Knowingly False, Part II
Following the lead of conservative blogger Powerline, the Moonie Washington Times ran an article falsely claiming that Michigan Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) refused to condemn Hezbollah in a recent discussion on the Mideast crisis. Problem is, both publications are lying.
The Times article says:
Here's what Mr. Dingell had to say to a reporter in Detroit the other day during a television program: "I don't take sides for or against Hezbollah; I don't take sides for or against Israel." When asked if he really wasn't "against Hezbollah," Mr. Dingell replied, "No."Part of what's behind Mr. Dingell's appalling refusal to condemn Hezbollah are the tens of thousands of Muslims, mostly Shi'ites, living in his Michigan district.
But the actual quote from the interview is:
Q: You're not against Hezbollah?DINGELL: No, I happen to be — I happen to be against violence, I think the United States has to bring resolution to this matter. Now, I condemn Hezbollah as does everybody else, for the violence.
Powerline and the Washington Times are knowingly exploiting a verbal tic and lying about what Dingell said. I guess I expect as much from Powerline, but not from the Times—though I don't know why.
