Procrustes Stretched
"intuition and imagination and intelligence"
Politics & Race: When the Left Mimics the Right with distortion and deceit it is the duty of all who care about liberal values to stand up and say "enough...you suck!" to those who use petty distortions to make a valid or credible point. Arguments can be and should be made without this type of shit.
Selective editing distorts an attack on a pro-gun lawmaker - The Washington Post
The Facts
Barrows original ad was part of an ad campaign that The Washington Posts The Fix lauded as novel and one of a kind. The Fix noted that the ad was cleverly designed to appeal both to white conservative voters and liberal African-American voters. Heres the ad, and then the full text.
[youtube]YvR5qTUOTuY[/youtube]
Im John Barrow, and long before I was born, my grandfather used this little Smith & Wesson here to help stop a lynching.
And for as long as I can remember, my father always had this rifle real handy, just to keep us safe.
Thats why I support the Second Amendment. And thats why I am proud to be endorsed by the NRA. I approve this message because these are my guns now. And aint nobody going to take them away.
Barrow was indeed endorsed by the NRA, which issued a statement in October saying that voters in Georgia can trust that John Barrow will protect our Second Amendment freedoms and hunting heritage. The congressman has an A rating from the organization.
Now, heres what the anti-gun violence group does with this ad, intercutting sections of it with news footage of the Sandy Hook tragedy:
Im John Barrow
[images of breaking news about Sandy Hook]
And long before I was born
[images and voiceover20 children targeted]
My grandfather used this little Smith & Wesson here...
[images of people crying, President Obama speaking: beautiful little kids between five and 10 years old]
And for as long as I can remember, my father always had this rifle real handy...
[three images of Barrow cocking the rifle bolt. scenes and voiceoverthree weapons and begins a massacre]
Thats why I am proud to be endorsed by the NRA.
[image of NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre speaking: The guys with the guns make the rules. images of slain children]
I approve this message because these are my guns now. And aint nobody going to take them away.
[words on screen as the names of slain children are read: Shame on you, Congressman John Barrow Tell Congressman John Barrow to Reject NRA Blood Money.]
Pretty slick, huh? Just by exercising a few words, the group manages to completely change the tenor of Barrows message. Here are the missing words noted in bold face:
Im John Barrow, and long before I was born, my grandfather used this little Smith & Wesson here to help stop a lynching.
And for as long as I can remember, my father always had this rifle real handy, just to keep us safe.
Thats why I support the Second Amendment. And thats why I am proud to be endorsed by the NRA. I approve this message because these are my guns now. And aint nobody going to take them away.
In other words, the group removed all of the language that Barrow used to explain why his family had such weapons to deter crime and for protection. It also removed a reference to the Second Amendment, which President Obama has said he supports.
Selective editing distorts an attack on a pro-gun lawmaker - The Washington Post