WND Still Pushing Corsi's Lies Topic: WorldNetDaily
A Nov. 9 WorldNetDaily article repeats Jerome Corsi's lie that Barack Obama "raised an alleged $1 million for Odinga to run for president in Kenya in December 2007." As we've detailed, the only evidence Corsi has forwarded to support this claim are documents that are clearly fake.
The article goes on to uncritically repeat a claim, also forwarded by Corsi, that Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga "says Obama's father was his maternal uncle" without noting that it too has been debunked.
Gainor Baselessly Blames 'Liberal Bias' for Newspaper Woes Topic: CNSNews.com
A Nov. 3 CNSNews.com column by the MRC's Dan Gainor cites Washington Post ombudsman Deborah Howell noting complaints from readers that the Post is "too liberal," then adding:
Imagine an ordinary company – like McDonald’s or Sprint – ignoring the wishes of their customers and producing products no one wants. When the American automotive industry runs off the road, the media want to hang management, but when their own industry is falling victim to self-inflicted wounds, they have no clue what to do.
Insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result. That explains the mindset when journalists are shocked that they keep producing biased news and their industry collapses financially.
Here Howell is being told by the paper’s customers that it is a biased piece of propaganda, and yet she refuses to listen.
But Gainor offers no evidence that "liberal bias" has anything to do with the Post's declining circulation. Gainor concedes that "technology [is] partially to blame," but then claims that "that discounts their immense failure of the public trust." But Gainor himself discounts the role of "technology" -- that is, the overall shift of readers from print to web.
Indeed, Editor & Publisher reported that traffic on the Post's website in September jumped 42 percent from a year ago -- suggesting that the Post's product is not something that "no one wants," as Gainor portrays it.
We've previously noted MRC employees' insistence on blaming "liberal bias" for declining newspaper circulation even though the print-to-web paradigm shift is a much more logical and provable explanation.
Speaking of Brent Bozell... Topic: Media Research Center
We've previously noted Brent Bozell's assertion that Barack Obama ran "as a Reaganite" despite claiming before the election that Obama was a socialist. Media Matters' Jamison Foser highlights something else that we missed:
How much of a fraud is Bozell? In 1998, Bozell claimed the media weren't paying enough attention to Monica Lewinsky -- at a time when there were 500 news reports a day on the topic. Now he's alternately claiming Obama is a "socialist" and a "Reaganite." And in his column last week, he complained that a recent Project for Excellence in Journalism study overstated the extent of negative coverage of Obama by including "talk-radio hosts from Rush Limbaugh to Randi Rhodes" who are supposed to "express an opinion." But that complaint is completely false. The study in question specifically excluded talk radio. It's right there in the study's methodology: "Talk radio stories, which are part of PEJ's regular NCI, were not included in this campaign study of tone." If Brent Bozell tells you the sun is shining, you better grab an umbrella.
Oops. Don't expect Bozell to correct this, of course.
The WorldNetDaily poll question of the day: "What primary mistake did John McCain make that denied him the election?"
The current leading answer: "Despite having an inexperienced, cliche-spouting, terrorist-appeasing, socialistic and possibly constitutionally unqualified opponent, he wouldn't attack."
Spouting such discredited nonsense is the danger of relying on WND for news.
President-elect Barack Obama raised questions during an election campaign stop in Colorado Springs when he asserted the U.S. needs a "civilian national security force" that would be as powerful, strong and well-funded as the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force, but few of those questions have been answered.
False. As we've detailed, Obama has said that the reference is to "teams that combine agricultural specialists and engineers and linguists and cultural specialists who are prepared to go into some of the most dangerous areas alongside our military."
Further, as Media Matters points out, in the speech referenced by WND in which Obama made the remark, he expanded on it by proposing to expand the Foreign Service, AmeriCorps, and the Peace Corps.
Similarly, a Nov. 7 Newsmax article promoted right-wing radio host Bob Grant's reference to Obama's remark, and Ann Coulter's response that it "[s]ounds like there’s gonna be a lot more Waco raids, Elian Gonzalez snatchings" without bothering to tell the full truth about Obama's statement.
Have the election results rendered the boys at NewsBusters a little touchier than usual? It seems so:
Noel Sheppard devotes an entire post to how CNN's election-night hologram experiment weren't really holograms but tomograms, accusing CNN of "misrepresent[ing]" the images.
Mark Finkelstein decided to frame Barack Obama's reference to "a Nancy Reagan thing about, you know, doing any séances" as him "mocking an elderly widow ... who was recently released from the hospital after breaking her pelvis in a fall."
WND Readers Not Fond of Book-Learnin', Women in General Topic: WorldNetDaily
As we've noted, WorldNetDaily and its readers are not terribly fond of single women. They also aren't terribly fond of the concept of education either.
The comment thread on the WND poll of the day asking people's opinions on the finding that unmarried women voted heavily for Barack Obama contains the usual WND-fueled anti-Obama ranting. But when one writer offered a contrary opinion and added that "I am well educated (a PHD)," fellow commenters didn't like that at all:
Why do you boast that you are “well-educated” as if that gives you the ability to raise yourself above the Lord God? Do you not know that Hitler’s most heinous war criminals, his Nazi SS were of the most “highly educated” class of the German nation? Their education is not going to save them when they stand in judgment before the Throne of God.
The women proclaiming their liberal pro-choice views who voted for Hussein the Kenyan are a perfect example of why more children need to be homeschooled. If they were kept out of the 'higher' learning establishments we might not find ourselves with this mamzar as a president. He will never be called president in this house.
You must be so smart and well read that you have no common sense or morals. You are an embarrisment to women everywhere and I suggest you are the one who needs to look in the mirror.
A commenter who wrote, "I'm a man, also well educated, working and concerned, and I voted for Obama" received this response:
So we hear from another left wing, probably gay, man that thinks that the Communist left wing knows it all and the rest of us know nothing and we that are not left wing communists are just supposed to stand back and shut up and let the Communist left wing have their way with us. Sorry bud it ain’t a gona happen!
And then there's this, more closely hewing to the question of the day:
I'm not knocking women, but there was some (emotional) reasoning involved by not allowing them to vote. The sexes (men-women) minds are structured differently. We reason in a structured way that women do not! Men always in the pass fought in battle's that women are not designed for, it just (used to be) common sense! It wasn't till the illuminant's formed the SS (humanist) and hijacked human thinking (atheistic) to destroy the family so that the people would seek out the government for dependence! Man needs woman as well woman needs man, but separate them by using movements like NOW, the Helen Reddy syndrome and throw them in the bowl and mix it all up, so what do you get when a BO comes along? Walla! You got a president with no direction but down for America and on Her founding Fathers. And of course everything that 'they stood for' including the Lord! You can bet your little pinky's that in the not so far future they (single women, racist, tree huggers the left in general) will be screaming "BO you Promised" all the while the're stomping there feet! And this 'once great nation' goes away! We gave it up just to be PC!
And this:
The majority, but by no means all, unmarried women fit into four categories: very young women, lesbians, promiscuous women, and heterosexual women embittered because they have not found the kind of man they think they deserve.
The young are always more to the left because they are more easily deceived than those of us who have seen it all before, and because they are the products of an "educational" system that has been degenerating for decades. Lesbians and homosexuals tend to be leftists because the left promises them unlimited freedom and even power. Promiscuous women are often leftists because the left is composed, almost by definition, of people with no moral standards. And embittered women tend to hate men and fall for radical feminist propaganda.
And this:
Ever since the fall (& I'm not talking autumn) women have had an obsession with forbidden fruit and a huge percentage of white women see sexual relations with a black man in that light. In fact they're so obsessed with that that even after they are beaten and abused they still come back for more! Because women by nature are obsessed with appearances they should NEVER have been granted the sufferage and if it hadn't been for weak-kneed limp-wristed men who were afraid they'd be cut off in the bedroom they wouldn't have it today!
In case you needed a dose of anti-Obama hate, there's this comment:
Hussein Osama, the ILLEGAL ALIEN, got "elected" due to voter fraud, sealed documents, payoffs, threats, intimidation and street gangs stationed at polling places with clubs.
I for one will not recognize a non american as dictator pf the US. There should have been nationwide riots over this fraudulent election!
And this one:
Yes, it was ignorant, young, single women, particularly black, that put this Monkey over the top. Unfortunately, our side did not push an agenda to make Dead Beat Dads payup, or go to prison. That would have solved two issues, the young womens vote going to the Anti-Christ, and after the election, 90% of the men who voted for this Moron would have had to either pay up or go to prison. That's right Obama men, we know who you are. 90% deadbeat dads, 10% Homos. BTW, isn't it funny that the Black Votes stopped the Homos in their tracks? Well, I am ready for the war, 3 shotguns (1 new) and 2 handguns, plus a load of ammo. This idiot will try to trash the constitution, and I am awaiting orders from the military or some other leader. That's right, I am willing to die to uphold the constitution of this country for my children and grandchildren.
These are the people who read WorldNetDaily. No wonder Joseph Farah has decided that he can lie to them with impunity.
We followed a link from NewsBusters to a post by NewsBusters blogger Terry Trippany on the blog Webloggin purporting to show the dark side of Barack Obama's victory rally in Chicago's Grant Park -- including things like garbage and a group of self-proclaimed communists allegedly supporting Obama -- because, according to Trippany, "it is important to realize that salesmen never expose the flaws in a package when selling you a bill of goods."
Trippany's post is now topped with an apology:
I got it wrong. It happens but it is no less embarrassing.
In reading through the comments I saw the following from Padananda:
The funny thing is, you don’t seem to have realized that the communists at Grant Park were *opposing* Obama–they see him (rightly) as just a more liberal capitalist and imperialist–they don’t like him at all. Please get your facts straight.
So I went backed and checked on the group and he was correct. In my haste I had thought these guys were representatives of Communist Party USA, which endorsed Barack Obama. It turns out however that they are actually members of Revolutionary Communist Party USA, a different group that opposes both McCain and Obama.
I should have checked more closely; I know better.
AIM's Aronoff Misleads on CMPA Topic: Accuracy in Media
In a Nov. 3 Accuracy in Media column touting the "evidence of bias in favor of Barack Obama," Roger Aronoff describes the Center for Media and Public Affairs, which produced a study supporting Aronoff's contention, as a group that is not "considered in any way to have conservative leanings." In fact, as we've detailed, the CMPA is a conservative-leaning group.
Curiously, Aronoff doesn't cite the one thing that might have supported his contention about the CMPA: its study from July finding that ABC, NBC and CBS were tougher on Obama than on Republican John McCain during the first six weeks fo the general election campaign. But then, that would have undercut the premise of his column (not to mention the entire raison d'etre of AIM).
Media Matters catches the MRC's Brent Bozell, claiming that Barack Obama "ran as a Reaganite" and "won over ... the public as a fiscal conservative" -- even though less than two weeks earlier, Bozell accused Obama of espousing "socialism" throughout the "entirety of the campaign." In that appearance, on the Nov. 7 edition of Fox News' "America's Newsroom," host Bill Hemmer partially followed the template by allowing him to appear solo, but surprisingly identified Bozell as president of the Conservataive Victory Committee -- perhaps because he was appearing in that role.
A separate Nov. 7 Bozell appearance on "Fox & Friends" followed the template completely -- Bozell appeared solo and was not identified as a conservative.
UPDATE: NewsBusters' post on Bozell's "America's Newsroom" segment is silent on Bozell's flip-flop.
Newsmax Promo Falsely Blames Obama for Market Drop Topic: Newsmax
A front-page Newsmax promo for a Nov. 6 Associated Press article reads:
Markets Tumble Again With Obama Blues
Uncertain over the direction of a liberal president-elect and reeling from job losses and poor outlooks from leading companies, the market has plunged over the last two days. On Friday, automakers are expected to announce huge losses and more job cuts that will only make the challenge greater for Barack Obama.
Wall Street plunged for a second day, triggered by computer gear maker Cisco Systems warning of slumping demand and retailers reporting weak sales for October. Concerns about widespread economic weakness sent the major stock indexes down more than 4 percent Thursday, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which tumbled more than 440 points.
Nowhere does the article blame the market plunge on the "liberal president-elect"; in fact, Obama is not even mentioned until the 28th paragraph.
Tapscott: Whites Voted for Obama to Prove They Aren't Racist Topic: Washington Examiner
A Nov. 6 Washington Examiner column by Mark Tapscott makes this claim:
First, Millions of white Baby Boomers saw in Barack Obama an opportunity to prove once and for all that they were not racists. Most Americans long ago tired of incessantly hearing that they are bigots, so voting for Obama was an historic opportunity to put an end once and for all to the Left's favorite stereotype of American society.
Is Tapscott really saying that the only reason white people voted for Obama was to prove they weren't racist? It appears so.
Lesson for the Republicans – Palin connects with real people as one of them because she is. She has that rare gift of speaking with candor and grace in the common manner. People who confuse Palin's appeal and virtues for a lack of experience or intelligence have no business running a political party that presumes to some day regain the trust and active support of its rank and file.
New Article -- Out There, Exhibit 48: The Heathers at NewsBusters Topic: NewsBusters
The political angst of Tim Graham and crew is awfully close to having a body count: They're kicking conservatives out of the club for being insufficiently loyal to John McCain and Sarah Palin. Read more >>
ConWeb Dumps McCain, Rushes to Palin's Defense Topic: The ConWeb
Having seen its side lose the election, the ConWeb is now engaging in little cleansing ritual: throwing John McCain under the bus and defending Sarah Palin from criticism.
Newsmax has been the leader so far. A Nov. 5 article by Dave Eberhart blamed McCain's loss on "the woeful campaign they said John McCain had run and how blatantly biased the media has been." After noting revelations that Palin's "infamous shopping expeditions for her entire family were even more outrageous than previously reported," Eberhart spun it as best he could: "But the McCain campaign failed to turn the clothes issue into positive spin: Palin was an "average Jane" who wasn't a millionaire like the Obamas." He continued:
Criticism of her deflected the real missteps McCain was making, including his spasmodic response to the financial crisis that gripped the nation. McCain, a self-proclaimed maverick, quickly embraced Washington's bailout of Wall Street.
Despite the multiple fumbles, McCain aides remain fixated on Palin's wardrobe.
Eberhart concluded: "Sarah Palin demonstrated real charisma and will remain a force in the GOP for years to come."
A Nov. 6 article by Jim Meyers was even harsher on McCain and more defensive of Palin:
McCain campaign aides have launched a full-scale smear attack on Sarah Palin to blunt criticisms that they bungled a winnable election.
[...]
But the Times even had to acknowledge the real reason for the post-election sniping.
“But beyond those episodes may be a greater subtext: anger within the McCain camp that Ms. Palin harbored political ambitions beyond 2008,” Elisabeth Bumiller disclosed in The Times.
A Nov. 6 article by Rick Pedraza featured right-wing radio host Michael Reagan asserting that "Palin is not the reason McCain lost the presidential election to Barack Obama." That blame, he said, goes to "George Bush and his lack of leadership in Washington, D.C. with his own party."
At CNSNews.com, a Nov. 6 article by Susan Jones headlined "The Post-Election Sliming of Sarah Palin" lamented that "Disgruntled McCain staffers apparently are behind media reports critical of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin":
Newsweek magazine, in an article called “Secrets of the 2008 Campaign,” says Palin spent extravagantly on new clothes. One angry aide characterized her shopping spree as, "Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast." That anonymous aide said the truth will come out when the Republican Party audits its books.
Fox News reports that anonymous McCain aides are complaining about Palin's grasp of basic civics and geography.
And The New York Times also reports on “internal battles” that divided the McCain and Palin camps.
That's the entire article; Jones doesn't offer detail on any of the claims.
Even normally friendly Fox News reporters weren't immune to scrutiny for telling the truth about Palin. A Nov. 6 NewsBusters post by Sharon Hughes complained that "Carl Cameron of FOX News reporting for the "O'Reilly Factor" took the low road yesterday in repeating rumors and gossip from unnamed staffers in the McCain camp about Sarah Palin: her knowledge, temperament, being a shopoholic, etc." Hughes continued:
In failing to mention the names of the accusers, or input from staffers who disagree with the rumors, Cameron failed the 'fair and balanced' creed of FOX News. Plus Cameron's somewhat fevered manner in repeating the rumors, was not only surprising, but showed his lack of objectivity.
[...]
The most popular Governor in the United States with an 80% approval rating in her own state of Alaska, continues to be portrayed negatively by the media. Perhaps it will be found that one of more of these nameless cowards in the McCain camp were plants, or idealogues who took the job but ended up sabotoging the effort, ie the handling of Palin with the press. Time will tell if 'fair and balanced' reporters will investigate.
Hughes makes no effort to disprove the claims, nor does she provide a video of Cameron making the claims so that her readers can judge for themselves (that would be here). She also fails to explain that having "an 80% approval rating in her own state of Alaska" (in fact, it's currently 65 percent) has nothing whatsoever to do with the accusations made by those unnamed McCain staffers.
WorldNetDaily arguably declared war on women with its disturbing obsession with female teachers accused of having sexual relations with students.
Now comes a Nov. 5 WND article citing polling results stating that unmarried women supported Barack Obama "by a stunning 70 to 29 percent margin" -- or, actually, the WND poll of the day asking readers their opinion on this development. The four top results as of this writing:
Women are naturally more emotional than men, and Obama's appeal was entirely emotional: 19%
With Obama to pay the mortgage and the gas bill, why would a woman need a husband?: 14%
It's ironic because liberal government policies are what have broken up so many families and left women and their children without support: 14%
These women see Obama as their government-protector husband: 12%
Do WND and its readers have some issues they need to work out with a licensed therapist? It appears so.
