New conspiracy theory: Conservative media baselessly suggest email recipients may be on WH "enemies list"
Conservative media have baselessly suggested that people who reportedly claim to have received unsolicited email from White House adviser David Axelrod may have been added to a White House "enemies list" after emails they sent that were critical of the Obama administration were purportedly forwarded to flag@whitehouse.gov. These media figures have failed to provide any credible evidence in support of this conspiracy theory.
Conservative media baselessly suggest unsolicited emails linked to White House "snitch website"
Limbaugh: "If you're getting an email from Axelrod and the White House, I guarantee you it's a result of the snitch website." From the August 14 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Rush Limbaugh Show:
LIMBAUGH: The White House is gathering an enemies list. People are getting emails from Joe [sic] Axelrod, and they don't know how they got their address. It's the snitch website. You people understand what's happen -- people are sending in stories and emails. If you're getting an email from Axelrod and the White House, I guarantee you it's a result of the snitch website. The White House is clearly out of whack.
Fox's Kelly asks if White House is using alleged "database" of dissenters "to market its own personal message."
MEGYN KELLY (co-host): Well, is the White House collecting the emails of those who disagree with its health care policy? First, the White House asked Americans to forward to it the emails of those who raised fishy claims about health care, which some say pits Americans against their fellow Americans. Two days ago, I asked the deputy White House spokesman what the White House does with the emails of those people who are complaining, the so-called fishy. Here's part of that exchange.
[...]
KELLY: On the heels of that, Major Garrett asked press secretary Robert Gibbs about reports that some who say they never provided their email to the White House now say the White House is nevertheless contacting them.
[...]
KELLY: The point is, does the White House have some database of emails of people who have complained about the health care reform efforts? And is it then using that database to market its own personal message or for some other reason? Or is it just keeping it in storage, where it will ultimately become public record and somebody else might compile it for a nefarious reason? [Fox News' America's Newsroom, 8/14/09]
Fox & Friends baselessly suggests link between flag@whitehouse.gov and unsolicited emails.
BRIAN KILMEADE (co-host): I remember Richard Nixon had that enemies list. Everyone talks about that, because he's caught on tape saying, you know, "Let's get our enemies. Let's round them up, and let's target them." And that's a problem. And is that something that's happening right now?
STEVE DOOCY (co-host): Well, it is just a -- it's just a little scary because last week or 10 days ago we heard about that snitch list -- if you see something fishy about health care send it to flag@whitehouse.gov. And then you've got all these people who are getting spammed, and now for the White House to blame third parties and a glitch, I don't know if that's enough, because if you send an email to somebody else and suddenly that group puts you on the list at the White House, and then the White House spams you, something's really the matter with that. [Fox & Friends, 8/17/09]
American Spectator baselessly connects flag@whitehouse.gov and unsolicited emails. From The American Spectator's Washington Prowler blog:
It was also revealed the White House had put in place a plan to collect email addresses of citizens who opposed the administration's health reform proposal, and then last week we learned that the Obama administration had negotiated deals with companies like Google and YouTube to collect and provide citizens' personal data, such as Internet addresses, when they visit government websites. Within days of this new policy being revealed, U.S. citizens who had not signed up for any information about the Obama health care bill received e-mails from the White House and Obama adviser David Axelrod touting ObamaCare. [The American Spectator, 8/17/09]
Bill Sammon: White House request for "fishy" emails is "the other part of this scandal." Bill Sammon, Fox News' vice president for news and Washington managing editor, said:
SAMMON: In other words, "It's not our fault," is what the White House is saying. Although they did say that they hoped no one was too inconvenienced by receiving these unsolicited emails. Basically, what the White House is saying is that third-party groups must have gone on to the White House website and entered in the names of unsuspecting Americans, one by one, so that those unsuspecting Americans suddenly got onto the White House email list. That's the explanation they're giving. Whether that will satisfy, you know, the hundreds, if not thousands of people who have complained about this, I'm not sure. Also, it doesn't seem to address the other part of this scandal, Bill -- if you can call it a scandal -- and that is this idea where the White House has asked for Americans to forward fishy emails that are critical of the president's health-care proposal. That could be some kind of an enemies list. So that's still out there. [Fox News' American Newsroom, 8/17/09]
The majority of level headed people see this as the crap that it is but say so in mature fashion without even finding it necessary to strap on an AR-15. Thus we never see it on TV.
He's a moron; a completely stupid person, who is talking well above his position. He even makes a joke about how nobody has heard of somebody at the white house ... oh man; I didn't realize that this no-body talk show host doesn’t know everybody working for the Obama administration. Go figure, it factors into the ignorance.
This guy admits that the email was about the myths about healthcare!!! WOW, the truth! He agrees that there are myths about healthcare … but, that’s not what’s important! What is important is that no other media outlets are talking about “the white house email scare of 2009” because it’s a farce! It clearly shows that they know absolutely nothing about technology, or the ways in which names could be added to the list by other means that don’t include wild conspiracies about "enemies’ lists".
Not only that, the idea that past administrations could use email like the way they claim is only referring to Bush, and perhaps some small part of Clinton's time. The wide use of the internet by the Obama administration is a completely NEW concept and thus cannot be compared Bush's use of it. Bush could not have gotten away with it!? Are you kidding me! Bush got a way with a heck of a lot more than sending an email from a very important member of the administration providing information about healthcare reform.
Besides, the people claim that they are confused, and that they want answers. Conservative media claims that the Administration is not giving them the answers to questions that have been beaten to death by honorable news agencies. Even if the white house was responsible (which they are clearly not) for the unsolicited emails, who cares! The white house reports that in the week after the media denounced the emails and that the application process for the email system was revamped, that they received a huge increase in the amount of people singing up for the letter, who now realize that the white house has been trying to inform them all along!
All that was contained within the email was text about healthcare myths ... DELETE IT!!!! Add the white house to your spam folder! But the moment the country and media begins to shun missives from the office of the president as “spam” and unworthy of trust (as FOX did when they refused to air an Obama speech) is the moment democracy fails, the very thing that these conservative agencies are trying so hard to convince the people is happening by passing healthcare reform!
Altogether now: The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
If this was the Bush Administration, do you think Faux would be screaming 'enemies list'?
Obviously it would be hypocritical to hold Bush to a higher standard of ethical conduct concerning "hit lists". Thats not the issue here. The issue is the hysterical media speculation from the "fair and balanced" crowd. No evidence needed. I don't recall anyone needing to make up conspiracies about Bush enemies lists.
Actually the hypocracy comes from all those that complained about how criticism of Bush weakened the presidency in times of war etc... now loudly attacking the president based on total speculation is perfectly ok. But silly me, only lefties should be suspect by definition.
Previous president's had enemies list. This administration has enhanced scrutiny, under our first amendment rights. Is Sepsis Gadfly, (Rush Limbaugh) suggesting warrant-less wiretaps are acceptable?
Megyn Kelly erroneously pits Americans against Americans. It is the insurance industry that is playing to conservative fears. Any computer keeps information, as does the wrong-talkers computers.
To me, the people that are complaining were not, "snitched," on.
They probably sent an e-mail, initially to complain for no reason, and now deny or accuse the White House of collecting an enemies list. Hit and run, throw stones and run, lie here, lie there, albeit claiming patriotism.
Best wishes,
Ronin Kannushi.
Clinton had the nerve to win the white house and not be conservative republican libertarian. Look what happened to him. Soon as he was in office he became evil incarnate. Back then all they could pin on him was lying about sex. Now all our economic problems are his fault (even though such transgressions often came from him caving in to conservatives).
Obama certainly must be evil. He is not a pro corporate conservative, he is not from the south and he is only half white! Remember, since Reagan and the fall of communism history is supposed to be over. Corperate control under free market philosophy should rule the day.
Bush Chaney was a right wing wet dream. They controlled the show and it became a fiasco. That was not supposed to happen. Obama was not supposed to happen. The attack media's ultimate goal is to make this country ungovernable to anyone who deviates from the plan.
Copy below,
"David Axelrod, The White House" to me
show details Aug 10
Dear Friend,
Anyone that's watched the news in the past few days knows that health insurance reform is a hot topic — and that rumors and scare tactics have only increased as more people engage with the issue. Given a lot of the outrageous claims floating around, it’s time to make sure everyone knows the facts about the security and stability you get with health insurance reform.
That’s why we’ve launched a new online resource — WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck — to help you separate fact from fiction and share the truth about health insurance reform. Here's a few of the reality check videos you can find on the site:
CEA Chair Christina Romer details how health insurance reform will impact small businesses.
Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes tackles a nasty rumor about euthanasia and clearly describes how reform helps families.
Matt Flavin, the White House's Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, clears the air about Veteran's benefits.
Kavita Patel, M.D., a doctor serving in the White House's Office of Public Engagement, explains that health care rationing is happening right now and how reform gives control back to patients and doctors.
Bob Kocher, M.D., a doctor serving on the National Economic Council, debunks the myth that health insurance reform will be financed by cutting Medicare benefits.
There's more information and a number of online tools you can use to spread the truth among your family, friends and other social networks. Take a look:
We knew going into this effort that accomplishing comprehensive health insurance reform wasn't going to be easy. Achieving real change never is. The entrenched interests that benefit from the status quo always use their influence in Washington to try and keep things just as they are.
But don't be misled. We know the status quo is unsustainable. If we do nothing, millions more Americans will be denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions, or see their coverage suddenly dropped if they become seriously ill. Out-of-pocket expenses will continue to soar, and more and more families and businesses will be forced to deal with health insurance costs they can’t afford.
That's the reality.
Americans deserve better. You deserve a health care system that works as well for you as it does for the status quo; one you can depend on — that won't deny you coverage when you need it most or charge you crippling out-of-pocket co-pays. Health insurance reform means guaranteeing the health care security and stability you deserve.
President Barack Obama promised he'd bring change to Washington and fix our broken, unsustainable health insurance system. You can help deliver that change. Visit WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck, get the facts and spread the truth. The stakes are just too high to do nothing.
Thank you,
David
David Axelrod
Senior Advisor to the President
I think the Birfer tinfoil hats were more stylish.
I hope somebody saved a screen shot. A site labeled "snitch list" would make them look pretty bad.
Still the point of this MM post is that the hysteria is based on speculation without rebuttal. How bout this one: "Would conservatives think the media would be biased if it had headlines about a Bush snitch lists based on speculation?" At least Bush actually did wiretap citizens without a court order. The media then was harping on a real event.
WHO said it was a glitch??
BTW, I only heard ONE SIDE of this story from the fair and balanced faux network; anyone hear another side?
Imagine the nerve of the W.H. sending out emails correcting the health care LIES aired by faux 24/7 . .