Factchecking the “factcheckers”

Team Obama has released a 41-page PDF file in an attempt to rebut the claims author Jerome Corsi makes in his book Obama Nation about The Chosen One.Â While it’s understandable that Barack Obama would want to get out in front on this and try to refute what was written before it becomes email legend, unfortunately for them their factcheck attempt has a few problems of its own, as Jake Tapper writes here.Â Here’s one counter-point:

First of all, on the front of the response, is a labeled stamped “Brought to you by Bush/Cheney Attack Machine.”

Corsi has actually called for the impeachment of President Bush. Corsi’s a 9/11 Truther who thinks the Bush administration is covering up what “really” happened at the World Trade Center. It’s not fair to blame this nasty screed on the President.

Ah, but throwing in the “Bush/Cheney”Â name is whatÂ I call a “red meat” tactic designed to stir up the base more so than it already was/is over Corsi’s book.Â Â Â Anyway, make sure to read not only Obama’s attempts at factchecking Corsi, but Tapper’s attempt at factchecking the factcheckers at Obama HQ.Â Tom Maguire did similarly here on the NYT’s reflexiveÂ review of Corsi’s book.

And speaking of Corsi, Jon Henke has a good post up at The Next Right documenting why the right shouldn’t embrace Corsi as some have.Â Here’s a snippet:

It’s not just that he’s frequently, remarkably wrong – something pretty well documented and acknowledged by both the Left and (while less enthusiastically) the Right.Â (and the Obama campaign (PDF), of course)Â Both the Obama campaign and Hugh Hewitt acknowledge that Jerome Corsi is “fringe”.

Bad as his gross errors are, though, it’s not just that.Â It’s also about who Jerome Corsi is.Â

Jerome Corsi is a smear artist (e.g., he has claimed that “Hillary Rodham Clinton is a lesbian and Muslims worship Satan”).Â Â

Jerome Corsi has advocated the hysterical, deceptive North American Union conspiracy theory.Â

Jerome Corsi associates with white supremacists.

Jerome Corsi is guilty of plagiarism.

Jerome Corsi is a 9/11 Truther.

Henke continues on in the comments section of that post as well (h/t: Hot Air).

Screw Loose Change has more.Â

The best bet on books about Obama is one written by National Review’s David Freddoso – the book is titled The Case Against Barack Obama: The Unlikely Rise and Unexamined Agenda of the Media’s Favorite Candidate,Â and was given a good review by Politico’s Ben Smith.Â

10 Responses to "Factchecking the “factcheckers”"

Tom TB says:

August 16, 2008 at 11:42 am

Here we go again! I own “Unfit for Command” by John E.O’Neill and Jerome R. Corsi, and “The Obama Nation” by Jerome R. Corsi. The Democratic machine didn’t refute a substantial charge four years ago against Kerry, and won’t this time with Corsi’s book on Obama. Barack Hussein Obama/AKA Barry Soetoro wants to be OUR President, not Jerome R. Corsi, so if there are falsehoods, they should debunk them, and not attack the messenger.
Bachbone says:

August 16, 2008 at 12:42 pm

Some criticisms don’t pass Logic 101 muster. They’re merely Red Herring 101 methods of throwing those who can’t think logically off the track. Just because Corsi may be off base 51%, or even 90%, of the time does not mean he is off base about Obama.

To my knowledge, no one has yet collected on the standing offer of a huge reward for proving anything written about Kerry (Unfit for Command) was patently false. With all Media Matters’ resources, why hasn’t it sicced its staffers on that challenge?
Mwalimu Daudi says:

August 16, 2008 at 8:22 pm

ST: I have ordered the book from Amazon and it will be here next week. I will let you know what I think.
Leslie says:

August 16, 2008 at 9:37 pm

The Truthers usually are also the ones who yammer about this North American Union conspiracy–whatever that may be. Many of them also believe we never walked on the moon (perhaps they still think it’s made of green cheese), and probably have theories about the real story behind the assassination of James A. Garfield.

Surely one can be critical of Obama without taking up the cause or the book of this wanker.

Sorry! I have better things to do than read this book. Those who buy it should remember that their money is going to Truthers. That should be sufficient reason to stay away.

I realize some of you here are so hysterically obsessive about Obama that you’ll read anything and everything about him. I, however, remain content to read ST’s daily dose of new information and stay as far away as possible from people like Mr. Corsi.

Yes, yes–I know, I know. This leaves me wide open to charges of “you shouldn’t criticize something you haven’t read.” I’ll accept that criticism and move right along, thank you very much.
Mwalimu Daudi says:

August 17, 2008 at 12:18 am

Leslie – of the charges made against Corsi, one was from MediaMatters, another from the NY Times, another the Washington Post, and Politico. All four are problematic sources, in my opinion. What I have learned from bitter experience is never take what the MSM says at face value. Ever. No matter how small and trivial the issue may appear, never trust and always verify. If the MSM says, “It is a beautiful day,” be sure to look out the window and make sure (yes – I really am that paranoid).

And it irritates the living crap out of the MSM that the book is doing so well – and that is a point in its favor. Call it my way of showing the MSM the middle finger. Not terribly intellectual, but it feels great. For once I will let my inner liberal run wild and do something just to feel good about myself.

The book could be 100% accurate, 100% garbage, or something in between. I’ll find out soon enough, and if I think that it is worthless I will say so.
Sister Toldjah says:

August 17, 2008 at 12:43 am

MD, many of the links contained within the Media Matters reports were accurate – they linked up to the direct links about they were talking about.

I should also note that Corsi indeed has talked about how we should impeach the President over the “North American Union” here.

It’s up to everyone to make their own judgment calls, of course, but I personally think the guy is a fruit loop. He might say some accurate things, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.

I’m looking fwd to your thoughts on the book.
Severian says:

August 17, 2008 at 12:48 am

After watching the usual libs and Dems wetting themselves with glee whenever that hack Kitty Kelly belched forth another idiotic tome about the Bush’s, Corsi’s book is more than justified karma. I’m finding it quite amusing to watch them pop an artery or two over him, plus he outsells Kelly’s wastes of paper.
Great White Rat says:

August 17, 2008 at 1:10 pm

I do agree with ST and Leslie that Corsi is something of a loon. However, I’m much more interested in the message than the messenger.

For all the screeching about how Corsi has no credibility, it’s worth noting that after four years none of the usual suspects have disproved anything of substance in Unfit for Command. That book has withstood plenty of scrutinty, even with a good sum of reward money offered to anyone who could shred the charges. That’s a stark contrast to the Truther nonsense that’s been debunked repeatedly. Granted, most of that other book was John O’Neill’s work, not Corsi’s, but it appears even the parts Corsi wrote are holding up.

The other interesting facet of this mini-controversy is the volume and shrillness of the left in attacking Obama Nation. The left always screams loudest when your attacks are on target, and the decibel level on this one is pegging the meter. Example: today’s Philadelphia Inquirer predictably echoes the Obama campaign talking points with two opinion pieces attacking the book. Can you say ‘overkill?’

The left is absolutely terrified that the Dalai Bama might be properly vetted and the hard-core socialist lurking behind the hopey-changey facade revealed.

The attack on Obama Nation is just the first step. Next, any other works that look into Obama – like Freddoso’s book – will be lumped with it. You can’t trust any book criticizing Obama, we’ll be told. They’re all written by nuts like Corsi. Just believe in The One. And by the time October rolls around, the MSM meme will be that any criticism of Obama comes from people who are either nuts or racists. Or both.

I don’t plan on buying the book, but I do hope the content, as well as the author, gets proper consideration.
Mwalimu Daudi says:

August 17, 2008 at 10:25 pm

I agree GWR, which is why I want to read the book for myself. If what Corsi presents in the book is a fraud, it will be fairly easy to spot. But as the John Edwards/National Enquirer affair shows, even the most unlikely of sources can turn out to be accurate when the MSM is in Messiah Worship mode.

I should be able to finish my summer book report and hand it in to ST before school opens in nine days. $:-\$ “
Malagent says:

August 19, 2008 at 8:00 pm

I’ve read (OK, listened too – I’m lazy) The Obama Nation and The Case Against Obama. I found very useful information in both, although I liked The Case Against Obama much better and found it to be more credible. Perhaps that is simply due to my preconceptions about Corsi.

The Obama rebuttal/attack is far more of a smear than Corsi’s book.

For instance there are “lies” listed that are not:

“LIE: “Critics on the right, who were anything but enthusiastic, sarcastically renamed the bill the
â€˜Global Poverty Tax.” [p 250]”

I fail to see how this is a lie considering critics on the right did call it a “Global Poverty Tax” Such as Glenn Beck, WND, et al.

I had to laugh at some of it though, particularly the statements listed under “OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE IN CORSI’S BOOK” – some of which I really can’t see how they are offensive. How is stating that Rezo is Syrian offensive? He does not state that it is incorrect, just offensive. So what does Obama have against Syrians that makes calling someone Syrian offensive?

I’ve read both Dreams of my Father and The Audacity of hope and I found some of each to be offensive.

It’s no wonder that even with the real or perceived unpopularity of Republicans & the love affair the media has for Obama, all Obama can manage is a 3 point lead over McCain. There is hope, Kerry had a few point lead over Bush and still lost – I predict a repeat for Obama.

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