The Spectacle Blog
Headline in the New York Post, Monday:
Bristol Palin & Levi Johnston eyeing reality show
Headine in US Weekly, later Monday:
Exclusive: Rep: Bristol Palin, Levi Johnston Aren’t Doing a Reality Show
OK, so what’s going on here? Why would the New York Post print a story stating as a fact that Sarah Palin’s daughter was pitching a TV show without bothering to get confirmation from any of the alleged stars of such a show? They certainly must have trusted their sources. And who would those sources be?
One online commenter said of their reunion, “When you have no way to come up with $1,700 a month in child support … and there aren’t any other jobs out there … options are limited.”
Hmmm. “One online commenter”? Better make that one anonymous commenter at a notorious anti-Palin blog:
I’m reproducing the screen-capture of that comment because I don’t want to link the blog — which is the same blog that pushed the “Palin divorce” hoax in August 2009!
Yes, that’s right. A mere anonymous commenter at the “Immoral Minority” blog (operated by a disgraced former kindergarten teacher) qualifies as an authoritative source for the New York Post. How so? Apparently, after posting that blog comment, the commenter was quoted at the Gawker gossip site last week.
As I remarked last week, some reporters seem to have added a special clause to their ethical code for all stories relating to Sarah Palin: Any “source” is acceptable, so long as the source is anti-Palin.
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ReaganTMan | 7.19.10 @ 10:01PM
It's been like this with the mainstream media since the 2008 election. One of these whacky Alaska bloggers or their commenters post something unsubstatiated and it flies right up the media flagpole.
It's almost like the editor looks at it and says "anti-Palin?" No fact check needed. It could be completely bogus. Plant it people's minds now and even if it's debunked later, how many people are going to come back and read the debunking?
This is why there is a segment of the people who like Palin but are still unsure about her becoming president. They are either afraid she will unleash a media torrent (to which I say too bad, deal with it, that's what the left does) or they actually think in the back of their mind what if some of this ruins her in a primary or something?
Thank you, Dan for pointing this out. And to use Gryphen's blog as an example is perfect. His credibility is so bad that using this as an example just makes your article that much stronger.
Alan Brooks| 7.19.10 @ 11:10PM
The Palins are tasteless. How American of them.
Missy| 7.20.10 @ 12:13AM
At least they're not perverts like un-American Clinton.
Alan Brooks| 7.20.10 @ 1:07AM
Then elect another Reagan, or an Eisenhower, and you wont have any more Clintons for president, but you have the same problem as Dems-- electing second-rate Southerners; though these Dems were worse than the Republicans:
Dems:
LBJ, Texas.
Carter, Georgia
----------
GOP:
Bush 41, Texas
Bush 43, Texas
The South is a great place; but not for politics. And I do NOT like Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Alan Brooks| 7.20.10 @ 1:16AM
Think of it:
3 second-- or in the case of LBJ, third-rate-- Texans within 45 years. Nothing wrong with Texas, but its politics? not too good one might say, eh?
ak4mc | 7.20.10 @ 10:15AM
I'm not surprised Alan doesn't know that Eisenhower was born in Texas.
Johnno| 7.20.10 @ 3:46PM
Chicago ain't so great either.
ReaganTMan| 7.19.10 @ 10:08PM
Sorry Stacy about using wrong name, you're not Dan. I should be refudiated for that. Please accept my apology.
Alan Brooks| 7.20.10 @ 1:11AM
"Refudiated", that is priceless-- never heard it before.
It wasn't a typo, correct? it is a malapropoid?
I will co-opt it without giving you credit, ReaganTMan;
but you can sue plagiarism.
Going Rogue?| 7.19.10 @ 10:12PM
Thank you! Like the Cuda says, "Media, quit making things up!" Perfect dissection of the media "Going Rogue". Some real anklebiting, bottomfeeders up there in AK...and in the lower 48, too.
Nate| 7.19.10 @ 10:53PM
Mr McCain,
I didn't hear about this "story" on NPR, where I get a good deal of my news, nor did I read about it in the Times. Actually, most good journalists just sort of ignore this nonsense -- and that basically extends to almost everything about Palin since Election Day of 08.
Tim| 7.19.10 @ 11:07PM
Tax math is wrong: if he earns $1700 a month he'll not only pay no taxes but get credits back, free health care,parking subsidies, etc. I figured as long as we're sharpshooting lies, there's a biggie.
ds80| 7.19.10 @ 11:53PM
"Nate| 7.19.10: almost everything about Palin since Election Day of 08"
...now *there's* nonsense.
ds80| 7.19.10 @ 11:52PM
Lower 56. Geez. Don't you listen to Obama?
Nick| 7.20.10 @ 12:28AM
I really don't care that these stinking liberals are making things up. The truth comes out fairly quick and does no lasting damage.
Meanwhile, the mild-mannered Andrew Breitbart has caused another liberal to get canned. This time from the Department of Agriculture. Way to go Mr. Breitbart!
Good-bye, stupid Shirley Sherrod, who doesn't want to help white people.
Better watch it bleeding hearts. Conservatives have infiltrated your meetings and are taping you. Without your permission!
Aren't they are courageous whistle-blowers?
Nick| 7.20.10 @ 12:56AM
Oops! That should be: Aren't they courageous whistle-blowers?
sharmajee | 7.20.10 @ 8:41AM
As usual, leave to Stacy McCain to play Dick Tracy of the web lobs. We count on him to tell the sullied truth apart from the Sullivan, or as in this particular case, glaring truth apart from the griping of a Griffin. Kudos, RSM!
sharmajee | 7.20.10 @ 8:46AM
oops, web logs, not web lobs. Oh, well, logs or lobs, a living language still makes sense, yes? You betcha!
Yosemeti Sam| 7.20.10 @ 9:31AM
Folks: Palin detractors have a problem - it's simply a pathological case of Palin envy!