Posted by: Ron | October 13, 2008 1:34 PM
FOX called this guy a journalist....LOL
Posted by: mark marx | October 13, 2008 1:38 PM
So... isn't the bigger question here, what's wrong with being a Muslim? I'm a female, white, Christian Baby Boomer. I've read the Qur'an and appreciate the pillars of Islam and I can't for the life of me fathom such virulent mass hysteria that vilifies an entire faith, presumably based on the actions of a radical few. The radical fringe is amply alive and unfortunately well within Christianity, too -- does it make it more acceptable because they're "our" lunatic fringe? They're absolutely not mine, and they're most decidedly not Christian, so all you right-wing conservative Hannity fans can drop that crutch and make up another lie to hobble along with. And if Obama is guilty by association with Bill Ayres, aren't the ultra-conservative Annenburgs just as guilty for selecting Ayres to be on their board to begin with? Shouldn't the Republican party, therefore, return the nearly $60,000 in "tainted" funds they're received from various Annenberg family members? And what of UIC's employment of Mr. Ayres and the conferring on him of the title of Distinguished Professor? Are they, and their many students, also guilty, and of what? In case you missed it (conveniently so), Bill Ayres himself in a Tribune interview unequivocally stated, "I condemn all forms of terrorism — individual, group and official." Few of us with a conscience didn't oppose the Vietnam War and fewer still didn't view the wholesale decimation of a country, as well as the decades-long pain suffered by our own veterans, as a terrifying, terrible, terror-inducing situation. Facts, logic, intelligence, thoughtful civilized discourse -- why are they being drowned in the bleeting harangues of the neo-con sheep? It's said we get the government we deserve, but you deluded Fox News sycophants have subjected me and mine for the last 8 years to the most vile, deceitful, unethical and immoral government imaginable which I most certainly didn't deserve -- and you want to do it again???? The Obama White House I deserve will benefit all Americans alike, something that can't be said of right-wing politicos who'll only accept and favor people just like themselves.
Posted by: Faye | October 13, 2008 1:51 PM
My father, who is 75 yrs. old and who is starting to have problems with his memory, told me the other day that he thinks Barack Obama is a plant by some terrorist organization who recruited him to run for president when he was about eight yrs. old. Sounds absurd doesn't it? Well guess what radio show he listens to every day? Rush Limbaugh.
Posted by: mbr47 | October 13, 2008 1:56 PM
Thank god this whole sordid affair is surfacing in the national media. I have been watching the story in despair that no one other than Robert Gibbs was calling Fox on their promotion of this vicious, anti-Semitic crackpot.
I'll give the Obama campaign credit for a lot of class--they haven't tried to use McCain's association with this Nazi in Florida. Given the depths to which the McCain camp has stooped, maybe they should.
Posted by: David | October 13, 2008 1:58 PM
Using Media Matters as a news source? You should be ashamed.
Posted by: Terry | October 13, 2008 2:14 PM
How is that a "beatdown" by Robert Gibbs, LOL? He got cornered by Hannity and started throwing haymakers that didn't land, all the while getting drilled on the chin by Hannity. Thought it was kind of funny, actually...but not a beatdown by any stretch.
Posted by: Cocobear | October 13, 2008 2:14 PM
I have not heard the name of Anthony Martin-Trigona in years! I recall he was something of a by-product of Illinois politics, not to mention he was also something of a nut who would pop up every now and then when ABC used to run its one minute Opinions and Rebuttals broadcasts and spout some sort of wacked-out looniness. But I am even more surprised that someone like Sean Hannity would parade Martin-Trigona on Fox News without doing a standard background check on him first. As a result, Hannity’s reputation as being a responsible objective commentator is now in serious question with me, and I think he has some serious explaining to do here right now.
Posted by: cgull | October 13, 2008 2:20 PM
Is McCain even eligible to be president? He was born in the Panama Canal Zone.
Posted by: Funk49 | October 13, 2008 2:26 PM
The ones who believe the Obama is a muslim will not be convinced by this or any article. In fact, I bet they will fervently deny and try to further this sad lie. It is unfortunate.
Posted by: Josh | October 13, 2008 2:39 PM
I ask, what is wrong with being a muslim, is it so ofensive to be thought of a member of that faith?. All of you protesters greatly offend the muslim community of the world.
Posted by: Gloriana | October 13, 2008 4:36 PM
It is truly amazing what passes for political discourse. How long untill the election? I can hardly wait to get on to the next chapter.
Posted by: Marie | October 13, 2008 4:58 PM
It does not matter what his religious beliefs are he is not qualified to be President of the united States.
Posted by: Joe Public | October 13, 2008 5:16 PM
I'm amazed to see some posts here that try to perpetuate unbelievably stupid internet rumors, especially the "Obama wasn't born in America."
Obama was born in Honolulu, which can sometimes be exploited as "not the U.S.," if the person born there is 50 or older (Alaska and Hawaii were the last two states admitted into the union, in 1959). Unfortunately for the rumor-mongers, Obama was born in 1961.
Perhaps these arguments are to try to undermine Obama in the face that the U.S. Constitution requires the U.S. to be "a-natural born citizen." But the argument can backfire because John McCain's father was stationed for the Navy in the Panama Canal Zone where the Republican nominee was born in 1936.
This is not to say McCain isn't naturally-born-- U.S. citizenship is conferred automatically on the children of service personnel stationed overseas. Nevertheless, the Republicans and their surrogates really should consider the repercussions of making blatantly false allegations.
Posted by: Realist | October 13, 2008 6:08 PM
False? Or just a secret?
AN ACTUAL QUOTE:
"Let's not play games," Barack Hussein Obama said. "What I was suggesting -- you're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith. And you're absolutely right that that has not come."
Posted by: Jeffrey | October 13, 2008 6:17 PM
FOX should change their call letters to SKUNK. They knew exactly what they were doing by giving this lowlife the air time.x
Posted by: Larry Wayne | October 13, 2008 6:30 PM
Ah, Jeffrey, it’s nice to see that you prove my point about irresponsible dissemination of the news. If you would have read the ENTIRE quote from Obama’s interview from This Week with George Stephanopoulos, you would have found that he was not stating that he was a Muslim. It’s unfortunate that conservative websites and commentators are so desperate for ammunition now that their candidate is severely behind in the polls, that they have thrown caution to the wind and are throwing anything against the wall to see if it sticks. It’s even more unfortunate that the lowest common denominator takes this conservative propaganda as gospel and tries to preach it to the masses. Shame on you!
Posted by: Frank | October 13, 2008 6:54 PM
The Chicago Tribune, with its selective censoring, seasoned this story to stage it as if Martin's point of view was completely unfounded.... when in fact all the evidence is right before our eyes...
Give it a rest.... This guy is planning to make of our country another failed project like France... (which I bet, few of the Tribune journalists have visited or lived in order to substantiate their disagreement)...
I don't want chicago politics in DC... We have enough Washington DC politics already... try throwing another sauce in it (the chicago politics) and then you have a real mess... then mix it up with a radical socialist like Barrack and then you really have a downward spiral into an abysmal plunge.
Posted by: Gator_Chicago | October 13, 2008 7:15 PM
What a non-story!! Who cares what Sen. Obama's faith is? Remember the leftist mantra about "separation of church and state?" Although this is a twist of the words in the First Amendment it is always invoked in a selective manner. The wording merely states that we cannot establish a state religion (as Denmark did) and cannot deny free expression of religion. So,again,a non-story.
Posted by: Barry | October 13, 2008 8:02 PM
Using Media Matters as a news source? You should be ashamed.
Posted by: Terry | October 13, 2008 2:14 PM
Interesting, that you think the Trib should be ashamed about providing a couple of video clips that are nothing more than Fox News clips. Do you dislike Media Matters because they shine the light on your devious doings?
Posted by: DD | October 13, 2008 8:12 PM
Amen to Faye at 1:51 PM. God bless you sister!
Posted by: Karen | October 13, 2008 8:48 PM
It would have been nice for the Tribune to have spent time tracking down the originators of the mortgage crisis. Oh, wait, that would be the Congressional Democrats who abused Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and threatened U.S. banks with IRS investigations if they didn't approve risky loans. No, instead, we get the noble Tribune laying down a smokescreen by tracking down the originator of the "Obama is a Muslim" rant What a colossal waste of time.
Posted by: Bubba Bill | October 13, 2008 8:58 PM
... "moderately severe character defect manifested by well-documented ideation with a paranoid flavor and a grandiose character." With this finding, it sounds to me that he may be OVER-qualified to be an attorney. Perfect replacement for Blago which if I hadn't known it was about Martin is a spot-on description of the governor.
Posted by: Shamus | October 13, 2008 8:59 PM
It seems that Obama would be considered a "murtadd" - as he converted to another faith before becoming an adult.
"That said, the punishment for childhood apostasy is less severe than for the adult version. As Robert Spencer points out, 'according to Islamic law an apostate male is not to be put to death if he has not reached puberty (cf. ‘Umdat al-Salik o8.2; Hidayah vol. II p. 246). Some, however, hold that he should be imprisoned until he is of age and then 'invited' to accept Islam, but officially the death penalty for youthful apostates is ruled out."
"Summarized, available evidence suggests Obama was born a Muslim to a non-practicing Muslim father and for some years had a reasonably Muslim upbringing under the auspices of his Indonesian step-father. At some point, he converted to Christianity. It appears false to state, as Obama does, 'I've always been a Christian' and 'I've never practiced Islam." The campaign appears to be either ignorant or fabricating when it states that 'Obama never prayed in a mosque.'"
The above is from:
http://www.danielpipes.org/article/5286
Regardless, Obama joined Rev Wright's Racist and Marxist church. We don't know what this guy believes!
If you have trouble understanding the Marxist connection, see
"Obama, Black Liberation Theology, and Karl Marx" at http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/05/obama_black_liberation_theolog.html
The racist part has been pretty well documented.
Posted by: Alz | October 13, 2008 9:19 PM
Well, Obama's father was a Muslim. And his stepfather was a Muslim. The hate-filled, racist, ant--Israeli, anti-American message preached at
the supposedly Christian Church he belonged to for 20+ years bears a close resemblance to the messages delivered at extremist mosques. And the 'church" also honored the radical Muslim Farrakhan. Obama may not be a 100 percent Muslim. But the influence is there.
Posted by: john | October 13, 2008 11:38 AM
I am surprised you weren't censored!
This is what I think: Obama's case has overpassed all HOLLYWOOD & HOLLYCRAP's Fictions, including The Manchurian candidate.
2 years after getting rid of Saddam Hussein in Bagdad, His name is coming back to haunt america. WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT OF THE NAME HUSSEIN AS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? FOR SURE NOT THE YOUNG MAN RISKING THEIR LIFE IN BAGDAD BUT THE FAR LEFT ACTIVISTS LIVING IN THE STATE OF FOOLISH DELUSIONS, THE UNITED STATE OF AMNESIA.
How we see Obama is important mostly if he doesn't know how to tell the truth. It is hard to believe that for 20 years, this guy didn't know what was going on at Jeremiah's. Hard to believe that he didn't know who is Bill Ayers. Hard to believe that he got his MANSION without knowing who helped him: TONY REZKO. How do the ennemies of the USA see Obama? as a GIFT during these war times. A SYMBOLIC VICTORY! WE FIGHT THEM, WE END UP WITH A SON OF A MUSLIM RUNNING OUR COUNTRY AS A PUNISHMENT. WE INVADED IRAK, WE END UP WITH THE NAME OF SADDAM IN THE WHITE HOUSE AS A COMMANDER IN CHIEF. MORE THAN A PUNISHMENT, A HUMILIATION, A DEFEAT!
SO IF WE ARE REALLY IN A DEMOCRACY INSTEAD OF A MEDIACRACY, LET'S ALLOW EVERYBODY TO EXPRESS HIS VIEWS OF HOW HE SEES OBAMA WITHOUT BEING CALLED RACIST. NOTHING IS COINCIDENTAL. THIS OBAMA CASE IS JUST WEIRD!
Posted by: Max | October 13, 2008 9:46 PM
Starting today I promise to keep my mouth shut because on November 5 we're still going to be fellow Americans so let there be peace in this country and let it begin with me.
Posted by: Terry | October 13, 2008 10:06 PM
Has any reporter thought to ask "Hussein Obama" the pertinent question? Mr B.Hussein Obama, can we put this issue to rest, do you believe that there is no God but Allah and that Mohammed is is prophet"? Simply direct and one that the Muslim is not allowed to lie about. Let's ask Obama the question.
Posted by: Scott | October 13, 2008 10:11 PM
Here is a quick look into 3 former Fannie Mae executives who have
brought down Wall Street:
Franklin Raines was a Chairman and CEO at Fannie Mae.
Raines was FORCED to retire from Fannie Mae
when auditing discovered severe IRREGULARITIES in Fannie Maes
accounting activities.
News reports indicate the company was under growing pressure
from regulators to shake up its management in the wake of findings
that the company's books ran afoul of generally accepted accounting
principles for four years." Fannie Mae had to reduce its surplus by
$9 BILLION!!
Raines left with a "golden parachute valued at $240 MILLION in
benefits. The Government filed suit against Raines when the depth of
the accounting scandal became clear.
http://housingdoom.com/2006/12/18/fannie-charges/ .
These charges were made in 2006. The Court ordered Raines to return
$50 Million Dollars he received in bonuses based on the miss-stated
Fannie Mae profits.
Tim Howard - Was the Chief Financial Officer of Fannie Mae.
Howard "was a strong internal proponent of using accounting
strategies that would ensure a "stable pattern of earnings" at
Fannie In everyday English - he was cooking the books.
The Government Investigation determined that, "Chief Financial Officer, Tim Howard, failed to provide adequate oversight to key control and reporting functions within Fannie Mae,"
On June 16, 2006, Rep. Richard Baker, R-La., asked the Justice Department to investigate his allegations that two former Fannie Mae executives lied to Congress in October 2004 when they denied manipulating the mortgage-finance giant's income statement to achieve management pay bonuses. Investigations by federal regulators and the company's board of directors since concluded that management did manipulate 1998 earnings to trigger bonuses. Raines and Howard resigned under pressure in late 2004.
Howard's Golden Parachute was estimated at $20 Million!
Jim Johnson - A former executive at Lehman Brothers and who was
later forced from his position as Fannie Mae CEO.
A look at the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight's
May 2006 report on mismanagement and corruption inside Fannie Mae,
and you'll see some interesting things about Johnson.
Investigators found that Fannie Mae had hidden a substantial amount
of Johnson's 1998 compensation from the public, reporting that it was
between $6 million and $7 million when it fact it was $21 million."
Johnson is currently under investigation for taking illegal loans
from Countrywide while serving as CEO of Fannie Mae.
Johnson's Golden Parachute was estimated at $28 Million.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
FRANKLIN RAINES?
Raines works for the Obama Campaign as Chief Economic Advisor
TIM HOWARD?
Howard is also a Chief Economic Advisor to Obama
JIM JOHNSON?
Johnson hired as a Senior Obama Finance Advisor and was
selected to run Obama's Vice Presidential Search Committee
What did Biden mean when he said Obama warned about this 2 years ago?
Well I guess that his buddies should get all they can while
the getting was good.
Posted by: Kristen | October 13, 2008 10:39 PM
Why hasn't the press exposed this guy before????
Anthony R. Martin-Trigona used to be the name he used, back when the Supreme Court of Illinois ruled he was unfit to be admitted to the bar.
For psychiatric reasons.
It was