Election 2004:Left and Right Wing Nuts Scream About Cheating

Published on October 4, 2004 By blogic In Politics

Today was interesting. Starting yesterday, Bush supporters started throwing around accusations that Kerry snuck notes into the debate, while Kerry supporters said that they had evidence Bush was listening to an earpiece during the debate. While both claims seem equally plausible (that is, not very), the evolution of the rumors over today reflect an important difference between the Left and the Right.

The Right Persisted in Conspiracy Theories, Even When Disproved by Conservative Media Outlets

Early in the day, the New York Post examined the debate tape, concluding that Kerry's supposed notes were in fact a pen. This was confirmed later by Fox News. Both the New York Post and Fox News are conservative. The New York Post has consistently endorsed Republican candidates as long as it's been owned by Rupert Murdoch. You might expect the rightwingers to have abandoned their bizarre theories in light of the fact that the conservative media disproved them, but they instead just engaged in new conspiracy theories about why the New York Post and Fox had supported Kerry.

The Left Flirts With Conspiracies, Decides It's More Comfortable with Reality

Meanwhile, on the Left, charges flew fast and furious that Bush had use an earpiece during the debate. Supposed evidence was a lump on Bush's back (under his suit), and his saying "let me finish!" when, in fact, no one had interrupted him and no light was prompting him to stop. As of this morning, lett wingers were already discarding the theory, concluding that it was more likely that the lump was caused by a bullet proof armor that you might expect George Bush to wear, and that Bush's speech is already so broken that it hardly proves anything at all that he said a few words that made no sense.

Look at the Difference Between the Way the Left and the Right Handled Bizarre Theories

The Left discarded a strange theory on its own, while the Right persisted in its theory even when disproved by conservative media outlets. For reasons that I may cover in the future, Bush supporters seem more suceptible to conspiracy thinking, and less likely to accept simpler plausible explanations for supposed evidence of cheating. I regularly read both the freakishly left wing Democratic Underground, and the freakishly right wing Free Republic, and left wingers are far more likely to make fun of the crackpot theories suggested by other lefties. Right wingers are much more suspicious of everyone other than themselves, and egg themselves on to grander and grander plots and conspriracies.

Comments

dabe

on Oct 04, 2004

Interesting observations. I have to agree with you. As for the ear piece theory, this is the first I've heard of it. No way, no how could Bush get away with such a scheme. I think the theory was invented just to counter the righties' accusations of cheating. The whole thing is so ludicrous......

Thanks, blogic.

Draginol

on Oct 04, 2004

Blogic, I really like how you try to pretend you're some sort of centrist. Anyone who reads your blogs knows you're pretty far left. So spare us the quasi-even handedness.

I really like the "right wing nuts persisted even after.." yea, the whole story lasted what? A day? I wrote an article about the alleged Kerry cheating. Does that make me a right wing nut? Probably in your world. Today is Monday. The Kerry/Notegate thing lasted a whole 24 hours.

A video was available on various websites that sure made it look like Kerry had taken notes out of his pocket. I don't think someone concluding that he indeed brought notes with him makes someonea "nut".

Contrast that to a full week and a half of CBS stonewalling on the memos -- backed by the left wingers scounging around for straws.

Myrrander

on Oct 04, 2004

I dunnno, Draginol, I remember reading a post by you where you claimed to be "pretty moderate." And I'd say you were pretty much a rightie. So spare me the sanctimonious carping. People are still posting responses to your "debate cheat" post, so at least here at JU, the story isn't over.

I hadn't heard the ear piece thing either, and I really don't care if Bush wore one or not. *shrugs*

landen81

on Oct 04, 2004

Everyone's an idiot. Who gives a shit about the stupid debate rules that don't even allow a true debate. Once they're broken it doesn't matter anyway. What's gonna happen? Is the person breaking them gonna get arrested? It's fucking stupid. Ear Pieces or Taking Notes. WHO GIVES A SHIT!!! And if you do give a shit then there's something truely wrong with you.

Draginol

on Oct 05, 2004

Myrannder - anyone who's remotely normal must appear to be a rightie to you. I'm right of center but not very much - not according to any survey that's been posted here in the past anyway (and there have been many).

Not that it changes the bottom line - the Kerry debate cheat issue lasted only around one day before other camera angles showed that he only took out a pen instead of notes.

By contrast, left wingers are still spazzing over Florida in 2000.

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