The Maverick Conservative

This blog has told you time and time again (it is a crusade here--a crusade I do not see being joined by other conservatives) that you should believe NO "news" story based on anonymous sources, until confirmed by ON THE RECORD sources with firsthand knowledge (NOT by other "news" organizations).  That is because such reports, based on anonymous sources, are NOT "news".  They are back fence gossip, rumor, character assassination, and a conduit to allow people behind a mask to advance their own agenda from the shadows.  These reports (based on anonymous sources) are worse than "not news":  they are EVIL stuff where a material part of the actual "news" is concealed:  the SOURCE of the news.  That infomration is often the MOST important "news" involved, and media people using anonymous sources are deliberately CONCEALING that information--making any such report nothing but rumors (often vicious, malicious rumors).

If other conservatives followed my lead, they would have suffered a lot less embarrassment this week.  Rush Limbaugh, at the same time he was excoriating George Mitchell for naming names, named Albert Puljous as being on the Mitchell list (apparently based on a wNBC report picked up nationally, based on a HOAX list).  Rush Limbaugh had to apologize on Friday (making this a bad week for Limbaugh, as he also got it WRONG on the steroid issue--see earlier blog this week).  Fred Barnes, of Fox News, also apologized directly to Abbert Puljous (in the "news" reports, but not on the Mitchell list).  Fred Barnes has actually had a BAD YEAR--buying into many of the DECEPTIVE arguments of pro-illegal immigration people, as described in detail in archive entries under the general headign of "Illegal Immigration Deception").

Was this false report based on "anonymous sources".  I think so, although you will note that the media (ALL of the mediea, including Fox News) have failed to follow up STRONGLY on this FALSE report--with the potential to DESTROY people--typical of the truly despicable, evil creature that he media has become.  The false report was definitely supposed to be a "scoop" prior to the official release of the Michell report.  Did that "scoop" serve ANY purpose?  Of course not.  It was merely an attept to "beat" the official release by a few hours, and was a despicable attempt at competitive advantage.  Notice, however, that--unlike the baseball players--the news media does not suffer any PENALTY with this stuff--except from people like me, who do not forget and hold them in total and utter contempt).  The "news" media DESERVES to be held in AT LEAST as much contempt as the baseballl players who used steroids for this kind of thing.

Yes, Rush Limbaugh and Fred Barnes DO deserve to be criticized for paying attention to an unofficial, "news" "scoop"--either based on anonymous sources or having the same kind of unknown origin, and lack of on the record confrimation, that characerizes informatiion based on anonymous sources.   I AM saying that people like Barnes and Limbaugh, and everybody else in the media or with access to the media, ROUTINELY "believe" these "news" reports based on anonymous sources.  This is especially true with regard to reports that fit the agenda of the person citing the "news" based on anonymous sources. 

As stated herenin, and shown repeatedly to be correct, you should believe NO "news" report based on anonymous sources, until such report is confirmed by reliable, ON THE RECORD, sources.  It is a MISTAKE to do otherwise.  Limbaugh and Barnes made that mistake.  I do not.  What's more, this is another incident I will NOT forget, and will cite again and again.  The "news" media will not police itself.  People like me have to do it for them.

"Policiing itself" in this instance would be to STOP the indefensible habit of using anonymous sources, and CITING other "news" agencies reporting based on anonymous sources.

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