Isn't it simply amazing how the conservative mind can spin lies and deception like a spider's web out of a simple matter that should not be contentious. Here five right wing hoaxes that show the right to be the wing nuts they are.
2. Planned Parenthood. You have to hand it to the hoaxsters who made a splash over the summer by claiming, with zero evidence, that Planned Parenthood is selling fetal body parts for profit: They clearly know their audience, because that lie quickly became a truism in the Republican Party that every political candidate repeats like scripture, even though it is undeniably false.
What makes the entire thing so amazing is that, from day one, the claims made by the Center for Medical Progress — a front group launched to perpetuate the hoax — had every red flag for a right-wing urban legend. The claim that a secret cabal of organ traffickers was operating behind Planned Parenthood’s sunny exterior was eerily reminiscent of previous conservative Christian accusations that Dungeons and Dragons was a secret plot to lure teenagers into suicide or that Procter and Gamble was trying to convert people to Satanism with the power of their soap products. But conservative voters want to believe, so Republican politicians act like they actually believe this crap (and some might) to hustle for votes.
Read the other four examples in Alternet. And we thought it couldn't get any more weird after dealing with Batshit Crazy Bachmann. I think that Fiorina raising this lie to the level of Republican presidential candidates, is despicable and shows just how desperate Republicans are.
23 Responses to “5 Conservative Hoaxes, Lies and Absurd Urban Legends That Have Made America Stupider”
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This stuff must explain how the right can talk about the "liberal media" with a straight face. They think it is because the media are liberal that they don't see any of this in MSM – they refuse to grasp that they don't see any of this in MSM because it is NOT TRUE. How does a sane person cope with this – perhaps originally deliberate, but now so ingrained they have little control over it – embracing of falsehood?
Best excuse answer I can think of is because their neural pathways are different and avoid considering anything that differs from what current pathways considers true.
Excellent point, Joanne. The right must be truly deluded (or want to delude their base) if they think the rational media are trying to cover this up, instead if realizing it is really a hoax which needs no covering up because it just isn't here. Actually I think they know exactly what they are doing and that this is all part of a well thought-out strategy from one of the many think tanks paid for by the Kochs et al.
For further reading:
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe1510281
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1510279?af=R&rss=currentIssue
http://www.ascb.org/newsfiles/fetaltissue.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK231997/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4172669/
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/health/fetal-tissue-from-abortions-for-research-is-traded-in-a-gray-zone.html?_r=0
https://istandwithpp.org/files/9414/4068/4146/8-27-15-Analysis-Center-for-Medical-Progress-Videos-Forensic-Report.pdf
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/planned-parenthood-calls-on-anti-abortion-activists-to-release-all-video-footage-to-authorities-immediately
http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/07/21/the-extreme-and-violent-background-of-the-group/204519
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2015/08/31/group-attacking-planned-parenthood-linked-extremists
The avalanche of BS the rabid Republican base is prepared to swallow as "the truth" is both mind boggling and exasperating. Exasperating because it's intended to overwhelm, as it does, leaving no time to debunk all the myths, lies and flights of fantasy the Republican propaganda machine produces.
Truth be told, I'm actually not bothered one bit by how much bull$hit republicans are willing to swallow – it could be a buffet for all I care.
But I am concerned when they try to cram THEIR bull$shit down the throats of concerned, middle class American citizens!
Now THAT'S the "Red Line in the Sand" they keep blathering about!
Amen!
I second that Amen!
Can we make that three times Amen?!
And email from Joe Kennedy says the GOP has just announced yet another committee in Congress is going to investigate Planned Parenthood–what is the price tag to taxpayers for investigating this new hoax?
PS three states found it untrue and the FBI found the video tapes edited, et al, already
And where is the outcry from the press that the FBI found this information? Nowhere that I have seen.
Here comes another "Benghazi!"
Republicans need to heed the words of Pope Francis. From Alternet — The last American that the Pope named, the theologian Thomas Merton, was cited as a direct call on Congress stop partisan bickering and start showing constructive results.He called Merton “a man of dialogue and promoter of peace for people and religions” and then reminded Congress what statesmanship consisted of.
Yes, this Pope is a Jesuit, and Jesuits brook no fools.
John Cleese on (Fox News) stupidity
Cleese explains why extremely stupid people do not have the capability to realize how stupid they are.
You see, if you're very, very stupid, how can you possibly realize that you're very, very stupid? You'd have to be relatively intelligent to realize how stupid you are.
Head below the fold to watch one minute of brilliance.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvVPdyYeaQU&feature=player_embedded
Source:
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/29/1333141/-John-Cleese-on-Fox-News-stupidity?detail=emailclassic
Thanks Jim–still relevant indeed.
I do agree Jim, with you and John Cleese – we do have to be relatively intelligent to realise how stupid we are – I am very stupid in my eyes, yet I realise that the GOP/Right wingers are either much MUCH more stupid than I, or a lot more evil. Or possibly both! (They know they are lying, it is proved again and again, yet they tell the same old lies with straight faces).
Also there is the old saw that if you are at the same level of intelligence as the person speaking to you, they will think you intelligent, if you are a level above, they will think you very intelligent, if you are the level above that they will hate you, and if you are the level above that, they may try and kill you. Nasty, but true – and probably why the Right Wingers hate Liberals.
Pat, you have hit the proverbial nail on the head.
Thanks everyone. Republicans just keep on keeping on and it is enough to drive a sane person absolutely batty!