E-trash as journalism

[Lanya]

Pssst. Pass It On

by digby


It doesn't matter if it's true or not. It's "out there":

    Foes Use Obama's Muslim Ties to Fuel Rumors About Him

    In his speeches and often on the Internet, the part of Sen. Barack Obama's biography that gets the most attention is not his race but his connections to the Muslim world.

    Since declaring his candidacy for president in February, Obama, a member of a congregation of the United Church of Christ in Chicago, has had to address assertions that he is a Muslim or that he had received training in Islam in Indonesia, where he lived from ages 6 to 10. While his father was an atheist and his mother did not practice religion, Obama's stepfather did occasionally attend services at a mosque there.

    Despite his denials, rumors and e-mails circulating on the Internet continue to allege that Obama (D-Ill.) is a Muslim, a "Muslim plant" in a conspiracy against America, and that, if elected president, he would take the oath of office using a Koran, rather than a Bible, as did Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the only Muslim in Congress, when he was sworn in earlier this year.



No, those aren't the opening paragraphs of a Townhall hit piece. That's the Washington Post recycling anonymous wingnut email trash and calling it "rumors." I guess we should be grateful that the paper allowed Obama to "dispute" and "deny" the "charge" but considering that he isn't a Muslim, it might have been a teensy bit more responsible if they'd simply written that it's a lie and let it go at that. Instead, it blandly suggests this will hurt him more than the Romney since the polls show that even more people won't vote for a Muslim than a Mormon --- failing to note that while Romney is actually a Mormon and thus could be expected to suffer from these prejudices more than someone who isn't actually a Muslim!

According to the Washington Post "Republicans say Barack Obama is a Muslim and Obama says he isn't" is a legitimate story. Modern campaign journalism in all its glory.

http://www.digbysblog.blogspot.com

[BT]

I'm surprised some quarters aren't makinmg a big deal about his attending the United Chirch of Christ.

Wasn't there something about his preacher being anti-gay?

[sirs]

Pssst. Pass It On  by digby  It doesn't matter if it's true or not. It's "out there"

Kinda like what was aimed at Clararence Thomas, during his confirmation process. 

[Lanya]

Sirs, I can't see how this is in any way like the Thomas deal.

His accuser was known, named, shown, and questioned by senators on TV.  It wasn't a "pssst" sort of thing, where there's no known origin of a rumor.  This was someone who said, "Hey, he did this and that and the other."  No psst involved.

[sirs]

Actually Lanya, the part I was referring to, that equates with the Thomas confirmation was the "it doesn't matter if it's true or not....." tact to trashing.  The accusation should have been enough to derail his nomination in many people's eyes.  Probably the single best thing Bush Sr. ever did in office, was in facilitating the passing of Justice Thomas' nomination, despite the slime & garbage being thrown at him from your side of the aisle

[Xavier_Onassis]

Probably the single best thing Bush Sr. ever did in office, was in facilitating the passing of Justice Thomas' nomination,
============================================================================
Surely you jest. Thomas is the most lackluster Justice on the Court. He writes fewer opinions, and rubberstamps everything that Scalia passes down to him. After decades, he writes a book about how he STILL has his undies in a knot about his confirmation.

There were hundreds of Black people more qualified than this turkey. Maybe thousands.

The main reason for Juniorbush seems to be the remind us that despite the fact that Olebusg was an asshole, ever worse assholes were possible. It's like if James Buchanan had had a son.

[Amianthus]

He writes fewer opinions, and rubberstamps everything that Scalia passes down to him.

Neither of these are true.

[Xavier_Onassis]

Who writes fewer opinions than Thomas?

Which issues has Thomas differed from Scalia on?

What sort of dolt writes entire books about how utterly painful it was to get the cushiest job in American government for life?

Really, the guy's a hack. And not a good one.

[Amianthus]

Who writes fewer opinions than Thomas?

Which issues has Thomas differed from Scalia on?

Your comment. I would think you would be willing to support it. Feel free to show us, in cold hard numbers, how your claim is true.

[Xavier_Onassis]

As I said, he has voted with Scalia on at least 90% of the issues. This has been reported in the papers over and over and over again.

He writes less than any other justice on the court. This was mentioned in Harpers, thr Artlantic, and Newsweek. I have no way of throwing him out, so I don't keep a scrapbook. I won't believe your allegation that this is untrue unless you show me.

Just read any news magazine any timew he is mentioned. I am not making this up.

[Amianthus]

I won't believe your allegation that this is untrue unless you show me.

Ah, you don't have to prove what you say, but I have to prove that you're wrong?

Must be nice to consider yourself omniscient.

Anyway, according to Cornell University Law School's records of Supreme Court decisions (available online at http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/justices/histBio.html) you can see that he's written more decisions than O'Connor in several of the years that I checked. I haven't done a thorough search, but considering I came up with several on the FIRST other justice I compared him against, I would say that it's highly unlikely that you're correct.

And after looking at only four cases, I found one - Virginia vs. Black - where he did not agree with Scalia. This equates to a percentage of 75 versus your claim of 90%. So, again, I find your claim that he just "rubber stamps" everything that Scalia says to be highly unlikely as well.

So, are you gonna come up with the cold, hard numbers (and a few links) to back your claim or not?