How The Media Was Played On BENGHAZI! (And Why That Won't Change Anything)

Rachel Maddow dissects the fake emails press scandal associated with BENGHAZI!, with particular shame descending on Fox News Lite ABC News (h/t Crooks and Liars) :



Today's journalists  complicit Beltway media stenographers need to do some serious reflection on how they're being played by Rethuglican operatives and the right-wing noise machine... haha riiiight!

UPDATE:  ABC News' Jonathan Karl says "so sorry" for his false report (but says the story "entirely stands" -- see "haha riiight", above). Thanks a bunch.

UPDATE II:  Should have guessed why Karl is sticking with his "story:"  he's a product of a right-wing "journalism" organization.  So, he's part of the right-wing noise machine, just embedded at ABC News.

More PUMA Poo, And Lil' Georgie Too!

Crooks and Liars has a summary of the latest Lil' George Steponaflagpinopolous' water-carrying for Rethugs. This time, he's enabling the PUMA (Party Unity My Ass) meme again. We think Lil' George is peeved that ABC (along with sister network Fox) will be shut out of the presidential debates, making it impossible for him to continue his relentless search for the truth of Sen. Obama's missing flag pin.

Now for a Final Word...

...Here's Jon Stewart's definitive extended analysis of the ABC debate debacle. Once you understand that these "news" people are in the entertainment business (Stewart says, "Stop doing my job!"), you see why having them host debates is folly.

(Photo: Georgie in his cups?)

A "Shoddy, Despicable Performance"

WaPo's tv critic Tom Shales has the "debate" last night nailed. Whose performance was "shoddy, despicable?" One of the candidates? Not really. It was ABC "News" and its moderators Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopolous. In a desperate fight with CNN to claim the mantle of "Fox News Lite," ABC News (and its Disney ownership) betrayed the public interest by wasting valuable air time on the most inconsequential, lame topics, while consigning important issues to whatever time can be spared after "bitter," "Rev. Wright," etc. What mindless creeps inhabit today's media.

Interestingly, there's evidence that Stephanopoulos got his question to Sen. Obama about William Ayers directly from Sean Hannity when he called in on Hannity's show on Tuesday. Not surprising. The mainstream media feeds off of the Hannitys and Matt Drudges of the right wing for "tips", gossip, rumors, and outright lies. They then present this tabloid-worthy crap in the major media, while thoughtfully knitting their brows and looking concerned. This is a major factor in our democracy getting more debased and dysfunctional, and unable to deal with the problems of real people.

(Note: The blogosphere is humming with commentary, but one of the best we've seen so far is Hunter's at Daily Kos. Check it out.)