Disrespect Towards the Truth

I'm sure we all know that it is bad form to make stealth edits to a diary.  On a blog it is one of the fastest ways to lose credibility.

First, the rec diary references a news story quoting President Clinton.

As reported by ABC News:

Former President Bill Clinton in South Dakota today delivered a harsh critique of how his wife has been treated during her presidential bid, telling the crowd that he has "never seen a candidate treated so disrespectfully just for running," and that, "she will win the general election if you nominate her. They're just trying to make sure you don't."

Clinton spent more than six minutes calmly discussing what he called a "frantic effort to push her out" of this race, saying that no one asked Ted Kennedy, Jesse Jackson or Gary Hart to end their presidential campaigns early.

Then the diarist asked the following question.

Well, what about that? Was Ted Kennedy pressured to bow out for the sake of "party unity?"

I've bolded the part that was stealth edited out of the diary.  

Why, you ask?  

Because the question was answered in comments, and it turns out that yes, Kennedy was pressured to bow out for the sake of "party unity".  Instead of updating the diary with the answer, the question was edited out. Amazing.

Was Kennedy asked to drop out?

Newsweek - Feb 4, 1980

But some worried among themselves whether their solicitations were really meant to retire back debts preparatory to an early Kennedy secession from the race.  A reporter put their question to him directly: would he withdraw? Kennedy's head jerked angrily around.  "No!" he barked, disappearing into a waiting elevator.

The Washington Post - June 6, 1980

As he has done scores of times in the last few weeks, Kennedy fended off all the reporters' suggestions that his cause is hopeless.

...

Carter appeared relaxed, almost serene, as he discussed the meeting, saying it was Kennedy's decision to remain in the race or not, that he had not asked the senator to withdraw and that he remained confident that "regardless of any conceivable circumstances" he will be renominated in August.

I find those with a couple minutes effort on Lexis. There are many more examples of news reports that sound exactly like what we are seeing today.

So the question I have is two-fold.  

1) Why is Bill Clinton trying to deceive people about our history?

2) Why would someone ask a question and then delete the question when the answer doesn't fit their world view?



Display:


Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (2.00 / 2)

Go go Gadget-Lexis!


No way. No how. No McCain.
by freedom78 on Sun May 25, 2008 at 08:43:14 PM EST

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (1.00 / 1)

are you serious?  get a life, lol!  so the diarist edited the diary. OMG, Fire him!

why don't you write something more original on behalf of obama?

besides, i don't think call-out diaries are allowed


by Zebra01 on Sun May 25, 2008 at 08:45:14 PM EST

The diarist edited the basis of her argument (2.00 / 1)

Her whole diary rested on this assumption.

It's hilarious to say the least.


Welcome to a landslide WITH white working class, latinos, women and holding on sweeties!!!
by spacemanspiff on Sun May 25, 2008 at 08:48:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The diarist edited the basis of her argument (none / 0)

Exactly.



Lost rate and rec for issuing a '1' to a trollish comment. The troll, not so much.

by map on Sun May 25, 2008 at 08:50:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The diarist edited the basis of her argument (none / 0)

I think you mean Hillaryous*.

* Hillaryous (n) -- laughably dishonest but supportive of Our Girl.


Can't rec or rate -- next username, please!
by neeborMolgula on Mon May 26, 2008 at 09:19:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (2.00 / 2)

Are you serious?  The diarist, who posts multiple pieces a day, based on rumors and circular references, gets called on bs, and rather then address it... just magically deletes it, as if the question was never there?

It's not just disrespect for the truth.  It is spreading lies and distortions.  And attacking someone for pointing it out and suggesting that they should "get a life"... nice.


by herenow on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:23:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (2.00 / 1)

What's sad is how Bill Clinton is behaving. He surely knows that what he said is not true.


We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.
by politicsmatters on Sun May 25, 2008 at 08:55:40 PM EST

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (none / 0)

It is quite ironic that you would post Carter's response of June 1980 stating that his opponent, Kennedy had the right to decide whether or not to remain in the race and to take it to the convention ...YET today he stated that Clinton would be finished in June...unbelievable the hypocrisy..


by Liberty on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:05:51 PM EST

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (none / 0)

Well, the point was that Kennedy was pressured to leave the race in 1980.  If I had no ethical standards, I suppose I could simply edit my diary to remove the bit about Carter.  I'll leave it in though :)



Lost rate and rec for issuing a '1' to a trollish comment. The troll, not so much.

by map on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:08:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (2.00 / 1)

Was Kennedy pressured by the DNC and fellow Democrats??? Did the head of the DNC hold a press conference urging superdelegates to make a decision for party unity sake in effort to thwart the process??????


by Liberty on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:17:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (2.00 / 1)

How are the superdelegates declaring who they are for in any way thwarting the process? As it has been stated many times on this blog before by many a Clinton supporter, the superdelegates are part of this process. As you and your ilk constantly remind everyone, neither candidate has enough pledged delegates to get to 2026 w/out superdelegates. After June 3, there are no more primaries and no longer any reason for the supers to wait. They will look at who is ahead in the pop. vote, pledged dleegates, and number of states won. When they see that Barack Obama is ahead in all of them, the vast majority of them will declare for him, securing the nomination for Obama. The end.


by Deano963 on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:26:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (none / 0)

My ilk???????? Ok then...HAHA!
And you are of what ilk?????

by Liberty on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:31:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (2.00 / 1)

"And you are of what ilk?????"

I'm of the reality-based kind.

You should try it out sometime.


by Deano963 on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:42:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (none / 0)

I am happy for you...I really am..


by Liberty on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:45:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (none / 0)

Other than Pat Leahy, who retracted his statement, name one public official originally supporting Obama who has called for Sen. Clinton to exit the race.


by Brad G on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:27:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (none / 0)

Senator Chris Dodd, Governor Bill Richardson..


by Liberty on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:43:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (none / 0)

Do you have links?


by Brad G on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:49:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (none / 0)

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/28/c linton.dropout.calls/?iref=hpmostpop

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/200 8/03/dean-calls-on-s.html


by Liberty on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:53:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (none / 0)

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/07/ mcgovern-urges-clinton-to-quit-race/

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/indi a-news/new-mexico-governor-urges-hillary -to-drop-out-of-presidential-race_100300 79.html


by Liberty on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:56:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (none / 0)

I know that McGovern endorsed Clinton early on and Dr. Dean has remained neutral, but.....


by Liberty on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:59:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (2.00 / 1)

How the hell is that hypocrisy???

TODAY, Jimmy Carter stated that Hillary DOES have the right to stay in the race.

He also stated that the race would be over in June - which is simply a statement of fact considering that THE LAST PRIMARIES ARE ON JUNE 3RD. THEREFORE, THE RACE WILL BE OVER IN JUNE.

You're attempting to make something out of nothing, like most Clinton supporters do.


by Deano963 on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:22:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (2.00 / 1)

Yes, truly unbelievable. Unbelievable to think that after losing what started as a fairly close race in 1980, Carter might have learned something from the experience - to wit, that a drawn-out primary process that continues to drain energy from the GE fight long after the primary challenger has lost any real hope of victory is a Bad Thing for winning general elections.

Heaven forbid we should learn from past experience. Can't be doing that now.


Ceci n'est pas une <<snark>>
by ipsos on Sun May 25, 2008 at 10:46:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (none / 0)

Obama stated that he is confident that Clinton supporters will support him as the Democratic nominee. Carter had greater problems than Ted Kennedy.


by Liberty on Sun May 25, 2008 at 11:08:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Disrespect Towards the Truth (2.00 / 1)

Obama is probably correct; I don't hold a dozen or so hard-core Clinton supporters on this site to be representative of all of her primary voters, certainly.

And it's equally true that Carter had more headaches than Ted Kennedy's primary challenge.

But that doesn't change the fact that Kennedy did measurable damage to Carter's GE campaign with his actions in 1980, and yes, I do consider that a spot of tarnish on what has otherwise been an exemplary career of service to the Democratic Party. (I would still hope we've learned from that painful experience, too.)

The same is true of Mondale/Hart '84, and it's fair to say that Hart's standing in the party never really recovered from that disaster.

I would further contend that one of the ways Howard Dean got to the position of prominence he now holds in the party was by being a gracious and non-destructive loser in 2004. Part of being a Democrat is knowing how to handle a loss - Lord knows, we can't win them all!


Ceci n'est pas une <<snark>>
by ipsos on Mon May 26, 2008 at 12:30:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]


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