Update on the Swiftboating of Murtha:

[CatWoman]

The Washington Post this morning gives major play this morning to an attack of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) on the website of the (until now) obscure Cybercast News Service. It accuses Murtha-- who won a Silver Star and three Bronze Stars in Vietnam-- of purportedly saying that he had not deserved to win two Purple Hearts also awarded him for his service during the Vietnam war.

The Post story, by reporters Howard Kurtz and Shallagh Murray, quotes extensively David Thibault, the editor in chief of the (who ever heard of them before the Washington Post decided to give them such prominence?) Cybercast News Service, as saying that Murtha's medals from 1967 are relevant now "because the congressman has really put himself in the forefront of the antiwar movement."

But the article tells us very little about Thibault himself. Had the reporters done a simple Internet search, they would have discovered this biography of Thibault posted online which describes him as a "senior producer for a televised news magazine" broadcast and sponsored by the Republican National Committee. I dunno, but I for one, would have wanted to know that

hibault's background and those engaging in the Swiftboating of Murtha would be relevant to any news story on this issue, I would think.

http://whateveralready.blogspot.com/2006/01/washington-post-this-morning-gives.html

[NMDemDist2]

1. sigh

but if anyone can fight this BS, Murtha can

Go Murtha!

[understandinglife]

2. Howie sticks his foot in it, yet again. Jane Hamsher on "How it's done"

http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_01_08_firedoglake_archive.html#113727528744924043

http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_01_08_firedoglake_archive.html#113728226715081583

Howie is no match for Murtha ...


Peace.

[Skidmore]

7. Howie is married to some R operative or WH staff member,

isn't he?

[CatWoman]

8. yes, he is

http://www.washingtonian.com/people/05/kurtz.html

http://www.people.virginia.edu/~jls6c/2004_09_01_blogarchives

[deminks]

3. America Blog: Jimmy Jeff is connected, too. Bwahahaha.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/01/jeff-gannon-connection-to-new-swift.html

[Frustratedlady]

6. I Saw That, And....

I wonder how many other "smears" could be traced back to Talon News, if they were still in existence. It would be boring to read all the articles, but I'll bet that's what it was set up for.

Interesting how they wove around in the "bush" like snakes. Slimes.

[necso]

4. It's what's to be expected.

When you go against these people, even if you are only telling the obvious (and the largely and reasonably indisputable) truth, then you can expect to be attacked -- except, perhaps, where such attacks might give you publicity that they would rather not have you get.

...Or when you consistently kick their asses (by speech of course) in return, and this in a manner that gets through even to them -- along with the greater portion of the audience.

These assholes are also slandering the Marines when they slander Murtha (in this manner, of course), and who would have thought in days-gone-by that those who call themselves republicans or conservatives would have stooped to this.

[Cha]

5. Recommended! This needs to be

read far and wide. If the wapo won't give the full story then we need to spread it ourselves.

Doesn't kurtz have a wife who works for republicons?

[Connie_Corleone]

9. I accidentally duped your post. I'll delete mine.

Kicked and recommended!!

[pa28]

10. The audacity of it all.

They continue to get away with it and become more emboldened. So, for anybody who expected them to finally hit bottom with their filthy tactics . . . keep dreaming.

[oasis]

11. When the Jeff Gannon scandal first broke, CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Howie

teamed up immediately to throw cold water on the story.

"Reliable Sources" host Howie is a WH shill.

[Frustratedlady]

15. I was checking out Talon News again, but....

when I clicked on the "reporters" to get a larger profile/photo of them, I got the following message. How long has it been? Looks to me like they don't want their employee's photos online. I still think that group should have been looked into as a RNC front.


The recent public focus on Talon News, while much of it malicious, has indeed brought some constructive elements to the surface. It has also brought many kind messages of support, and for that we are extremely grateful.

In order to better serve those readers across the country who enjoy Talon News content and look forward to receiving it each day, we feel compelled to reevaluate operations in order to provide the highest quality, most professional product possible.

Thus, Talon News will be offline while we redesign the web site, perform a top-to-bottom review of staff and volunteer contributors, and address future operational procedures.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200501280006

[spanone]

12. We have lost our media. We are screwed. It's what democracy is all about.

Not to be so negative, but after experiencing the Alito hearings and how the press presented them is very, very disturbing. Stories like this only reaffirm fears.
:banghead:

[KC21304]

13. Of course now Bush's Vietnam era service is now

also RELEVANT because the President " has really put himself in the forefront of the " prowar "movement ".

Let's get right on this lefty bloggers. How much is that reward now for anyone who can say they saw Bush attend to his TANG duties during the time in question ?

[smoogatz]

14. Amazing. Bushco's flying monkeys attack yet again--and the MSM

pretends not to know where they came from. How fucked up is that?

[nofoil]

16. It's in your hands...

Cat, this is a good opportunity to write a letter to the editor to the Post. This is disgusting! Lazy reporting at best.

[greiner3]

17. I'm sure of the fact that whoever runs the WaPo;

Is f'ing bi-polar.

[noamnety]

18. By that logic, isn't Bush's service record relevant now?

since Bush has put himself in the forefront of the pro-war movement, seems like his full record should be fully investigated.

The Post will be on top of that investigation any day now, I imagine.

[Coexist]

19. Of course not, silly

he's the boyKing.

[Toots]

20. deserved to win two Purple Hearts

You don't "win" a purple heart. You are awarded one for being injured in defense of your country. When you get a purple heart it means you lost something not won....I realize very few in GOP understand the difference because they never heard the screams....

[autorank]

21. They've smeared the wrong guy. He will strike back, forcefully.

This is a real politician, one who knows that fighting is required, even desirable at times. Unlike his more "liberal" Democratic brethren, he'll get out a big stick and start hitting back and he'll have some surprises for the attackers.

Just watch what he does. It will be quite something.

[democrank]

22. autorank....

Many "liberal" brethren here at DU have been some of the most vocal posters recommending an end to pussyfooting around. Old fashioned liberal Democrats are hardly the Milquetoast variety. That`s a myth. We don`t advocate playing kissyface with the Bushies in the Rose Garden. Those activities are reserved for the Jomentum/DLC wing of our party.

I agree that Murtha`s response "will be quite something" and I`m salivating in anticipation of its impact.