Many have assumed the results of the election represent a mandate for President Obama and the Democrats. As a result, liberal bloggers in particular have been emboldened to continue their campaign of misinformation and mischaracterization against the right.
Consider this example: soon after the election, liberal website ThinkProgress.org jumped into the middle of the Latino vote debate by running this picture:
With the picture, it reported that Fox News ran stock video footage of illegal aliens crossing the border as part of a discussion of the Latino vote. The idea that Fox News would characterize Latino voters as illegals was impossible to resist for some on the left, and the story was shared on Facebook nearly 5,000 times and linked to over 750 tweets.
The problem, however, is the screen grab is a total misrepresentation. The original Fox News segment, which ran over five minutes, discussed a number of issues with both liberal and conservative Latino political operatives. Most of the segment showed Latinos voting, Latinos working, and Latino neighborhoods. Pretty benign stuff. However, halfway through the discussion, the issue of illegal immigration is mentioned, during which the video shown in the screen grab is aired. Out of a five minute segment, it made up about 10 seconds of air time. It was totally appropriate in the context of the discussion, but when ThinkProgress wants to score political points and feed the perception that Fox News is racist, a little lie is acceptable in their minds.
If you think this “little lie” isn’t worth the time or trouble to respond to, think again. For four years, the character of the political right, and right-leaning news organizations like Fox News, have endured thousands of these “little lies” from bloggers, politicians, and liberal Hollywood. Individually, each may not seem worth answering and proving wrong, but over time, it created a widespread perception and a moral hurdle the Republican party could not get over, and as a result, President Obama was reelected. If we expect to make any inroads with the average American, and Latinos in particular, every little lie and every attack on our character must be answered. The truth can defeat perception, but it must be spoken.
To see the video of the original Fox News segment with the “illegal immigrant” video in context, click here:
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Victor Medina is the editor of WhenLiberalsAttack.com
My, My – what a fascinating commentary – particularly in light of the over a dozen Video thingies that have been posted within the Cafe Con Leche Republicans Blog Space – that contain NOT so little white lies – comming from the conservative side of things – that I have pointed out within this Blog Space.
ALSO – as I’ve pointed out – about the conservative side of things – the Propaganda thingy – is real BIG – coming from the conservative side of things!!!!
SO – the comment above is complaining about Propaganda!!! It SURE would be nice – IF NEITHER Conservatives nor Liberals spent as MUCH TIME – creating Propaganda – BUT – neither side will give up this tool – of attempting to BEND MINDS – for Political Advantage !!!!!!
Just sayin’
Robert Allen