I doubt that anyone who isn't tuned into some kind of conservative TV, radio show or website has a clue what the truth in this matter is. I have family members who get their news solely from the local newspaper (a liberal rag) and the ABC Nightly News. Often, the read/hear a report that is unjustly anti-conservative and they believe it. I try to set them straight, but often the response is, "If it's in the newspaper and on TV, it must be true." They claim I get my information from propoganda on conservative websites.
This "phony soldier" thing hasn't really made it to the MSM in a big way which surprises me.
My greatest fear comes directly from observations of things like "Jay Walking" on Jay Leno's "Tonight Show," and even from conversations with my own family members... For example, a conversation last night went like this... Me: "Have you heard about what's going on with Rush Limbaugh?" My Aunt: "Rush Limbaugh is such a jerk!" "In what way?" "I don't know." "Well, what did he say that makes him a jerk?" "I don't know, I've never listened to him, but he's a jerk!" "How do you know that he's a jerk?" "Because of the things he says!" "What things has he said that makes him a jerk?" "How do I know?" "Then why do you think he's a jerk if you've never heard anything he's said?" "I don't know... He just is."
She's also declared that she's voting for Hillary, because she's a woman. I asked her if it would be right for someone to say that they'd never vote for Hillary becuause she's a woman? She said "that would be wrong." So I asked her what the difference was between voting for someone because she's a woman, vs voting against someone because she's a woman? She doesn't care: She's voting for a woman. That's all the reason she wants or needs. Even when I roll through some of Hillary's positions, and she's appalled by her stands, she finishes with, "I don't believe any of it. I'm voting for Hillary."
This is an example of someone who hasn't missed a vote since she turned 21 (back then, that was the minimum voting age... She's 84 now.)
Mark