Video: CNN debunks Obama madrassa story; Update: Olby slams Insight … despite having used it as a source himself
posted at 7:20 pm on January 22, 2007 by Allahpundit
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They sent a reporter to the school in Indonesia to confirm that it’s not a madrassa. Then they interviewed one of his classmates, who said it’s pretty much the same now as it was when they were enrolled. Not ironclad proof, but given how dubious the story was to begin with, pretty convincing.
Insight’s sticking by it, though:
Insight’s story was not thinly sourced. Our reporter’s sources close to the Clinton opposition research war room confirm the truth of the story. The Clinton camp’s denial has as much credibility as the “I never had sex with that woman” statement. But Kurtz ran with their statement as if it were credible. Moreover, the accusation that the story is flawed because it is based on unnamed sources is laughable. Most major investigative stories published in this city are based wholly or in part on anonymous sources. Just ask Bob Woodward. Many of The Post’s scoops against the Bush administration rely on anonymous sources…
The New Media—including Insight—is surging forward in readership, influence and clout (that’s why our story was picked up byFOX Newsand talk radio). We provide hard-hitting, well-sourced and aggressive reporting—just as serious and fearless journalists of old used to do. How alone are we, in today’s media conglomerate world? The Washington Post should ask itself, does it wish to have serious journalists aggressively following up on our ground-breaking story or does it wish to carry water and curry favor for ambitious and aggressive politicians, and attack its competition rather than report?
Read it all. “Kurtz” is Howard Kurtz, WaPo’s media critic, who went off on Insight in his column this morning (and whom Insight accuses of having made only a pro forma attempt to contact them before his piece ran). He shows up here, too, to provide background on the story; fast forward to 3:30 if you’re only interested in the part about the school.
They sure moved fast to shoot this down, didn’t they?
Update: Our pal John Gibson wasn’t impressed with CNN’s debunking. Johnny Dollar has audio.
Update: There’s no hypocrisy our friend the Olbermoron isn’t capable of. Johnny Dollar catches him laying into Insight tonight to the delight of his 11 viewers — even though he’s been happy to cite them as a credible media outlet in the past when they’ve written stories unfavorable to the GOP.
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My question is … Why didn’t Obama just debunk it himself? Perhaps he can’t?
darwin on January 22, 2007 at 7:24 PM
Was he a Muslim or not? We might care more about the political nature of the Islam strain in which he was raised, but Muslims around the world are going to care that he was at one time a Muslim and then left the faith. It won’t be pretty for him to say “I am not now and have never been a member of the Muslim faith,” but short of that it’s not clear that he wasn’t.
Alex K on January 22, 2007 at 7:25 PM
You mean Hilary’s little oppo drop tanked?
Topsecretk9 on January 22, 2007 at 7:29 PM
And, adding to Alex K’s point, the question remains- can a Muslim really convert? Or, rather, if a Muslim converts can they be trusted? It’s been said that it is ok, per Islam, to lie to infidels to achieve a goal against them. This question, while sure to ruffle feathers, does need to be addressed.
NTWR on January 22, 2007 at 7:29 PM
Looks like the MSM are ditching Witchy-poo for Big Ears.
uptight on January 22, 2007 at 7:31 PM
A Marine is always a Marine, no such thing as an ex-Marine. Semper Fi baby. So the question begs, what about Muslims? Is there a saying for them too? Semper Fi, always faithful. Anyone know Arabic for “always hateful”..oh I know, it’s just so un PC……….
Maybe “Temper Hi”…….
ritethinker on January 22, 2007 at 7:32 PM
The one thing that is popping up for me is that he has two autobigraphies out.
Isn’t that, at the very least , a bit vain? How many junior politicians pump out two before he actually has a track record?
Like I said, it kind of was a bit of a red-flag for me.
bbz123 on January 22, 2007 at 7:33 PM
look, the word madrassa, which is pronounced phonetically like this, mud-ruh-sa means school in arabic… today, however because of islamic fundamentalist jihadist terrorist militancy , madrassa now means fundamentalist, jihadist terrorist indoctrination center… back in Obama’s time it just meant school, but not up until the late 80’s to early 90’s did that start to change in the arab world… let’s try to keep this in context and perspective shall we… i’m a conservative first and foremost and ideologically party notwithstanding, but i believe that the truth is more important and unless someone can convince me that Obama, as much as I hate his ideology, his religious proclivities, and general political demeanor, is a rednecked jihadist that got his training from a mud-rah-sa, then this story is bunk… in my opinion of course…
Asmodeus on January 22, 2007 at 7:36 PM
When did the media start checking “thinly sourced” stories? What is their agenda in all this?
SouthernGent on January 22, 2007 at 7:39 PM
Well, they can’t spend all of their time looking for Lucy Ramirez.
Slublog on January 22, 2007 at 7:44 PM
Me, too, but I’m guessing that we pick the one we like best and run with it - or hope that there’s time for a third before the actual primary so there’s a better choice.
Emmett J. on January 22, 2007 at 7:47 PM
I told you so. This was a trap for the right and they stupidly walked right into it.
However, I think we should tear out a page from the liberal playbook and continue to talk about
OsamaObama’s madrassa schooling anyway. (think… Bush lied, etc.)faraway on January 22, 2007 at 7:48 PM
Not any faster than they moved on Rathergate…
Theworldisnotenough on January 22, 2007 at 7:50 PM
It does seem that the Obama camp was ready for this. Maybe they started the rumor to begin with.
I think we need to continue to dig around in Indonesia regarding this school. I bet there’s more there. It all seems too pat to me.
faraway on January 22, 2007 at 7:51 PM
I think there may be a better angle concerning his atheist background. His parents met in a Russian class in Hawaii.
His religious beliefs (or lack thereof) may be his achilles heel.
faraway on January 22, 2007 at 7:56 PM
I just went to Wikipedia and looked up Obama’s name.Supposedly he is a Christian.Never heard of this particular church tho.
spazzmomma on January 22, 2007 at 8:02 PM
Ted Kennedy’s office has just issued a statement, saying they’re sticking to their story.
RightWinged on January 22, 2007 at 8:05 PM
Sometimes it isnt about the story bu the rumor.
And getting the rumor out is enough.
I didnt even know Obama was in Indonesia let alone in school there.
William Amos on January 22, 2007 at 8:05 PM
Wow when is CNN going to do a story on Jamilgate which ALSO questions journalistic behavior ?
William Amos on January 22, 2007 at 8:07 PM
I went to Wikipedia again and looked up “Obama.” Boy has that page changed since I looked him up the first time.Wished I woulda saved that page.It has got references to cocaine and mariquana(spell) use and, an absent father addendum that I dont remember being there when I went there the first time.The reference of the church he is a member of being a break away sect wasnt there this time either.Whatever,I’m not voting for him anyway.
spazzmomma on January 22, 2007 at 8:12 PM
Seems like the MSM is getting behind the Black Howdy Doody.
Although I think the original may have been older than this Hussein kid.
bbz123 on January 22, 2007 at 8:24 PM
CNN can really throw their weight behind something when they really put their minds to it. Looks like CNN has made its mind up about the candidates…
d1carter on January 22, 2007 at 8:44 PM
An LLL relative of mine forwarded me an email about this and asked me to fact check it for her. What’s interesting about that (to me, anyway) is that an email about this is making the rounds of the Move On types. My LLL relative is so far left she even had a house party for Howard Dean. And this means that even the people in her far left echo chamber are freaking out about the possibility of a muslim running for president.
Bad Penny on January 22, 2007 at 8:50 PM
I say bring on Obama and Hillary. They’re both toast in a general election. Obama is a black muslim (not to be confused with black muslims) and Hillary is the fusion of every man’s 1st and 2nd ex-wife. Case closed!
Mojave Mark on January 22, 2007 at 8:55 PM
“pretty convincing”
Yeah, to liberals and country club republicans. Kind of reminds me of when the AP said they located Jamil Hussein. I remember people on the right apologizing up and down…..by the way, have any of us seen the elusive Hussein yet? Good Lord, when are we going to stop believing them? How many times are they going to be able to make fools of us?
Capitalist Infidel on January 22, 2007 at 9:04 PM
All of a sudden CNN is credible? I’ll reserve judgment, thanks.
jaleach on January 22, 2007 at 10:02 PM
So I guess Hillary doesn’t have CNN in her pocket the way Bill did.
thirteen28 on January 22, 2007 at 10:18 PM
“I smoked but I never inhaled”
“I went to the madrassa, but covered my ears with garbage can lids”
fogw on January 22, 2007 at 10:23 PM
I just wish the Republicans could muster a tenth of Hillary’s viciousness.
Iblis on January 22, 2007 at 11:59 PM
Getting stuck on particulars this early isn’t good-this thing about Obama’s past connection to Islam now gives him the opportunity to say, “I answered that-read my book.”
I don’t need to know what kind of school he went to in Indonesia to oppose him-his politics puts him on the opposite side from me.
Doug on January 23, 2007 at 1:17 AM
There is no truth to the rumor that CBS News will have Obama’s 2nd-grade madrassah report card, just as soon as Dan Rather’s sources finish typing it up.
Also: No truth to the rumor that Peter Arnett has the goods on Hillary’s secret plot to use sarin nerve gas on American deserters. No truth to the rumor that Jayson Blair will be reporting on the tobacco fields and cow pastures around the Iowa home of Tom Vilsack. And no truth to the rumor that Stephen Glass attended a College Republican orgy with Dennis Kucinich.
You can always trust the liberal MSM.
Ali-Bubba on January 23, 2007 at 1:21 AM
Screw them both.
Remember, the “Mother of Lies” is Hillary. Nothing coming from her campaign can be trusted as it is probably a lie, not matter what it is they are saying.
As for Osama Obama, he’s an idiot. A moron with a pretty face and an ego a big as Lake Michigan.
I hope they destroy each other.
Potestas Democraticorum delenda est!
georgej on January 23, 2007 at 2:02 AM
Apparently it took quite a while to film 30 seconds of her looking anything other than her habitual, instinctual Crazy-Angry self. That rage-filled piercing scream that Limbaugh keeps playing is HER, and I don’t think she can stifle and control it for over a year and a half
Jesus, go back and watch her at Bill’s incomming on Jan 20, 1993; look at her eyes, at the expression on her face underneath that crazy-purple hat
The b+itch is stone cold crazy, and I cannot believe that most of the voters don’t know / won’t vote on it
Janos Hunyadi on January 23, 2007 at 2:41 AM
Well, it’s a long, sordid tale. /
Saw Dick Morris on H&C tonight. Anyone know anything about the 90 minute “documentary” he says he is putting together on Hillary? Poor Dick. He’d better stay away from Fort Marcy Park.
BacaDog on January 23, 2007 at 7:35 AM
Hummmmmmm…. http://www.usvetdsp.com/dec06/obama_muslim.htm
davy on January 23, 2007 at 8:59 AM
Ok, it’s time for someone to jump in and intone how all liberals know how to do is name call. Anyone?
honora on January 23, 2007 at 9:49 AM
Lol - I hear you.
The irony of this kind of foaming at the mouth is that the tactics of the extreme wings of both parties may end up making Hillary appear to be the only real moderate or centrist in the general election.
Bradky on January 23, 2007 at 10:21 AM
A Marine is always a Marine, no such thing as an ex-Marine.
I missed out on all the fun last night.
The Marine thing—EXCELLENT POINT.
And the garbage can lid thing—EXCELLENT POINT.
Last night I was busy writing about our need for a MANCHURIAN MESSIAH of our own.
seejanemom on January 23, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Wow, another bogus story doing the rounds, eh?
I wonder if the sports guy, the weather guy, and whatever washed up ex-beauty(haha!) pageant whore/cheerleader they’ll put in the middle this week will devote the entire first few hours of Fox & Friends to debunking this story to counter them talking ad-nauseum about it last week like it was a confirmed story.
Can’t see it happening.
MKR on January 23, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Seriously LOL!!!
honora on January 23, 2007 at 11:09 AM
Did anyone else notice the moon on the top of the school Mosque? Another Keith Ellison sleeper.
Timber Wolf on January 23, 2007 at 12:37 PM
If only we could get the democrats to finish eachother off.
:-)
One Angry Christian on January 23, 2007 at 1:31 PM
Most Muslim Theologians agree that it is completely acceptable to lie, convert, deceive, drink, have sex and such “wrong” things in order to further Islam….I wonder if Obama is a Muslim, if this is the case of that theology.
I think the doctrine is called:
Tim Burton on January 23, 2007 at 4:31 PM
Obligatory hypocrisy call on the lib-watch-list. Honora going to some lengths to ask for condemnation of right-wing name-calling? Alas, it only lasted until her liberal soul-mate resorted to calling Fox female commentators ex-beauty pageant whores….whonora’s response? seriously lol….
ritethinker on January 23, 2007 at 5:01 PM
Honora is female?
Hey there… how *you* doin’?
MKR on January 24, 2007 at 4:51 AM
Get over it, honora. Labels are the nature of politics. Shrillary will NEVER be seen as centrist, no matter how hard the MSM tries to white
waterwash her as other than a Marxist.She has earned every label someone might apply to her. She has to think harder to breathe than she does to lie. She’s the smartest woman in America, but she has no idea how those documents ended up in her quarters. She borrowed six figures worth of pharmaceutical stocks and sold high immediately before beginning a six-month campaign of defaming the industry. A week after repurchasing the stock at a very depressed price because of her attacks (short-selling is what the process is called) and repaying the borrowed stock, you never heard another word from her about the evils of drug companies. Those are two quick examples of dozens available. This woman and ethics have never met, and aren’t likely to any time soon. Nobody should want her within a thousand miles of real power.
Freelancer on January 24, 2007 at 7:07 AM
Amen, Alex K.
On an earlier thread I opined that there might indeed be a distinction between an Indonesian government- or municipally-run school and a madrassa as we think of it today, and that we might tell a whole lot more by evaluating what actual choices available to Obama’s parents vs. what they chose for their son.
IMHO I think that’s also worth researching as Kurtz and others claim to delve into the man’s past. If there was an American school available - and the man’s father was a rich oil executive, so he could afford to send his kid anywhere (including Punahou, for God’s sake, later in life) - why did they pick something entirely different?
RD on January 24, 2007 at 9:17 AM
I’m doin’ good baby.
;^)
honora on January 24, 2007 at 9:58 AM