Disinformation-How Does This Happen?

Shortly after President Obama was elected as President, my co-worker, Jose X, told another co-worker and myself that President Obama was Muslim. I was confused as to why Jose would say this. What was his motive? I knew Jose was an educated man, was a staunch Republican and was generally a nice guy. I was upset by the disinformation he was spreading and corrected him. “No he is not, his father was Muslim but he is not.” Jose X replied, “Well, if his father is Muslim that means that he is Muslim.” Interesting reasoning, I thought, bewildered. I tried again, “No he is not Muslim, just because someone’s parents were of a certain religion it does not mean that their children will practice that religion.” He noted that I was becoming irritated and I hurried to explain that I was not a Democrat or a Republican but I didn’t think we should say things about others that weren’t true. In response, Jose laughed and walked away. Jose also liked to say that President Obama was not born in the U.S. but in a foreign country due to issues with his Hawaiian birth certificate. The Washington Post article, ‘10 myths about Obama (that people actually believe)’addressed some of those mistaken beliefs. Jose was spreading disinformation that many websites today use. 1.) He made a false statement as if it were an indisputable fact without providing proof or references. 2.) When questioned about this, he made excuses and refused to accept proof to the contrary. Jose X was like many people or websites who promote ‘fake news’, he wasn’t stupid or gullible, he just wanted to believe and spread negative things about someone who did not reflect his political viewpoint. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/10-lies-about-obama-people-actually-believe/2013/09/06/c9bfd7aa-14be-11e3-b182-1b3bb2eb474c_gallery.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.e4957844cc05

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