frankenlies.com
#8: Franken Takes a Research Respite
On page 110 (p. 118 in the paperback) of Lies, Franken writes that Barton Gellman of the Washington Post wrote that Clinton's was the "first administration to undertake a systematic anti-terrorist effort." Well, a website called Spinsanity.org looked into this one, and they found that this line in Gellman’s article is actually from a quote by Clinton buddy and former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger.1
Franken’s line may not seem like much of a big deal, except this is the kind of thing which Franken pummels Ann Coulter for supposedly doing in her books. Hypocrisy, anyone? And what about those 14 Harvard researchers? They must have been on spring break during this one.
[Special Note: A number of visitors have written to me alluding to the fact that Spinsanity concluded in their article, "For the most part, Franken does get his facts right." Well, this site illustrates that they are flat-out wrong in this regard! It should be noted that Spinsanity.com is mentioned three times in Franken's book. Did Spinsanity "ease up" in the thoroughness of their research, in light of the fact that the author gave them great, free publicity? Spinsanity may have best preserved their credibility by not reviewing the book at all and explaining to their readers why not. The "disclaimer" at the end of their review rings hollow, in this author's opinion.]
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Notes:
1 “Franken’s Satirical Lies,” Bryan Keefer, spinsanity.org, September 12, 2003, http://www.spinsanity.org/post.html?2003_09_07_archive.html.