The New York Times has a funny article about Martin Eisenstadt, a senior fellow at the Harding Institute for Freedom and Democracy and supposedly an adviser to John McCain. He’s been cited by MSNBC, the Los Angeles Times and many bloggers. But he also is fake, as are the Harding Institute and the TV interview clips of him on YouTube. It was all an elaborate spoof created by two guys who, sadly but accurately, say that their success reflects the shoddiness of media fact-checking. Said one of the spoofers: “With the 24-hour news cycle they rush into anything they can find.”
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16 Comments
The media has been reporting for years that the American Enterprise Institute is a real think tank too. When will they report that AEI is just another elaborate hoax?
Now THAT is true genius.
Then again –
This one is true:
“We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, as we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease.”
George WMD Bush —Gothenburg, Sweden, June 14, 2001
Maggotpunk,
AEI is, unfortunately, real. The only good news is they will not have a welcome mat with the new administration.
“ Look how well it turned out our invasion and occupation of Germany and Japan. They are strong democracies and firm allies. That shows the need to invade and occupy other countries for the benefit of the Untied States!”. “Think tank” is kind of an oxymoron is it not? The Project for a New American Century has officially closed down but its members simply moved from their floor into the A.E.I. floor.
One of the most frightening things I see on CSPAN is how often a Congressman or Senator quotes these think tanks or the media rather then an official government source. “The New York times reported that..”,
The American Enterprise Institute stated that…”. Of course that is not saying that official government source can not be used to convey untruthful information. All it takes it putting someone in the chain of information with the intent to spread disinformation.
But where is the GAO in it?
Stupid news media, glad to see they get one pulled over on them. They jump out with a story or information before checking sources. Surprised the lib WE put this on the blog.
Sock puppet Saturday!
Will the real anonymous source please step forward?
#
Phantom
Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:24 am | Permalink
Will the real anonymous source please step forward?
======================================================
They can’t: they’re anonymous. Just ask them. Oh, you did . . . kinda:-)
LOL. I walked into a North East side Wichita restaurant which I frequent. I flashed an Obama/Biden sign. They nearly spit up their gin and tonics. WAHAHAHAHAHH
The really interesting point they make is not that the media can be fooled- that happens at least twice a day- it’s about how much stock people (media and politicians included) put in “Think Tanks.” The idea that wisdom can be manufactured by a committee is absurd.
Agreed, MaggotPunk–
The Flint Hills Policy Institute is a fake think tank too.
It’s just a PR front for billionaire CONs the Koch Bros . . .
AEI and other think(sic) tanks also get lots of free coverage by appearing on TV talk shows — often without the other side of the issue represented.
And then there is Kansas Taxpayers Network.
bth,
Isn’t KTN the Garvey’s fake foundation?