Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Media Matters Daily Summary 08-11-10

Right-wing media falsely declares Imam's Middle East trip a "taxpayer-funded fundraising jaunt"
The right-wing media is attacking Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's upcoming State Department trip to the Middle East to "discuss Muslim life in America and religious tolerance," by falsely claiming he will use the trip as a "taxpayer-funded fundraising jaunt" to finance construction of his Islamic cultural center in New York City. In fact, the State Department has made clear that fundraising of any kind is prohibited during the trip, and Rauf has previously participated in this program, first under President Bush.
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Fox finds new way to blame Obama for Bush-era policies
Stating that President Obama's policies have "clearly failed," Fox Business stocks editor Elizabeth MacDonald falsely suggested that Obama has been in office for three years. This follows a pattern of Fox hosts and guests blaming President Obama for Bush-era policies such as TARP, the AIG bailout, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailouts, and the beginning of the recession. Read More

Beck smears Rauf with falsehoods, innuendo and hypocrisy
Glenn Beck falsely claimed that Feisal Abdul Rauf, who is heading efforts to build a community center in New York, currently "employs" an imam who blamed "the Jews" for 9-11; in fact, the imam resigned in 2001 prior to making those comments. Beck also absurdly claimed Rauf was "connected to Hamas" and attacked Rauf for making comments about the 9-11 attacks that are strikingly similar to comments Beck himself made in April. Read More

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