I try to Snope out a lot of stuff that I get in e-mails. Snopes, though, isn't always the best way to verify info, it seems. As a number of others have pointed out, the rumor-control folks at Snopes may be a little one-sided.
True, they have answered a lot of questions about rumors over the years. Rumors that are making the rounds on the internet. Mostly non-political stuff. But, when it comes to rumors about President Obama, it seems they take a one-sided stand, either blowing off the claims as Mostly False or, in many cases, reporting that they can't find anything in their files about the rumors
Such is the case with an e-mail about Navy Seal Team 6. Yeah, the team that made Osama bin Laden better known as Osama bin Killed. From the e-mails (about a dozen, in all) I have received:
OBAMA'S OWN WORDS TRAP HIM:
2008: "Navy Seal Team 6 is Cheney's private assassination team."
2011: "I put together Seal Team 6 to take out Bin Laden."
2008: "Bin Laden is innocent until proven guilty, and must be captured alive and given a fair trial."
2011: "I authorized Seal Team 6 to kill Bin Laden."
2008: "Guantanamo is entirely unnecessary, and the detainees should not be interrogated."
2011: "Vital intelligence was obtained from Guantanamo detainees that led to our locating Bin Laden."
I posed each of these "in his own words" to Snopes, in a variety of ways. Snopes did not own up to even one of them, not even to say that they were mostly false. Just said they couldn't find anything about them. Makes one wonder, doesn't it?
If they are true, I wonder why more hasn't been made of it. Maybe would-be presidential candidates will, indeed, use it for the next campaign. It would seem, though, that it would be easy enough for legitimate media folks to verify. And, regardless of one's political leanings, I would think that a good journalist, in a one-on-one with Obema, would have a blast. Play the 2008 statement, then the 2011 "I take credit for everything" statement, and watch POTUS squirm. Of course, by now, Obama's team has no doubt come up with some sort of response. Most likely, it's going to be the generic that was taken out of context excuse. It's an old one, but remains a catch-all for virtually every politican when confronted with what he once said.
The 2012 campaign should be an interesting one, to say the least. For one, I will find it difficult to believe anything that any candiate for the highest office has to say. Maybe we should look for someone fresh and honest. Like William Shatner. A cute video making the rounds will, at the least, make you smile. I like the honest approach. And, of course...for those who know me...you'll understand why I love the last scene.
True, they have answered a lot of questions about rumors over the years. Rumors that are making the rounds on the internet. Mostly non-political stuff. But, when it comes to rumors about President Obama, it seems they take a one-sided stand, either blowing off the claims as Mostly False or, in many cases, reporting that they can't find anything in their files about the rumors
Such is the case with an e-mail about Navy Seal Team 6. Yeah, the team that made Osama bin Laden better known as Osama bin Killed. From the e-mails (about a dozen, in all) I have received:
OBAMA'S OWN WORDS TRAP HIM:
2008: "Navy Seal Team 6 is Cheney's private assassination team."
2011: "I put together Seal Team 6 to take out Bin Laden."
2008: "Bin Laden is innocent until proven guilty, and must be captured alive and given a fair trial."
2011: "I authorized Seal Team 6 to kill Bin Laden."
2008: "Guantanamo is entirely unnecessary, and the detainees should not be interrogated."
2011: "Vital intelligence was obtained from Guantanamo detainees that led to our locating Bin Laden."
I posed each of these "in his own words" to Snopes, in a variety of ways. Snopes did not own up to even one of them, not even to say that they were mostly false. Just said they couldn't find anything about them. Makes one wonder, doesn't it?
If they are true, I wonder why more hasn't been made of it. Maybe would-be presidential candidates will, indeed, use it for the next campaign. It would seem, though, that it would be easy enough for legitimate media folks to verify. And, regardless of one's political leanings, I would think that a good journalist, in a one-on-one with Obema, would have a blast. Play the 2008 statement, then the 2011 "I take credit for everything" statement, and watch POTUS squirm. Of course, by now, Obama's team has no doubt come up with some sort of response. Most likely, it's going to be the generic that was taken out of context excuse. It's an old one, but remains a catch-all for virtually every politican when confronted with what he once said.
The 2012 campaign should be an interesting one, to say the least. For one, I will find it difficult to believe anything that any candiate for the highest office has to say. Maybe we should look for someone fresh and honest. Like William Shatner. A cute video making the rounds will, at the least, make you smile. I like the honest approach. And, of course...for those who know me...you'll understand why I love the last scene.
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