Don't be putty in the GOPs hands

We progressives who are politically active appear to have an instinctive understanding, epsecially after witnessing the last decade, that the mainstream media is not our friend and cannot be trusted.  At least we have this understanding in theory. 

So why are so many of us so quick to regurgitate what they write when it is from anonymous sources in the administration critical of our political allies?

In the latest example, why does Steve Benen of The Carpetbagger Report, now a regular guest blogger at Talking Points Memo, raise aspersions about "Democratic leaders" based on a Washington Post article whose sources are anonymous members of the executive branch -- an executive branch run by Bush that has been stacked with ultra-partisan GOP loyalists over the last seven years.

I'm hesitant to jump to conclusions, but I think there are a few lawmakers, including some Democratic leaders, who might want to comment on torture-policy briefings they received way back in 2002.

Benen goes on to recite a quote -- attributed in the article to former Rep. Porter Goss, famous as a partisan attack dog for the GOP -- but he neglects to tell us it is from Goss, and instead attributes it to anonymous "officials."

Not only did these lawmakers generally fail to raise objections, officials at the briefings "described the reaction as mostly quiet acquiescence, if not outright support."

I have no clue whether the Post article is true or false, but given the reliability of anonymously-sourced reports in recent years, there is no reason to even give any presumption of truth to what these anonymous administration officials say.

Other progressive bloggers, including a guest blogger at Atrios' Eschaton, are also too quick to jump on this bandwagon.

If we turn on our own this quickly and easily, we are putty in the GOPs hands. 

Comments

[John Cobarruvias]

Many of these so called progressives are just "I hate Democrats in charge" progressives.

[Peter]

I agree in many cases, but I've been reading Benen for years and don't think he is at all like that.

[Damien]

seeing your mom will make you feel sooooooooo much teebtr! those windows will still have time to be taken care of. the mental health and emotional happiness of the mommie to be is vitally important to the developing bud. so see your family. the windows will get down.

[Waine]

Another great quote from Begala, from the above link:Even among state representatives, even among Texas Aggies (graduates of this cute erdemial school we have in Texas), Perry stood out for his modest intellectual gifts. Hell, he got a C in animal breeding. I have goats who got an A in that subject. But lack of brains has never been a hindrance in politics.Of course there are worse schools than Texas A&M Sarah Palin should know, she went to five of them.

[Shinya]

Just the type of insghit we need to fire up the debate.