NOW BARBRA'S IN SHAKESPEARE HOAX; SINGER USED PHONY INTERNET QUOTES IN WAR CRY

"To be accurate, or not to be accurate: that is the question, Ms Streisand," William Shakespeare once wrote. "All the world's a stage."

Just days after a spelling error-ridden memo outlining Barbra Streisand's political views on the pending Iraq war is faxed to congressional leaders, the artist finds herself in another highly-embarrassing turn -- Streisand recited made-up Shakespeare lines before thousands at Sunday's National Democratic Gala in Hollywood, a DRUDGE REPORT investigation can reveal!

Streisand received a standing ovation before walking onstage at the Kodak Theater, plus repeated ovations during her performance of song and lecture.

"We have the facts on our side, the truth on our side," Streisand declared in an Alan and Marilyn Bergman-penned monologue, which include a rework of THE WAY WERE WERE.

"I find George Bush and Dick Cheney frightening," Streisand continued. "Donald Rumsfeld and John Ashcroft frightening... I find bringing the country to the brink of war unilaterally five weeks before an election questionable - and very, very frightening..."

Streisand told the crowd: "You know, really good artists have a way of being relevant in their time… but great artists are relevant at anytime. So, in the words of William Shakespeare, 'Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind…And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded with patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader, and gladly so.How do I know? For this is what I have done.And I am Caesar.'"

Streisand explained to the audience: "Imagine that was written over 400 years ago… It's amazing how history without consciousness is destined to repeat itself. So…from the words of William Shakespeare to the words of Irving Berlin…"

But on the morning after the night before, Streisand has been caught up in a Shakespeare internet hoax!

"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword..."

The passage may have fit the scene and storyline, but no record of this quote has been found prior to its appearance on the internet [in e-mails] last year, an investigation reveals!

The quote is NOT FOUND, IN ANY FORM, IN THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE, OXFORD EDITION, AT BARTLEBY.COM.

These words are not anything Julius Caesar ever wrote or said. No biographies of Caesar or histories of Rome contain these lines, and scholars draw a blank on this quote.

Shakespeare did not put this soliloquy into the mouth of the title character in his play Julius Caesar, nor did any of the Bard's other characters utter it.

----------------------------------------------------------- Filed By Matt Drudge Reports are moved when circumstances warrant http://www.drudgereport.com for updates (c)DRUDGE REPORT 2002 Not for reproduction without permission of the author

From Babs' website:

If...sometime within the last 7 days a falsehood has been written in print, spoken on radio, or aired on television about Ms. Streisand...the TRUTH ALERT will contain a statement made by Ms. Streisand and/or her representatives to correct that falsehood. Current falsehood corrections will appear in the section called "Truth Alert." After one week all "Truth Alerts" will be transferred to the Truth Archive. A daily visit to both will keep you up-to-date with these additions.

Barbra's Preamble to Truth Alert

TRUTH ALERT: MEMO LEAK BURIES THE TRUTH

It seems that when the Republicans don't like what you say, they attack you on the lowest and least pertinent level. At least, that was the way a Republican source leaked a private memo which had been sent by Barbra Streisand to House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt. The manner in which this memo was leaked obliterated the imperative message of the note by drawing attention only to the fact that a few words had been misspelled.

The story behind the misspelled words is explained here only because those spellings were used as a ruse to avoid addressing the real substance of the memo. The questions raised in that note are far more pertinent to the decisions Americans will be making this November. The memo was sent from one of her offices. It had been DICTATED BY HER ON THE PHONE as she was rehearsing her performance at the recent gala to raise funds for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Unfortunately, it was taken down and interpolated by a new employee who sent out a first draft before it had been reviewed or checked for spelling. On top of that, as Barbra Streisand ruefully recalls, "It was faxed to a wrong number.. my luck, a Republican."

THE IRONIC FURTHER TRUTH.. Hidden in this example of diverted news priorities is the fact that Barbra Streisand is a former spelling bee champion, meticulous in her written communications!

But read the memo (on home page of this website) and come to your own conclusion as to what aspect of it should have been brought to the attention of a nation facing one of the most crucial elections in its history.

The incident illustrates how the Democratic message of the failures of this Republican administration are repeatedly pushed aside in the media, pre-empted by silly side-issues. The real truth, the really important and relevant truth, is having a hard time getting through.

You are one "funny girl", Babs!

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