Posted on 03/07/2017 10:32:05 AM PST by SeekAndFind
In a report Monday morning, CNN’s Brian Stelter took a shot at conservative radio host Mark Levin’s “incendiary idea” that started this whole wiretapping brouhaha. In it, Stelter accused Levin of “cherry-picking” stories that supported his conclusion and ignoring evidence against it.
Here's my @CNN story about @marklevinshow's "incendiary idea" (a "silent coup") that prompted his open letter https://t.co/0HusCipjrh
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 6, 2017
What Stelter is referring to in the Tweet is Levin’s brutal counter-punch. In an open letter to Stelter published on Levin’s Facebook page, the radio host fired with both barrels (full text is included below, because it’s all great):
Did you listen to my show on Thursday, before President Trump tweeted? Did you watch my appearance on Fox and Friends Sunday morning? I know you are ticked I did not appear on your show, despite your numerous requests. Your ad hominem attacks about “right wing” radio host and conspiracy theory stuff … incredible.
I simply put together the stories that YOUR profession reported, on the public record. Do you deny there were two FISA applications? Do you deny the first was turned down? Do you deny the second was approved? It’s called the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. It is about surveillance. The fact that we cannot discern all the details because of the secrecy, except for what the media have revealed and selective leaks by the government, should cause you to want to know more, not to trash those who point it out.
And yes, we can make several logical implications based on events and experience. A FISA application is a big deal. One, or two in this case, that involve campaign surrogates, or a server or computer related to a candidate or campaign, etc., is a big deal. President Obama’s statement is not a definitive statement of anything, other than he, personally, did not order a wiretap, which I never claimed. But that does not mean he was unaware of surveillance activity by several of his departments, even through routine reports to the president, such as the Daily Intel Briefing or information conveyed to him or his staff via the Justice Department re the FBI counter-intelligence activities. As for Clapper, despite his past dissembling before Congress, he may not have been aware of what was taking place since the FBI counter-intel operation reportedly sought the warrant. The Daily Intel Briefing might provide useful information in that regard as well.
Of course, the release of the FISA applications would also shed a lot of light on events, assuming YOU believe reports that they were filed.
Furthermore, Clapper has said, as recently as yesterday, that no connections between the Russians and the Trump campaign have been found. I am extremely critical of Russia, Putin, and the efforts to influence our election, although I do not believe they succeeded. That said, how would Clapper know of no connections if he, as former Director of National Intelligence, didn’t look? On what is that based?
Your lack of curiosity and dishonesty about such matters and in dealing with me demean you and your profession. You are free to circulate this communication to whomever you wish, as I am making it public.
Stelter responded to Levin’s missive via several Tweets, including the first one below which was a response to Jake Tapper’s tweet that said, “independent sources” means YOUR OWN SOURCES not those of NYT, Heat St etc.” Stelter called that “Journalism 101.”
Journalism 101. https://t.co/QfHSxSUqTX
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 6, 2017
Brian got pwned.
Truth beats lies.
Who knew?
awww, for an instant I thought the headline meant Levin had physically punched out Stelter, which would have been delicious.....
Welcome back to the fold, Mark.
When libtards like Stelter can’t answer evidence and arguments they just keep shifting ground, spinning and spinning, hoping people forget that they have nothing intelligent to say on the original topic.
Remember the dopey woman who said non CNN that she does not know what the republican was talking about when he pointed out obama saying after this election he would have more flexibility.
I don’t watch much tv, but I’ve heard of Stelter. I looked up Stelter’s age. He’s only 31. Don’t you think that’s too young for a cable news tv host?
About time!!!! We are fighting for the future of our Republic! It is now or never. Our children will be enslaved and there will be no freedom for any Christian on earth, if we don’t win. That worldview (the one which created the Age of Reason and the US Constitution) will be wiped off the minds of all the children, back to Neo-Feudalist, tribal (group-think) mindsets, which will be completely controlled (programmed) from cradle to grave with no biologically-known mother and father. They are out to destroy the Natural family so they can have total mind control over all the children (dehumanize them with screens and programming (Common Core))—to prevent Common Sense and the understanding of Natural Law Theory—which created the Renaissance and Modern Science and the Constitution and ended slavery in the West.
Things like this keep bringing up a question to me. How does people like Seltzer get the job he has. These are jobs with multi-millions in compensation, status, etc. One would think that they would be surrounded by sharp knives looking to replace him and such stupidities as he is spouting is accepted.
Fakes News is fake down to its toes. Ignore the relevant, push the perverted and anti-Americanism.
Obama ordered surveillance of Fox News’s James Rosen and his parents! — with no legal authority that I know of. He bugged Sharyl Atkisson (then of CBS.) He secretly subpoenaed the phone records of several Associated Press reporters.
He illegally used the IRS to punish political opponents.
He illegally used an executive order to give amnesty to “Dreamers” — a power even he admitted he didn’t have.
He and Eric Holder intervened ion the ongoing case against the New Black panthers to end the prosecution — after the Bush Administration had essentially gotten them convicted. (And they ran guns to the Mexican gun cartels.)
So why wouldn’t he wiretap Trump, with or without a warrant?
But that’s not even the primary issue. I don’t care if it’s President Bush, President Obama, President Trump, the next president, or the one after that. NO President should have such powers. We need to repeal the Patriot Act and the FISA act, which are the sources of this power.
That is not to minimize what Obama apparently did. But we need to pull this up by the roots rather than focusing completely on just one individual president.
RE: Welcome back to the fold, Mark.
If by “back to the fold”, you mean being an unabashed Trump supporter.... NAH. The man looks at issues on a case by case basis.
In his radio show, he supports Trump’s wall but opposes Trump’s trade tariffs.
Be back bump
They aren’t journalists, or even really hosts...they’re just actors and actresses paid to deliver the propaganda...nothing more.
This.
Good post, dittoes.
DACA has to be ended.
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.