Claims about Palin and Africa Found to be Faked

[Marie Louise von Preussen]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2...ny-think-tank/

A Fake Expert and Phony Think Tank
By The New York Times
Eitan Gorlin as the phony McCain adviser Martin Eisenstadt.

The Times’s Richard Pérez-Peña writes:

It was among the juicier post-election recriminations: Fox News Channel quoted an unnamed McCain campaign figure as saying that Sarah Palin did not know that Africa was a continent.

Who would say such a thing? On Monday the answer popped up on a blog and popped out of the mouth of David Shuster, an MSNBC anchor. “Turns out it was Martin Eisenstadt, a McCain policy adviser, who has come forward today to identify himself as the source of the leaks,” Mr. Shuster said.

Trouble is, Martin Eisenstadt doesn’t exist. His blog does, but it’s a put-on. The think tank where he is a senior fellow — the Harding Institute for Freedom and Democracy — is just a Web site. The TV clips of him on YouTube are fakes.

What's really bad is that I've seen many here quote this and other pieces of fiction as credible fact against the candidates, including Sarah Palin, as if they really believed it. I wonder how much power in the so called "information age" the media and other vehicles have of faking and spreading misinformation down to absurd levels; I mean, right now thousands must believe Palin indeed doesn't know what Africa is!

While I do not question her lack of experience with issues, which was indeed proven during the debates, it is worring to know how some aspects were inflated and taken out of proportion based on lies and falsehood. If you think we can tolerate this solely on the notion that "falsehood from the media is old and natural" then there would be no reason to support a scrutiny on the sources and information they shove down on us every day up to the point that the "media" becomes a systematic and unethical fake of gargantuan proportions.

If indeed there is no hope for Fox News or the likes, at least the individual should keep scrutiny of what he reads before posting it merely due to a favourable partisan stance. Otherwise, I would never like to be seen as someone who spreads, and believes in, partisan lies for the sake of bashing a candidate I would not vote for.

[Rush Limbaugh]

I told you so

[Mithie]

I told you so

You also told us Fox News was the fairest and most balanced news network of them all, Rush.

[Mikelus Trento]

You also told us Fox News was the fairest and most balanced news network of them all, Rush.

And that Hillary and McCain would win. And that women didn't have brains.

Even a broken clock tells the time right twice a day.

[Gen.jamesWolfe]

I told you so

that was from SHOX* News (the screw up), which IIRC you are a big supporter of.

well, this is a very indicative story on the level of "hyping" news channels (especially SHOX news) have now reached. Had they properly investigated, we wouldn't have this article talking about this messup.

*refers to their reporting style...

[André Masséna]

Hmmm, smear tactics and idiots who buy into it.

Who'da thunk it?

[Admiral Nelson]

I haven't had time to read the full article, but is this fake advisor, Martin Eisenstadt, the original Fox source? Or is this guy just taking the credit for a statement that he didn't make?

[ZaPPPa]

He's taking credit. Don't worry, Palin is still the most ignorant VP candidate in U.S. history.

[Dunecat]

Wait, so because this guy falsely took credit for the accusations, the accusations are all now false? FOX did not say this was their source- this jackass just appeared and started shouting his name.

You all fail, I will wait for further information.

[danzig]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

Interesting, this isnt the first time this "source" has been used. I think some people are missing the issue here that the media has so easily been fooled that what else can it be fooled into reporting? Instead people want to discuss Fox news and parrot the same crap over and over. I consider this disturbing for the media as a whole that it simply doesnt bother to verify what it reports.

[morteduzionism]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

Interesting, this isnt the first time this "source" has been used. I think some people are missing the issue here that the media has so easily been fooled that what else can it be fooled into reporting? Instead people want to discuss Fox news and parrot the same crap over and over. I consider this disturbing for the media as a whole that it simply doesnt bother to verify what it reports.

No.

The issue some people are missing is why is this accusation so believable in the first place?

There's simply something about Sarah Palin that makes people think it's perfectly plausible that she doesn't know the countries involved in NAFTA or that Africa is a continent.

Could it have been that she was stumped on the question about what newspapers/magazines she reads?

Could it have been her lack of knowledge on the Bush doctrine?

Could it have been her lack of knowledge on what a VP does?

Could it have been her lack of knowledge on any important Supreme Court cases relevant to the Conservative cause.

The plain fact is that her demeanor and everything else about her screams: MORON

You can't fault people for thinking something that looks stupid, sounds stupid and acts stupid is in fact...stupid.

[danzig]

The plain fact is that her demeanor and everything else about her screams: MORON

You can't fault people for thinking something that looks stupid, sounds stupid and acts stupid is in fact...stupid.

No? So guess you cant fault someone for thinking someone is guilty of murder because they look it or guilty of stealing or any other thing. You are justifying prejudice here. Besides the link doesnt say the initial story about her comments on Africa were false just that the person who claimed to be the leak was false and someone who has managed to dupe the media in the past. Guess this is why the media is so easily fooled if their actual readers/viewers dont even bother to pay attention to the news item why bother....

Regardless whether Palin is stupid or not is NOT the issue and I find it amusing you still talk about how she must be stupid etc and ignore the real issue here that I pointed out, that the media can so easily be fooled. I could care less about Palin and I suggest some people with a fetish for her that they have to keep talking about her seek help but I do care that the media can be fooled and doesnt even bother to check the story before airing it.

She's still ing stupid.

That was insightful, way to go.

[morteduzionism]

No? So guess you cant fault someone for thinking someone is guilty of murder because they look it or guilty of stealing or any other thing.

...No, I wouldn't. It happened and happens all the time. Look how many people have been freed since the science involving DNA testing has improved.

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck... maybe it's not a duck because I don't want to be prejudice?

You are justifying prejudice here.

You should look up the definition of prejudice.

Regardless whether Palin is stupid or not is NOT the issue and I find it amusing you still talk about how she must be stupid etc and ignore the real issue here that I pointed out, that the media can so easily be fooled.

I don't think whether or not the media being easily fooled or not is an issue.

I'm more interested in why would someone easily believe someone is so ignorant that they don't even know that Africa is a continent.

I could care less about Palin and I suggest some people with a fetish for her that they have to keep talking about her seek help

Wow! I would think the fact that someone with so many inadequacies coming so close to becoming next in line for leader of the country would be a major issue.

Furthermore, the fact that she seems to be trying to maneuver herself into the leadership position of the party is...a big story.

THIS COUNTRY DOES NOT NEED SOMEONE LIKE THAT IN A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP

If people have to follow her around for the next 4-7 years to ensure that she is NEVER elected to anything again...so be it.

...calling Obama dangerous...

but I do care that the media can be fooled and doesnt even bother to check the story before airing it.

How often does that happen? Once or twice a year...or are you going to use this as an excuse to attack/boycott "mainstream media?"

[Dr. Croccer]

She's still ing stupid.

[Dr. Croccer]

That was insightful, way to go.

It's a thing called ''observation''.









All evil propaganda of course, but I guess it'll have to do for my pea-brain.

[Caelius]

He's taking credit. Don't worry, Palin is still the most ignorant VP candidate in U.S. history.

Absurd. Does the name Dan Quayle ring any bells for you?

[ZaPPPa]

Absurd. Does the name Dan Quayle ring any bells for you?

It does. Not knowing how to spell 'potato' is one thing. Not knowing what magazines you regularly read, what a VP does or rambling nonsense to try and hide the fact you have no idea what 'Bush doctrine' means is a whole different level of stupidity.

Palin takes the cake... head and shoulders.

[HorseArcher]

Palin takes the cake... head and shoulders.

That reminds me of a joke, which I can't tell because of the ToS limitations..but either way, she is no Einstein.

[HorseArcher]

Nobody is bothered by the fact, that these accusations (regardless what is the truth)has came straight from the Republican Party?

[The King Of Peasants]

If this actually was legit why wouldn't anyone take credit?

Nobody is bothered by the fact, that these accusations (regardless what is the truth)has came straight from the Republican Party?

I am, we deserve the awful politicians we put in office though.

Honestly this election has pretty much reduced the media to the creditability of bloggers they generally just parrot what ever gets viewers or sells papers regardless of the truth behind it.
Another thing that annoys me is they turn every hurricane into a news cycle of coverage and are kept alive by people's suffering.