A politician can publicly correct conspiracy narratives at personal political cost

Evidence

Some do have the integrity to speak truth. At a 2008 rally when John McCain was running against Barack Obama for the presidency, a questioner confessed to McCain that she felt she could not trust Obama because “he’s an Arab.” At the time, the birther conspiracy was dogging the Obama campaign. McCain, however—eliciting boos from his own supporters—refused to indulge the forces of delegitimation. “No, ma’am: no, ma’am,” McCain said. “He’s a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that’s what this campaign is all about. He’s not.” — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 334

Categorization

• CANDY: The image of McCain being booed by his own supporters for refusing to call Obama an Arab is a usable anecdote.
• XREF: connects to: Factual correction of conspiracism usually fails or backfires — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 119; Correcting conspiracy misinformation can backfire and entrench the false belief. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 119; Officials who weaponize conspiracism risk believing their own fabrications — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 273 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Factual correction of conspiracism usually fails or backfires #contradicts (0.90) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 119
• Correcting conspiracy misinformation can backfire and entrench the false belief. #qualifies (0.85) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 119
• Countering conspiracism requires wisdom, not just factual honesty #qualifies (0.85) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 393
• Conspiracy beliefs follow source identification, so only rival trusted figures can dislodge them #qualifies (0.80) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 327
• Officials who weaponize conspiracism risk believing their own fabrications #complicates (0.75) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 273