September 17, 2004
Opinion:
Can we fact-check each other as well as we do the mainstream media?
By Jack GrantHere's more on the now infamous photo allegedly showing a little girl "being mugged" by alleged "Kerry supporters".
From Rising Hegemon (see his post for the photos he refers to):
Serial Republican Victim complains for the THIRD straight presidential election of being assaulted and has his family assist.
...
What are the odds, this allegedly angry sign-ripper in the union shirt, holding the fragments of a ripped Bush sign is either the guy in the grey sweater or the blue shirt?So was Parlock having one of his sons portray a union stooge?
This guy is a serial disrupter with pretty much the same story every time.
Remember this when the Cornerites and Little Green Snot Bubbles spout off and try to make this a big story...especially in the wake of the known abuse protestors get at the regular "Triumph of the Will" functions that comprise a Bush Campaign appearance.
Since we're so proud of ourselves for taking down CBS News over forged memos, are we equally prepared to take down a faked incident involving a Republican trying to make Democrats look cruel and mean if it was indeed a little play staged for the benefit of photographers? Are we willing to call shenanigans on an incident that is being widely publicized as "truth" by bloggers if it is found to be entirely staged?
I'm waiting for the fact-check brigade to do their job here, even if they are not dressed in their pajamas.
Posted by Jack Grant at 18:26 on 17 September 2004Jack - aren't we leaping to conclusions here? The photos aren't conclusive in and of themselves.
Check out Michelle Malkin's post. Mebbe by the time you get to this, she'll have gotten a call back from the union. We're going to get an answer - Huntington is too small a place that someone doesn't know who that fellow is.
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at September 17, 2004 08:42 PMI guess I should edit it to say that I haven't reached a conclusion, but my point is that many others have, in that the "Kerry supporter" is indeed a Kerry supporter.
Sadly for me, I don't ever expect to see the number of retractions equal the number of posts saying "Gee, what assholes the Kerry-ites are!" if this is proved to be a hoax in its entirety.
Posted by: Jack at September 17, 2004 08:51 PMUm - can I say that just from seeing it in a picture (and ONLY from seeing the picture - I have only seen this little bit of yours and John's posts)... how do we know "why" this little girl is crying? I raised a daughter - she could cry at the drop of a hat. I mean - unless we have tape or witnesses that saw exactly what happened - I have a hard time deciding who or what is right or wrong here.
Other reasons for this girl to cry... she doesn't want to be in the crowd, she wants a daddy to take her to McDonalds right now - not later, she wanted to stay home and play with her friend not go to some big people thing.
I must also take issue with a parent who will take a very young child to a political round-up of any kind. I've seen parents use kids to make a point - I find it disgusting.
Naturally, if the child was holding a sign and someone ripped it out of her hands and ripped it up - that's disgusting too. Just my 2 cents.
Posted by: Teresa at September 17, 2004 09:44 PM
