Misinformation of the Year Awards

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 11:15:39 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Media Matters does the heavy lifting and announces the worst offenders of misinformation by the media. Top categories: Those who unfairly blasted Hillary, Obama, the undocumented and Muslims.

Top Offenders: You know who they are, no surprises here. But the examples demonstrating the extent of their naked hatred may surprise you.

In a separate MM article, Jamison Foser lambasts Chris Matthews and Tucker Carlson over their feigned indignation about Bob Kerrey's use of Barack Obama's middle name. Turns out, both of them used his middle name well before Kerrey.

The first mention of the name as a political matter that we can find in the Nexis database comes from MSNBC's Chris Matthews. On the November 7 [2006] edition of Hardball -- three full weeks before Rogers' comment -- Matthews said: "You know, it's interesting that Barack Obama's middle name is Hussein. That will be interesting down the road, won't it?" Media Matters noted Matthews' comments the next day.
....A few weeks after Matthews' reference to Obama's middle name -- and a day before Rogers first used it -- Tucker Carlson used his MSNBC television program to call guest Bill Press "a true member of the Barack Hussein Obama fan club."

Foser continues on to who first brought up the topic of Obama's cocaine use:

More...

They claim that Penn was trying to subtly bring up Obama's long-ago drug use. Well, again: Maybe he was, but the facts are that during the interview in question, Matthews himself repeatedly brought it up; the entire segment was about the topic before Penn even spoke; and Penn's first response to the first question Matthews asked him ("It was never a part of this campaign. It was unacceptable.") seemed to be an obvious attempt to end a discussion that was not playing out in his candidate's favor.
But to hear Matthews and Carlson and others tell it, Penn initiated the conversation and was doing everything he could to prolong it. That simply isn't what happened.

< TalkLeft Gets Press Credentials for Iowa Caucuses | Geraldine Ferraro's Campaign Chief Says Hillary Will Prevail >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Misinformation of the Year Awards | 26 comments (26 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Bob Kerrey (none / 0) (#1)
by Repack Rider on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 11:43:54 PM EST

Not John Kerry.

: fixed now, my mistake. (none / 0) (#2)
by Jeralyn on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 11:49:03 PM EST

thanks.

Difference (none / 0) (#4)
by Jgarza on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 11:57:08 PM EST

He repeated the name along with Islamic Manchurian candidate and said he went to a secular Madrassa.

Probably thinking it was a good parse since Madrassa is the Arabic word for school. Two problems, we are in America where people don't commonly use Arabic names, and Obama went to school in Indonesia, where surprise they also don't speak Arabic. ON top of that we all know what madrassa is associated with in America.

I saw both those interviews it was clear what they were doing. This post along with the one you cited is RIDICULOUS. I would think even you could admit that your candidates campaign made a mistake. You are better then this Jeralyn, don't defend gutter politics.

take it up with Media Matters (none / 0) (#5)
by Jeralyn on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 01:09:48 AM EST

if you disagree, I'm reporting what their fact-based investigaton revealed.


I'm looking (1.00 / 1) (#6)
by Jgarza on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 02:48:22 AM EST

and looking for a misinformation of the year story debunking that Hillary is behind attacks on Obama's religions. There isn't one. All they have is that they can't prove she is.

As for the other thing you quote picking and choosing areas can make things very misleading.

Kerrey's comments were interpreted by many -- with Matthews and Carlson leading the charge -- as a subtle and sneaky way of planting doubt about Obama among voters. (Maybe it was, or maybe it was completely innocent. Either way, I'm not sure it matters: Like Jeff Greenfield's "joke" about Obama dressing like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Kerrey's comments were ill-considered no matter what his intent. Indeed, Kerrey subsequently apologized to Obama.)

Your post is incredibly misleading, because the idea that Clinton campaign is trying to poison the well, has not been debunked and is very much in the air.

If you can find evidence that is isnt true, i'd be thrilled to see it. Complaining about Tweety since he thinks it is, seems ridiculous.


Omigawd (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 08:42:16 AM EST

"a misinformation of the year story debunking that Hillary is behind attacks on Obama's religions. There isn't one. All they have is that they can't prove she is."

Are you for real?

Where is the proof that Obama did not deal drugs?

I propose that as an example of just how ridiculous your comment was.


Do you think that Obama Hussein Barrick (1.00 / 0) (#8)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 08:11:59 AM EST

won't get to see his middle name pasted all over the place if he gets the nomination?

Like it or not that is his name, and like it or not he attended a school that provided Islamic religious training. To the best of my knowledge it did not provide other religious training.

As the WaPost reported:

Hardi Priyono, deputy headmaster of the Basuki school in Indonesia, told CNN that his institution -- which Obama attended four decades ago, beginning when he was 6 -- is not a madrassah.
This is a public school," Priyono told CNN correspondent John Vause in Jakarta. "We don't focus on religion." Classes in Islam are offered to the predominantly Muslim students at the school, CNN reported.

Now you and I may think it silly that people would worry about a six year old attending such a school for two years. But he did, and dodging the issue and complaining is not going to make it go away.

If he can't stand the heat over this it is doubtful he can stand up to the real bully's of the world. That will be what the voters will see.

A Big Plus For America (5.00 / 0) (#11)
by squeaky on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 12:34:02 PM EST

But of course foaming at the mouth haters of Muslims, like you could never see those things as an advantage, because you believe in genocide as opposed to peace.


Really squeak you should try and (1.00 / 0) (#12)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 03:41:11 PM EST

smear based on comments that are harder to get to.

You smear:

But of course foaming at the mouth haters of Muslims, like you could never

And this is what I wrote:

Of course fact don't matter to you.

Posted by Squeaky at September 19, 2005 11:19 PM
Rove never needed proof for his smear machine, why should I.

I can, however, answer your question.

Because you can't control yourself. You are who you are.


Right (5.00 / 0) (#13)
by squeaky on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 03:48:37 PM EST

You are on record for hating Muslims or "Moslems" as you call them

Do you think that Obama Hussein Barrick (1.00 / 1) (#8)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 08:11:59 AM EST
won't get to see his middle name pasted all over the place if he gets the nomination?
Like it or not that is his name, and like it or not he attended a school that provided Islamic religious training. To the best of my knowledge it did not provide other religious training.

No need to bs as a concern troll about all those racists and bigots out there, because we have our very own at TL as your record shows.


Nope and you continue to smear (1.00 / 0) (#14)
by jimakaPPJ on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 08:58:21 AM EST

I have not condemned "Moslems," and you know that.

I am on record numerous times condemning in the strongest possible terms,

"radical Moslem terrorists."

I would expect that you would join me. You do not.

Instead you try and smear. But we have on record how you operate:

ppj does as ppj does (none / 0) (#30)
by squeaky on Sat Mar 03, 2007 at 09:58:35 PM EST
(I wrote)So because Rove is doing wrong, it is okay for you to do wrong?
(Squeaky replied) I have no problem with alleging that Rove's grandparents were Nazi's. Even if they were not, he uses Goebbels' propaganda techniques as a bible and may as well be a born and bred Nazi.

The reader is requested to note that the above is a bit over a year from the first declaration you made about your SOP.

And yes, Obama Hussien Barrick will get his name tossed around. The acknowledgment of that fact is neither racist nor bigoted.


BS (5.00 / 0) (#15)
by squeaky on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 03:18:52 PM EST

Is Hussain a radical name? Only if you are a muslim fearing bedwetter. It is no more an unusual name than, let's say, Jim. Should we fear you because some lunatic named Jim Jones drank the kool aid?

Your bigoted and racist comments regarding Muslims are regular and obvious to all here. For instance were you worrying about only radical muslim's when you wrote this garbage:

Look at the demographics. The west is being out bred and is importing Moslems at a rate that insures the end of western culture.

And this smear of Obama:

As to the schooling of Obama, in his very own words:

In Indonesia, I'd spent 2 years at a Muslim school, 2 years at a Catholic school. In the Muslim school, the teacher wrote to tell mother I made faces during Koranic studies

Yet CNN tries to parse Obamma's own words away by saying"

This is a public school," Priyono told CNN correspondent John Vause in Jakarta. "We don't focus on religion." Classes in Islam are offered to the predominantly Muslim students at the school, CNN reported.

Uh, given that it is in a, basically, a Moslem country and given the words of Obama himself, do you think CNN/WP was accurate, or was it doing a white wash?
As to whether or not the teachings were radical, we do not know.
What we do know is that he attended the schoool and attended religious training classess.

Joe McCarthy would be proud of your not so subtle use of innuendo.


Good morning Squeak (1.00 / 0) (#16)
by jimakaPPJ on Mon Dec 24, 2007 at 09:30:29 AM EST

How are you?? Still spewing fairy tales I see. And despite being exposed for doing so.

Now, let us address your rather ignorant mouthings.

I didn't say Barrack Hussein Obama was a radical name. You know I didn't. But smearing and making things up is what you do. In fact, I showed where you admitted doing it.

What I said was that he, and you and I could expect to see it tossed around.

And I didn't say his schooling was bad in your quote from the archives, I reported the truth.

In fact, my comments in this thread noted:

Do you think a country that questions Romney's Mormon faith is not going to have some questions over Barrack Hussein Obama's name and Moslem background? Of course they do and will.

Tell me oh great master of smear. What is it about the above you do not understand?? But our belief that it shouldn't be of concern doesn't change facts. 2 + 2 = 4. And yelling it equals 5 only proves that you know nothing about people. Doing so is naive to the Nth degree.

Demographics?? That is an accurate fact. The immigration of Moslems into Europe is real. It won't go away. Do you think NOT acknowledging facts will make them go away? How drool. How..just unknowing that is. I think your problem is you know the facts re demographics, but you don't want them reported.

Here's some more.

For example, figures for Sweden show a Moslem population growth from 30,000 in 1980 to 480,000 in 2006. If the growth continues at that rate then by 2047 the Moslem population will be 30,700,000.
At some point Sweden will no longer be Sweden as we think of it today. Perhaps the best we can expect it to be is a democracy based on the model of Egypt or Pakistan.

And yes, it is a problem.

Muslims are only 4 percent of Denmark's 5.4 million people but make up a majority of the country's convicted rapists, an especially combustible issue given that practically all the female victims are non-Muslim. Similar, if lesser, disproportions are found in other crimes.

What people do speak loudly. Listen to this from the NY Times International.

Leave this stable and prosperous corner of Europe?
The answer, increasingly, is yes. This small nation is a magnet for immigrants, but statistics suggest there is a quickening flight of the white middle class. Dutch people pulling up roots said they felt a general pessimism about their small and crowded country and about the social tensions that had grown along with the waves of newcomers, most of them Muslims."The Dutch are living in a kind of pressure cooker atmosphere," Mr. Hiltemann said.
There is more than the concern about the rising complications of absorbing newcomers, now one-tenth of the population, many of them from largely Muslim countries.

Yes, squeaky. The influx is causing problems. Problems that some of us think should not happen.
But then we are social liberals who believe in women's rights and that honor killings are wrong. But they happen in Europe in increasing numbers.

Life was just starting to look up for 23-year-old Hatun Surucu when the bullets cut her down.
After four years of grueling courses in vocational school, coupled with the demands of single motherhood, she was only weeks away from receiving certification as an electrician, a trade that would give her the independence she desperately craved.
It had been a rough road: Eight years earlier, her parents, Turkish immigrants, had yanked Surucu from eighth grade, bundled her off to Istanbul, and forced her to marry an older cousin.

Boston Globe

Again I note that we have several issues here. The first is that a radical brand of Islamic faith has determined that it can conquer the world and make it a theocracy. Yes, squeak. We are engaged in a very old war.

That you don't know it speaks poorly of your knowledge of the world.


More Misinformation (5.00 / 0) (#17)
by squeaky on Mon Dec 24, 2007 at 02:25:31 PM EST

From smear king ppj:

Obama has no muslim background. Your innuendo and spreading of misinformation is pathetic.

You reported a lie and misinformation from the GOP smear machine and then added your own none too clever innuendo:

As to whether or not the teachings were radical, we do not know.
What we do know is that he attended the schoool and attended religious training classess.

And this outright lie:

So why all the concern about muslim names and Obama's schooling? And why all the bedwetting about Muslim population growth if it is only radical muslims that worry you.

Sorry ppj you are not fooling anyone here, no one is buying your message of hate and fear.


: Squeky still can't face facts. (1.00 / 0) (#19)
by jimakaPPJ on Mon Dec 24, 2007 at 11:13:25 PM EST

Hehehe
I pointed out that "you" and I do not consider this a problem, yet you continue with your ignorant attacks.
In many people's minds the fact that his father was Moslem and he spent two years in a Moslem school gives him a Moslem background. His name doesn't help.
Sorry if facts bother you, but they are what they are.
You calling me a liar is instructive of who you are, what you are. You smear squeaky. You don't have the ability to do anything but stamp your foot and claim things that even you know are not true.
Please keep doing it. It makes my points so very easy to make.

Population Reduction Methods (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by squeaky on Mon Dec 24, 2007 at 02:44:09 PM EST

Yes, squeaky. The influx is causing problems. Problems that some of us think should not happen.

History repeating itself with a little help from ppj? :

The picture showing the expulsion of Jewish students and teachers from German schools depicts what was required by the law of 1933 according to which, Jewish civil servants, such as teachers, had to be pensioned off and the numberof Jewish students in a school limited to 1.5%. The last illustration points to the intended Nazi solution of the Jewish problem: the expulsion of all Jews from Germany. The sign, followed by a long line of Jewish figures from previous illustrations, reads "one-way street, hurry, hurry" and as a justification for this measure taken against the Jewish population, the second line reads "The Jews are our misfortune." The word "hurry" and the sentence "The Jews are our misfortune." appear in red, thereby stressing the grave danger that Jews pose to the well being of German society and the urgency with which they must be removed from Germany.
link

Hmmmm (none / 0) (#20)
by jimakaPPJ on Mon Dec 24, 2007 at 11:40:30 PM EST

I didn't know that the Jews had killed German movie directors, attacked German airports, and routinely murdered their own children. They also didn't fly airplanes into buildings, riot over cartoons of God and/or Moses and never hung gays and shot women for the crime of being accused of adultery. Nor did they hand women who had been raped, blow themselves in cafes and wedding parties. They also didn't behead reporters, kill priests and nuns by burning them.

I could go on but I think, even you should get the point.


No (5.00 / 0) (#22)
by squeaky on Tue Dec 25, 2007 at 12:36:25 AM EST

According to the average nazi they were evil and their damage to society was greater than any terrorist could do. Western Civilization (aryan nation) was at stake, which is exactly your claim.


Evidently you know more (1.00 / 0) (#23)
by jimakaPPJ on Tue Dec 25, 2007 at 02:34:28 PM EST

nazis than I.

Why is that??

BTW - Western civilization = aryan nation?

Tell us why we destroyed the nazis???


Nice Diversion (5.00 / 0) (#24)
by squeaky on Tue Dec 25, 2007 at 03:31:46 PM EST

Your brand of anti-muslim and anti-mexican rhetoric is no different from the average nazi's rhetoric toward Jews and Gypsies. And no I do not have to know any nazi's to understand this fact because their rhetoric is as well documented as is yours.


Diversion? (none / 0) (#25)
by jimakaPPJ on Tue Dec 25, 2007 at 08:51:33 PM EST

Look, if if you didn't want to talk about Nazis, why did you bring the subject up at:

by squeaky on Mon Dec 24, 2007 at 01:44:09 PM CST

I mean you did, and then I listed a whole list of things that the Jews had NOT done.

I think that's fair because you want to compare them to the radical Moslems in the midst of millions of Moslems who have went to Europe over the past 20 years.

Of course when you realizes you had again demonstrated your lack of historical knowledge and just plain screwiness in your comparison you jump into denial...

And no I do not have to know any nazi's

Of course you don't. Everyone knows that. You told us:

You see squeak, you don't have any proof. I do. Both on your SOP and the difference between the two groups.

tehe


Your Drivel (none / 0) (#26)
by squeaky on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 12:55:53 PM EST

Is very thin as usual.


: Slinking off to your lair? (none / 0) (#27)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Dec 27, 2007 at 09:01:48 AM EST

and that should be (1.00 / 0) (#21)
by jimakaPPJ on Mon Dec 24, 2007 at 11:45:08 PM EST

hang women who had been raped and blow themselves up..


Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out (none / 0) (#7)
by Aaron on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 06:00:39 AM EST

If we are to ever come to grips with the ugliness and prejudice that still eats away at the heart of this country like a cancer, the petty small minded prejudices and racism, the incessant human reliance upon scapegoats, that the Republican Party of today has elevated to the level of an art form in order to maintain their support, it must be Obama.

Yes America, we needs to see ourselves in all our glorious shame and perverted morality, it is the only path to redemption, there is no avoiding it. Sooner or later we will have to face ourselves in the mirror, and Barack Obama is the perfect reflection of who we are, who we will be, and what many of us, especially those of the older conservative generation, most fear. That is to look at ourselves and be unable to draw clearly discernible lines between Black and White, Muslim and Christian, wealthy and poor, high and low born. What better person to make us face these things then a leader of mixed racial, ethnic and religious heritage.

What we see in these little episodes with Carlson and Matthews is just a taste of what is coming, should Obama get Democratic nomination. We'll have the opportunity to find out what this country is really made of, for his candidacy will put us all to the test. And through it we may yet learn once and for all if this country is capable of living out the true meaning of its creed, or whether they are nothing more than words on a page, which in the end will amount to little more than a piece of the historical record of yet another civilization that rose and fell, ultimately failing to reach that higher plane which those who created this nation once reached for. No better time than the present to find out whether this Democratic Republic has got what it takes to survive, whether we are worthy of survival.

"Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out, yes, let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out" (I Claudius ep.13).

As for Media Matters (none / 0) (#10)
by Wile ECoyote on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 09:59:53 AM EST

"Heavy lifting":

the Connection between Media matters and Hillary.

A youtube of Hillary at YearlyKos claiming she helped start Media Matters.

More on the connection between Hillary and Media Matters, and the Center for American Progress, Which she also claimed to have helped start.

Money Quote:

It is very good to know for sure that Hillary started Media Matters. That tidbit of information is significant in that it aligns Media Matters not only with the Democratic party, but with an actual Democratic Senator. Unfortunately for conservative bashing liberals, being a mouthpiece/proponent for a political party negates Media Matters 501(c)(3) status and probably opens up the organization to some new found IRS scrutiny.