Posted on 08/20/2018 12:57:19 PM PDT by Incorrigible
This is a must read thread from the WSJ’s Kimberley Strassel where she absolutely dismantles point-by-point the Washington Post’s fact check of senior DOJ official Bruce Ohr, a recent target of President Trump.
Please have a read (21 in all):
1) It is never fun to tackle fact checkers, but this one is a case study in that modern art of omitting details, stating unsupportable assertions as fact, slipping things in, manipulating a narrative. Opinion as "fact." So let's go through it. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/08/16/who-is-bruce-ohr-why-does-trump-keep-tweeting-about-him/?utm_term=.e30d884f001c …
2)"Ohr exists in a netherworld — a subject of fascination in right-leaning media". Right, though piece fails to note that is because mainstream media is more "fascinated" by Omarosa than it is the news that a high ranking DOJ official--
3)--whose wife worked for Clinton oppo-research group Fusion GPS--was feeding said oppo research to the FBI. And that the FBI was taking it even after having officially terminated Fusion employee Christopher Steele as a source, for breaking FBI rules.
4)"Ohr is less of a central player." The guy was among highest ranking DOJ officials. And anybody who works for one central player in this drama (DOJ) and has dozens of contacts with all the other central players (Fusion, FBI, Steele) is by definition pretty central.
5) "Steele, a former British intelligence officer with ties to the FBI and the U.S. intelligence community." Noble Steele, right? Only fails to note he looks also been working for/helping a Russian oligarch, even as he wrote dossier hyping Trump-Russia. Goes to credibility, no?
6)"the dossier is actually several memos, based on conversations with Russian sources" Well, so says Steele and Glenn Simpson (Fusion GPS cofounder). fact checker just takes their word for it. But some suspect a few non Russians might have had some input.
7)"the probe into the Trump campaign originally was sparked by a separate matter that Steele never wrote about." So says the FBI. But it notably won't provide any docs to back this up, and only came up with the Papadopoulos story after dossier was exposed.
8) (I thought fact checkers existed to question unsupported claims?)
9) "(Bruce Ohr’s 278e financial disclosure form lists her as an “independent contractor.”)" This bland statement (i am assuming purposely) omits the key point: That this description masked where she really worked--Fusion--which Ohr should have disclosed, but didn't.
10) "Bruce Ohr and Steele knew each other, apparently because of organized-crime issues." Maybe. But their relationship in early 2016 was Steele lobbying Ohr on behalf of Russian oligarch, about visas and sanctions. Important "fact," right? (gets slipped in at end of piece)
11) "Simpson said Steele suggested he speak to Ohr after the “very surprising” victory by Trump." This statement, and quote that follows, make it sounds like Simpson's outreach was just a casual, "let me do the right thing" moment AFTER the election. But it omits...
12) that Simpson was in touch with Ohr months earlier, at start of Trump-Russia probe. Specifically, an email to Ohr from Simpson in August reads: "Can u ring." Which is a pretty familiar way to email someone you rarely talk to.
13)"But Steele and Simpson did not know that" Really? How can Fact Checker make such a claim? Steele was in continuous contact with high ranking DOJ official, who could easily have apprised him on probe. Steele also had contacts in FBI and in State Dept.
14) "Steele and Ohr had been in contact before the election, though it’s unclear how much Ohr knew about Steele’s work for Fusion." Um, maybe a fair amount, given all the summer contact between Steele, Simpson and Ohr? Why downplay it?
15)"The two men had had a continuing discussion about Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska in 2016" Again, that "discussion" involved a foreign national (Steele) lobbying DOJ official. At end we hear only that Steele was "concerned" re Deripaska. no description of his requests.
16) "And Bruce Ohr apparently spoke to Simpson on Aug. 22, according to phone logs reviewed by York." Doesn't note it was Simpson that demanded a call. Also slipped in late in piece, like no big deal, rather than back in main timeline describing Simpson outreach to Ohr.
17) "He appears to be only a messenger." Wow. So DOJ official passes along Clinton oppo to FBI, from a discredited source. Doesn't tell that his wife is profiting from this venture. No big deal. Just a "messenger." Imagine if official in Bush DOJ had done this to Obama team.
18) "At this point, it’s unclear what Ohr even told his friend at the FBI about Steele’s information" Wow again. Where does this "friend" come from? why put it that way? Ohr was debriefed by FBI agents at least 12 times, contents in official 302s. This isn't water cooler talk
19) "There is also, as yet, no evidence that senior Justice Department officials were even aware of Ohr’s sideline communications with Steele about the Russian probe." Wow times three. That some in DOJ didn't know is one of the problems. Who set this up? Who was kept in dark?
20) "Trump’s mention of Ohr’s wife appears gratuitous. Her role in the matter, as yet, appears minimal." She worked for the main player in this drama, Fusion. And Fact Checker has zero ability to make that claim, since we still don't know her role. Bizarre.
21. THE PINOCCHIO TEST: There are no facts wrong here, so no pinocchios based on WaPo's preferred pinocchio standard. But fact checkers are also more than capable of rearranging words and details to create a misleading narrative. so, pinocchios galore on that front.
https://twitter.com/KimStrassel/status/1030528033411674112
“8) (I thought fact checkers existed to question unsupported claims?)”
Since shortly before the Fraud’s illegal reign began in 2009, “Fact Checkers” have existed to support ‘Rat narratives.
Fact Checking the Washington Post is a full time job.
Ah, you beat me to the post! Incredible work by Strassel.
I offer a story and beg for patience. Imagine if I started a kerfuffle by asserting that none of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, or Steph Curry could beat any 5-year old boy in the world in basketball; and that all three are weenies. Such an assertion might seem so ridiculous that it goes viral, especially if I am the President of the United States.
This assertion is so outrageously not true that everyone gets upset. The United States Senate passes a non-binding resolution disputing what I have asserted. In particular, that august body unanimously agrees that there is at least one five-year old boy in this world that one of these three players could beat and that none of the three are weenies.
When the US Senate passes a resolution saying that the media are not “the enemy,” this is my reaction. Can they really not all agree on anything stronger than that???? What does this silly resolution actually convey if not that they are non-serious knuckleheads?
Especially when they turn around and make fools of themselves day in and day out. Strassel does a great job here of tearing them apart.
President Trump, thanks for revoking the security clearance of the Jihadist/Commie Brennan.
President Trump please honor Hayden's request and remove his in name only Security Clearance. We know that he has zero need to know anything in your administration.
Please remove the security clearances of the FBI/DOJ thugs shown below. That will eliminate any job opportunities in the DC swamp by these anti America thugs, where/when they need a valid and up to date Security Clearance.
Thanks to Travis McGee for the above, his pictorial smug mug shots of the DOJ/FBI trying to over throw our election of president Trump!
Wow, I wonder how soon Twitter will suspend her account? The Left is working hard to silence dissent and only allow their preferred message.
You should include Sessions as THE FOOL.
Even the part of the media that holds itself out as unbiased has become totally corrupted and biased and is trying to push the FAKE NEWS narrative.
How shameful.
Strassel is one of the smartest persons out there right now.
LOL That's a good one! Strassel has a great sense of humor.
Clapper always looks like he just done hanging upside-down in a cave. WTF.
So much ‘fact checking’ is just about controlling the narrative.
Leftists such as those in this Rogues’ Gallery admire Communist countries. In any Communist country, these conspirators would be taken out and shot for subversion.
Great but she should not delude herself into thinking MSM cares one bit about the truth. Ohr, like Brennan, is a hero to these people.
Clapper always looks like he just done hanging upside-down in a cave. WTF.
After he had been out all night sucking blood from the throats of his victims.
Bfl
“Clapper always looks like he just done hanging upside-down in a cave. WTF.”
In that vein Brennan always looks like he’s straining to pass a 10 pound shit.
Boy, she’s a real looker, ain’t she.
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