Legitimizing The Lie

I embedded this great new Robert Greenwald video a few days ago about how Faux News “spreads the virus” against Barack Obama to the Associated Press, Washington Post, New York Times, and other media outlets.

Well, I came across an example here of “spreading another virus,” and that is the notion that, somehow, a White House win for the Democrats would provide aid and comfort to the terrorists, or something.

Here is how Libby Quaid of the AP reported the story…

Republican John McCain said he worries that terrorists might try to influence the November general election with increased attacks in Iraq.

"Yes, I worry about it," he said Friday, responding to a question at a town hall-style forum. "And I know they pay attention, because of the intercepts we have of their communications."

The questioner asked if McCain feared al-Qaida in Iraq or another group might attack in an effort to aid the Democratic nominee, because Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama both favor a withdrawal of U.S. forces.

So we have reporting on a question posed to McCain about the presidential election (a stupid question I think, but a question all the same).

And without any additional context provided, namely the fact that there’s no reliable way to determine how those attacking our military would be inclined to view the election.

And if you don’t want to believe me, fine. Believe that noted political sage and impartial observer Flush Limbore here…

Which way will they go? Which way will the terrorists vote? More attacks or a timeout? More threats or fake piece overtures? So, we have two questions: Who are they rooting for and what will they do about it? Sadly, I haven't seen the latest Zogby poll that has polled the terrorists or the jihadists or Al Qaeda on their preference. There is no Ali Abdullah Morris; there is no Yasser Pew, and there is no Ali Zogby or Hakim Rasmussen that I have seen.

But of course, the lack of any kind of measurable data that is somewhat reliable never stopped Flush from issuing his prognostications which I would guess (I myself don’t have data on this either) are usually wrong.

And so he tells us (from October 2006, just before the mid-term elections, conveniently enough)…

The insurgents have made up their minds and they are voting. They are trying to create as much havoc as possible, raise the level of violence in order to affect the midterm elections. Sounds to me like they're voting Democrat. Sounds like the terrorists around the world, and particularly, those in Iraq, are voting Democrat today, because they think an increased level of violence and death will cause you -- I'm not talking about you cut-and-run conservatives because you're not voting, but those of you who are going to vote -- you're going to vote against the Republicans because you're going to blame the Republicans for the increased insurgency and death and destruction in Iraq.

So, it's obvious now what they want and we no longer have to guess -- drive-by media has told us: Terrorists have voted Democrat. The early voting's begun; they're voting Democrat plain as day.

Here we have an example of how the notion that voting for a Democrat means that somehow you’re aiding the terrorists becomes “conventional wisdom”; you have Limbore broadcasting it nearly a year and a half ago with many knowledgeable people (including yours truly) laughing at him (using the “Democrat” slur as much as he can), then it is repeated over time in one form or another, and now, we have a questioner parroting it back to McCain who is only too happy to take this “softball” and “hit it out of the park,” with no context provided by the reporter.

Well, the good news is that, in 2006, the majority of voters did not take Flush seriously and elected the Democrats take over Congress. However, the “vote for Dems and the terrorists win” lie hadn’t seeped far enough into what passes for journalism by our media, still waay too obsessed with “the horserace” to call this stuff for what it is.

So let’s keep it that way by calling it out for the guttural garbage that it is every chance we get.