Institutional Left Survives Breitbart’s Latest Manufactured Scandal

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it;
and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

—Ecclesiastes 10:8

OK, so Internet Fabulist Andy B. never possessed the entire videotape of Shirley Sherrod’s presentation to the NAACP, which so handily nullifies his charges of racism that the Global Institute of Advanced Neologistics has announced a crash initiative to develop a next-generation, quantum-powered synonym for “wankerism.”

But, but, but…that doesn’t matter, because the story wasn’t about Sherrod, it was about the NAACP audience’s reaction to what she sorta half-said in the truncated video segment Andy released without tracking down the complete source tape.

But, but, but…that doesn’t matter because Andy didn’t mean to get Sherrod fired from her post at the USDA.

But, but, but…that doesn’t matter, either, because the real story is that the White wife of the White farmer whose farm Sherrod helped save and who has risen to Sherrod’s defense could be an insane robot sent to discredit Andy’s reporting.

In other words, Breitbart isn’t responsible for getting the story right, or evaluating his source material. He’s also not responsible for the consequences of his inflammatory, inaccurate sensationalism. And if the people who actually lived through his sloppily-spun story dare to challenge him, they’d better have more credible proof of what they’re saying than the unvetted crap he posts on his own site, dammit. So cut him some fucking slack, willya?

Meanwhile, back on Earth:

MediaMatters—Breitbart’s Sherrod narrative unravels

Huffington Post —Shirley Sherrod Defended By Diverse Coalition Calling For USDA To Give Her Job Back

WSJ Washington Wire—Vilsack Reviews Sherrod Firing

MediaMatters—Will media fall for Breitbart’s attempt to spin his spectacular failure?

TPM—Breitbart Feels Sorry For Shirley Sherrod (Nice, but she’ll still sue you, you self-righteous dink.)

Newsweek—The Shirley Sherrod ‘Scandal’ (Ouch! National Review slam joins Beck and Erickson in questioning Andy’s queasy-making “journalistic” practices.)

More to follow, I’m sure. As “Exploding Fake-News Cigars” go, it would be tough to top the ACORN “Pimp” videos…but this one’s a contender.

Posted by StrangeAppar8us on 07/21/10 at 11:20 AM • Permalink

Categories: News • Politics • Nutters • Teabaggery • Poliblogs • Our Stupid Media •

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The media that pushed the story yesterday and is acting all self rightous today is being let off the hook.

Comment by Nellcote on 07/21/10 at 11:50 AM

Yep—“Black Racism” has become the Conservative battle cry for 2010, and way too many “passive” media outlets are happy to buzz the meme up.

Comment by StrangeAppar8us on 07/21/10 at 11:58 AM

But, but, but…that doesn’t matter because Andy didn’t mean to get Sherrod fired from her post at the USDA.

Oh PLEASE let Sherrod sue the freak-haired bastard for every ill-gotten penny he owns.

Comment by YAFB on 07/21/10 at 11:58 AM

If only the ACORN story had been disproved as instantly! I loved the Farmer’s Wife Is A Plant defense, which is going to be turned, I hope, into a series of Breitbart/farmer’s wife jokes.

Doctored videotape smearing black woman sent in stained brown wrapper with no return address? OK, let’s run with it! Go Go Go! EXCLUSIVE!

Salt-of-the-earth white farmer’s wife who becomes lifelong friends with black woman who helped her? PROVE IT, that’s all I’m saying! Where’s the marriage certificate? I’m going to need to see your documents! What De Vatel says!

Comment by Mrs. Polly on 07/21/10 at 11:59 AM

$50 says he attempts some Citizen Journalism on Mrs. Spooner.

Comment by Hunger Tallest Palin on 07/21/10 at 12:08 PM

If we had elected a Democrat this kind of stuff wouldn’t happen.

—Famous Asshole from an Irrelevant Grievance Blog that still doesn’t quite comprehend its own complicity in this shit

Comment by StrangeAppar8us on 07/21/10 at 12:16 PM

Okay, now not-so-Breitbart has gone completely ‘round the bend:

“Watching how they’ve misconstrued, how the media has misconstrued the intention behind this, I do feel a sympathy for her plight.”

What a shameless liar.

Comment by Betty Cracker on 07/21/10 at 12:51 PM

Let me take this opportunity to express, once again, what an utter ninny Andrew Breitbart is.

Comment by Michael on 07/21/10 at 12:52 PM

Okay, now not-so-Breitbart has gone completely ‘round the bend

If he walks this back any further, he’ll be staring at the skid-marks on his own jeans.

Comment by StrangeAppar8us on 07/21/10 at 12:57 PM

But Betty, he’s a VICTIM VICTIM VICTIM! He posted the doctored video while all the other kids were utilizing the agreed upon 2012 tactic, BLACKS ARE SUCH RACISTS!®TeaBigot Xpress, and so why is he being picked on?

Comment by Mrs. Polly on 07/21/10 at 01:04 PM

Actually, Breitbart may already be finished.

The speed with which the RW media spun to making this story about how the bad Obama administration over-reacted to some inconclusive video suggests that Breitbart’s been thrown under the bus.

His role, along with their own, is fast being disappeared.

That’s as close to an admission of “yeah, we ran with this clip, added tons of assertions about what it showed that weren’t in the clip or in anything Breitbart released, and were almost instantly exposed as saps for doing it” as you’re going to get.

Comment by Allan on 07/21/10 at 01:22 PM

Leave it to our friends at the Effluence:

The NAACP opened up this can of worms by passing that “resolution” calling the Tea Party racist. IMHO not a good plan. Not well thought out. For one thing, it further alienates disaffected voters who this tactic no longer works on but could still be won back to the Democrats if only they would behave like Democrats and pass a real Democratic agenda. Moreover, it OBVIOUS the right-wing haterade would go on a witchhunt in response to this resolution tactic. I saw it coming 10,000 miles away.

Blaming the NAACP? Check.

And yes, PUMAs are renowned for their (myopic) vision.

Comment by Tom65 on 07/21/10 at 01:59 PM

@Tom65—Yes…but in their defense, I should point out that their candidate lost the Democratic Primary, which has led them to believe there is no racism in the world, only misogyny.

Comment by StrangeAppar8us on 07/21/10 at 02:13 PM

For one thing, it further alienates disaffected voters who this tactic no longer works on

Uh-huh. That’s right. Just like the millions of disaffected voters who were so disgusted by the way H. Clinton was treated they voted for McCain, resulting in a crushing defeat for ... Oh, wait.

Also not sure why NAACP actions = People pissed with Dems. Unless ... Naah. They couldn’t think THAT.