Ever wonder how political "facts" become facts? How does a story go from a mere unsubstantiated report to universal truth? Often, it happens with a catchy headline in a report that states as "fact" a claim made by one person even though no one else has been seen backing up the claim. Such may be the case with a recent story on actor Gary Sinise becoming "the savior of the GOP."
Peter Hamby of CNN has decided to make Gary Sinise the new golden boy of the Republican Party. It has all the elements of a good tale: A handsome actor, politically astute and well known for being active is suddenly the "new" face of the party to which he belongs, a man about to save the whole darn shootin' match with his star power. It's a political success story sure to gain big headlines... except for the fact that it basically isn't true.
The CNN headline for this tale trumpets that "Actor Gary Sinise floated as possible GOP savior." Now reading that headline, one might think that a chorus of hosannas from disparate circles has spontaneously launched a Draft Sinise effort. One might also wonder if Sinise has been going about town hinting that he's open for a run at one office or another. But, reading Hamby's report should disabuse anyone of the notion that the headline tries to push.
Instead of Sinise being "floated" as a candidate, the story turns out to be that one person put the actor's name on a political candidate dream list of sorts. Actor Sinise has made no efforts to promote his name for office, there is no PAC formed for him, no group of people actually "floating" his name exists. Simply put, no one but this one person has made any real efforts to get Sinise's name linked to aspirations for political office.
So what is the basis of the "floated" name theory? Hamby supplies this:
Nicolle Wallace, a top adviser to George W. Bush and John McCain’s presidential campaign, is adding a few names to the list of Republicans who might lead the GOP out of the wilderness.
Top among them? Actor Gary Sinise.
One person put Sinise's name unbidden on her list and suddenly Sinise is the "savior of the GOP"? This is not "floating" a name. This is the wild speculation of one person and nothing else.
But, here is where the Old Media gets the ball rolling downhill. People see this false headline and start talking to their friends and neighbors. "Say, did you hear Gary Sinise is running for office?" That turns into, "Yeah, Lt. Dan is running against Obama in 2012!"
One can safely assume that somewhere actor Sinise is going to sit down to his morning paper to suddenly find he is the next Ronald Reagan running to take out the socialist Obama regime! The poor man will probably scratch his head and wonder how in the heck this rumor ever started!
Well, if he would ask me, I'd just point him in Peter Hamby's direction and show him CNN's misleading headline. It doesn't have to be true to be a "fact," you see?
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Well, gee, this is how it
May 12, 2009 - 07:13 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsWell, gee, this is how it works, isn't it? The MSM picks who will run for the GOP and then ruins their chance at winning. That's how we got stuck with McCain, isn't it?
Not to denigrate Sinise or any such.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Gary Sinise is a saint.
May 12, 2009 - 07:15 ET by JWFHe is a saint in the same vein Bob Hope was a saint. Bob Hope & Gary Sinise practically dedicate(d) their lives to entertaining the troops.
So this makes them Republicans heroes because a democrats are loath to even think about the well being of the troops.
But neither one have ever said anything about running for office. Why is it liberals and democrats are not content with running their party, they have to smart off about ours?
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
The MSM only prop people
May 12, 2009 - 07:18 ET by MidAmericaThe MSM only prop people up like this so they can later tear them down. Mr Sinise does a lot of good work. Let's hope the MSM goons don't tear him down just because they can.
I hope Gary has put his money away
May 12, 2009 - 07:36 ET by general companyBecause I doubt if he will ever work as an actor again. The tolerent ones wont have him any more.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
This is typical with the liberal MSM.
May 12, 2009 - 08:05 ET by c5thenBut they only practice it with ideas that they want to perpetuate. While they are often taking hearsay and publishing it as fact, as documented above, they also use the "flip side" and put "So Called" in front of facts or ideas that they want to discredit or cast into doubt.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
www.loyaltoliberty.com
Gary Sinise, doesn't strike
May 12, 2009 - 08:45 ET by Dan The Man 2Gary Sinise, doesn't strike me as a politician or one who would seek an office like the President. He does what he does because he is who he is. He seems to be a man who wants to contribute quietly when he can and only point to what he is doing when he needs to promote what he is doing. Unlike Sean Penn who points to himself and what he is doing is only for publicity.
That said Sinise may make a good President because he will do what he needs to with little fanfare.
I have seen him on TV promoting his projects and only when asked tells us about his trips to entertain the troops.
Ditto! I love Gary
May 12, 2009 - 12:27 ET by CamelopardalisDitto! I love Gary Sinise!
Facts
May 12, 2009 - 09:21 ET by KC MulvilleWhat do you mean when you say that something is a "fact?" It's just rhetoric. It's a device of language, which means you use it as needed. You call something a "fact" merely to intimidate someone into accepting it as true without having to actually justify it explicitly. Don't question me about that, because what I'm telling you is a fact!
Willard van Orman Quine was America's greatest philosopher, and he picked apart the idea of "facts" many years ago. It's just rhetoric.
When people use it, they're trying to suggest that the assertion has been independently verified as true. The next logical question, however, is who verified it? More often than not, it is simply assumed to have been verified by ... somebody ... you know ... everyone knows it, right? To call something a fact adds nothing to the truth value of it. You're just rhetorically demanding that no one question your assertion.
Trust me. I use it all the time myself.
____
The good thing about this little rhetorical exercise, though, is that it gives us a chance to applaud Gary Sinise. I really admire that guy. He's a good man.
That's a fact.
Gary Sinise
May 12, 2009 - 09:28 ET by GeneralAlIf Hambone Hamby ever checked any facts, he'd find that Lt. Dan keeps his politics to himself. He could very well be a Democrat! The fact that he does so much for the troops has probably led the CNN crack pot to assume he is a Republican! I guess that says a lot about about the mainstream Democrat-Communist party, doesn't it?
That's what I was
May 12, 2009 - 09:40 ET by mattmThat's what I was thinking. I've heard him on Laura Ingraham's show, and others, many times, but I never heard him declare a Party affiliation.
Personally I'm not worried about a savior for the GOP. They will survive or die depending on whether they decide to stick to their common-sense platform or try to become Democrat Lite. If it's the latter, I'd say let them die off, and let a new "conservative" party rise in their place.
Sinise (one of my favorite
May 12, 2009 - 11:29 ET by TheConservativeChemistSinise (one of my favorite actors) is actually very conservative. He's not a Republican but he's a staunch, real conservative. One of the (few) good people in Hollywood. Married to his wife for 30 years, grown kids, does good work for the troops, a patriot...a damn good guy. That being said the MSM is putting his name out there to trash him later, I guarantee it...
I'm surprised Hamby didn't offer up
May 12, 2009 - 09:42 ET by IgnatzJFahrquar"Sinise, who lost his legs in Vietnam, ..."
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain
Gary, run like hell to that shrimp boat with Forest...
May 12, 2009 - 10:06 ET by JTPYou don't want anything at all to do with the current state of the media and politics today. You will be shredded and spit out if you utter one word that is negative to the chosen one.
"Live for yourself...there's no one else more worth living for.
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will only cry out for more"- Rush--Anthem
The Big Lie
May 12, 2009 - 11:33 ET by grumpyoldbThis is part of a concept called "the big lie". It is where you take an outright lie, and keep repeating it until enough people have heard it, that it is commonly accepted to be true. It's no surprise that the left would use it since 2 National Socialists invented it back it the 1920's and 1930's... These great social inventors.... Adolph Hitler, and Heinrich Himmler...... some of the co founders of the National Socialist Workers Party. and we all know what good THEY did for the world.....
BOHICA
Man I love irony.
May 12, 2009 - 12:28 ET by balboaMan I love irony.
suit up metal boy
May 12, 2009 - 12:40 ET by Jack BauerYou are Irony Man
spin the wheel!
May 12, 2009 - 12:45 ET by katainkentyet another round of "Today's face of the GOP"
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Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past - George Orwell - 1984
CSI: NY
May 12, 2009 - 13:01 ET by 1611LilacLadyThe main reason I watch the above titled show is because of Gary Sinise. Add great storylines and a solid group of supporting actors and that rounds it out.
However:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/23/hollywoods-conservative-underground/
Hollywood's conservative underground
'Friends of Abe' group meets quietly
A group of politically conservative and centrist Hollywood figures organized by actor Gary Sinise and others has been meeting quietly in restaurants and private homes, forming a loose-knit network of entertainers who share common beliefs like supporting U.S. troops and traditional American values.
Isaiah 5:20a Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil. . . KJV