Big scribes don't know how to respond: Yesterday, in a major address, Candidate Trump said that Candidate Clinton is "a world-class liar."
The irony there should have been apparent. Even as Candidate Trump lodged this charge, his own endless assortment of misstatements continued unabated.
Some of Candidate Trump's misstatements concerned Candidate Clinton. Some concerned Candidate Trump himself.
At one point, for example, Trump said this. Like rust, this claim never sleeps:
TRUMP (6/22/16): It all started with her bad judgment in supporting the war in Iraq in the first place. Though I was not in government service, I was among the earliest to criticize the rush to war. And yes, even before the war ever started.Candidate Trump actually wasn't "among the earliest to criticize the rush to war" in Iraq. And no, he actually didn't do that "even before the war ever started."
Those claims are untrue, but so what? Trump has been uttering forms of that howler ever since last summer. And from that day to this, our big "news orgs," including our biggest Potemkin newspapers, have made no real attempt to report and challenge his misstatements about Iraq.
More generally, those big news orgs have made no attempt to report and challenge Trump's general dissembling, which has extended through a number of topics worthy of front-page review.
There were quite a few Grade A groaners in Trump's latest speech. We'll mention a few of those groaners tomorrow, but the more remarkable part of yesterday's speech is the way a set of major journalists have responded to it.
Michelle Goldberg is a partisan liberal who supported Clinton over Sanders. In this high-profile piece at Slate, she shows that she has no idea how to respond to Trump's groaners.
Maggie Haberman is marketed as an impartial political reporter for the New York Times. If we assume good faith on Haberman's part, her news report about Trump's speech is a study in incompetence in the face of misstatement.
We'll complete today's rule of three with Jonathan Chait, a long-time top-shelf liberal. In this post for New York magazine, he thinks he's putting one of Trump's strangest misstatements to rest.
More specifically, he claims that the New York Times has done so. His standards for such journalistic performance are just remarkably soft.
We can't bring ourselves to review these reports today. They betray an almost total lack of basic journalistic skill in the face of misstatement.
Our discourse has been driven by howlers since long before we started this site in 1998. Even now, all these years later, our major scribes lack even the most basic skills when faced with major dissembling and in-your-face, groaning misstatements.
Tomorrow, we'll start with Goldberg's piece. Goldberg is a Clinton supporter, but good God! What puzzling work!
I wonder what Bob's reaction would be if Rachel Maddow called Trump a liar over his claim of early opposition to the Iraq invasion.
ReplyDelete"Is it possible that Trump opposed the invasion. Anything is possible, and the absence of evidence that he publicly opposed the war doesn't mean he didn't oppose it privately, and in the strongest terms.
"So here we go again, throwing around the 'L' word. Where do we get these subhuman creatures stuffing millions of dollars in their pockets?
"By the way, it still could be a legitimate traffic study gone wrong. And taking bribes really isn't that bad."
Why doesn't she?
ReplyDeleteBecause the problem is Somerby!
DeleteChapter MLMCCCXXXVI of David's false equivalences.
ReplyDeleteHe is holding out hope 1) Trump shows up in cowboy boots, a suit and a tie 2) Clarence Thomas takes the SCOTUS hostage and selects Trump president like "some other" fellow he misses. He likes THOSE kinds of liars.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that Clinton stood on the floor of the Senate in Oct. of 2002 and stated without reservation that attacking Iraq is NOT a good idea. - Yet to this day, the media, rightwingers, and even liberals insist she was "for the war."
ReplyDeleteIt's sort of like when she answered "OF COURSE!" to whether she believes Obama is a Christian. The media, of course, claimed she "hemmed and hawed" and took "forever" to answer the question which she answered about 1/2 second IMMEDIATELY after being asked it.
- Go figure, eh?
Clinton voted for the Iraq war and also stated without reservation that attacking Iraq is NOT a good idea. That covers all the bases.
Delete"That covers all the bases."
DeleteIn your dimmed-bulb, padlocked mind.
Din C, I'm probably almost your age, and have been a lawyer for over 40 years. Unlike how others might see it, I think you have made a reasonable point on occasion. In my previous office there was a lawyer who had been a lifelong republican. But he, like a lot of intelligent people, long before the bizarre state the GOP now finds itself in, couldn't hack how crazy it had gotten, and since then its gotten way worse. You are hardly alone, but it is Orwellian to find some type of equivalence between the two candidates. What actually is your motivation? I'm curious.
DeleteWell, I don't think they're exactly equivalent. Many of Trump's lies are loose campaign promises that he can't possibly fulfill. Like building a wall and having Mexico pay for it. Or, cutting federal income tax almost in half while balancing the budget. IMHO one has no idea of what Trump would do if elected President. I discount all of his campaign promises.
DeleteHillary OTOH has told specific lies about items big and small. She has always gotten away with them, and probably always will. E.g., one trivial lie was telling New Zealanders that she was named after Sir Edmund Hillary, who wasn't famous yet when she was born. http://www.snopes.com/politics/clintons/hillary.asp Another was claiming that she landed in Bosnia under sniper fire. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2008/mar/25/hillary-clinton/video-shows-tarmac-welcome-no-snipers/
A more important lie was denying what she had told relatives of people killed at Benghazi, according to what several of these relatives say. Another important lie was her stories about why she didn't use the government e-mail system. It's obvious that her real motive was to prevent embarassing e-mails from being made public. Then there was her McCarthyite claim that the accusations about Monica Lewinsky were falshoods coming from a Vast Right Wing Conspiracy.
Look, Hillary is a smart woman, with good experience. I like the fact that she graduated from my wife's alma mater, Wellesley College. I like the fact that she recommended Madeleine Albright, who was a terrific Secretary of State. But, Hillary really has told a lot of lies.
"E.g., one trivial lie was telling New Zealanders that she was named after Sir Edmund Hillary, who wasn't famous yet when she was born.." wrote DinC
DeleteThat's not a proven lie you ignorant worm.
she didn't say she was actually named for the mountain climber, but rather that her mother told her she was named for him — a minor but important distinction given how often parents either make up harmless little fibs to amuse their children or misremember past events.
Unless you can resurrect Hillary's mother, you have no fucking way of calling it a lie.
And here we see our resident wingnut troll, LYING in order to prove Hillary has lied.
Fact: “As for her statements on issues, Politifact, a Pulitzer prize-winning fact-checking organization, gives Clinton the best truth-telling record of any of the 2016 presidential candidates,” Jill Abramson, writing for the Guardian, explained earlier this year. “She beats Sanders and Kasich and crushes Cruz and Trump, who has the biggest “pants on fire” rating and has told whoppers about basic economics that are embarrassing for anyone aiming to be president.”
DeleteFact: The biggest liar in this election cycle is Donald Trump, by a long shot. Politifact rates 76% of statements made by Donald Trump to be false, compared to 27% by Hillary Clinton. 19% of Trump’s untruths are rated “pants on fire” lies, compared to only 1% of Clinton’s statements. Of the 3 Clinton “pants on fire” statements, two were from the 2008 election cycle. Twenty-seven of 31 of the “pants on fire” statements from Trump come from this election cycle.
D & C, you have provided a really poor response. So, many of Trump 'lies' aren't really lies because they are campaign promises - aside from the fact that most of the promises are ridiculous, he has told an unprecedented number of absolute whoppers. Virtually everything he says qualifies as a lie or untruth. Then you give the same old tired examples of Clinton allegedly lying. There isn't enough space to fully address how dumb you are being. There is an army of Clinton loathers and character assassins out there. It's like a massive cult. Any politician, or any person, faced with the type of scrutiny she has gotten, could be painted as a 'liar.' There is a hysteria about the Clintons (similarly Obama) if you look at the comment sections everywhere on the internet or all the right wing blogs and radio talk shows. What about Reagan, who claimed to be one of the first to see a Nazi concentration camp?; or Paul Ryan, who claimed he ran a 3 hour marathon (it was 4 hours)? Do you have a transcript of her conversations with the Bengazi relatives? Explain to me how she has told more 'lies' than the average politician, or average person. How is there even a scintilla of a basis to compare her to Trump, who tells more lies in one speech than all the alleged lies of Clinton in her lifetime? I'm not crazy about her. If only Abe Lincoln could be reincarnated and get elected.... But you come across as a liar yourself when you claim there is an equivalency between her and the GOP presumptive nominee.
DeleteAC/MA; you don't understand. DinC isn't claiming equivalency, he is claiming Secretary Clinton is much worse. He brushes off Trump lies as "loose campaign promises". No big deal to him.
DeleteYou can't talk reason to people who have created an alternate universe to live in.
It is of great importance that Trump's lies be exposed. This does not mean that the effectiveness of these lies on the electorate is not also an important topic. Somberby is commenting on the article he wishes Goldberg wrote, rather than the one she did write. I do look forward to his extended piece though.
ReplyDeleteScott, I would suggest that the effectiveness of the lies on the general public might be reduced if the media didn't do such a crappy job of exposing them.
DeleteI agree.
DeleteI think we can look forward to the debates when the fact checking can happen in real time... like Mitt's stumble and Obama's famous "just, go ahead" as he knew Mitt was walking into a trap. Because I didnt watch them, of all the RNC debates, we're any town hall style? Trump's hair as he pivots around the room may scare a voter or 2.
ReplyDeleteHOW TO SAVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP
ReplyDeleteTHANKS TO GREAT DR GOODLUCK FOR SOLVING MY PROBLEMS my name is Mandy Divanna from uK, i was married to my husband for 5 years we were living happily together for this years and not until he traveled to Italy for a business trip where he met this girl and since then he hate me and the kids and love her only. so when my husband came back from the trip he said he does not want to see me and my kids again so he drove us out of the house and he was now going to Italy to see that other woman. so i and my kids were now so frustrated and i was just staying with my mum and i was not be treating good because my mother got married to another man after my father death so the man she got married to was not treating her well, i and my kids where so confuse and i was searching for a way to get my husband back home because i love and cherish him so much so one day as i was browsing on my computer i saw a testimony about this spell caster DR GOODLUCK testimonies shared on the internet by a lady and it impress me so much i also think of give it a try. At first i was scared but when i think of what me and my kids are passing through so i contact him and he told me to stay calm for just 24 hours that my husband shall come back to me and to my best surprise i received a call from my husband on the second day asking after the kids and i called Dr GOODLUCK and he said your problems are solved my child. so this was how i get my family back after a long stress of brake up by an evil lady so with all this help from DR GOODLUK, i want you all on this forum to join me to say a huge thanks to DR GOODLUCK and i will also advice for any one in such or similar problems or any kind of problems should also contact him his email is goodluck05spellcaster@gmail.com he is the solution to all your problems and predicaments in life. once again his email address is goodluck05spellcaster@gmail.com
http://goodluck05spellcaster.yolasite.com
My life became devastated when my husband sent me packing, after 8 years that we have been together. I was lost and helpless after trying so many ways to make my husband take me back. One day at work, i was absent minded not knowing that my boss was calling me, so he sat and asked me what its was all about i told him and he smiled and said that it was not a problem. I never understand what he meant by it wasn't a problem getting my husband back, he said he used a spell to get his wife back when she left him for another man and now they are together till date and at first i was shocked hearing such thing from my boss. He gave me an email address of the great spell caster who helped him get his wife back, i never believed this would work but i had no choice that to get in contact with the spell caster which i did, and he requested for my information and that of my husband to enable him cast the spell and i sent him the details, but after two days, my mom called me that my husband came pleading that he wants me back, i never believed it because it was just like a dream and i had to rush down to my mothers place and to my greatest surprise, my husband was kneeling before me pleading for forgiveness that he wants me and the kid back home, then i gave Happy a call regarding sudden change of my husband and he made it clear to me that my husband will love me till the end of the world, that he will never leave my sight. Now me and my husband is back together again and has started doing pleasant things he hasn't done before, he makes me happy and do what he is suppose to do as a man without nagging. Please if you need help of any kind, kindly contact Happy for help and you can reach him via email: happylovespell2@gmail.com
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteLife is all about the good and bad experience, my husband left me but now i can't really believe that i am with my Ex-Husband again after he left me and the 3 kids i thank Dr Goodluck of (goodluck05spellcaster@gmail.com) for helping me getting back my man again, My Name is Mandy Divanna from England and my man name is Mr Raymond, my happiness turn to bitterness,my joy turn to sorrow,my love turn to hate, i was hurting REAL bad when my husband broke up with me few month ago,i was so frustrated and i could not know what next to do again, i was so unthinkable and i could not concentrate any more, i love my husband so much but he was cheating on me with another woman and this makes him broke up with me so that he can be able to get marry to the other lady and this lady i think cast a spell on my husband to make him hate me and my kids and this was so critical and uncalled-for,I cry all day and night for God to send me a helped to get back my man until i went to Westmoreland to see a friend and who was having he same problem with me but she latter got her Husband back and i asked her how she was able to get her husband back and she told me that their was a powerful spell caster in Africa name DR Goodluck that he help with love spell in getting back lost lover's back and i decided to contacted the same Dr Goodluck and he told me what is needed to be done for me to have my man back and i did it although i doubted it but i did it and the Dr told me that i will get the result after 24hours, and he told me that my husband was going to call me by 9pm in my time and i still doubted his word, to my surprise my husband really called me and told me that he miss me so much Oh My God i was so happy, and today i am happily with my man again and we are joyfully living together as one good family and i thank the powerful spell caster Dr Goodluck of goodluck05spellcaster@gmail.com, he is so powerful and i decided to share my story on the internet that good spell casters still exist and Dr Goodluck is one of the good spell caster who i will always pray to live long to help his children in the time of trouble, if you are there and your lover is turning you down, or you have your husband moved to another woman, do not cry anymore contact the powerful spell caster Dr Goodluck on his email: goodluck05spellcaster@gmail.com or you can call him on his mobile +2349059610309 and he will answer you, i am a living testimony and i will continue to testify of his goodness in my family,he turn my family to paradise and today we are all happy together Dr Goodluck i say thank you in one million times thanks Dr.also contact him on his web site http://goodluck05spellcaster.yolasite.com
Ironic? Yeah. But the pot calling the kettle black doesn't mean by itself that the kettle is NOT black.
ReplyDeletePhilosophical pose: A world-class liar calls someone a world-class liar. Is it a world-class lie?
Healing from HIV-AIDS, i never though dr.camala who could ever get my HIV-AIDS cured with his healing spell, i have tried almost everything but i couldn't find any solution on my disease, despite all these happening to me, i always spend alot to buy a HIV drugs from hospital and taking some several medications but no relieve, until one day i was just browsing on the internet when i come across a great post of !Michelle! who truly said that she was been diagnose with HIV and was healed that very week through the help of these great powerful healing spell doctor, sometime i really wonder why people called him Papa camala, i never knew it was all because of the great and perfect work that he has been doing that is causing all this. so i quickly contacted him, and he ask me some few questions and he said a thing i will never forget that anyone who contacted him is ! always getting his or her healing in just 6 hours after doing all he ask you, so i was amazed all the time i heard that from him, so i did all things only to see that at the very day which he said i will be healed, all the strength that has left me before rush back and i becomes very strong and healthy, this disease almost kills my life all because of me, so i will to hospital to give the final test to the disease and the doctor said i am HIV negative, i am very amazed and happy about the healing dr.camala gave to me from the ancient part of Africa, you can email him now for your own healing too at: dr.camalahivadscure@yahoo.com or WhatsApp him +2348164728160 thank you sir for healing me from HIV
ReplyDelete