Origins of "Obama Is A Muslim" Rumor Are Traced

Saturday's Washington Post carries a long article tracing the origins of rumors that Barack Obama is a Muslim. The rumors were spread over the Internet, particularly through chain e-mails. Danielle Allen of the Institute for Advanced Studies, has traced the rumor to an article posted online in 2004 by Andy Martin who, at the time, was attempting to run against Obama for the U.S. Senate. Ted Sampley, a North Carolina man, published a similar article on his own website around the same time. Discussion of these on the Free Republic website discussion forums increased interest in the rumor. However, the exact identity of the person who began the chain of e-mails carrying the rumor has not been determined.