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MEDIA

Reporter Says He Unintentionally Started Rumor that Jeopardized Hagel Nomination

The story behind the myth that the Defense Secretary nominee spoke to a group called 'Friends of Hamas'

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by Lisa Fine

Staff Writer t +

Image: AP

A New York Daily News writer says his sarcastic question to a GOP staffer started a rumor that put at risk Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel's Senate confirmation.

When Hagel's paid speeches became an issue of concern, writer Dan Friedman said he tried to find out which controversial groups the former Senator had addressed. He jokingly asked a Republican Capitol Hill aide whether Hagel had spoken to the "Junior League of Hezbollah, in France" or the "Friends of Hamas." He said he figured the names were so over the top, it would be clear they were farcical.

The source did not get back to him with an answer, he said. But the next day he saw this Feb. 7 headline on conservative site Breitbart.com: "SECRET HAGEL DONOR?: WHITE HOUSE SPOX DUCKS QUESTION ON 'FRIENDS OF HAMAS'"

Friedman said the rumor caught fire and became a GOP talking point. The incident, he said, revealed the nature of today's media climate. "I became part of an inadvertent demonstration of how quickly partisan agendas and the Internet can transform an obvious joke into a Washington talking point used by senators and presidential wannabes," he wrote.

Via New York Daily News and Breitbart.com
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Is the polarization in our political system made worse by the media?

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85 Comments (view in Forum)

  • Phreakwars
    !
    Oh, ANOTHER accident. Was this just as accidental as the Karl Rove photoshop accident? Republicans eating their own and they still have 4 more years of Obama to whine about. It's gonna be a great 4 more years.
  • DogLady_1
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    @martydotcom - I say leave it lay... no apology needed... the cartoon is fine... if we don't laugh at ourselves from time to time, we become bitter...
  • martydotcom
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    @DogLady_1 I believe Karl Rove IS a cartoon character and anyone who takes him seriously or provides him with funding has Way too much money and may be a few Fruit Loops short of a full bowl.
    2012 record 10 of 12 candidates he funded & supported lost. I can do better picking dogs at the Greyhound race track
    I still have the image in mind of him proving "white men can't dance" at the correspondents dinner during GW's tenure
  • Realthinker
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    If this reporter thinks his quip is the only objection the Republicans have to Hagel's nomination, he hasn't done his homework. Hagel has quite a record of anti-Semitism. This reporter, and Poliitix, would be wise to investigate Hagel's record.
  • DogLady_1
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    @AceLuby - Yeah, I think so too... not everything that the pro-Israel/Jews groups propose are actually good for Israel/Jews... and being anti-Israel doesn't mean one is anti-Jewish, and vice versa... I think he is just regurgitating what he's heard from Hannity and has not done due diligence in fact-checking. Hagel has "a record" of anti-semitism...? yeah right...
  • martydotcom
    !
    @Realthinker We all await your substantiation of this totally non-factual accusations
    present his "quite a record" Are you mistaking Anti Netanyahu expansion policy with settlement building with anti-semitism ? That's like saying anyone who hates Obamacare hate the USA
    Facts please ???

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  • rkinsawjoe
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    Thanks for the info. I could have looked it up but that would have gotten in the way of my trying to be a smarty pants and we certainly can't have that. winkey smiley face
  • DARSB
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    @HooverNiebold Is the "sarcasm font" also known as Comic Sans? ;)

    So, Comic Sans walks into a bar. The bartender says, "We don't serve your type in here."
  • DogLady_1
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    The media defnitely exploits the divide that is already there... They didn't start it, but they are keeping it inflamed... Poor guy... I feel sorry for him, and I respect that he came forward and told how the rumor got started... It also shows how shallow and igorant congress is... If they are getting their info from the media and pundits, why bother continuing all those tax-funded committess? We can just pay for a subscription to WSJ, NYT, WP and Nat'l Inquirer for each member of congress! No, this reflects more on the poor performance of congress than it does the media...

    "When the politicians complain that TV turns the proceedings into a circus, it should be made clear that the circus was already there, and that TV has merely demonstrated that not all the performers are well trained." -Edward R. Murrow
  • Roco
    !
    The media is not responsible for the hate. The hate already/always exist. The media is a tool used by both parties and other idiots to keep the hate going. Too many don't take the time to research what the BS the media puts out and just jump on the bandwagon.
  • Arumizy
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    @rkinsawjoe I have to disagree with that statement, those who bring the hate bear the responsibility. Those who stoke the flames of hatred bear the responsibility, those who push themselves and their beliefs on others bear the responsibilities, those who try to restricts ones rights bear the responsibilities.
  • Arumizy
    !
    @rkinsawjoe Your oppinion mate, but those who fan the flames of hate bear the responsibility of it. Do you think there would be so much partisan hatred if it wasn't for the media sensationalizing everything? Or if politicians weren't trying to restrict our rights, or impede on our private lives?
    And we are not talking about racial, religious, etc hatred hear mind you.

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  • PNWest
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    Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are going to win more votes for the democrats than anyone can imagine. Every time either one of these buffoons opens their mouths sensible people run farther from the GOP. Cruz in particular is good for the dems.
  • AceLuby
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    Absolutely, when the 'media' has 'sides' that they are trying to protect they stop being journalists and start becoming cheerleaders. Unfortunately, we have FAR more cheerleaders than journalists and it's dumbing down our populace, driving the wedge further and further down creating an even worse situation in Washington, infecting the state governments as well.
  • DogLady_1
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    I totally agree... the press is supposed to keep the people informed about what happens in gov't... it is not supposed to be a propagnada arm to promote government's agenda, nor is it supposed to MAKE news... only REPORT news...

    "The Press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of the government and inform the people. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government. And paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people." -Justice Hugo Black
  • AceLuby
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    @DogLady_1 I find it funny that those who protect the likes of MSNBC and Fox honestly believe that these stations AREN'T propaganda machines for the govt.
  • SavageMazx
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    @AceLuby it's amazing how one or the other can say something on TV, without any actual proof, and it is taken as gospel by the Foxbots and the MSNBC addicts.
  • AceLuby
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    @SavageMazx Not only that, what about how these stories affect other news outlets? As soon as one of these whackos starts going off on some talking point given by their govt handlers it's all of a sudden a headline on all the other networks that needs to be covered. It's a race to the bottom
  • AceLuby
    !
    Didn't you get the memo? Random bloggers spewing ideological crap with no actual sources is just as much news as PBS. At least that's what I keep hearing...
  • Clarke12
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    when in doubt, say it was an accident. when in doubt, blame the previous admin. when in doubt, say you don't remember. memorize these and you will do well in politics.
  • jessejaymes
    !
    The dumbing down of America continues. I took the granddaughter to a petting Zoo. They had a LLama. My daughter loved the baby LLama. "oh isn't that cutest thing". Fast forward in typical America Style. Person overhears daughter and tells her husband the woman over there loves that Baby LLama and is thinking of stealing it. Husband nods to guy next to him and says "see the old guy with blondish gray hair and the mother with the girl with all the hair? Word is the mother does live sex shows with Farm animals". And so it goes. America, land of the stupid and home of the ignorant.
  • BelinKS
    !
    Liberal media pounces on anything conservatives or Republicans say and have been for a long time. Before Fox News. Now that the tables have been turned, liberal media doesn't like it. Whether the story about Hagal is true or not, conservative media finally pounced. I've always held them to a higher standard than this. Find out if this is true or is this journalist being paid for smoke and mirrors?
  • BelinKS
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    Forgot something. He said it was the night before that he said that, yet it was in a paper that's on the printing press (I know thats an old term and that printing papers now is technology advanced)by at most 3am in order to have all the papers printed and bundled to be available to the public by 5am at the latest. His story doesn't add up to be the truth.
  • jessejaymes
    !
    Just out of curosity, let's say that a tidal wave came in and drowned every liberal, moderate, commie, socialist in the world tomorrow. Who would you sit at the computer and complain about next?
  • HughAkston
    !
    @jessejaymes I suppose I'd have to stop complaining at that point. Why do you ask? Is a tidal wave coming that would provide a desperately needed colonic to the American political system?

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  • ctc
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    So now that Hagel has capitulated on all issues related to Israel.....Mr. Freidman is starting another intentional rumor that will pave the way for the nomination to pass.
    Repeat over and over.....We are sheeple.
  • harold_lloyd
    !
    Polarization is, in some cases, fomented by media outlets.

    Despite what anyone says, the conservative outlets have been, and continue to be, the most egregious examples of this.

    And that's no accident, it's what they get paid to do.

    If that upsets you, keep quiet until you've looked hard enough to see who's doing the paying.
  • kathyparsell
    !
    The media lost the art of reporting decades ago; and now all they know is create, misrepresent or insinuate, thereby assuring that the "story" has a much longer life than it otherwise would, as they await the next tragedy to exploit.
  • Dan_Tien
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    "The incident, he said, revealed the nature of today's media climate" which doesn't bother to conduct investigative journalism, check sources, or seek factual confirmation of rumors before profiting from them.
  • formerrepub
    !
    You know, it doesn't matter if it was a rumor or not, bottom line the neo-cons, McCain, Graham, and the majority of the Republican party, don't like this guy because he's wasn't an "officer" and they have a big problem with an enlisted guy in this type of position. He's also made a stance against the "bomb the hell out of anyone and give them a dose of Mur-can Ceptionalism" crowd! Another reason they can't stand this guy. Being conservative means avoiding war at all costs, but these idiots don't care, they aren't having to go but they sure will volunteer our kids to go!
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