When does the press have a responsibility to report rumors? There are rumors going around the left hand of the blogosphere of massive vote fraud in favor of Bush in Ohio and Florida. No one in those states with any thread of official standing—not even the respective states’ Democratic campaign managers—have anything but scorn for the idea.
But I’ve heard this reported by the mainstream media twice today. This morning I heard it on Don Imus’s program (admittedly not part of the press) and this evening ABC Evening News devoted 2 full minutes of their precious news time—nearly 10%—to examining the factual basis for such a belief (there isn’t any).
It’s hard not to start feeling a little paranoid about this.
It’s the new litmus test for being part of ” The Reality Based Community”.
Two plus two makes five in some quarters.