If this is true, then I am one of the first who owes an apology.
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by John Cole| 21 Comments
This post is in: Politics
If this is true, then I am one of the first who owes an apology.
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Terry
I wouldn’t be too quick to hand out that apology. Some $5,000 of funding was accepted from one of the Heinz-related foundations and his parsing of the facts is more than a little Clintonesque. He ignores the extensive background of some of the prominent family members involved in the media blitz, including those that even visited Iraq in the run up to war.
shark
Don’t apologize for anything. I actually work in the field that gathers data on philanthropy in America, and yes, while foundations routinely make grant recipients sign those types of expenditure responsibility forms, it is a mere legality, with absolutely no oversight or penalties.
The monetary connection described is altogether too common, they’re just hiding behind some legal CYA form…
CadillaqJaq
Listening to the oral montage of the victim’s family members on radio and TV, it’s difficult for me to accept that they were speaking freely and without previous “coaching” by someone, or something, with a political agenda.
I also read somewhere in the last week (from the vast morass of print available on the subject) that the 9/11 victim’s family’s response has been cocked and primed for several weeks in anticipation of the Bush-Cheney Campaign using 9/11 in an exploitive fashion.
The timing is suspect to me: this release could have hit the streets days ago. But who to believe?
Maybe Kerry’s foreign leader buddies can shed some light on it?
HH
The people in question, leaving aside which group they belong to, have never denied having pre-planned talking points, which was the most damaging part of that montage. The utterly dishonest “Bush stayed and talked to the kids” meme is parroted by left wing groups all the time. These people would apparently have Bush scream “Oh shit! We’re being attacked!” and rush out the door in front of grade schoolers, instead of what he did, which was ponder his next move without disrupting this group of young kids. He then went to prepare his remarks and did so. His actions were measured and he told the Secret Service he would return to the White House that night to speak directly to the people. If he had done anything else, the left would have attacked him for not leaving it up to the teachers or parents to explain the situation to them. The grotesque attacks on Bush from the left over this came within days of Sep. 11. These people are ideologues, it’s clear. What group they belong to or who gave to them isn’t the main issue at all. And it is true that there were people from that group on other programs and quoted in newspapers, and they were usually not identified as such.
Joe Gandelman
I would say this: a)the people did have a political agenda (and this is undeniable whether you are on the left or right..it’s a fact), b)the press FAILED in its duty to alert readers, even in one sentence, of their political stance (that came out only later after the furor broke out), c)Rush does indeed have an accuracy problem on a lot of things.
I think it’s important if you hear any radio show or watch any opinion show on TV to do a search for YOURSELF and read the primary sources. It’s natural for people to be selective or shape data that they have (even unconciously) to make a point. Years ago there was a small publication called the Flush Rush Quarterly and it was largely composed of statements versus fact. You could do the SAME THING with Michael Moore. This isn’t unusual when someone has strong opinions and has to do a daily radio or cable show.
The folks quoted by the press may have truly been outraged but they had a political agenda as does Rush as does Michael Moore, etc. etc. The big thing in that controversy was how miserably the press failed to do its job (and I am talking as someone who spent 20 years in the news biz.)
HH
The moment these people admit that they had prepared anti-Bush talking points while voicing outrage as representing basically as a whole the families of those murdered on Sep. 11, then we’ll know they’re honest and then it would be time for an apology… from both sides.
burnplant
No, don’t apologize now. Rush Limbaugh never lies, and admitting it now would look stupid.
Never admit anything. La la la.
Could you guys be bigger turds, really? Could you?
HH
Do you deny that people went on television with obviously prepared talking points? Do you deny that anti-war groups were quoted in newspapers, television, etc. without identifying them as such?
burnplant
Do you deny that this happens every freaking day with you guys? Talking points is all you have, you are arguing a non-substantive talking point right now and are too stupid and/or anti-American to admit it.
There are 9/11 families that don’t like Bush for what he did and didn’t do, and despite your wishes they will get media time.
Ricky
burnplant,
Are you intentionally trying to come across as a low-level troll?
shark
As I noted before: I work in a field that studies philanthropic data, and I say again, these kinds of relationships are very common, no matter what types of forms the foundations make recipients fill out. Those are generally done on the honor system, as foundations typically don’t spend much money on oversight, and there is very little in the way of federal/tax regulation enforcement on these organizations, even though they are the recipients of special tax laws to operate.
So suck it burnplant
Karen
Why is it that 99% of the accusations of anti-Americanism come from the left, yet they are constantly screeching about their patriotism being attacked?
In regard to the families of 9-11 that spoke out about these ads, it’s quite simple. They have all the right in the world to speak out but would have been identified as partisans by a responsible press. Clear enough burnplant?
Ken Hahn
It’s easy enough to settle this. Let the Heinz foundations, Tides, and the other charities involved open their books to an independent audit. I have seen no evidence, other than blanket denials by the people and organizations involved, to indicate that Limbaugh is wrong. The left practically demanded that George Bush and everyone who might have known him during his National Guard days take a lie detector. Until I see something beyond statements of outrage with no factual back up by the folks involved, I will keep an open mind. Rush might be wrong. He might even be lying. Open the books and let’s see.
burnplant
Why do you guys hate 9/11 victims?
Karen says we should only hear from Republican victims of 9/11…or at least be warned that some victims may not have been, or be, Republicans. Karen feels she needs help from the media to identify people so that she can prejudge what they are saying and avoid opinions different from her own.
Ken says Rush Limbaugh should be able to say anything he wants and it’s up to the parties involved to disprove the statement…otherwise it’s true!
Shark bores us all like we’re one of his few and far between dates, and fails to make a point. But he does score points for telling me to suck it!
Ricky zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Ricky
Low-level troll liklieness confirmed.
Sorry, I can get the likes of you on Usenet.
Bye.
burnplant
Thanks for your non-opinion, Ricky.
Look over there, A gay wedding!
This article says it all.
http://tinyurl.com/2j2da
Andrew
burnplant – Do all of your thoughts come filtered directly through your anus?
Joshua Price
I find it funny that after all that has happened in America for the last several years that Rush Limbaugh would be labeled, “The Most Dangerous Man In America”. That’s really funny.
burnplant
Andrew – just the thoughts I use here at Buffoon-Juice, that’s all I need here. Let’s just say I’m “stooping” to the level of the home team.
Buffoon-Juice: getting punked by liberal anus daily.
HH
Yeah Ricky’s a big-time homophobe… Mac Diva is that you?
Michelle
Karen writes “They have [all the right in the world] to speak out” and burnplant reads “Karen says we should [only hear from Republican victims] of 9/11…”. Karen continues “but would have been identified as [partisans] by a responsible press.” and burnplant reads “or at least be warned that some victims [may not have been, or be, Republicans]. ”
burnplant, go back to fourth grade where you can learn some basic reading comprehension.