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"Have the Media 'Falsely Framed' ACORN?"

November 24, 2009 3:16 pm ET by Eric Boehlert

Interesting piece in Editor & Publisher, by college prof's Christopher Martin and Peter Dreier who argue that, thanks to lazy journalism, reporters often got the ACORN story wrong during the last year.  

Write the duo:

How is it that after laboring in relative obscurity as a community organizer for almost 40 years, ACORN was so falsely framed in news stories that many Americans believed the absurd and alarming notion that it stole a presidential election? The answer is a tale of not only how the Republican Party and conservative news media framed ACORN, but also how most mainstream journalism organizations were negligent by repeating rather than fact-checking the spurious allegations.

And the Andrew Breitbart freak-out begins in 5...4...3...2...1!

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    • Author by thaneb (November 24, 2009 3:41 pm ET)
      1  
      For awhile, Breitbart had on his site an official document from Maryland he proported was proof that ACORN was doing business in Baltimore illegally. The document stated that ACORN, an Arkansas Corp was no longer in good standing with the Commonwealth of Maryland. At the time, ACORN's corporate offices were no longer in Arkansas but in Louisiana, so naturally it was trivial to obtain an official-looking document stating ACORN Ark. was not in good standing. Are such shenanigans intentional on Breitbart's part?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by pros2pros2940 (November 24, 2009 3:48 pm ET)
      5  
      The fact that people like Breibart even get read is a example of how far things have fallen.

      The sheer amount of misinformation thrown at americans daily is to blame for the mess we're in as a country
      Report Abuse
      • Author by bilbo_dies (November 24, 2009 4:55 pm ET)
           
        Well, the Intertubes is a wondrous thing but; it is also part of the problem. It is just another take on the old mantra "It must be true, I saw it on T.V.". Now it has morphed into "It must be true, I saw it on the Intertube".

        Sorry, long day.


        Otherwise, they hit the nail on the head. By not following basic journalism standards and verifying supposed "facts", the media, in general, just helped the RNC and their minions spread the word.
        It isn't like this hasn't gone on for years, it is just that there seems to be a lot less "fact checking" than what there used to be.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by shaggles (November 24, 2009 4:14 pm ET)
         
      Is the Pope Catholic?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by ctmartin (November 24, 2009 7:00 pm ET)
      1 1
      The short of it all is that THERE WAS NO FRAME JOB.

      Some people asked some questions, and some other people answered them. If you are going to make a conspiracy about it, then what you need to look at is the uniformity of responses of the ACORN people, who as a rule were very eager to contribute to the social maladies that plague the communities they claim to serve.

      Besides, the Breitbart obsession is just not healthy. Mediamatters needs to stop fighting a battle that is already lost and MoveOn to a debate or position you can actually argue with, or a position you can advance. Instead, all you do is drone on about "that didn't happen" and then when it is proved it did, you move to "that isn't what they said" and when it is proved that is what they said, you move to "it's criminal to catch them" which is really the admission that those people DID do what was claimed and then DID say what was said.

      Breitbart didn't orchestrate this, he just aired it. And your whining just helps him every step of the way.

      You are like the Black Knight, looking down at his severed arm denying that it is on the ground and calling it "just a scratch."

      Report Abuse
      • Author by Vulgivagos (November 24, 2009 9:29 pm ET)
           
        (Release of first couple videos, ACORN states, its just a couple bad eggs)
        "Your arms off" - Breitbart
        "No it isn't!" -ACORN

        (Release of next set of videos, ACORN sues for illegal recording)
        "Have at you!" -ACORN
        "You stupid bastard, you've got no arms left" -Breitbart
        "Just a flesh wound" - ACORN

        (Congress, Census, IRS all sever connections and funding to ACORN)
        "Right, I'll do you for that!" -ACORN
        "You'll what?" -Breitbart
        "Come 'ere!" -ACORN
        "What are you going to do, bleed on me?" -Breitbart
        "I'm invincible!" -ACORN
        "You're a loony." -Breitbart

        (Various Banks and other organizations cut ties and donations to ACORN)
        "Running away, eh? You yellow bastard! Come back here and take what's coming to you! I'll bite your legs off!" -ACORN

        Thank you ctmartin, after you mentioned The Black Knight, all this just played out in my head lol
        Report Abuse

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