Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Fake but Accurate Again?
Weekly Standard ^ | 3/28/05 | John Hinderaker

Posted on 03/28/2005 3:28:45 AM PST by advance_copy

MUCH TIME MAY PASS before we fully understand the political ramifications of the Terri Schiavo case. For now, though, it seems that Republicans are taking a fearful beating. Opinion polls consistently show that a large majority of Americans disapproved of the effort--bipartisan, to be sure, but led by Republicans--to keep Mrs. Schiavo alive. To add insult to injury, most poll respondents hold the seemingly-inconsistent belief that the Republicans are not sincere, but are trying to capitalize on the Schiavo tragedy for political advantage.

One reason for this perception may be the "GOP talking points memo" that was allegedly distributed on March 17, when the Senate took up the bill that conferred federal jurisdiction over a last effort to save Mrs. Schiavo. The memo was first reported by ABC's Linda Douglass on Friday, March 18. The next day, on ABC's Good Morning America, Kate Snow confronted House Majority Leader Tom DeLay with "some talking points that Senate Republicans were circulating"; DeLay denied any knowledge of the memo.

[snip]

But, as was quickly pointed out by bloggers, these political observations are not "talking points" at all. These are comments on political strategy which would be out of place in argument on the Senate floor, or in a media interview. The plot grew thicker when it was pointed out that the bulk of the memo--paragraphs five through eight--was lifted word-for-word from the website of the Traditional Values Coalition. So it is evident that whoever wrote the memo spent no time formulating arguments in favor of the Republican leadership's position; the memo's legitimate talking points were merely cut and pasted off the internet. The anonymous author's contribution was simply to add the explosive (and, in context, inappropriate) political observations.

(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: falsememo; gopmemo; msmfraud; propagandawingofdnc; schiavo; traditionalvalues; tvc; valuescoalition
So far, mainstream news sources have not even acknowledged that the source of the memo is in doubt, let alone set forth the compelling arguments suggesting that, in fact, it might be a political dirty trick.

Weekly Standard blasts MSM for using "questionable documents" once again.
1 posted on 03/28/2005 3:28:45 AM PST by advance_copy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: advance_copy
We have to understand where these attacks are coming from.

The Old Dominate Liberal Media well do every thing it is power to undermine the republicans.

2 posted on 03/28/2005 3:33:10 AM PST by riverrunner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: advance_copy

The MSM always did lie and do things like use phony documents, it's just now the New Media can get the word out that they are doing so.


3 posted on 03/28/2005 3:34:56 AM PST by AmericaUnited (Opponent of WPPFF (Wicked People Pulling Feeding Facilities))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: advance_copy
...most poll respondents hold the seemingly-inconsistent belief that the Republicans are not sincere, but are trying to capitalize on the Schiavo tragedy for political advantage.

Ptroving, once again, the democrat mindset - because that's what democrats do.
4 posted on 03/28/2005 4:26:52 AM PST by DustyMoment (Repeal CFR NOW!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: advance_copy

I bet the Rats' memos on this case were read, memorized, then eaten just to make sure they didn't get out. 'Cept for Nancy Pelosi, who might possibly be Death in street clothes; she don't need no stinkin' memo.


5 posted on 03/28/2005 4:33:30 AM PST by AmericanChef
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: advance_copy

IMHO, the reason the public thinks the republicans were using the issue for political reasons......lies at the feet of Sean, Rush, and other right wing talk show hosts who exploited this issue for all it was worth.


6 posted on 03/28/2005 4:33:43 AM PST by OldFriend ("If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child might have peace." Thomas Paine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: advance_copy
Those who want Terri to die? are stuck in the usual emotional entanglements of the left and the normal circular logic. The simple statement is "I would not want to live like that". It is not based on fact but feelings.

Sadly none of them are truly saying with glee that she must die and backing up their "convictions." That is why one sees so much silence from the leaders of the left. Its almost shocking that a woman who wants to be President is silent on such a critical issue. This way if it turns out that the courts were wrong about Terri she can say she was for Terri also.

One thing that bothers me about this is the left wants all this embryonic stem cell research.....what if their is a cure for someone like Terri based on the research. How will they rectify the mixed decisions.

I seriously feel the left is in huge trouble in this country and has been for some time. All they have left is if the GOP is for one thing we must do the opposite with no thought or foresight.
7 posted on 03/28/2005 4:35:36 AM PST by alisasny (We get 4 more years, you get OBAMA...: ))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: advance_copy
Opinion polls consistently show that a large majority of Americans disapproved of the effort...
I'll correct their statement...
Opinion polls consistently show that a large majority of Americans taking these polls disapproved of the effort...
There is no way that "a large majority of Americans" could ever be represented by opinion polls. Consider the polls that have been FReeped to swing the results. Anyone that believes it couldn't have been done in those polls is mentally deficient!
Simply hyperbole!
8 posted on 03/28/2005 4:53:43 AM PST by philman_36
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: advance_copy; riverrunner; AmericaUnited

Since I do not watch the MSM I checked the bio on Kate Snow. Beautiful airhead info babe from CNN. Like Rathergate we should not let them get away with this fraud. I hope Rush, Sean, Freepers, et al hammer away.

Here is the link to ABC News.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=158076

My hastily composed email:

Regarding Terri Schiavo, The Weekly Standard reports that "Kate Snow confronted House Majority Leader Tom DeLay with "some talking points that Senate Republicans were circulating"; DeLay denied any knowledge of the memo".

So just where did it come from other than a Democrat? Since it was widely circulated it was not confidential and thus your source needs no protection.

Without sourcing the memo you are setting up your news division for a CBS fall. Fake but accurate right?


9 posted on 03/28/2005 4:56:25 AM PST by Jacquerie (Democrats soil the institutions they control)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: advance_copy

Heard that apostate Rev. Wallis ? on Meet the Press allude
to these Blather memo's supposedly giving the talking points for the Schiavo case. IF he ever said anything was
Biblical I would have to see it confirmed by Scripture and
affirmed by at least two independent commentaries. Dr.Land, and Sen. Lieberman were impressive,and seemed to
dominate the program.


10 posted on 03/28/2005 5:00:49 AM PST by StonyBurk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: advance_copy

How much of this happened on "small stories"? We are only now catching the MSM, how much lying was done to facilitate the left in the past that has gone unchallenged?


11 posted on 03/28/2005 7:43:22 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StonyBurk

Wallis looks creepy. I know it is just looks but for some reason he looks like some sort of movie bad guy pervert.


12 posted on 03/28/2005 7:47:51 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: advance_copy

Most of the members of the MSM get the Democrats talking point memos everyday, but yet don't reveal what those say to us, except for maybe the plagerized words that soon appear in their stories.


13 posted on 03/28/2005 7:51:40 AM PST by Always Right
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: longtermmemmory

looks I can usually deal with- but having listened to some
of the stuff this guy believes --he made no more sense than
the Jesuit who kept insisting we need to get rid of the guns-and need to take care of the poor. The poor we will always have with us-and taking care of them is ok but ought not be th eonly focus of any church.Those who say we
need get rid of the guns ignore the real problem is with the heart not with the tools used in violent acts.


14 posted on 03/28/2005 2:07:55 PM PST by StonyBurk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: advance_copy

bttt


15 posted on 03/28/2005 3:28:20 PM PST by swilhelm73 (Appeasers believe that if you keep on throwing steaks to a tiger, the tiger will become a vegetarian)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson