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Hamas exists. "Friends of Hamas" does not.
From time to time, we still hear Republicans complaining about ACORN, which always strikes me as odd -- ACORN doesn't exist. The organization closed its doors years ago, and is literally incapable of doing whatever it is the right thinks it's doing.
As it happens, fearing the efforts of groups that are both nefarious and imaginary is spreading. Dave Weigel published this gem today.
On February 7, Breitbart News's Editor-at-Large Ben Shapiro published an explosive-looking story under the headline "Secret Hagel Donor? White House Ducks Question on 'Friends of Hamas.'" Quoting "Senate sources," Shapiro claimed that crucial documents on Hagel's "foreign funding" might be kept from the Senate Armed Services Committe because "one of the names listed is a group purportedly called "Friends of Hamas."
It was a short item, three paragraphs, the third paragraph consisting of White House assistant communications director Eric Schultz blowing off Shapiro. It caught fire on the right in no time.
The folks you'd expect to run with this -- RedState, National Review, Mike Huckabee, Lou Dobbs, et al -- did so, and last week, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who's already prone to believe all kinds of strange things he reads on far-right websites, told Hugh Hewitt that Hagel's ties to Friends of Hamas are "more and more concerning."
The problem, as you might have surmised, is that "there's no proof that 'Friends of Hamas' actually exists." As Weigel explained, "The Treasury Department, which designates sponsors of terror, has done so to many charities tied to Hamas. 'Friends of Hamas' is not among them. The State Department doesn't designate it, either. And a bit less holistically, a Lexis search for the group reveals absolutely nothing."
So, much of the right has spent a week outraged by Hagel's ties to an organization that's imaginary. The nominee's conservative critics desperately want to pretend he's anti-Israel, so someone made up a claim, and the right embraced it without so much as a hint of skepticism.
In an amusing twist, Frank Gaffney, a far-right activist and prominent anti-Islam voice, had this amazing reaction to reality:
"At this writing and absent the requested disclosure, it cannot be determined whether Mr. Hagel is literally associated with the 'friends' of a designated terrorist organization. The mere fact, though, that it seems entirely ... should be the last straw for Senate Republicans and Democrats alike."
Let me get this straight. The right has accused Hagel of having ties to a group. The group doesn't exist. But the fact that some on the right thought the bogus story might be true should serve as evidence that Hagel is ... bad. Or something.
Hagel's nomination offered an opportunity for a worthwhile debate about military policy, national security, and the use of force around the globe. It's a genuine shame Republicans weren't willing, or perhaps weren't able, to bring their A game.
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Further proof that proof of a pre-frontal lobotomy is necessary for membership with the American Whackadoodle Confederate Moron Marching and Chowder Society.
HOW DARE YOU!!!!
What kind of devil are you to have something against CHOWDER? Muttonheads ... I'm surrounded by muttonheads ....
Pea brains. And dried, wrinkled peas, at that
The fact that there is no proof of a group called Friends of Hamas or that it donated to Hagel or that Hagel is sympathetic to its cause only proves the evil twisted lengths Barack HUSSEIN Obama will go, to keep it all hush-hush.
I'm just writing' what not-thinkin' people are thinkin'.
The mentally deficient always need a bogeyman of which to be afraid; it gives their blind hate something on which to fixate, and keeps them from pondering their own ignorance and failings.
I betcha there are quite a few Republicans who are "Friends of Bill," yet will deny it!
(And a whole lot more who aren't- but should be!)
The burden of proof is on the accuser. The burden of proof is on the one making an assertion. The stronger the assertion, the more unbelievable the statement, the stronger the need to provide evidence of the assertion and the stronger that evidence needs to be.
When are Democrats, supporters, media, press going to learn that putting the burden on those making the assertion is the way to handle these modern day McCarthy-ites?
Re: #2.3
"When are Democrats, supporters, media, press going to learn that putting the burden on those making the assertion is the way to handle these modern day McCarthy-ites?"
That is the million dollar question. We can leave the corporate owned media out though, cause the "owners" have shown that they love confusion and division among the masses. Besides the dumbed down sheeple won't believe unless it's on FAUX NOOZ...
Yes, the COMSM is a joke and complicit with the degradation of the country at this point.
Haven't we seen this movie before?
Make up a story.
Have internet pick up story.
get mainstream press to pick up story.
start attributing previous reporting on story.
politicians start talking about story because it must now be "true".
Before you know it Voilà you have the Iraq war...or a defunct cabinet nomination
I think the more pertinent question is how does a nutjob like Ben Shapiro have Eric Shultz's office phone number, and his cell phone number?
>> Hagel's nomination offered an opportunity for a worthwhile debate about military policy, national security, and the use of force around the globe. It's a genuine shame Republicans weren't willing, or perhaps weren't able, to bring their A game.
Well, since they see absolutely no benefit from a mature debate about the goals and reach of national security, I think they brought exactly their A game.
Your comment makes sense in a "rational world", however, in GOTP-land not so much. See "bringing their A game" requires being an adult, understanding and taking seriously leadership and being able to articulate your position clearly. None of that can be had with the current crop of testosterone laden, power driven, know-nothing 13 year olds that currently hold office....
Maybe we can again in 2014?
The knee jerk ,bite at anything reaction & go with it should be used against them with hilarious results.
Can't someone start a story about illegal aliens & Area 51 or something ?
Umm. So this is like the made-up story of the real time video of Benghazi? We now know who made that up, so maybe some investigation will reveal the source of this one. Why don't people pay any price for this kind of thing? Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post made up the Benghazi story, but she is still working there.
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/01/24/who-started-the-benghazi-real-time-video-falseh/192380
This is why Hollywood military-marvel dramas hurt us... they make people believe that the State Department has it in their budget to have cameras set up all over the world which can broadcast to Washington DC via live feed.... cameras so clear and well-placed that they could watch everything happening in real time 5,215 miles away. At night.
Bit of an assumption here. Assumes the GOP has an "A" game.
Historically, white males over the age 21 who were property owners thought themselves very liberal to be able to exercise a bit of sovereignty they had been previously denied under the age of monarchs!
These same white property-owning males thought the nation would come to ruin when Andy Jackson was elected by so many who did not own property, but who had been given the franchise because of a change in our Constitution.
Then, in 1920, these same white property owning males, along with their newly found allies, adult white propertiless males, thought the nation would come to ruin when those HYSTERICAL women were allowed to go to the polls because of a Constitutional Amendment!
Again, in 1966, these same adult white males worried about the ruinous effects of the Voting Rights Act, the 24th Amendment, and the Civil Rights Act would have on our bodypolitik!
Now, led by the Dishonorable Senator Cruz - these adult white males will be the ruin of our nation when their FANTASIZED HYSTERIA relentlessly derails our democratic efforts to move into our nation's future!
Filibuster a Presidential Cabinet Secretary - How FiretrUCKING unAmerican can they get!?! -Kevo
What amazes me, Kevo, is that Cruz is aligning himself with a party that, until very recently, wanted nothing to do with him unless he was landscaping their summer homes.
Nothing new in a way. After all, when did republicans ever use facts to back up their hot air accusations.
The fact is. Republicans are allergic to facts, so they ca'nt get anywhere them.
Not surprising that an organization that has been pummeled as relentlessly as the GOP has for the last 6 years would become completely paranoid, seeing enemies that don't exist behind rocks that aren't real. Serious head trauma will to that to you.
expecting TRUTH from this group is just asking too much
Mighty jokes from little acorns grow.
They can circle jerk a lie like nobody else
I think I'm going to start an organization called "Friends of Tinfoil Hats"
The repukes and their backers know that just because it is not real and does not exist is not sufficient reason to not be afraid of it! I am quite sure that we will learn more about this non-existent organization from FauxFearNews.
The whole story has been concocted for people in the Fox/Right WingTalk Radio bubble and there are ample numbers of people who will believe the story just because it is repeated in the bubble. I don't think the story is really designed to convince other people since it lacks any factual foundation. We should not be surprised that this sort of story gets traction in the right wing considering how many other wacko stories have been repeated.
Perhaps Shapiro should have been more skeptical of the spokesman from "Friends of Hamas" who passed him the "scoop".
Baba Booey.
I've heard that Boehner, Cantor and McConnell have been receiving money from a group called Friends of Pedophiles. They should be investigated!
See how easy it is to make stuff up? All you need to play the game is a fictitious name of a group that everyone is sure to hate, tie it to an opponent, and fan the flames of righteous indignation. I also heard that Boehner, Cantor and McConnell hate puppies and kittens, and barbeque dolphins in their backyards for donors. And don't even ask how they feel about unicorns!
Would it be in bad taste for someone to create a 'Friends of Hamas' web page and redirect to the NRA?