Earlier this week, I promised a megapost on Mitt Romney, which would have focused on the facts that a) his campaign for president was based largely on lies and b) no one seems to be mentioning this. That post won't be coming, as I've been ordered to cover Penn State tonight and then start my furlough to write the 1948 Eagles project.
Instead, I will note that Romney's lies have caught the attention of the public editor of the New York Times. How should the paper handle the problem? He has not a clue.
Another example: on the campaign trail, Mitt Romney often says President Obama has made speeches “apologizing for America,” a phrase to which Paul Krugman objected in a December 23 column arguing that politics has advanced to the “post-truth” stage.
As an Op-Ed columnist, Mr. Krugman clearly has the freedom to call out what he thinks is a lie. My question for readers is: should news reporters do the same?
If so, then perhaps the next time Mr. Romney says the president has a habit of apologizing for his country, the reporter should insert a paragraph saying, more or less:
“The president has never used the word ‘apologize’ in a speech about U.S. policy or history. Any assertion that he has apologized for U.S. actions rests on a misleading interpretation of the president’s words.”
Many folks on the Internet say it's pathetic that the New York Times even had to ask this question, and personally I think it's beyond pathetic. When journalists find its easier to repeat provable lies rather than challenge them, it's time to ask ourselves why we even bothered to become journalists. In recent days, Romney has made himself a little more available to reporters. I find it hard to believe that no one has yet asked him for a) specific examples of when Obama has apologized for America and b) specific examples of European-style socialism the president is imposing (um, does he mean the health care plan that was modelled after Romney's health care plan?...). If journalists can't force Mitt Romney to handle the truth, that's pathetic, too.
Obama never apologized for America, only spoke the truth. And in the case of Obama's Ciaro speech in 2009, he inspired a revolution for democracy worldwide without putting an American in harms ways. In the upside down world of the GOP, that is apologizing. But then again, they are going to nominate an even weaker candidate than John Kerry, so we won't have to worry about this nonsense for another 4 years!— chasing history- The only thing that made sense in this post was you starting a furlough, Will. Donald Trump should start saying, "You're furloughed."— A Friend
- It's people like A Friend who brings down the entire IQ of anyone posting on the web.— 165Valley
- It's people like A Friend who brings down the entire average IQ of anyone posting on the web.— 165Valley
- Just hit the button once, Mr. IQ — philly2flag
- What is a lie is Will Bunch calling himself a journalist. He is nothing more than a blooger.— RufusG
- Booger + blogger = blooger... I'm lovin' it!!!— philly2flag
- Comedy gold!
NY Times Truth Patrol!!!!
Gahhhhhh!— Mr. Smith - Rufus G.: Will has been a journalist for about 30 years, much of the time at Newsday (when it was pretty good) and New York Newsday (when it was even better). The blog, while terrific, is more like being a columnist in addition to his work as a reporter. But to the issue--it is not just Romney's lies. On a given day I hear or read more than a half-dozen lies, mostly about the Obama administration but also about Republican candidates and about the history, recent and distant, of the United States. I believe that journalists (and columnists) should always call them out if they know the truth.— Archimedes
- When Obama starts to criticize Romney's absurd comments Romney will state that Obama hates Democracy. To answer the question, its not even clear if these journalists understand the egregious dishonesty Romney works with daily.— Murrayman
- Keep focusing on Romney's campaign dishonesty while ignoring Obama's complete disconnect between what he promised as a candidate and what he's doing as a president when it comes to civili liberties, executive power, and the war on terror. NDAA anyone?— RG
- Keep focusing on Romney's campaign dishonesty while ignoring Obama's complete disconnect between what he promised as a candidate.....considering the circumstances than were handed to him, he's done a good job despite not keep some of his promises. But I'm a big boy and never vote candidates based on promises. How is Romney any different than Obama on the three issues you mention? if anything, he's worse because he has publically announced he would intervene militarily with Iran.— chasing history
- "How is Romney any different than Obama on the three issues you mention?" So Obama, Bush, and Romney are all the same on these crucial issues. Yet, you continue to voice support for Obama. Seems to me, you're engaging in Team Blue tribalism.— RG
- This issue is the very heart of why conservatives charge the media with bias. So much of reporting rests on the writer's background assumptions. To say Obama has apologized for this country nails exactly both words and deeds, and Romney is free to say so. Obama is free to argue otherwise. For the journalist to insert a comment that Romney's words are "misleading" is itself misleading.— Mirror
- Yet, you continue to voice support for Obama. Seems to me, you're engaging in Team Blue tribalism.....nope, it's voting for the best candidate. Obama > McCain and Obama > Romney. Interesting that you assume I'm a Democrat. Pot, kettle, black!— chasing history
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
E-mail Will by clicking here.
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