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Both Kinds of Standards – MSNBC
There may not be a better example of this very category.
If you want a prime instance of something that typifies the term "That's (D)ifferent," we give you Jonathan Capehart and his impression from the Democratic and Republican conventions. Jonathan looked at an activity that was identical with both parties, taking place in the very same environment, and came away with vastly different reactions.
Capehart was lending his impressions on hearing chants of "USA – USA" at both political conventions, and while he was swooning over the Democrats doing so, when it was the Republicans doing the same, he was affected negatively:
For far too long the Republicans treated the flag, the word 'patriotism,' and chants of 'USA' as their own property.
Um, no, Jonathan – journalists such as yourself have treated that flag-waving patriotism on the right as somehow improper and distasteful. Republicans were not saying it was exclusively theirs, YOU said it was a sign of hostility and intolerance:
There were times when chants of ‘USA-USA’ would make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, because those chants had been turned into a chant of exclusion by Republicans. Not this time! The roar had an inclusive ring to it, filled with the kind of pride that comes from being part of a club where all are welcome.
Just holy hell, Capehart…
"For far too long, [the GOP] treated the flag, the word patriotism, and chants of USA as their own property...or so they would have everyone believe" @CapehartJ shares his thoughts after this week's DNC and how Democrats are ready to reclaim patriotism as their own #SaturdayShow pic.twitter.com/I2cpTrsv6y
— The Saturday/Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart (@weekendcapehart) August 24, 2024
DNC PR Firm – ABC NEWS
Mr. Karl seems to be addicted to spin and averse to research.
On Sunday, Senator Tom Cotton was invited to sit in with Jonathan Karl, and certainly the newsman came to regret that decision. Mr. Karl was all set to go into pro-Kamala auto-pilot for this segment, but as is often the case with journalists, they are shown to be unprepared when a Republican dares to go ahead and learn the particulars for a discussion.
In their discussion of Kamala Harris and her agenda, Karl was clearly knocked off course because he was approaching this strictly from the prepared talking points, and not the facts, which means Cotton made him look like a dupe.
On the topic of healthcare, Cotton accurately stated Harris not only favors a universal coverage program but has stated she wants to eliminate personal health insurers. Karl tries to step in and state she has changed from that position, but Cotton accurately countered that spin – because Harris has not come out to state anything different.
On #ThisWeek, @JonKarl unaware of Harris’s stance against private health insurance. When @SenTomCotton notes it, Karl: “What do you mean taking away health insurance? What are talking about?” Then: “That is not her position now....clearly making an effort to move to the middle.” pic.twitter.com/dLk3LEnuCp
— Brent Baker 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) August 25, 2024
Anti-Social Media – MSNBC
When the people angry Kamala Harris is called a "communist" display hatred for the Constitution.
We have been seeing more comments across social media about challenging the Electoral College. Clearly, this is being fed by media figures angry Kamala may lose despite a popular vote edge. The comedy is this: They are suggesting an amendment to the Constitution to eliminate the EC, meaning in order to eliminate the voting power of states, they need to ratify this change…through the voting power of a majority of states.
Leading this ignorant charge is Chris Hayes, who is rather casual in the way he wishes to evade constitutional propriety.
I really feel duty bound to keep pointing out to people that the electoral college is an insane unworkable mess and creates wild distortions in the single most important election in the country that literally don't exist in any other election. https://t.co/RV6fsX0bC6
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) August 23, 2024
Clearly, his middle school teachers who were duty-bound to teach civics failed. That he is mystified that he sees no other election using the electoral college, despite no other elected office involving all of the states to achieve a result, is just an added bonus to his ignorant stance.
Stealth Story Evolution – THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
This past weekend the biopic “Reagan,” starring Dennis Quaid, was released and they held the world premiere last week in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Reporter was on site and in noting the various performers who were on the red carpet, actor Nick Searcy was among those names. Reporter Chris Gardner described Searcy as someone who participated in the January 6 “insurrection.” This is completely false. Searcy was in D.C. that day, filming footage for his documentary, but he did not participate in the riot nor even entered the Capitol.
After being addressed directly by Searcy, the article has been altered accordingly, with no note from editors about the change in the content.
1) The original post outright accusing Searcy of participating in an insurrection.
— Brad Slager - Folksy as Walz & Joyful As a K-Hive! (@MartiniShark) August 26, 2024
2) The new version, removing the accusation and now stating Searcy was merely in D.C. on that date.
No editor's note or "correction" is included to signify this alteration -- clearly subterfuge. pic.twitter.com/wdJphnsnE7
Body Checking the Fact-Checkers – CNN
CNN’s neutered fact-checker Daniel Dale tried to come on and verify Kamala Harris in her speech given to accept the nomination. Unsurprisingly, Dale managed to get through her speech and not find much that was objectionable. On those instances where he found her deviating from the truth he tosses in his judgment that things needed more information and could not be fully verified.
In a collective measure of her speech, Dale and others basically find way to excuse her inaccuracies:
HARRIS CLAIM: The Supreme Court ruled Trump would be immune from criminal prosecution.
DALE: I call this a “needs context” too, Jake. It’s fair for Vice President Harris to generally warn that the Supreme Court ruling gave presidents more power, but it did not grant Trump or anyone else total immunity from criminal prosecution.
HARRIS CLAIM: Trump will ban abortion across the country.
DALE: This is kind of cleverly flamed- framed, Jake, as a prediction which I cannot definitively fact check, but VP Harris at least left out some important context here.
This mealy-mouthed approach to her speech continued at CNN digital, where more of the same was seen with her factual inaccuracies.
HARRIS CLAIM: A “Trump Tax” will raise middle class prices by $4,000.
CNN: The claim is reasonable enough, but it’s worth explaining that Harris is referring to Trump’s proposal to implement new tariffs.
HARRIS CLAIM: Trump will be giving tax breaks to the rich.
CNN: Her claim is mostly true, though extending the provisions would also help Americans who are not wealthy.
WATCH: CNN's Daniel Dale weasels out fact-checking Kamala Harris's acceptance speech by saying that her two demonstrably false claims needed context pic.twitter.com/quAKvXJlmY
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) August 23, 2024
Pounce of Prevention – ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pointing out the reality Kamala Harris bragged about is somehow wrong.
One of the funnier realities to emerge from the press going all-in with fawning coverage of Harris is that in running defense for the alleged candidate (36 days and counting without a press conference or interview), they manage to run headlong into contradictions.
“She was not the Border Czar!” → They reported she was Border Czar.
“She was in charge of immigration root causes.” → The nations she was speaking with saw 400% more immigrants at our border.
“Kamala will fix the economy.” → That is an admission Bidenomics is failing.
“Harris was not in charge of economic policy.” → She was the deciding vote in the Senate on several policies.
And on it goes. The latest involves the three-year anniversary of the suicide bombing in Afghanistan, and Donald Trump is spending the day honoring the fallen Marines from that day. Most of the Biden administration is ignoring this date (understandably so), and as a means of running defense, the AP comes out with an attempt at spinning this onto Trump.
Trump is expected to tie Harris to chaotic Afghanistan War withdrawal in speech to National Guard https://t.co/xNpmzt9upJ
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 26, 2024
It would seem the AP forgot how Kamala bragged about, and the press amplified, her claim to being the last person in the room regarding the Afghanistan expulsion efforts.
As with most of these wan attempts at deflection, it comes down to a reality: Why are you trying to distance Harris from involvement unless there is a problem with the topic at hand?
