I would be entitled to wonder, though it was mostly hyperbolic.
Joel Send a noteboard - 09/02/2012 12:21:27 AM
In the spirit of "should this guy even be wandering around without a keeper, let alone deciding the nations laws?" His medical degree and the fact abortion is a medical matter just made that a more pointed way to put it.
Of course the last well known case of this happening, earlier this year, was the NYT <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/york-times-falls-onion-spoof-161556426.html">citing the onion</a>, I say well known because the 'newspaper of record's inability to research received less commentary then an idle post by a minor congressmen on his facebook page.
Doubtless you'd be willing to say, being the fair person you are and not the hyper-partisan drama queen you come off like, that the NYT making such a mistake was obviously a much bigger deal and deserves far more mockery. Either way, making such a mistake, something many of us - excuse me, never us just other people especially those we dislike - make these kind of mistakes all the time, we just don't have professional jackals and fanatics waiting to expose things like this. I mean, you regularly post stuff that makes you sound like a raving fringe-radical paranoid lunatic, so I'd think you shouldn't be throwing too many stones. It's funny, it happened, enjoy a laugh and move on, you didn't have to get vicious about it and seriously and repeatedly question the man's competence as a doctor and a congressmen.
When I or the NYT "Week in Review" editor decide federal law I hereby give you carte blanche to question our ability to do so the moment we post satire as fact.
Sure, it is more deserving of mockery when the NYT cites an Onion article saying Obama sings Jonas Brothers songs in the shower, let alone displays a fake Tigerbeat cover proclaiming it. They ARE (supposedly) a reputable newspaper, so research and getting facts straight is, like, THEIR JOB. Including the picture raises other interesting questions; they obviously did not get it from the magazine, since no such cover exists, so I hope they at least credited the Onion (which would make the whole thing more amusing) since they were SELLING IT AT NEWSTANDS AROUND THE COUNTRY. Where are copyright lawyers when we need them...?
It is not, however, a bigger deal (to anyone but those copyright lawers and the Onion,) because the NYT does not MAKE FEDERAL LAWS. Representative Fleming DOES, and given his medical degree, brief family medical career and posting about Planned Parenthood on Facebook I would hazard a guess he has some thoughts on what US abortion laws should be. He also probably has an opinion on whether Planned Parenthood should continue receiving federal tax money and the credibility of the investigation one of his colleagues launched in the chamber of Congress where he holds office.
So do I, the NYT and, I suspect, you; the difference is we are not among the 435 House members directly responsible for deciding those matters; Representative Fleming is. That, and the fact he is the only one of the named parties who thinks Planned Parenthood morally and financially capable of building an $8 billion abortion resort, are the differences between him and the rest of us. If he is that badly informed about the issue he has no business legislating it.
$8 billion is a LOT of money; I suspect he knows Planned Parenthood could never build an $8 billion dollar ANYTHING without using the federal taxpayer funds they receive. Let us not kid ourselves: He cited the Onion article as proof Planned Parenthood violated federal law, as alleged by the current House investigation, and should be stripped of their federal funds, its executives possibly indicted. Again, that many crackpots agree only annoys me, but in a Congressman who actually has the power to make it a reality that is very worrisome. What other false beliefs does he make the basis of legislation (and possible federal prosecution)...?
“We’re delighted to hear that Rep. Fleming is a regular reader of America’s Finest News Source and doesn’t bother himself with The New York Times, Washington Post, the mediums of television and radio, or any other lesser journalism outlets,” he said in a statement.
Of course the last well known case of this happening, earlier this year, was the NYT <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/york-times-falls-onion-spoof-161556426.html">citing the onion</a>, I say well known because the 'newspaper of record's inability to research received less commentary then an idle post by a minor congressmen on his facebook page.
Doubtless you'd be willing to say, being the fair person you are and not the hyper-partisan drama queen you come off like, that the NYT making such a mistake was obviously a much bigger deal and deserves far more mockery. Either way, making such a mistake, something many of us - excuse me, never us just other people especially those we dislike - make these kind of mistakes all the time, we just don't have professional jackals and fanatics waiting to expose things like this. I mean, you regularly post stuff that makes you sound like a raving fringe-radical paranoid lunatic, so I'd think you shouldn't be throwing too many stones. It's funny, it happened, enjoy a laugh and move on, you didn't have to get vicious about it and seriously and repeatedly question the man's competence as a doctor and a congressmen.
When I or the NYT "Week in Review" editor decide federal law I hereby give you carte blanche to question our ability to do so the moment we post satire as fact.
Sure, it is more deserving of mockery when the NYT cites an Onion article saying Obama sings Jonas Brothers songs in the shower, let alone displays a fake Tigerbeat cover proclaiming it. They ARE (supposedly) a reputable newspaper, so research and getting facts straight is, like, THEIR JOB. Including the picture raises other interesting questions; they obviously did not get it from the magazine, since no such cover exists, so I hope they at least credited the Onion (which would make the whole thing more amusing) since they were SELLING IT AT NEWSTANDS AROUND THE COUNTRY. Where are copyright lawyers when we need them...?
It is not, however, a bigger deal (to anyone but those copyright lawers and the Onion,) because the NYT does not MAKE FEDERAL LAWS. Representative Fleming DOES, and given his medical degree, brief family medical career and posting about Planned Parenthood on Facebook I would hazard a guess he has some thoughts on what US abortion laws should be. He also probably has an opinion on whether Planned Parenthood should continue receiving federal tax money and the credibility of the investigation one of his colleagues launched in the chamber of Congress where he holds office.
So do I, the NYT and, I suspect, you; the difference is we are not among the 435 House members directly responsible for deciding those matters; Representative Fleming is. That, and the fact he is the only one of the named parties who thinks Planned Parenthood morally and financially capable of building an $8 billion abortion resort, are the differences between him and the rest of us. If he is that badly informed about the issue he has no business legislating it.
$8 billion is a LOT of money; I suspect he knows Planned Parenthood could never build an $8 billion dollar ANYTHING without using the federal taxpayer funds they receive. Let us not kid ourselves: He cited the Onion article as proof Planned Parenthood violated federal law, as alleged by the current House investigation, and should be stripped of their federal funds, its executives possibly indicted. Again, that many crackpots agree only annoys me, but in a Congressman who actually has the power to make it a reality that is very worrisome. What other false beliefs does he make the basis of legislation (and possible federal prosecution)...?
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
This message last edited by Joel on 09/02/2012 at 12:21:49 AM
Congressman Posts Onion Planned Parenthood Article on His Facebook as Fact
- 08/02/2012 01:01:12 PM
726 Views
Don't get your undies in a bundle. It's like all the people Ali G fooled. *NM*
- 08/02/2012 02:22:11 PM
170 Views
It is like all the CONGRESSMEN Ali G fooled.
- 08/02/2012 08:21:57 PM
400 Views
He probably posted on just the headline without reading the "article".
- 08/02/2012 05:15:08 PM
404 Views
Hopefully, but even I vet articles better than that before posting them.
- 08/02/2012 08:39:12 PM
380 Views
I think you cross a line questioning his medical qualifications, funny, sure, stupid, not really
- 08/02/2012 09:05:19 PM
407 Views
I would be entitled to wonder, though it was mostly hyperbolic.
- 09/02/2012 12:21:27 AM
513 Views
I'd be surprised if he runs his own Facebook page. *NM*
- 08/02/2012 10:17:46 PM
156 Views