FAKE NEWS: TWO CASE STUDIES, History of Rathergate

Powerline ^ | 10.21.18 | Scott Johnson

[Thebaddog]

":The documents on which Rather based the second segment proved to be fabricated on Microsoft Word in the computer era, not typewritten in the early 1970s by Bush’s commanding officer or anyone else. The content and format of the documents also betrayed their fabrication. The story began to fall apart within a few hours of its broadcast. "

The initial investigation and expose originated online at FreeRepublic by a fellow with the handle Backhoe. He found the fraudulent basis of the document and proved it. I respectfully submit that the people took down Rather and a new era dawned. The power of the nets has steadily been eroding since then.

[BlessedBeGod]

The initial investigation and expose originated online at FreeRepublic by a fellow with the handle Backhoe.

It was Buckhead, wasn't it?

[T-Bird45]

Your memory is correct - Buckhead.

[Robert A Cook PE]

For your references on press prejudice.

Interesting that the Jewish Lawyers group specifically was told “fake news” is anti-Semitic. To their face by the center of the Fake News cabal of Washington Post - NY Times.

[Nateman]

That was a thread I read that day . I thought Buckhead was quite clever for discoving this fraud at the time

[Ben Hecks]

We had a Backhoe but you are correct, it was Buckhead and Tanker KC that were instrumental in exposing the fraud.

[PAR35]

Her theme was that the term “fake news” is anti-Semitic in origin

So she is saying that the Jews control the media? The Neo-Nazis were right after all?

[rockrr]

All three great FReepers, each in their own right.

[CodeToad]

I believe we were posting within minutes of Rather’s document release that it was a proportionally spaced font that didn’t exist when the document was supposedly typed.

It was immediately spotted.

[NonValueAdded]

I watched Rathergate unfold in real time here on FreeRepublic. TankerKC called it first and Buckhead nailed the coffin shut. What an eclectic gathering of minds! It was awesome, it was breathtaking.

[ntnychik]

Here’s a thread from that night. Buckhead comment at #47.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1210662/posts

[ntnychik]

Here’s Howlin’s archive of the FR threads that night.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1220090/posts

[lowbridge]

I’m pretty sure it was Backhoe.

Just ask Jim Thompson.

;-)

[cpdiii]

George W Bush was a qualified fighter pilot in the Texas Air National Guard. These fighter pilots all think they are the best damn fighter pilot in the world. They all want to fight.

Bush was not avoiding combat. He volunteered for Vietnam but was not called to go.

Dan Rather is pond scum and Mary Mapes is less than pond scum.

[Ben Hecks]

LOL! Scott Johnson seems to get his Freepers mixed up.

[NonValueAdded]

And here is a summary:

Bloggers Run Rings Around The Partisan, Lazy Old Media (see post 36)

[JimRed]

Bush was not avoiding combat. He volunteered for Vietnam but was not called to go.

The aircraft he piloted was a continental defense interceptor, not suited for Viet Nam type combat missions.