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Irony alert: Right-wing bloggers lecture the press about fairness. Or, leave Rush alone!

October 16, 2009 9:18 am ET by Eric Boehlert

Still convinced that millionaire players and owners in the NFL summarily rejected Rush Limbaugh's ownership bid because of a couple of disputed race-baiting quotes, even thought Limbaugh has a whole library of verifiable ones (see here), right-wing bloggers are now lecturing everyone about how unfair and sloppy journalists are who use disputed facts and quotes. (Oh, the irony.)

The Weekly Standard embarrassed itself by claiming CNN was guilty of "libel." Oh my. And now Hot Air jumps in and plays dumb about CNN's Rick Sanchez, whose program aired one of the quotes earlier in the week.

Hot Air claims Sanchez, when notified about the quotes, "kinda sorta apologiz[ed] — on Twitter." Gee, that doesn't sound fair. Sanchez aired the disputed quote on national television, then only "kinda sorta" apologized "on Twitter." Liberal bias!

Well, actually that's not accurate. When CNN's Sanchez heard about Limbaugh's denial regarding the quote, Sanchez returned to the airwaves and informed CNN viewers:

Among the news organizations that reported that [quote] yesterday was our show at 3:00. Limbaugh's response to this is -- and I -- we want to be fair to Rush -- he says: "We have gone back. We have looked at everything else, and there is not even an inkling that any of the words in that quote are accurate. It's outrageous." So, Rush Limbaugh is denying that that quote has come from him.

Uh-oh. Sanchez did exactly what any responsible journalist would do in his situation. But that doesn't fit the 'liberal bias' narrative, so Hot Air shoves that part down the memory hole and pretends Sanchez only "kinda, sorta" apologized online.

On with the pity party!

UPDATED: If right-wing bloggers really can't sleep at night knowing that falsehoods might have been used in a pitched political battle, than they ought to start an online petition today urging Glenn Beck to emphatically apologize for falsely claiming Van Jones "is a convicted felon."

We'll wait....

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    • Author by bruce1ace (October 16, 2009 9:57 am ET)
        4
      You could also argue that putting inaccurate quotes out there and apologizing or retracting after the fact fits perfectly with the "liberal bias" narrative. What do people remember?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by DellDolly (October 16, 2009 10:08 am ET)
        3  
        There's a difference, however, from putting out a quote you can source to a book without being aware that it's not accurate and doing what those on the right do all the time - putting out information that's not factual, either on purpose or without making any attempt to verify the info from source other than a blog or a twitter.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by NG_Officer (October 16, 2009 10:09 am ET)
        3  
        or you can go to FoxNews and hear inaccurate quotes with no retraction or apology, re: Beck and smear of Anita Dunn over out-of-context quote about Mao. What do people remember?
        Report Abuse
    • Author by pilotshark (October 16, 2009 10:37 am ET)
      3  
      Poor poor fox and rushboilbutt>>>>>>>>> the big tuffys are being pick on by all of us weak Americans.

      i feel for you all i just can not reach you
      Report Abuse
    • Author by terrapin53 (October 16, 2009 10:43 am ET)
      3  
      The day will come where it is proven Rush said what he claims not to have said. Give it time.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by princeofwheels (October 16, 2009 11:01 am ET)
      2  
      Here is some truthful reporting....

      Rush is out as an investort in the St.Louis Rams. It wasn't the press that knocked him out, it wasn't the players that knocked him out, it wasn't TV or print media that knocked him out, it was the group of investors who kicked him out. They felt he was a distraction...wise business move on their part.

      But isn't it satisfying to know the Rush Limbaughs' high flying plans were shot down by Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. This has to put a large dent in Rushs' ego which can only be repaired buy an all-out assualt on everyone who crossed him. Which, in the end, will show why he was booted. Rush, YOU LOSE and your dittoheads can't save you.

      Maybe Rush will challenge his sheep to not watch NFL games or be stripped of their name. That would be fun to watch.

      Sharpton and Jackson harpoon Rush Limbaugh.
      Sharpton and Jackson, Americas watch dogs...
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Don Hussein Fabuloso (October 16, 2009 12:32 pm ET)
        1  
        Heh heh, Your Princliness, that is a hoot. I'm relishing the idea of Rush's fan base, out there in Real America Flyover Country. You know, the ones who need constant reassurance that they're the Silent Majority, and what America is all about? The ones who are still unsure about paying their bills online and interracial marriage? Imagine them, cowering in their Snuggies after locking all eight deadbolts on their doors, as they turn on the tube and get this message;

        JESSE JACKSON AND AL SHARPTON ARE MORE IN TUNE WITH MAINSTREAM AMERICA THAN YOU ARE.

        Sweet.I'm buying some Depends stock.
        Report Abuse