This is the political urban legend that just won't die. On Glenn Beck's August 23 show, longtime Democratic strategist and media advisor Peter Fenn perpetuated the media-rooted myth that George HW Bush was amazed at how regular grocery-store scanners worked, which fed into the media themes that he was in a “bubble” and “out of touch” with how Regular Joes lived.
The problem is that story turned out to be a fabrication started by the New York Times.
So, this seasoned Democratic operative dredged up an old canard while discussing Barack Obama's recent elitist sounding gaffe of asking a group of Iowa farmers, “Has anybody gone to Whole Foods lately and seen what they charged for arugula?” Fenn had to show that Republicans are also out of touch elitists and authoritatively repeated the fake Bush story to Beck who didn't dispute it (emphasis mine):
We had President Bush I who didn`t know what a scanner at a grocery store was. I`ll tell you, I think one of the things that when candidates try to be a little too down-to-earth, it doesn`t come off very well. Actually I think that Barack Obama probably does relate to folks. I think you`re going to see it in these upcoming primaries.
The story behind Fenn's tall tale is that during the 1992 presidential race, Bush stopped at the National Grocers' Convention where he was shown a latest-generation optical grocery scanner that could reconstruct torn labels.
According to reporters who were there, Bush knew what a scanner was and reacted mostly with politeness and even boredom, but a New York times reporter twisted and rewrote a pool article and crafted this fake story which has been parroted by Democrats and the media ever since.
Beck likely didn't know the tale was a myth, but a professional like Fenn who has over 25 years as a media consultant and even advised Gore's presidential run in 2000 should have known better.
Surely, someone as media-savvy as Fenn would recall the truth. Perhaps he did remember and chose to repeat a lie anyway. Who knows?
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You know algore invented
August 24, 2007 - 23:55 ET by Airforce_5_OYou know algore invented the internet too.
What?
That's a myth too?
Oh sorry, move along, nothing to see here.
The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is the rifle recoil.
And I heerd
August 25, 2007 - 01:29 ET by heldmywthat Jawn Keerry was in Veet Nam!
Give him a break....
August 25, 2007 - 04:43 ET by Army BratHe's clearly just a truth seeker who got fooled by some bad people. I'm sure he like all journalists, believes in and has great faith in his sources and that he is ethical and unbiased and...Bah ha ha ha ha ha!! Cripes...ya can't write stuff like that and keep a straight face. Happy Trails...
“Jawn Keerry was in
August 25, 2007 - 11:38 ET by USA4freedom“Jawn Keerry was in Veet Nam.”
Was that the same “THE” Jawn Keerry that burned villages in
the fasion of Gainnkis Kaaahan??
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
USA
August 25, 2007 - 11:53 ET by botgyou ever been to John Kerrys island?
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -Chief Justice John Roberts
LMAO!!!!!!!!! These are
August 25, 2007 - 12:03 ET by USA4freedomLMAO!!!!!!!!!
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
That's
August 25, 2007 - 12:07 ET by BlondeThat's hillarious, B.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
So Bush was "out of touch"
August 25, 2007 - 05:15 ET by motherbeltSo Bush was "out of touch" because of a canard that won't die. However, that perception of Obama is false, as Fenn says of him:
I`ll tell you, I think one of the things that when candidates try to be
a little too down-to-earth, it doesn`t come off very well. Actually I
think that Barack Obama probably does relate to folks."
So Bush was an out-of-touch elitist snob for supposedly being unfamiliar with new technology. But Obama, in spite of talking Whole Foods and Arugula to farmers in Iowa, really is a "Man of the People."
Well, I'm giving Beck a
August 25, 2007 - 05:32 ET by tracheostomyWell, I'm giving Beck a break on this one. After listening to him for a few years now, he's still a bit naive. Sure, he's brilliantly funny, but still occasionally falls for some of the sneakier liberal stories. That interview with Al Sharpton was pretty embarassing to say the least.
-PJ
"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07
For years I heard
August 25, 2007 - 07:35 ET by RebelAbout this and I always thought it was true and now I know its a lie.
The Rebel Of West Virginia
Never vote for Byrd
I like Glenn Beck, about
August 25, 2007 - 07:46 ET by USA4freedomI like Glenn Beck, about two or three years ago on the
anniversary of 9/11 he replayed
the broadcast form that morning of 9/11.
As hard as it was to listen, it brought back all the
memories of the horror of that day.
After listing I sent off this letter, in appreciation.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Dear Glen, Let me start
August 25, 2007 - 07:48 ET by USA4freedomDear Glen,
Let me start off this letter
by telling you that I owned a bar in Hoboken NJ, right across the river from
NYC. I was fishing in Virginia (where I’m from) when I heard the news about the
world trade center. I jumped in my truck, drove as fast as I could back north.
My mind racing, so many of my friends and customers work there, my own son was
to work there but a hiring freeze put it off, my waitress and my ex book keeper
was working in Windows of the World (the restaurant on top of the WTC Driving
as fast as I could, not knowing what I was going to do...I had to help! As I
racing along I heard on the radio
the tower fell. I had to stop, this 225 lb ex commercial fisherman was crying
like a two year old. I got it back together driving on. I got back to Hoboken,
I opened the bar, person after person walked in looking for each other. I
needed something to do, to help, I can run equipment, I ask the cops, they
would not let us across the river, so after seeing all the fire and ems people
waiting by the path train ( the subway under the WTC) I went to the store and
purchased all the bread, and lots of cold cuts, went to the bar and had every
one make sandwiches
for the men and women
waiting, for the injured. It was really nothing, but like
all of those people giving
blood, it made us..feel better. We lost a few people
in the bar, one named John,
just got a promotion and was now working in the tower, played on the national
championship Princeton, La cross
team. My waitress just got out of the last path train, running, with people
falling all around her as she did, (she still has nightmares). My book keeper
was not working at Windows of the World any longer. Pictures went up all over
town, with peoples faces on it, have you seen..... call.. I placed a flag in my window with the
caption underneath our flag.. our flag was still there.
I sold the bar in March of
this year, the last thing that was taken out was my flag, I took it down as I
locked the door for the last time, holding
my flag, fighting back tears
as I waked away. As I was riding in my truck, I listened to you, I felt the
same way, mad, hurt, and sad. I felt the same pride in America, the country
that has saved the word over and over again and our thanks is this. We will make
it, I do think this will be the greatest generation. I have faith, we all
should, after all we are Americans. All of these POLITICIANS, need to
remember...All I have to do is look up and see John’s hat hanging on the corner
of the bar with a small American flag on it, to remember why we fight. God
bless you Glenn, and GOD BLESS AMERICA.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
P.S. To the letter above,
August 25, 2007 - 07:53 ET by USA4freedomP.S.
To the letter above, John was never found. I heard that a
piece of his hip bone was found.
John and his humor will be missed.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Sorry I was not trying to
August 25, 2007 - 07:56 ET by USA4freedomSorry I was not trying to turn the thread off on a different
direction.
Just Glenn has a special place in my heart.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
USA4, 'Sall right
August 25, 2007 - 08:36 ET by HeikiDude, that was one of the most moving (and motivating) things I've read in a long time. Thank you, and God bless.
Thanks. These are the
August 25, 2007 - 08:46 ET by USA4freedomThanks.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
I'm not surprised that he
August 25, 2007 - 08:40 ET by motherbeltI'm not surprised that he didn't correct Fenn; I don't think Beck was paying attention to politics in the early 90's. I know his radio show didn't start until 1999 or 2000.
Besides, his brain always seems to be racing ahead, so maybe he let it get past him in his haste to get to the "next thing."
So I'm willing to give him a pass on letting Fenn get away with that.
And in response to USA4Freedom, I agree. We should not "move on." Every year on September 11, they should replay the video of the towers falling. Our idiot politicians need to be reminded what happened. I know, they will say "we don't need pictures to remember; we know." But I really think we should ALL see it again, to remind us what we are up against.
USA4Freedom: Thank you
August 25, 2007 - 21:15 ET by stratmanUSA4Freedom:
Thank you for sharing that moving story. It brought up memories and emotions from that horrible day. I am sure your efforts were appreciated. I know I do and I've never met you.
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.
Thanks for the kind words
August 25, 2007 - 23:15 ET by USA4freedomThanks for the kind words every one.
It was a life changing moment.
I thank my lucky stars that the company in the WTC, that was
to hire my son had just put a hiring freeze on.
I agree we should watch the towers again every 9/11. Some
how we see Pearl Harbor every year. Knowing that when we watch the USS Arizona blow up, that moment 1300
Americans died. We see the
landings on Normandy every year June 6th. (my Grandfather landed on
Omaha beach.) We can see bodies floating in New Orleans. We can see pain and
suffering with the tsunami.
But.. we are too sensitive to see the attack on the WTC.
Maybe, just maybe if John Edwards had some one land near him
after jumping 100 stories to their death he might rethink the war on terror is
just a bumper sticker.
I hate with a rage how the MSM has white washed it. How
(radical) Christians and radical Muslins are the same. To bring up the
Crusades? Give it a break that was some 1000 to 700 years ago.. Maybe just
maybe if these “journalist” had their wife or husband blown up, or have their
head cut off by someone from the religion of peace, they just might think different.
Every Fri. and Sat. night I would walk out with my two head
bartenders and have a cup of coffee as we looked at the NYC skyline. (while we
let the new bartenders work for a while) Hoboken is right across the river from
downtown Manhattan. After 9/11 my head bartenders did not want to go. So I went
week after week. Looking at the spot where the towers stood. I think that when
they put the spotlights shining where the towers stood is just breath
taking. I will never forget and no
American should ever.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Poignant...Inspirational...B
August 26, 2007 - 00:05 ET by JerPoignant...Inspirational...Beautifully written
Jer
never ever
August 25, 2007 - 11:28 ET by lunaticcringeradionever ever let a silly thing like a fact impede a good lie against a conservative.
Meadow muffins
August 25, 2007 - 22:33 ET by Jerry MackP.F. has been throwing meadow muffins for too long. He probably forgot which Bush was president!
Glenn Beck, Don't let
August 26, 2007 - 19:21 ET by 4arrowGlenn Beck,
Don't let your thingamjig go to your head.