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Unbelievably, TNR still falling for hoaxes; Update: TNR retracts

Martin Eisenstadt doesn’t exist.

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It would be my humble opinion that they wish to perpetuate this sort of nonsense.

Conversely, they are simply moronic, gullible fools who need a butt-whuppin real bad!

You decide!

kybowexar on November 10, 2008 at 4:33 PM

they are idiots. This guy was no mccain insider. haha what a bunch of fools

ousoonerfan15 on November 10, 2008 at 4:35 PM

It’s easy to be fooled when you’re looking to get fooled.

*eats*

Grue in the Attic on November 10, 2008 at 4:35 PM

Typical TNR. I’ll bet it was Scott Thomas that gave them the scoop.

Gina on November 10, 2008 at 4:38 PM

Muhahahha. This should be funny when the libs figure it out

lodge on November 10, 2008 at 4:38 PM

I fell for it too.

This guy is also responsible for the Joe the Plumber is a Keating, Joe the Plumber made out with Kirsten Wiig, Palin had a $900 spray on tan and other hoaxes. They’re funny if you know he’s hoaxing, but if you read them they in and of themselves are not funny so they come across as believable.

CanadianGuy on November 10, 2008 at 4:41 PM

Or the difference between the Shiites and Suni.

I wonder though if she could spell Sunni.

(The mistake comes from wrongly pronouncing it “Soony”.)

Tzetzes on November 10, 2008 at 4:42 PM

What’s unbelievable about it?

Jim Treacher on November 10, 2008 at 4:43 PM

I fell for it too.

How?

Richard Romano on November 10, 2008 at 4:43 PM

*eats*

Sorry, but I’m out of the loop. I’ve seen this a lot before, but have no idea what it’s supposed to mean. Can anyone fill me in?

Tzetzes on November 10, 2008 at 4:44 PM

Can anyone fill me in?

Tzetzes on November 10, 2008 at 4:44 PM

The link in my name explains.

*eats*

Grue in the Attic on November 10, 2008 at 4:47 PM

I only knew of this guy from the SNL thing. Well, once again the difference between blogs and “professionals” is that blogs issue prompt, prominent corrections.

Jim Treacher on November 10, 2008 at 4:47 PM

Yes, but NOW don’t you see, NBC, ABC, CBS can all run with the story because it was on TNR. Then when TNR says “oops, sorry, my bad” the MSM will ignore it.

Nice little game they got going there…Media Matters and Bill O’Reilly apparently are playing along, too, now.

JustTruth101 on November 10, 2008 at 4:48 PM

Michelle seemed to believe the guy was a GOP blogger. But she didn’t believe his claims, but asked someone to check it out.

This guy is sort of an astroturfer posing as a comedian. The Joe the Plumber Keating thing was out there pretty quick.

CanadianGuy on November 10, 2008 at 4:49 PM

From:
NRO: The Corner: “Palin and Africa, Etc.”
by Rich Lowry, November 08, 2008
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YWViMjhiZjI4ODlkZjg0NDg5MTJmNmIwYmFiNDRmNWU=

I talked to Steve Biegun, the former Bush NSC aid who briefed Sarah Palin on foreign policy, and he considers the leaks against her on the international stuff “absurd.” He says there’s no way she didn’t know Africa was a continent, and whoever is saying she didn’t must be distorting “a fumble of words.” He talked to her about all manner of issues relating to Africa, from failed states to the Sudan. She was aware from the beginning of the conflict in Darfur, which is followed closely in evangelical churches, and was aware of Clinton’s AIDS initiative. That basically makes it impossible that she thought all of Africa was a country.

RBMN on November 10, 2008 at 4:52 PM

I just sent TNR the following email…bet I never hear back.

You know Martin Eistentadt is a joke….right? I’m sure you called the McCain campaign to confirm he was actually on staff before running with the story, right?

http://www.williamkwolfrum.com/2008/08/04/la-times-gladly-use-hoax-martin-eisenstadt-to-push-paris-hilton-angle/

JustTruth101 on November 10, 2008 at 4:53 PM

Carl Cameron is right on this Eisenstadt guy like a bloodhound. He will have an exclusive on TMZ & PerezHilton tonight.

portlandon on November 10, 2008 at 4:54 PM

ROTFLMAO

roux on November 10, 2008 at 4:59 PM

For as long as Frankie Foer remains on the masthead, so it shall be that TNR’s credibility forever remains mired in mud.

notta_dhimmi on November 10, 2008 at 5:01 PM

Will the last credible journalist at TNR please turn off the lights?

DrSteve on November 10, 2008 at 5:01 PM

I’m not clicking so someone fill in the blanks please…

Kaptain Amerika on November 10, 2008 at 5:01 PM

Not knowing the difference between Hezbollah and Hamas.

If only she’d consulted Greasy Joe. He could’ve briefed her on our successful efforts to expel the former from Lebanon.

Ponz on November 10, 2008 at 5:02 PM

I left a comment on their blog and they actually published it, so we’ll see what happens.

I also took a screenshot, just in case. And posted about the whole thing on my blog (with proper credit to this site, of course).

http://thepoint.breakpoint.org/2008/11/palin.html

Gina on November 10, 2008 at 5:04 PM

I have to laugh, I’m so glad TNR got suckered in by this given that they are already plagued with credibility issues.

How much does someone want to bet that they will stand by this story?

thirteen28 on November 10, 2008 at 5:05 PM

Don’t worry everyone!
“Jesus was a community organizer; Pontius Pilate was a governor”

Firebird on November 10, 2008 at 5:06 PM

I feel sorry for Sarah, All the image damage control she has undergo if she decides to run. This isn’t fair.. Maybe she should stay in alaska.. My gal doesn’t deserve this crap..

Palinpuma on November 10, 2008 at 5:06 PM

Funny, funny stuff–if it weren’t so sad. GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND, DESPERATE JOURNALISTS. If I can do it from my home when my kids are napping, surely someone for whom it is a job could expend a little energy doing so.

hoosiermama on November 10, 2008 at 5:08 PM

Palin rocks, she will be fine.
Palin-Jindal 2012

Firebird on November 10, 2008 at 5:10 PM

I feel sorry for Sarah, All the image damage control she has undergo if she decides to run. This isn’t fair.. Maybe she should stay in alaska.. My gal doesn’t deserve this crap..

Palinpuma on November 10, 2008 at 5:06 PM

Palin fears no challenge as her record shows

Small town politics can be even worse than national politics … it is where I live

joey24007 on November 10, 2008 at 5:10 PM

The link in my name explains.

*eats*

Grue in the Attic on November 10, 2008 at 4:47 PM

Thanks! (Say, you’re not related to The Cat, are you?)

Vance probably took the name from an archaic/dialectal English verb derived from a Scandinavian word meaning to feel horror, shudder (OED), now most commonly encountered in the word “gruesome”.

Sounds… schrecklich.

Tzetzes on November 10, 2008 at 5:11 PM

Gotta love this in the comments on TNR’s post:

bigm said:
GinaRenee-

If Crowley had done research we never would have had the awesome irony of Crowley ridiculing someone for “cluelessness” by reprinting something clearly false.
Really, Michael. Do you believe anything you read that doesn’t contain the words “baba booey”?

November 10, 2008 5:03 PM

(My emphasis)

Priceless.

thirteen28 on November 10, 2008 at 5:11 PM

And they’ve conceded. That was fast! :-)

Gina on November 10, 2008 at 5:14 PM

TNR corrected their error — and it didn’t take a 3-month investigaton witn 44 page response to correct the record.

CanadianGuy on November 10, 2008 at 5:16 PM

Thanks! (Say, you’re not related to The Cat, are you?)

Nau.

*eats*

Grue in the Attic on November 10, 2008 at 5:23 PM

Unbelievably, the rag is still being published.

corona on November 10, 2008 at 5:23 PM

Clueless reporters should not throw stones.

Elizabetty on November 10, 2008 at 5:25 PM

has Cameron admitted who his source is or if the source lied to him?

commodore on November 10, 2008 at 5:26 PM

heard Beinart debate Jonah Goldberg few weeks ago. It was pathetic

jp on November 10, 2008 at 5:28 PM

You shouldnt have corrected him, dude

This woulda been picked up by kos, huffpo, sullivan and funneled into MSNBC

Only then should card have been played

lodge on November 10, 2008 at 5:34 PM

Yeah, well, we know what happens when the smears get widely circulated before the correction is made — everyone believes them and ignores the correction. Cut ‘em off quick at the source needs to be our motto.

Gina on November 10, 2008 at 5:35 PM

Carl Cameron is right on this Eisenstadt guy like a bloodhound. He will have an exclusive on TMZ & PerezHilton tonight.

portlandon on November 10, 2008 at 4:54 PM

And he will breathlessly report it like the sixth grade girl he is

anniekc on November 10, 2008 at 5:52 PM

Newsbusters also fell for it. As did The Politico.

CanadianGuy on November 10, 2008 at 6:11 PM

You guys go debunk those. I’ve got too much else to do. Happy hunting! :-)

Gina on November 10, 2008 at 6:21 PM