Fox News' faux documentary sets new low

[Lasher]

Sean Hannity's Sunday report, 'Obama and Friends: The History of Radicalism,' relied on innuendo and guilt by association to label the Illinois senator a dupe of the shadowy forces of the left.

Fox's hourlong screed is just the kind of media coverage that has contributed to the increasingly angry and irrational tone on the campaign trail. Even by the low standards of this election's advocacy journalism, the program plumbed new depths -- relying on innuendo and guilt by association to paint the Illinois senator as a dupe of the shadowy forces of the left.

Much of Hannity's report was based on interviews with half a dozen partisan commentators, whose main qualification seems to have been a previously expressed disdain for Obama.

Near the top of the program, the host introduced one of them, Andy Martin, as an "author and journalist." But reporters in his Chicago hometown know Martin better as a perennial political candidate and serial litigant.

<snip>

So when Hannity wanted to know what Obama did as a young community organizer, Martin was ready with a pithy answer: "I think a community organizer, in Barack Obama's case, was somebody that was in training for a radical overthrow of the government."

Martin offered no evidence. None. But, when I called him, he helped me understand why this was not a problem.

"I do involve with the facts," he began, "but when the facts aren't all there, and the perpetrator has concealed all the facts and is basically refusing to testify, you are allowed to draw an adverse inference."

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-na-onthemedia10-2008oct10,0,3180374.story

[louis-t]

1. Linka no worka. I need this article.

I'll try to find it.

[Lasher]

2. OK, fixed the link.

Sorry.

[louis-t]

9. Thanks, found it anyway.

My Mom has been pounding me with e-mails from my repug relatives saying "YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS VERY IMPORTANT SEAN HANNITY SHOW CUZ HE'S LIKE REALLY TELLIN' THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW RADICAL OBAMA IS AND YOU WON'T HEEEEAR THIS FROM THE LIBRUL MEDIA CUZ THEY WANT US ALL TO DIE AND SEAN IS SO FAIR AND BALANCED....." Ayyyy! My head hurts. I keep telling her if she doesn't stop, she will be bombarded with the truth. I have only just begun. Replying to all rethug relatives.

[Lasher]

10. I got the same kinda email.

Filled with GOP fear.

[louis-t]

11. Funny thing, I'm Arab. My family is 100% Arab.

My parents, aunts and uncles are 1st generation, I'm second generation. I sent them the video of the McCreepy supporter saying "I don't trust him cuz he's 'Arab'." Didn't even faze them.

[Lasher]

12. Too many people feel that way about all Arabs.

I'm not one of them. Hang in there, things will change. They always do.

Another thing about that one was, McSame defended Obama by saying he wasn't an Arab. He didn't bother to point out that all Arabs are not our enemies.

[central scrutinizer]

3. Republican flow chart for dealing with "facts"

<>

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. LOL so true

[nxylas]

5. So, he's planning to overthrow himself?

If he wins in November, won't he kind of be the government (or at least one branch of it)?

[Dollface]

6. But when Michael Moore uses facts, he's not allowed to "draw an adverse inference,"

'cause he uses Liberal facts! Those are the worst kind of facts because they are true.

[Cheap_Trick]

7. Love this quote

"and the perpetrator has concealed all the facts and is basically refusing to testify, you are allowed to draw an adverse inference."


Next time you're told to testify SARAH, maybe you should.

:rofl:

[Lasher]

8. I'm pretty sure that's like saying it's OK to make shit up. n/t