TPM's Josh Marshall Slams Politico for attempting to create a fake controversy

[rhombus]

This is quite something. Politico just sent out a breaking news alert claiming that President Obama is now 'backing off' his support for building an Islamic Center near Ground Zero. Perhaps anticipating a response to this effort to create a false controversy, they write in their current front page feature ...

Even with the aim of selling copy and appealing to its core readership's biases, this stands out as a troubling example of organized lying on the part of Politico's editors. It will be interesting to see who else follows their line.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/08/pouring_gas_on_the_fire.php?ref=fpblg


You see, Politico, Drudge's nephew, lives for hits. Today, they attempt a leap of faith (more like a leap of fraud) to create a controversy about Pres Obama 'backtracking' on his Ground Zero statement yesterday. He did not.

I'll repost a comment I made in another thread. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x411070#411086


"Obama was being interviewed by CNN's Ed Henry. A lot of the framing from the Right has been -- Is this a wise move to build the mosque near Ground Zero? Obama shot down that frame because it's stupid, foolish, and weak to argue on whether someone is "wise" to have certain rights. A right is a right. There is no clarification. But the media wants yet another 'fake' story. Today, it's Obama 'parsing' his statement. He did not. Read his speech yesterday. He never mentioned wisdom of building the mosque. He was saying Muslims have the same religious right as any other religious group to build a place of worship anywhere in America."

[Deveraux]

1. What do the polls say about the issue?

I've seen no polls about it. Anyone have any data?

[prolesunited]

2. Don't care what the polls say

It's a Constitutional right and the Constitution is designed to protect people from the tyranny of the majority. Want to have a vote on slavery of reinstating Jim Crow laws? I bet there would be enough who want to go back.

[rhombus]

3. Thank you.

Who cares what the polls say. Not too long ago, Jim Crow laws polled well in the South. Did it make it morally right? Absolutely not.

[The Traveler]

5. Damn well said! n/t

[Parker CA]

7. +infinity! Perfect.

[BeyondGeography]

4. The data says two posts in and you're off to a slow start

[anAustralianobserver]

14. hehe

[theothersnippywshrub]

8. Obama is not a republican. He believes in and defends the Constitution. n/t

[DFLforever]

6. "organized lying on the part of Politico's editors"

Stinging statement by Josh who is always temperate in his comments.

[Pirate Smile]

9. Thank you, Josh. They get away with this type of phony sh@# stirring all the time.

[Nedsdag]

10. There are many websites I do not read.

I do not read conservative web sites, Perez Hilton, and Politico.

When these sites show humility then I will read them.

[boppers]

11. Blogger creating non-troversy about other bloggers creating non-troversy.

:eyes:

[ProSense]

12. President Obama stands up for religious freedom; some Republicans say he's wrong:

Obama's comments on mosque near Ground Zero draws strong reactions

<...>

UPDATE: Obama told reporters in Florida on Saturday that he was speaking about religious freedom, and that "in this country we treat everybody equally and in accordance with the law, regardless of race, regardless of religion."

"I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there (near Ground Zero)," Obama said. "I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about. And I think it's very important as difficult as some of these issues are that we stay focused on who we are as a people and what our values are all about."

Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, praised Obama's remarks.

"We welcome President Obama's strong statement of support for American Muslim religious rights and hope his remarks will serve as encouragement to those who are challenging the rising level of Islamophobia in our society," Awad said. "We urge other national political and religious leaders to speak out in defense of the freedom of religion and equality of all Americans enshrined in our Constitution."

more

The president's remarks drew praise from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who announced his support for the Islamic center last week. Bloomberg compared Obama's speech to a letter former President George Washington wrote in support of a Jewish congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. Still, critics of the proposed Islamic center -- including Rep. Peter King (R-New York) -- quickly denounced Obama's remarks.

"President Obama is wrong," King said in a statement. "It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero. Unfortunately, the President caved into political correctness."

link

[theothersnippywshrub]

15. Those republicans also would have said the Jews were not good Germans. n/t

[Scurrilous]

13. K & R

:thumbsup: