[Jim Robinson]

"Since the Internet will only expand as a source of information, a key question facing democracy is this: How can the Web's enormous advantages be reconciled with a greater sense of accountability?"

Yes, Cokie, I see your point. We private citizens should just sit down and shut up and let the truth telling professionals of the left stream media decide what's fit to print.

By the way, Free Republic is not a newspaper. We did not write the story in question, nor did we "pick it up," or vouch for its accuracy. We are a noncommercial discussion forum open to the general public. Apparently, the story in question was a press release that a member of the general public posted to FR in 1994 for discussion purposes. And it languished in the backwater archives of FR until some dimwitted, but sharp-eyed left stream reporter "discovered" it via google. Doubt it had any influence on the raging Barak Hussein Obama was born a Muslim rumor whatsoever.

However, as it turns out, our young Barak Hussein really was born to a Muslim and raised in his early years as a Muslim. It's in all the papers. Must be true.

[ccmay]

Without "media mediation," without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals, falsehoods can flourish.

Oh yes, the almighty truth-telling fact-checking mainstream media. I have two words for them. "Dan Rather".

-ccm

[Fichori]

LOL!

Some now very irrelevant yearnalist has his knickers in a knot!

[Harry Wurzbach]

Because the professional journalists do such a thorough job.

The Internet has exposed their fake, but accurate brand of reporting. And now we are documenting your bias in the campaign for your Metrosexual Messiah.

You people are scum and are staring down the end of your house of cards. You traitorous frauds.

[ItsForTheChildren]

Without "media mediation," without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals...

My, they think highly of themselves. What absolute BS.

[STARWISE]

Good one, Jim. God bless you.

Cokie used to at least exhibit
a semblance of reason and sense.

Wonder how she feels, as a Roman
Catholic, whose own mother was U.S.
Ambassador to the Vatican, about
Obama’s determination to legislate
the medical neglect, unto death, of
those innocent babes who miraculously
survive an abortion.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Now I’m really confused. I read a liberal piece the other day that said Obama’s father was an Arab. Does anyone REALLY know who the hell Obama is? Or what his middle name really is? I guess I’ll just start calling him “The Mystery Man.”

[nothingnew]

...a key question facing democracy is this: How can the Web's enormous advantages be reconciled with a greater sense of accountability?"

The audacity of these people grows exponentially every hour.

Hope you're doing well Jim.

FMCDH(BITS)

[wardaddy]

How can the Web's enormous advantages be reconciled with a greater sense of accountability?"

we could ask the same of the mainstream media whom without Obama would still be a state senator from the hood.

out here on the internet, the info media is more often than not pretty open about the political posture whether us or even the kossacks

the blind arrogance of these pompous arses is insulting....and Cokie is a pox on the fine state of Louisiana.

[rockinqsranch]

What’s this!? Cokie is using “In the tank for Obama” Danielle Allen, the “AA Genius” Professor of Princeton as a resource!?

This doesn’t speak well of Cokie’s journalistic discretion.

[berdie]

My goodness..how dare we challenge the all mighty, all knowing MSM. They are so darned reliable.

Sounds like Cokie is having a tiny tantrum.

[Old Professer]

“But there’s also a dark side to this horizontal system. Without “media mediation,” without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals, falsehoods can flourish.”

So She and steve (don’t you just love the intimacy?) now hold the gatekeys to the mysteries of spin in a world suddenly brought flat again at light speed times keyboard angst; how to hold these wild thoughts, some spewed, some measured out one dose at a time, all squeezing together in the millisecond of eternity between headline and epilogue - at bay until Cokey and steve tell us what it was that we couldn’t possibly have had time to read, let alone analyze.

Guess what, She has said it before, each time someone foolishly let her too close to a keyboard for the world’s own good, this child of privilege, this smiling southern spit of a sweet young thing clinging like the last peach after the first hard frost, it’s dewy softness turning overnight into mush, mewing sweetly in our ears one last time - look at meee!, please???

[AmericanGirlRising]

Thank you Jim! Thank you.

Mrs. Roberts is only mourning her prior days of relevance.

[missnry]

The "he's an Arab" smear reached so widely that the New York Times devoted a front-page story to its origins. Its conclusion: After the allegations first appeared in 2004, they were picked up by the conservative Web site FreeRepublic.com "and spread steadily as others elaborated on its claims over the years in e-mail messages, Web sites, and books."

Am I missing something? "After the allegations first appeared in 2004 ??? WHERE DID THEY FIRST APPEAR??

I like the way they try to demonize FreeRepublic. A forum where people discuss everything. Did the front-page story of the New York Times determine where the "rumor" originated or not?

BTW Did the New York Times locate Barack Hussein Obama's original birth certificate yet??

[petitfour]

Hey Cokie and Steve! Where’s your License????????

[caveat emptor]

without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals, falsehoods can flourish.

Ha ha ha. Who is "Cokie" Roberts?

[Allegra]

The media scum are complaining because they don't have complete control of what gets out to the public. They're incensed about this because according to their agenda, they and they alone should be the ones shaping public opinion.

Reading Cokie's incredibly arrogant and clueless remarks just strengthens my resolve to do my small part in overriding the media's BS whenever the opportunity arises.

Thank goodness for sites like FR where there are so many members knowledgeable in a wide variety of subject matter who can cut through the unmitigated trash we are fed by the major news outlets day in and day out.

[martin_fierro]

Without "media mediation," without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals, falsehoods can flourish.

Based on an amused spectator's list Send FReepmail if you want on/off MSP list
The List of Ping Lists

[fieldmarshaldj]

Cokie, you ignorant slut.

[hole_n_one]

From the 2004 post...........

"Fiction: Obama was given an 'African' name. Fact: Obama is a Muslim who has concealed his religion. I am a strong supporter of the Muslim community, and I believe Muslims have been scapegoated. Obama has a great opportunity to be forthright. Instead, he has treated his Muslim heritage as a dark secret. His grandfather was named 'Hussein.' That is an Arabic-Muslim, not African, name. Hussein was a devout Muslim and named his son, Barack Senior, 'Baraka.' Baraka is an Arabic word meaning 'blessed.' Baraka comes out of the Koran and Arabic, not Africa.

[babyfreep]

I think Cokie probably knows Dan Rather well. He can tell her how we operate. We may get some rumors here, but we always get to the bottom of all of it.

"It's scary how much power they do have. They can take down someone single-handedly and I don't think Americans are aware of that." - that dixie chick

Yes, we got it going on.