BCT Editorial – 8/14/05

This page was last updated on August 18, 2005.

True lies; Editorial; Beaver County Times; August 14, 2005.

Sayings like “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” and “the pot calling the kettle black” came to mind as I read this editorial. The author could just as easily have been describing editorials, opinion columns, letters to the editor, and other op-ed pieces.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“For your viewing sanity, we offer the following maxim regarding negative political ads, especially those on television:

“If it’s an ad, if it’s political, it’s a lie, even if it’s true.

“That charge can be made without regard to political party or ideology. In these days of opposition research and single-issue advocacy, the so-called truths in these ads often are anything but accurate.

“That’s because these organizations start from a preconceived position and then pick and choose their facts to fit. If that means taking a candidate’s or a nominee’s quote out of context or ignoring the nuances of an argument, so be it. The ‘facts’ are ‘true.’”

[RWC] For once there’s no question the Times knows what it’s talking about on a subject. Its editorials on alleged public school funding inequities are only one example.

“Another aspect of negative ads on television is that the images can be just as inaccurate as the accompanying words. For instance, FactCheck.org found the images used in NARAL’s anti-John Roberts ad ‘especially misleading.’ The pictures are of a clinic bombing that happened nearly seven years after Roberts signed the legal brief in question.’”

[RWC] NARAL stands for National Abortion Rights Action League. I suspect the Times is happy its editorials fly below the radar of FactCheck.org.

“These ads are not intended to inform or educate you. Their aim is to deceive you.”

[RWC] This is absolutely correct. I believe it’s also true for Times editorials.

“The most effective way to counter them is to hit the mute button on their true lies.”

[RWC] I don’t know if this was a well thought out recommendation. If you took this advice with respect to the Times, you’d cancel your subscription.