Republicans snickered when the Obama campaign unveiled a "Fight the Smears" website awhile back to counter the raft of derogatory and largely unfounded rumors that somehow managed to keep bubbling up from the blogosphere and into the mouths of old-media pundits, thereby granting them a seeming legitimacy (shall we call this "Politics 2.0"?). It was framed as an attempt on Obama's part to deflect "legitimate questions" by dismissing them as smears.
Well, now the shoe is on the other foot. "I find the attacks unprecedented, insulting, degrading, sexist, mean-spirited, hateful, and it’s gotta stop," railed conservative talk show host Sean Hannity in reaction to the onslaught of vicious gossip that greeted Sarah Palin on the announcement of her VP candidacy.
He only missed the mark on one point, in my opinion, namely in claiming that such attacks are "unprecedented." Just ask Barack Obama.
And I have witnessed the spectacle of partisans on the left defending the preposterous allegation that Palin faked her last pregnancy to protect her unwed teen daughter in terms of "raising legitimate questions" about the Governor's background.
I hesitate to say turnabout is fair play, but at least we're finally seeing something approaching parity on the smear-mongering front. Which feels more "fair and balanced," though it still isn't a pretty picture no matter which side you view it from.
The truth is out there:
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Well, now the shoe is on the other foot. "I find the attacks unprecedented, insulting, degrading, sexist, mean-spirited, hateful, and it’s gotta stop," railed conservative talk show host Sean Hannity in reaction to the onslaught of vicious gossip that greeted Sarah Palin on the announcement of her VP candidacy.
He only missed the mark on one point, in my opinion, namely in claiming that such attacks are "unprecedented." Just ask Barack Obama.
And I have witnessed the spectacle of partisans on the left defending the preposterous allegation that Palin faked her last pregnancy to protect her unwed teen daughter in terms of "raising legitimate questions" about the Governor's background.
I hesitate to say turnabout is fair play, but at least we're finally seeing something approaching parity on the smear-mongering front. Which feels more "fair and balanced," though it still isn't a pretty picture no matter which side you view it from.
The truth is out there:
- The Annenberg Public Policy Center's Factcheck.org examines the veracity of the most commonly leveled accusations against the Republican VP candidate in Sliming Palin. Impartial, objective analysis by a team of strong researchers.
- You can view my own burgeoning index of Palin-related rumors and hoaxes here.
- Like me, the Mikkelsons at Snopes.com are working overtime to catch up with the latest Palin scuttlebutt, and, as always, their findings are well-researched and reliable to a fault.
- A blogger named Charles R. Martin is keeping a running checklist of Palin rumors with sourced responses. He currently lists over 70 items, some of which might be better categorized as "Palin Trivia," but you'll find a wealth of useful references here.
- Politico.com's Ben Smith has posted an insightful piece on the whys and wherefores of the Palin rumor phenomenon, "Emails, Conspiracy Rumors Plague Palin."
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Comments
I cannot help but be amused.
True, it’s all politics, which has never been exactly a “gentlemanly” activity. However, the Hannitys and O’Reillys were often quick to rebut the worst lies about Obama, while the left-leaning media have been the sources of the worst slime through at Palin.
Just wondering if you are compiling a list of “rumors and hoaxes” pertaining to Mr. Obama… I would love to see someone in the mass media be objective about Mr. Obama, but that falls somewhere in the vicinity of a “pipe dream”. Questions I woould like to ask him: Do you know how many states there are in the United States? (He claims there are 58.) Why are you ashamed to admit you are a Muslim? (Check the video of the Stephanopoulos interview) Why was your brother in Kenya quoted as saying that he is ashamed to be related to you? As a father, which one of your daughters do you consider to have been a punishment? And if children are a punishment, who is it coming from? Is God punishing you and your wife by giving you two children? (In light of his comment concerning his own daughters: “…wouldn’t want them to be punished with a baby”) What is your relationship with convicted felon Tony Rezko? Was there illegal activity involved in what many are calling your questionable land deal with Rezko? You sat in the pews at Trinity United Church of Christ for twenty years. Do you really expect voters to believe that you never heard any of the radical rants of Jeremiah Wright during all that time? You are “friendly” with former Weather Underground leader William Ayres. What is the nature of your relationship, and given Ayres previous attempts at murderous collusion, what could you possibly have in common with this man who harbors such hatred for America? Do you consider your dealings with this self-admitted domestic terrorist as experience in the War on Terror, much like community organizing is equivalent to military service? Senator, do you really think you have the experience to be president of the United States? If so, why?
PALIN ROCKS!!! SHE ROCKS MORE THAN ME AND I’M A ROCKSTAR!!!!!!