NewsBusters clings to bogus claim of 2 million protesters; hilarity ensues
September 14, 2009 1:29 pm ET by Eric Boehlert
The punchline: This is supposed to be a site that critiques the media. But what does NewsBusters do instead? It makes stuff up.
The idiocy honors go to Tom Blumer, who states as fact that Saturday's D.C. anti-Obama rally "drew an estimated 1-2 million people." Where did that (bogus) number come from? Blumer won't say. He never provides a link and never quotes a single law enforcement source to back up that claim. Of course, Blumer can't do that because the "1-2 million people" number is a flat-out lie. It's pure right-wing fantasy.
But that does not stop Blumer from delving into all kinds of (Wikipedia!) research to explain just where Saturday's rally stands in terms of the largest D.C. events while. Blumer does this, of course, while using concocted numbers to size-up the modest crowd.
Behold the NewsBusters wonder:
If even the low end of the D.C. rally estimate holds, it would be the largest-ever gathering in Washington not related to a presidential inauguration -- larger than the misnamed Million Man March (October 16, 1995; while others claimed almost a million were there, the National Park Service estimated 400,000), larger than Moratorium Day (November 15, 1969; Wikipedia says it had 500,000; other sources report lower numbers), and larger than the day of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech (August 28, 1963; 250,000).
If the high end of the estimate holds, it would be the largest gathering of any kind in Washington, exceeding the 1.8 million claimed to have attended Barack Obama's presidential inauguration.
Again, keep in mind the "1-2 million people" is pure fiction. It's a nifty-sounding number dreamt up by right-wingers. It has no basis in reality. But that doesn't stop NewsBusters from using bogus numbers to critique the "liberal media."
There really is NO comparison at all. The Inauguration pic shows what the mall looks like covered with almost 2 million people (estimated 1.8 million), and the other pic shows the lackluster turnout from Saturday in comparison.
I was present at both things, and when you've got 1.8 million people on the Mall you pretty much know it, and there's not much moving around.
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It is again another attempt by you guys to portray this pitiful gathering of tin foil hat wearers as some kind of profound tidal wave of people. It just isn't true.
Nate Silver estimated around 70,000 by the way, which is probably pretty close considering the other "real" reports coming in. The reality is that you people want to believe this is something catching on but it simply isn't. Sorry.
What I've realized is that people who actually think President Obama is some far leftist have lost their minds, because he's a moderate so far, during the time he's been in office (a whopping 8 months). He's made concessions to, and tried to work with conservatives, and has given up on (for now at least) some of the things he said he'd do (again, only in office for 8 months, can't do it all).
What brings you to your "fact" about him being far more left than anyone anticipated? Bank bailouts = George W. Bush. Car company bailouts = George W. Bush (both of which I thought were good ideas at the time, and appear to be paying dividends now, so W, good work on those 2 things).
But I probably shouldn't ask certain questions.
He correctly pointed out that the Bush Administration started both those programs but failed to provide any accountability in them.
This month's issue of Vanity Fair has a long, detailed article about the TARP. Again, no documentation of how the money was spent was provided by the Bush Admninistration.
Heckofa job, Mr. Bush!
Seriously, I'm shocked that I can still get shocked by this backwards talking point. Obama has proven to be a true Centrist at best. In my view, he's a right-of-center Centrist. He has yet to walk the Liberal walk, and the only time he's talked the Liberal talk since becoming President is his prime time speech last week when he invoked Ted Kennedy while speaking of health care. Everything else Obama has done has been purely Clintonian.
Sincere Question for you: What 'Far Left' thing has President Obama done in your view?
Anyone who claims Obama is "left" based on his 8 months as President is blind to reality.
In my opinion, the real test is whether Obama will truly push for the "public option" or just pay lip service to it. If he pushes for it, that would be the first thing I can see that is much different policywise than anything Bush would have done.
Conservatively speaking.
I'm sure to the hypnotized, the fact that NB is considering both the low-ball and high ball ends of their imaginary number range seems very responsible and fair.
Republicans pander the to ignorant and stupid.
That's their "base".
Here's Conservative voodoo math at work:
Of course, there's no source close to reporting 1-2 million, but if we ignore reality and inflate the number, they'll beat the 1.8 million only "claimed" to have been in attendance at Obama's inaugural.
Obviously they are using that "fuzzy" math to get the estimates for the 912 event.
Disgusting.
I saw a lot of people who were probably retired, many more who looked unemployable.
This may not have even been one hundred thousand.
It was an impressive turnout, but it was not a million-plus.
So, we should really take severe notice of the 70,000 that did show up? Sure, they should notice them, but a populist movement, it isn't.
Only in Wingnutistan is a 70,000 person rally a populist movement.
This is what happens when your goons dont get paid to show up somewhere.
Nah, they just relied on Austrailian media mogul organizers.
>>The longer the government ignores the displeasure of the people who PAY the taxes, the worse the outcome will be.
Uh, what exactly does that mean?
by the way. LOL
Unless the crown got so carried away that they carried away the National Museum of the American Indian.
http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=288868-1
Compare those to this graphic: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-01-19-crowd_N.htm
At its most insanely packed and high estimate, it would be about 300k. But as seen in pictures and the video, it was far from insanely packed. It looks like about a football stadium size crowd.
It shouldn't matter, but when a number like 2 million is thrown around by the promoters to prove that they are not fringe, that has to be debunked.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCXFETued-U&eurl=http://www.youtube.com/user/mrcawguy&feature=player_profilepage
Maybe they sent it back to India. The Hell if those hyphenated Hindus are going to be getting vaccinations on the wingnuts watch !!