Newsweek (R)
Just a few days ago, one of my conservative friends shared a link to a Newsweek cover article entitled "Hit The Road Barack, Why We Need a New President" by Harvard Professor Niall Ferguson. According to my friend, he added his own comment that the link provides: "A thorough analysis (of) President Obama's term in office." When I commented to his him that Newsweek was no longer considered a credible or reliable magazine (and was not even in the top 25 for magazine circulation), he responded "there you go again shooting the messenger and the media outlet, but avoiding the content of the article. I suggest you digest the detailed stats presented and then provide your commentary." When I simply replied that the piece was "red meat" for GOP ideologues, he replied "Please provide one statement in the article that you don't think is factual, then we can have a dialogue on content. Not sure what assumptions your are referring to, I've made none in this posting..."
When I provided Atlantic Magazine's point by point analysis that the article contained multiple falsehoods, some of them including CBO statistics that were "edited" to enhance Ferguson's points, my friend simply replied "I've read the counter-arguments and had enough of the president's leadership.... in my humble opinion it's time for a change." Not exactly an admission that he was sharing an article of falsehoods, or that it was wrong to do so.
As I have stated time and time again, I have no problem with ideologues on both sides of the political spectrum that want to argue issues near and dear to them. I do have a problem though when political discourse engages in lies and distortions in an effort to win the argument. Regardless of the fact that I pointed out that virtually ALL of the article written by Prof. Ferguson was full of lies and distortions, my friend sticks by his guns by saying that Obama has to go. It is sad that fellow conservatives, despite knowing the article was the product of lies and distortions, continued to share it on their Facebook pages in order to feed fellow ideologues a dose of "red meat."
But don't take my word for the piece being condemned for its falsehoods. It appears the failure of Newsweek to fact check the article was a gamble undertaken to create a "media buzz" for the failing magazine. Regardless of the fact conservatives are ignoring they are engaged in perpetuating lies and distortions about Obama, criticism of the article by journalists and economists is not abating. The bottom line is that Ferguson's article engaged in "creative license" with actual facts and no journalist or economist could keep their credibility after writing such an error filled and fraudulent piece. As a result, many journalists and economists are actually calling for Harvard to fire Ferguson. After all, Academics do have a responsibility to possess integrity.
Unfortunately, Conservatives no longer are interested in the truth when it comes to Obama. They want him out so badly, they are willing to do whatever it takes, including the use of dishonest reporting.
When I provided Atlantic Magazine's point by point analysis that the article contained multiple falsehoods, some of them including CBO statistics that were "edited" to enhance Ferguson's points, my friend simply replied "I've read the counter-arguments and had enough of the president's leadership.... in my humble opinion it's time for a change." Not exactly an admission that he was sharing an article of falsehoods, or that it was wrong to do so.
As I have stated time and time again, I have no problem with ideologues on both sides of the political spectrum that want to argue issues near and dear to them. I do have a problem though when political discourse engages in lies and distortions in an effort to win the argument. Regardless of the fact that I pointed out that virtually ALL of the article written by Prof. Ferguson was full of lies and distortions, my friend sticks by his guns by saying that Obama has to go. It is sad that fellow conservatives, despite knowing the article was the product of lies and distortions, continued to share it on their Facebook pages in order to feed fellow ideologues a dose of "red meat."
But don't take my word for the piece being condemned for its falsehoods. It appears the failure of Newsweek to fact check the article was a gamble undertaken to create a "media buzz" for the failing magazine. Regardless of the fact conservatives are ignoring they are engaged in perpetuating lies and distortions about Obama, criticism of the article by journalists and economists is not abating. The bottom line is that Ferguson's article engaged in "creative license" with actual facts and no journalist or economist could keep their credibility after writing such an error filled and fraudulent piece. As a result, many journalists and economists are actually calling for Harvard to fire Ferguson. After all, Academics do have a responsibility to possess integrity.
Unfortunately, Conservatives no longer are interested in the truth when it comes to Obama. They want him out so badly, they are willing to do whatever it takes, including the use of dishonest reporting.
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