Three big deceptions have come to light in the past week, and I find myself trying to decide which is the most reprehensible.
First up, the delightfully-oxymoronic "Think Progress." They put together a video that they said showed the "inherent racism" of the Tea Party movement. In that video, they showed video clips of four people.
It didn't take long to utterly shred the integrity of that clip -- and that group. Bob Owens did an amazing job with his chainsaw.
Guy #1: "(Obama's) too black to be president."
The rest of the original clip shows the full context:
Barack Obama's just a bad guy. That's all I can say. He's ... he's too black to be president. And you look at the color of my wife, it's not the color of his skin that troubles me, it's not the blackness of his skin that troubles me.
The guy's wife (a black woman) was also present, along with their bi-racial son. Some bigot.
Guy #2: "I'm a proud racist, and I'm white."
The rest of the original clip shows the full context: the guy wasn't a Tea Party member, but a Tea Party crasher. He showed up with Nazi regalia to make the Tea Party look bad -- and was driven off by genuine Tea Partiers.
Guy #3: Rants about "Afro-Leninism." What the HELL does that mean? I'll give them half a point on that one.
Guy #4: "Go home wetbacks!"
Full context: the original video was shot in 2006, over two years before the Tea Party movement started.
Deception #2: The JournoList reveal that members had conspired to kill the Reverend Jeremiah Wright story and smear anyone who dared dissent from their narrative. It included discussing how to properly punish ABC's George Stephanopoulos (a former Clinton crony, in case you forgot) for allowing the subject to come up in a Democratic debate, and...
Well, I can't put it any better than The Daily Caller's Jonathan Strong: In one instance, Spencer Ackerman of the Washington Independent urged his colleagues to deflect attention from Obama's relationship with Wright by changing the subject. Pick one of Obama's conservative critics, Ackerman wrote, "Fred Barnes, Karl Rove, who cares -- and call them racists."
We will never be able to tell the full consequences of that deception. It was no great secret that the media was pretty much wholly in Obama's pocket, but the revelation here is just how far they were willing to go to push his election. Also, it demonstrates that the "shut up the critics by calling them racists" game was a known, recognized tactic two years ago.
Deception #3: Andrew Breitbart's release of the carefully-edited Shirley Sherrod video. I'm not gonna bother recapping that one; I already did that once today, and my fingers are getting sore.
So, which was the worst of the three?
For once, I'm not going to offer an opinion. I'll make an argument for each, but I'm not going to say which I think was the most reprehensible. To be blunt, I'm not sure at this point.
Think Progress. Their gross propaganda video required incredible malice. They selectively edited two videos and outright lied about the origin of a third in their attempt to perpetuate the smear that the Tea Party movement is made up of a bunch of racists. The sheer recklessness, combined with the deliberate lies and refusal to admit even now that they were caught, is utterly unforgivable.
JournoList. Their conspiring had the greatest consequences, and went on the longest. They definitely had a part in swaying a presidential election by suppressing lines of inquiry they found distasteful, and planned ways to defame those with whom they disagreed. Further, they held positions of power and trust, and betrayed that trust for their own political agenda.
Breitbart. Whether or not he knew the video clip was selectively edited (taken out of context, referring to events of over 20 years ago when Sherrod was not a government employee), he should have done more digging before releasing it. Further, he's "one of us" -- he's on the right side of the political spectrum. Think Progress, JournoList -- they're liberal activists; lying and deception comes as second nature to them. We shouldn't expect anything better. Breitbart, though -- we need to hold him to a higher standard.
Finally, the release of the edited video led to Sherrod being thrust into the national spotlight, summarily fired from her job, and attacked by the NAACP. The firing and condemnation are the fault of the bodies who actually did it, but it was all based on Breitbart's original release of the video.
So, have at it, folks. Make your best cases for which deserves the most condemnation and put its perpetrator(s) in the worst light.
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Comments (20)
There really was no decepti... (Below threshold)1. Posted by P. Bunyan | July 21, 2010 1:48 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
There really was no deception in the Breitbart post. Read it again.
1. Posted by P. Bunyan | July 21, 2010 1:48 PM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 13:48
2. Posted by P. Bunyan | July 21, 2010 1:52 PM | Score: 3 (9 votes cast)
There really was no deception in the Breitbart post. Read it again.
He does not call Sharrod a racist. He does not call for her firing. He is merely and accurately demonstrating the racism at the NAACP.
There was a lot of deception in the reactions to Breitbarts post but it is dishonest to blame Brietbart for them.
2. Posted by P. Bunyan | July 21, 2010 1:52 PM |
Score: 3 (9 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 13:52
3. Posted by arcman
| July 21, 2010 1:53 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
I have to say that the JournoList deception is the worst. Because of media malfeasance, we have Barrack Obama as President. Had the media done their jobs he would have never been able to get anywhere close to the White House.
3. Posted by arcman
| July 21, 2010 1:53 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 13:53
4. Posted by epador | July 21, 2010 1:54 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
I totally agree with PB.
4. Posted by epador | July 21, 2010 1:54 PM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 13:54
5. Posted by 914 | July 21, 2010 1:57 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
I agree with all of the above. And certainly think there is more to all of this then meet's the eye.
5. Posted by 914 | July 21, 2010 1:57 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 13:57
6. Posted by JLawson | July 21, 2010 2:08 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Brietbart simply put the video out - it was the reactions of those who viewed it that were interesting - and telling.
Think Progress... it's laughable that TP keeps being touted as some sort of impeccably unimpeachable source of even-handed information.
Journolist? They're the worst.
We depend on reporters and journalists to pass out honest information on the candidates. HONEST information, unbiased information, and complete information. They failed on all three counts.
6. Posted by JLawson | July 21, 2010 2:08 PM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 14:08
7. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | July 21, 2010 2:37 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Despite the editing, Breitbart's video does show inherent NAACP racism. The cheering of the crowd at the suggestion of "sticking it to whitey" is telling.
7. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | July 21, 2010 2:37 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 14:37
8. Posted by P. Bunyan | July 21, 2010 2:45 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
As far as which of the three was the worst goes, I already pointed out that #3 was never intended to be a deception in the first place so that leaves 1 and 2.
#1 & #2 are merely small parts of a "long con" with the ultimate goal of creating a single world wide communist goverment so they are pretty equal to each other.
8. Posted by P. Bunyan | July 21, 2010 2:45 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 14:45
9. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | July 21, 2010 2:58 PM | Score: -1 (3 votes cast)
For my money, number one is worst by a wide margin. It involves a conspiracy of infiltration, deception, and propaganda designed to discredit average American citizens. It seems that the goal is to strip Americans of all representation so that we may be ruled as subjects and "kept in our place." It reeks of an undercurrent of totalitarianism and it is reminiscent of the methods used by modern dictators over the last century and a half.
Number two isn't nearly as bad, since the Wright information was there for anyone who cared to look. Despite Big Media's duplicity, one has to be guilty of self-deception to have missed the significance of Rev. Wright.
Number three contains some truth at least, and has been debunked early. It may end with more harm to Breitbart than his intended target.
9. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | July 21, 2010 2:58 PM |
Score: -1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 14:58
10. Posted by ak4mc | July 21, 2010 3:06 PM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
I can't choose between #1 and #2 myself, and until we know more about what really happened with respect to #3 I'm inclined to withhold final judgment.
I am tempted to say that the deception inherent in the JounoList business is mitigated by the fact everyone knows "journalists" are liars these days anyway.
10. Posted by ak4mc | July 21, 2010 3:06 PM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 15:06
11. Posted by Sadie | July 21, 2010 3:30 PM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Journo List #2
Utter and contemptible collusion. I am wondering if they can be prosecuting under the RICO ACT.
11. Posted by Sadie | July 21, 2010 3:30 PM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 15:30
12. Posted by Grace | July 21, 2010 4:33 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
JournoList by a wide margin, in my opinion, is the worst case this week. (Is it only Wednesday???) A free press is fundamental to a free society. The liberal bias I could live with, but when journalists (who have special protections because of their career choice) are encouraging each other to deceive their readers and flat out make up stories to discredit a political party or person, and actually deceive in the news they bring to the public, it is disgraceful and frightening.
12. Posted by Grace | July 21, 2010 4:33 PM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 16:33
13. Posted by SShiell | July 21, 2010 5:50 PM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Media Matters by a mile and Andrew Breitbart not even on the scope.
Breitbart put the video up on the screen to show the audience reaction. Shirley sherrod was an unfortunate by product of the event and I agree one that Bart owes an apology for.
The Journo-Listers were a bunch of cry babies sitting around whining about Fox and how that particular network and others of similar political persuasions were kicking their collective asses. Conversations like that is happening all over the globe in bar after bar over more than on pitcher of beer. The real evil would be if these whiners actually took their childish imaginings to heart and actually followed through with their neo-con wet dreams.
Media Matters, on the other hand, willfully took videos and knowingly and purposely twisted them. And they did it cold bloddedly to get a viral reaction from those who would be sympathetic to their message. No beer hall talk this but COLD BLOODED LIES.
13. Posted by SShiell | July 21, 2010 5:50 PM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 17:50
14. Posted by Marc | July 21, 2010 7:28 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
ward you ignorant twit, you're not even close with that broadside.
14. Posted by Marc | July 21, 2010 7:28 PM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 19:28
15. Posted by 914 | July 21, 2010 7:47 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Rev Lee, youv'e overstayed your visa. Take your garbage back to kos.
15. Posted by 914 | July 21, 2010 7:47 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 19:47
16. Posted by Giani | July 21, 2010 8:26 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Who let the dooshbag back in?
16. Posted by Giani | July 21, 2010 8:26 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 20:26
17. Posted by Marc | July 21, 2010 8:30 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
The doooshbag is playing the cute asshole by switching IP's and or using an anonimizer program.
17. Posted by Marc | July 21, 2010 8:30 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 20:30
18. Posted by epador | July 21, 2010 8:59 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Nuking the Bay Area might be a cure, if you can figure out a way to save Giardelli's
18. Posted by epador | July 21, 2010 8:59 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 21, 2010 20:59
19. Posted by JLawson | July 22, 2010 7:14 AM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Might have to take one for the team, epador... triage and all that. The area may be too far gone to save, the social gangrene too far advanced.
19. Posted by JLawson | July 22, 2010 7:14 AM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on July 22, 2010 07:14
20. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | July 22, 2010 11:21 AM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
I'd like to be a fly on the wall at Lee Ward's house to see what kind of guy this is. I'm betting Lee "Ward of the State."
20. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | July 22, 2010 11:21 AM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on July 22, 2010 11:21