BCT Editorial – 3/26/06

This page was last updated on March 26, 2006.

The word; Editorial; Beaver County Times; March 26, 2006.

This is sad. This is at least the fourth time a Times editorial or other op-ed column has held up “The Daily Show” as some kind of good example of reporting.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“As President Bush goes around the country trying to convince Americans that he is right on Iraq, one word comes to mind: ‘truthiness.’

“For those who aren’t regular viewers of Comedy Central’s power lineup of fake news shows - ‘The Daily Report with Jon Stewart’ and ‘The Colbert Report’ hosted by Stephen Colbert - truthiness has entered the American lexicon.”

[RWC] The editorial authors need to get better editors. Jon Stewart’s show is “The Daily Show …,” not “The Daily Report …” If you’re going to hold up a show as a good example, shouldn’t you at least get the name right? Of course, perhaps the “slip” was intentional, an attempt to lend the show some gravitas.

I hate to break it to the Times, but the vast majority of Americans don’t watch either of these shows, not that they aren’t funny. Perhaps I’m displaying my own ignorance, but this editorial is the first time I learned of the faux word “truthiness.”

A little research found the word “truthiness” already existed, at least in the Oxford English Dictionary. Not surprisingly, it’s a variant of truthfulness. Also not surprisingly, leave it up to a liberal to change a word’s definition to something completely different.

It’s also important to point out Jon Stewart is an outspoken critic of President Bush in all forums, not just Stewart’s TV show. Stewart openly supported John Kerry in the 2004 election and treated Bill Clinton like a kindred spirit when he appeared on Stewart’s show leading up to the 2004 election.

“Colbert defines truthiness as the quality of stating concepts one wishes or believes to be true, rather than the fact.”

[RWC] Example: “Listen to me. I’m going to say this again. I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”

I know; that was a cheap shot.

“Truthiness is what you’re seeing as Bush desperately tries to peddle a message that most Americans aren’t buying into.”

[RWC] Hmm, me thinks the author doth protest too much. It sounds like the Times is worried President Bush’s recent speeches are having an impact.

You’ll note the author didn’t provide any examples of President Bush lying. Why do you think that was?