False Equivalence: The war on intellect by the GOP

[CheapShotArtist]

Read more: http://progressivepulse.com/politics/false-equivalence-the-war-on-intellect-by-the-gop-with-a-strong-assist-by-the-media-by-frank-d-pond/

Dissembling the facts so as to con-vince the populace that apples are truly oranges is one of the political strengths of today’s GOP. Assisting them is a corporate controlled media which exists to create stories not report them. And to do so in a way that allows a false sense of fairness, i.e. present a fact on one side and then an argument against fact based on opinion and say that such is a presentation of “both sides.” When it comes to facts there are no two sides. Facts are facts. The media should get this but they don’t. When a fact is presented, one need not present a contra-position to show evenness. One can do that if it is opinion presented v. opinion presented but not fact v. opinion. But, the media feels cowed into creating this false dichotomy and present facts blurred against opinion with great regularity and they then call it news.

[Just Saying]

1. Yes!

Science exists! Facts exist! Sometimes there is only one side, one thing that is true.

[defacto7]

2. THAT is a great article.

It is the simple basic principal followed by the GOP and the controlled media whether by plan, force or pure stupidity.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Goes right along with the whole "preach the controversy" style of debate...

Especially when there is no controversy. Create one.

[CBHagman]

6. Both Dana Milbank and E.J. Dionne are talking about this today.

Milbank has at times been part of the problem, but he's 'fessing up to the problem now.

[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-michele-bachmann-gop-squeaky-wheel-ready-to-retire/2013/05/29/260dd06a-c89e-11e2-9245-773c0123c027_story.html[/url]

But for all her entertainment value, Bachmann has done more than any other elected official to inject false information into the national debate, contributing to a culture in which many conservatives detach themselves from reality.

From E.J. Dionne:

[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ej-dionne-jr-gop-needs-more-doles-and-fewer-bachmanns/2013/05/29/76feb7de-c892-11e2-8da7-d274bc611a47_story.html[/url]

Bachmann’s retirement should foster some soul-searching about the nature of our political discourse and how easy it is for falsehood and innuendo to get treated as just one more element in the conversation — no more or less legitimate than any other.

[hollysmom]

4. excellent and to the point,

I am so sick of arguing the same things over and over with people who seem to see the light and them watch FOX and are back claiming the same false things.

[Zoeisright]

5. Logical reasoning and the GOP

are as far apart as it's possible to be. They are the definition of illogic.