SUMMARY
This is another documented incident demonstrating how HuffPost foments and approves comments containing anti-Jew, anti-Israel hatred and propaganda, by covering only one side of a story --- and in this instance, by failing/refusing to update it, as important new developments become known (see UPDATES at end).
For background on the troubling nomination of Charles Freeman to be a top intelligence adviser to President Obama, the bipartisan Congressional concerns regarding him, and his deeply troubling statements and affiliation, see the following articles:Review Of Intel Official's Ties To Saudi Govt (Washington Post)
(Congressmen) Israel and Kirk Request Another Investigation Into Freeman (Weekly Standard)
Unfit (Center for Security Policy)
Congressional Opposition to Freeman Intel Nomination Grows (Investigative Project on Terrorism)
Concentrated Blame for Freeman (Investigative Project on Terrorism)
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HuffPost routinely posts updates to stories that it considers newsworthy, and announces them prominently.
For example, regarding Bristol Palin's March 10 breakup with the father of her child, HuffPost is updating this top-line story, as shown below (red box; click to enlarge):
HuffPost did the same thing with the story of Sen. David Vitter's March 11 "tantrum" at an airport (red boxes) :
Now, in regards to the real reasons behind Charles Freeman's March 10 decision to withdraw his nomination to be a top national security adviser to President Obama, however, HuffPost apparently opted to just take his conspiracy-laden, anti-Israel rants as the gospel truth.
Then, as an added insult, HuffPost failed/refused to update the story with the prominently-reported rebuttals of those he targeted with his vicious verbal attacks.
And as this article documents, the result was HuffPost's fomenting and approval of viciously anti-Israel and anti-Jewish slanders on the comment threads related to these stories.
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At 4:44pm on Tuesday, March 10, HuffPost put up a top thread entitled Chas Freeman Out: Intel Chair Withdraws, in which he is quoted as attributing the pressure for him to withdraw to "the Israel lobby." The article contained excerpts of Freeman's conspiracy theory:
"The tactics of the Israel Lobby plumb the depths of dishonor and indecency and include character assassination, selective misquotation, the willful distortion of the record, the fabrication of falsehoods, and an utter disregard for the truth. The aim of this Lobby is control of the policy process through the exercise of a veto over the appointment of people who dispute the wisdom of its views, the substitution of political correctness for analysis, and the exclusion of any and all options for decision by Americans and our government other than those that it favors.
[...]
"This is not just a tragedy for Israelis and their neighbors in the Middle East; it is doing widening damage to the national security of the United States."
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Then, on March 10 at 11:07pm, HuffPost put up a second thread, entitled Chas Freeman Slams "Israel Lobby," containing his full-bore, conspiracy-laden diatribe against pro-Israel activists.
Freeman's rant continued on a follow-up thread, which HuffPost put up on the afternoon of March 11, entitled Freeman On Resignation: "S--- Happens." In this instance, HuffPost chose to publish only the following excerpt from the story:
"On Monday I recorded an episode of blogging heads with Brian Beutler on the subject of Charles Freeman. I took the position that, since Freeman had managed to become Chairman of the National Intelligence Council, AIPAC's ability to crush its critics must be exaggerated."Following the link to the source story, the reporter continued:
"Of course, a couple of hours after after the episode appeared, Freeman went and resigned. The timing could not have been worse."
--- AS FEATURED ON DRUDGEREPORT ---
BUT HUFFPOST FAILED/REFUSED TO INCLUDE THEM AS UPDATE ITEMS
Late on the afternoon of March 11, The Drudge Report --- which HuffPost is known for shadowing for stories --- featured top-line coverage of two stories, as shown in the screen capture below (click to enlarge):
Obama's choice for top security posts withdraws; Blames Israeli Lobbying Groups...
American Jewish Committee Rejects 'Scapegoating'...
The first story (which was originally played as AIPAC having denied any involvement in the Freeman affair), from the NY Times' International Herald-Tribune, contained the following:
Joshua Block, a spokesman for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a lobbying group, said Tuesday that his organization had not taken a formal position on Freeman's selection and had not lobbied Congress members to oppose it.
The second story, published at 5:45pm on March 11 on the AP newswire, contained the following:
AJC Executive Director David A. Harris issued the following statement:
Apparently, Chas Freeman can dish it out but can't take it.
Like all appointments to key national security positions, Freeman's merited public scrutiny. His views on "Abdullah the Great," on Israel, on September 11, and on Tiananmen Square were a matter of public record, and respected officials on both sides of the aisle raised legitimate concerns about them.
Ambassador Freeman could have defended those beliefs in an open debate. Instead, he chose to fire off nasty emails scapegoating the "Israel Lobby" for his own decision to withdraw.
The only "libels" and "smears" here are Freeman's tired cliches about a nefarious "Israel Lobby" that stifles debate. In truth, it's Freeman, a charter member of the Saudi Fan Club, who wanted the debate to be silenced - since he found himself on the losing side once it started.
If Freeman's conspiratorial rant reflects the quality of his analysis and his temperament under pressure, it's just further evidence that he wasn't the right man for this critical job.
Yet HuffPost never updated its threads on Mr. Freeman's withdrawal to include either of these stories. The threads continued to consist only of his rant against Israel, its lobby, and their "danger" to the U.S. (as opposed to the danger posed by an unhinged individual such as himself).
The following screen shots, captured on March 12, validate that HuffPost included no "updates" in any of the above three stories (click to enlarge):
So what sort of user comments did HuffPost review, approve and publish --- many of which were clearly incited or stoked a result of its playing this story in such a one-sided, anti-Israel way?
Read them for yourself, below. Key passages are in bold. Extra-special passages are in red.
Notes:
(1) For a reminder of the reality of HuffPost's "comment policies" and terms of Service, click here.
(2) For detailed information on HuffPost's moderation procedures for user comments on its news threads, click here..
(2) PDFs of all cited comments, and the threads they appeared on, are available upon request.
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(1) MARCH 10 "Chas Freeman Out: Intel Chair Withdraws"
700(+/-) comments approved (posted); 42(+/-) comments pending approval
==================================RiverHippieLives See Profile I'm a Fan of RiverHippieLives permalink
This is the work of the Mo.ssad operative in the Obama administration -- The Rahm Dog.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:34 PM on 03/10/2009
Piatt See Profile I'm a Fan of Piatt permalink
As long as Americans are willing to endure policy litmus tests imposed by zealots, there will be no progress in the Middle East. (...)
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:35 PM on 03/10/2009loveobamas See Profile I'm a Fan of loveobamas permalink
The question must be answered; how to loosen the stranglehold AIPAC has on this country"s politicians, who can"t wait to kneel at AIPAC"s throne every time an election rolls around in exchange for campaign donations?
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:44 PM on 03/10/2009who38 See Profile I'm a Fan of who38 permalink
Loosen the stranglehold by boycotting all companies that make huge donations to AIPAC; start with the Venetian in Vegas. Add Intel, Bronfman enterprises, Bed Bath and Beyond.........
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:55 PM on 03/10/2009AZ AF VET See Profile I'm a Fan of AZ AF VET permalink
Charles Schumer should go back to the Keneset where he obviously came from.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:49 PM on 03/10/2009skialethia See Profile I'm a Fan of skialethia permalink
...and he should take Feinstein, Lieberman, Harman, Rahm and other neocon libs with him!
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:55 PM on 03/10/2009cheerleaderBush See Profile I'm a Fan of cheerleaderBush permalink
Game, set, match AIPAC... boy that was fast.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:56 PM on 03/10/2009brooklyncitizen See Profile I'm a Fan of brooklyncitizen permalink
Gee...I barely knew him but I liked what I heard. A lone voice telling Israel to bugger off. (...)
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:15 PM on 03/10/2009mustang09 See Profile I'm a Fan of mustang09 permalink
Now I am beginning to understand why Hitler could incite so much hatred toward Jews in Germany. I am afraid this kind of dictation of American policy by Israel Lobby can create similar undercurrent here in the US. If the current becomes strong enough, no amount of media control by AIPAC and their sympathizer hare in the US can withstand it.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:16 PM on 03/10/2009Fathoms See Profile I'm a Fan of Fathoms permalink
It's time we excised this AIPAC cancer from the American body politic. Wrote Barack the same.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:18 PM on 03/10/2009
underthegun1 See Profile I'm a Fan of underthegun1 permalink
Seems to me that Israel is like the younger brother that keeps starting fights because they know their older brother will be there to protect them.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:21 PM on 03/10/2009
(2) MARCH 11 Freeman On Resignation: "S--- Happens."
30 comments approved (posted); 4 comments pending approval
Samlas See Profile I'm a Fan of Samlas permalink
So now its confirmed, Isra@@@l has the most influence on our government. Not us the people just them.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:16 PM on 03/11/2009skialethia See Profile I'm a Fan of skialethia permalink
Millions of people supported and funded Obama"s campaign! Is this the thanks we get?! Is this a President for the people by the people or is this a President for Aipac by Aipac!!! (...)
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:33 PM on 03/11/2009
rssrai See Profile I'm a Fan of rssrai permalink
I always thought that Israel controlled our foreign policy and now this is even more proof. (...)
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:16 PM on 03/11/2009
veritasor See Profile I'm a Fan of veritasor permalink
The future is hanging in the balance. Educate yourself and others of the truth. Get our country back! (...)
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:25 PM on 03/11/2009
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(3) MARCH 11 Freeman On Resignation: "S--- Happens."
60 comments approved (posted); 0 comments pending approval
who38 See Profile I'm a Fan of who38 permalink
If we stopped giving so much aid to Israel, maybe they wouldn't be able to pay more to our politicians. The recent raise in aid to Israel constitutes the same raise in kick-backs to Congress. (...)
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:20 PM on 03/11/2009alexa07 See Profile I'm a Fan of alexa07 permalink
christopherflynn See Profile I'm a Fan of christopherflynn permalink I don't know about alot of you out there, but, in my opinion, israel sux and the longer we support their genocide policies, the less we accomplish in our own country. (...)
Many Americans do NOT support the brutal policies of Israel. Genocide, concentration camps, ghettos, etc. are generic terms NOT owned by any one group.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:32 PM on 03/11/2009
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:56 PM on 03/11/2009
303 See Profile I'm a Fan of 303 permalink
(...) AIPAC, ever loyal to the Likuud WarMongers, keeps leading our lemming-like governing officials by the nose and into the Quicksand. (...)
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:01 PM on 03/11/2009
exPatPatti See Profile I'm a Fan of exPatPatti permalink
Israel owns the USA.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:06 PM on 03/11/2009
enriquecaliente See Profile I'm a Fan of enriquecaliente permalink
Anybody remember Jonathan Pollard a former U.S. Navy analyst who stole our nuclear secrets and sent them to Israel. (...)
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:57 PM on 03/11/2009
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(4) MARCH 12 Chas Freeman Slams "Israel Lobby"
91 comments approved (posted); 1 comment pending approval
tiktokklok See Profile I'm a Fan of tiktokklok permalink
It's way past time to do something to stem the undue influence of the Israeli lobby in the United States. Israel is nothing more than a problem for the United States (as well as for the entire world) (...)
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:39 AM on 03/11/2009roselaw See Profile I'm a Fan of roselaw permalink
Another tragic day, as neo-con lunatics, with their wealthy backers, access to multiple media outlets, and complete disregard for the truth, have struck again.
Atta, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and Bin Laden all cited the oppression of the Palestinians as motivating their emnity towards the U.S., and Gaza has only created more Attas, yet, we seem helpless to call Israel's brutality for what it is.(...)
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:50 AM on 03/11/2009AJ39 See Profile I'm a Fan of AJ39 permalink
Eric Holder was right. We are a nation of cowards, but not only because of our inability to talk about race but perhaps, even more s, because of our inability to talk honestly and openly about the power of the Jewish lobby in our country (...)
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:27 AM on 03/11/2009Kerensa See Profile I'm a Fan of Kerensa permalink
Finally! Someone speaks the truth about the damaging power and influence of the Israeli lobby in U.S. politics; the blind support for Israel does not make any sense and only harms this country in the end... (...)
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:00 AM on 03/11/2009messy See Profile I'm a Fan of messy permalink
Did you know that the Israel lobby and the Elders of Zion were one and the same?
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:08 PM on 03/11/2009arvay See Profile I'm a Fan of arvay permalink
Another American bites the dust because of the AIPAC fifth column. (...)
The US is Israeli-occupied territory, our politicians toe the line and we are deprived of objective people.
Wake up America, our nation is being led over a cliff by people who are loyal to another nation. I call that treason.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:07 AM on 03/11/2009Weeza See Profile I'm a Fan of Weeza permalink
So much for change - I was very hopeful Freeman's nomination would be the catalyst for a new direction in MidEast policy. Looks like the Israeli lobby is more powerful than the president.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:55 AM on 03/11/2009veritasor See Profile I'm a Fan of veritasor permalink
(...) Israel Lobby and those prostituting for it have utterly destroyed US and beyond. Some conspirators are ruling and ruining our country in government, finance, media, academia, law and etc. Get rid of these criminals once and for all. Lead, President Obama, American People will be behind you...
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:14 AM on 03/11/2009BiggerBiggerPicture See Profile I'm a Fan of BiggerBiggerPicture permalink
Obama's cabinet is catered to AIPAC(Axelrod, Emanuel), so don't expect them to rid of AIPAC's influence.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusiveOVERSITE See Profile I'm a Fan of OVERSITE permalink
israel lobby and their financial power is a threat to us as big as any so called foreign enemy
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:20 PM on 03/11/2009FCBarca See Profile I'm a Fan of FCBarca permalink
Fantastic commentary from Freeman...Worst kept secret in America, AIPAC is a danger not only to the world at large but America right here at home...Foreign state dictating US policy by proxy...Amazing
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:34 PM on 03/11/2009Thomas Taraba See Profile I'm a Fan of Thomas Taraba permalink
Too bad he withdrew his name, I would not be surprised if it was not by choice. This issue is such a festering disease in our politics, AIPAC and their ilk are in direct opposition to what is good for the United States and they should be treated like the traitors they are.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:35 PM on 03/11/2009
This is merely a continuation of the incendiary anti-Israel, anti-Jewish slanders and hate speech that's been so prevalent at HuffPost for years, as a direct result of:
- The way that HuffPost plays its stories (with its headlines, pictures, sources, etc.)
. - How what HuffPost official blogger Alan Dershowitz described as the site's "hard-left editorial line on Israel" also extends to how it violates its own stated FAQ: Comments & Moderation and Comment Policy, in order to tolerate comments such as those listed above (which are actually pretty mild, in comparison to what went on during the Gaza incursions in the last few years)
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UPDATES: STORIES REGARDING FREEMAN THAT APPEARED AFTER HUFFPOST'S --- YET WHICH IT DID NOT PUBLISH AS UPDATE ITEMS
March 12: In his pro-Freeman editorial in the Washington Post, David Broder claims House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Freeman's statements regarding Israel, Saudi Arabia and China were "beyond the pale."
HuffPost has no reference to this statement at all.
March 12: From a Washington Post editorial"According to a report by Newsweek, Mr. Freeman's most formidable critic -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- was incensed by his position on dissent in China."
HuffPost has no reference to this statement at all.
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ALSO SEE:
Archive of anti-Israel, ant-Semitic bias, libels and hate at HuffPost
Articles about anti-Israel, anti-Semitic hate at HuffPost - and its response
Has the Huffington Post Become a Magnet for Israel Haters?
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