Lack of source checking leads to funny Rush judgements...

[Tev]

No really, Rush got had like crazy over this one. (http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/93122)

It must have seemed so perfect. An obscure blogger unearths some pages of President Obama's college thesis. The report supposedly comes from big-time journalist Joe Klein of Time magazine. And the thesis has some real gems: like Obama's disdain for the Constitution.

The whole thing was nothing more than a satirical post on a humor blog. But Rush Limbaugh, who quoted from the supposed thesis on his radio show, sure wasn't laughing. Here's how it went down.

An unknown blogger picked up on a made-up post meant as a joke, which claimed that Joe Klein had gotten his hands on 10 pages of student Obama's college thesis. Rush Limbaugh jumped on it, which immediately sparked Web searches on "obama thesis."

Supposedly titled "Aristocracy Revisited," the excerpt revealed the president had "doubts" about the "so-called founders." Juicy. Except not true. Limbaugh discovered halfway through his show that he'd been had, but defended himself by saying basically the thesis felt true. Listen in to Rush's mea sorta culpa.

Joe Klein finally jumped in, and called the report "nonsense" on his Swampland blog, and the blogger who thought the hoax was real also apologized.

And this is why we need to get back to the basics of journalism. Like ten minutes of looking around with a staff of researchers on Google is all it would have taken. Jon Stewart bashed the crap out of CNN for their journalistic failures in this area a few weeks ago as well. I'd almost kill at this point to have the news industry required to show its work on just about anything that comes out of its mouth.

[NonCon]

Oh God this is like waking up to perfectly cooked french toast for breakfast and enchiladas for dinner this is so delicious. It'd be more delicious if I knew it'd get any of his listeners to start questioning him as a news source, but I know to be happy with small surprises.

[Bob the Mercenary]

If it gives you the warm and fuzzies, Noncon, you won me over a while ago. :D

And now, his so-called "defense":

Now, I got a note from a researcher who has been scouring the Internet, and the note says this:

"Rush Limbaugh: Mini-warning on these quotes." Because the paper that Obama wrote, "Aristocracy Reborn," the first ten pages were all that reporter Joe Klein was permitted to see; and it says here that Klein did write about it for TIME Magazine. A researcher has been scouring the Internet and can't find any sources for the quote. "The blog that Ledeen cites doesn't have supporting info," supposedly. The source post that was from August, says it's going to be in an upcoming report from Joe Klein, but the researcher can't find anything that has come out since, and nothing in Klein's blog. There have been no matches found on the Internet for any of the info or quotes other than the source posting. So I now say that the blog from which this came has no sourcing data other than Joe Klein upcoming report and Joe Klein hasn't written his upcoming report.

So we have to hold out the possibility that this is not accurate. However, I have had this happen to me recently. I have had quotes attributed to me that were made up, and when it was pointed out to the media that the quotes were made up, they said, "It doesn't matter! We know Limbaugh thinks it anyway." Sort of like Dan Rather said, "I don't care if these documents are forged. I know that Bush did what he did at the National Guard. I don't care if the documents are forged." I don't care if the Limbaugh quotes are made up. So, I can say, "I don't care if these quotes are made up. I know Obama thinks it. You know why I know Obama thinks it? Because I've heard him say it." Not about the Constitution, but about the Supreme Court. Again, 2001, FM radio station interview in Chicago when he was a state senator in Illinois.

[Tev]

Wait so his come back was "They misquote my beliefs so I'm justified in misquoting theirs?"

[Mirai Gen]

Along with heavy does of "But I know Obama! This is exactly what he thinks!"

[Mesden]

Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite?

Why gosh I would've never guessed!

[bluestarultor]

Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite?

Why gosh I would've never guessed!

We knew that, already. We're just laughing about him getting caught with his pants down. I'd like to think this hurts his image a bit, but a lot of people who listen to him probably ate up his defense and the lion's share of the rest probably aren't so surprised as to have had an epiphany and gone off to spread the word of liberalism.

[stefan]

Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite

A SHOCKING DEVELOPMENT. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwEkhx6SinM)

[Cloud Strife]

Boy, go figure. Politics out in full force again. I wonder how long until someone from the right comes along to try and defend Rush?

Also, Noncon, I like your taste in color. :D

[Magus]

Wait, was the fake thesis called "Aristocracy Revisited" or "Aristocracy Reborn"? I need to get my fake facts straight for when I write my college thesis.

Oh. You guys.

[bluestarultor]

Wait, was the fake thesis called "Aristocracy Revisited" or "Aristocracy Reborn"? I need to get my fake facts straight for when I write my college thesis.

Oh. You guys.

Boy, go figure. Politics out in full force again. I wonder how long until someone from the right comes along to try and defend Rush?

Also, Noncon, I like your taste in color. :D

Oh God this is like waking up to perfectly cooked french toast for breakfast and enchiladas for dinner this is so delicious. It'd be more delicious if I knew it'd get any of his listeners to start questioning him as a news source, but I know to be happy with small surprises.

The Royal Blue is spreading!

Actually, come to think of it, NPF in general is going technicolor. 01d55 is doing lime now, too, and Synk's always typed in red for as long as I can recall. o_O;

Well, at least I have a couple of my own colors reserved which no one seems apt to use so far.

[Mirai Gen]

I swear if colored posts are becoming the new 'in' thing again I'm going to kill you all.

[bluestarultor]

I swear if colored posts are becoming the new 'in' thing again I'm going to kill you all.

This happened before? Would explain the few holders, like Cloud, Khael, and Synk.

Well, if push comes to shove, I can always differentiate myself by typing in rainbow!

Or, you know, being the last guy left who writes in white.

[Magus]

Black is the new white.

Anyway, I know Rush Limbaugh thinks that the founding fathers were totally perfect in every way. And we all know that that is only true of master silversmith Paul Revere.

[Magic_Marker]

Well he also thinks the founding fathers agreed with him so we can't use that as trustworthy evidence.

[Ryanderman]

Boy, go figure. Politics out in full force again. I wonder how long until someone from the right comes along to try and defend Rush?

Nah. This seems a pretty clear cut case of Rush rushing to a Gottcha! declaration, and having it blow up in his face. And just because other people did it to him doesn't make it ok for him to do it to Obama. It makes it worse, if he knows what it's like, yet still does it.

[Mirai Gen]

Well he also thinks the founding fathers agreed with him so we can't use that as trustworthy evidence.

You know I'm all on board for quoting Ben Franklin's infamous line and everything but it strikes me as funny that Rush Limbaugh keeps using the founding fathers words to support his own claim when their words and values are almost two hundred and fifty years old.

[Smarty McBarrelpants]

Well when your politics are also 250 years old that's where you find your sources.

[Magic_Marker]

You know I'm all on board for quoting Ben Franklin's infamous line and everything but it strikes me as funny that Rush Limbaugh keeps using the founding fathers words to support his own claim when their words and values are almost two hundred and fifty years old.

Agreed. The Fathers were cool and all, they DID found America, but's it's been awhile and we've moved on.

I guess that's what makes liberals Progressive.

NOTE: I am using Rush's definition of "Liberal" here, which is anyone who isn't Rush Limbaugh.

[EVILNess]

I am disturbed that the general consensus where I live tends to be "Oh Rush, you rascal!" Instead of "Hey, he basically broke one of the biggest commandments of journalism, and ended up apologetically telling a big fib to many people."

Have we really become that uncaring about what our media feeds us?

[Magic_Marker]

He's a joke. We laugh at him because he's a joke.

We weep when we hear of the people who believe him.

[Mesden]

Rush doesn't count as media, he's an irrelevant white noise that'll only ever sway people who've long made up their minds.

[krogothwolf]

I use to think Bill O'Rielly was the biggest media loon in the states, apparently I was wrong. Go Rush Go!

Doesn't he jump on anyone who gets their facts wrong as well?

[Magic_Marker]

I use to think Bill O'Rielly was the biggest media loon in the states, apparently I was wrong. Go Rush Go!

Doesn't he jump on anyone who gets their facts wrong as well?

Really? He's the saniest person on Fox right now, you clearly do not known how crazy us 'mericans can get?

[Mirai Gen]

Doesn't he jump on anyone who gets their facts wrong as well?
It's okay when Rush does it, cause it's just a misunderstanding and doesn't make any difference to the point.

But no Rush is a joke, anyone who listens to him is just in need of a radio show set up to agree with them.

[Meister]

Wait so his come back was "They misquote my beliefs so I'm justified in misquoting theirs?"
Not only that but I'm pretty sure he also admits he does, in fact, think it.

[BitVyper]

I swear if colored posts are becoming the new 'in' thing again I'm going to kill you all.

?taht od ew naC ?gnipyt sdrawkcab tuoba thaW

[Magic_Marker]

If he's not going to kill you, I am.

[krogothwolf]

ixnay on the illkay and amscray

[NonCon]

I swear if colored posts are becoming the new 'in' thing again I'm going to kill you all.

It's only cool if you have a Bleach avatar and use a non-standard font.

[CABAL49]

I think my posts are deserving of yellow. I mean, I have a Deadpool avatar.

I use to think Bill O'Rielly was the biggest media loon in the states, apparently I was wrong. Go Rush Go!

Doesn't he jump on anyone who gets their facts wrong as well?

Ever hear of Glenn Beck?

[Viridis]

I think my posts are deserving of yellow. I mean, I have a Deadpool avatar.

Ever hear of Glenn Beck?

If any posts deserve yellow, mine do. I just don't want to make everyone's eyes bleed.

And yes, Glenn Beck is slightly crazier than Rush in that he seems close to snapping at every moment. He tears up when speaking about how 'They' are out to get him. I don't think he's b.s.ing like Rush. He truly believes his own brand of crazy.

[krogothwolf]

Seriously, you guys have the craziest media people on "news" shows in the world

[Magic_Marker]

You two seriously need a battle to the death to determine who the real deadpool is.

[krogothwolf]

You two seriously need a battle to the death to determine who the real deadpool is.

Only if they use little yellow bubbles!

[Magic_Marker]

Okay this is actually kinda fun

[krogothwolf]

Okay this is actually kinda fun

Sure, use the common one everyone uses!

Also, don't you have any Liberal crazies? All the crazies so far are Conservatives, give me some liberal ones!

[Archbio]

I think that it's cautious to assume dishonesty rather than insanity when considering the talking heads mentioned in this thread. It's just that there's money in it.

I think for me nothing will top Bill O'Reilly's "Paris Business Review" incident. Making facts up is one thing, but making a source up... that's world championship material.

[Meister]

Also, don't you have any Liberal crazies? All the crazies so far are Conservatives, give me some liberal ones!
Obviously no liberals are crazy http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/fifthfiend/emoticons/smug.gif

[Archbio]

It might have to do with Liberal crazies tending to be less rewarded with high visibility and positions of authority. I guess you could say it's a question of values!

[krogothwolf]

So In other words, the right wing all pretty much have similar values, where as the liberals have different values so it makes it difficult to have a big name crazy out there?

That's slightly depressing. There really needs to be an anti-Beck/O'Rielly/Limbaugh

[Funka Genocide]

well most high media attention liberal pundits take the form of comedians, such as Bill Mahr etc.

[Tev]

Jon Stewart is my anti-Beck. ^_^

[Archbio]

So In other words, the right wing all pretty much have similar values, where as the liberals have different values so it makes it difficult to have a big name crazy out there?

No, what I was going for was the question of how Craziness itself is valued.

[CABAL49]

You two seriously need a battle to the death to determine who the real deadpool is.

I support this. It is inevitable anyways. How about an old time pistol duel? Is that good for everyone?

[MasterOfMagic]

Real men use their bare fists.

[krogothwolf]

I say they should use chainsaws, make it interesting

[Whomper]

Honestly, I would define Stephen Colbert as more of an Anti-Beck, since he dramatically portrays himself as Republican just to poke fun. Jon Stewart is still aces, though.

Also, fuck color... except for synk's red, since synk was doing it long before it was "cool".

[krogothwolf]

Yeah but those shows are satirical news shows and it's not like they claim to be otherwise.

The sad thing about the Republican Three is their shows come of as satirical yet they claim to be legitimate news.

[NonCon]

Also, fuck color... except for synk's red, since synk was doing it long before it was "cool".

Numbers' colored text is cool by me.

[Funka Genocide]

Bill Mahr isn't entirely saitirical, by the way.

Not as funny as the Daily show, but not as vapid either.