Cheney blames George Will for misinformation

[dkf]

Searching For The True Source Of A Bogus Story
By Andrew Tilghman - June 17, 2008, 3:57PM

We've been trying to find the original source for that mysterious meme about China drilling for oil off the coast of Cuba and Florida.

It's flat out wrong. The AP debunked it a few days ago after Vice President Dick Cheney tried to pass it off in remarks to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce about high energy prices.

But it lives on. GOP operative Mary Matalin repeated it on CNN just last night.

We've traced the evolution of the non-fact and found it emerged a few months ago with an inexplicable spate of letters to the editor at small and regional daily newspapers. Within weeks it was popping up as a talking point among many Republican lawmakers and getting traction from conservative pundits.

In most instances, the Republicans point to the (fake) story as reason to suspend the current moratoriums on offshore drilling that are largely based on environmental concerns. It may also serve to gin up opposition to the Cuban regime, a sentiment that has been vital to GOP support in Florida.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/oil_and_cuba.php

[Sans Givingadamn]

1. To be honest, Will is not too good at fact-checking

He said during the primaries that Hillary Clinton had become a Yankee fan only right before running for senator in NY, so as to pander to this constituency.

But her allegiance to the Yankees and Cubs had been known as far back as 1994.

Here's Media Matters with the details:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200805080001

[Mist]

2. "An inexplicable spate of letters..." indicates an astro-turf "citizens' action." How Rovian. nt