This is also a perfect chance to point out exactly what it looks like when propaganda pretends to be the news. One story, two sources: Gateway Pundit and Politico.
Gateway Pundit presents the story as if every word of it was true. Look at what the sentences say:
- [Samsel] "was awakened"
- "then ... brutally beaten"
- "Samsel lost an eye"
These aren't telling about the allegations, these are describing things that factually happened, despite the allegations being far from proven.
Now Politco.
- "a graphic account ... went further."
- "Sandlin said," then "Sandlin also described."
- "Defense attorneys ... confirmed the episodes."
- "Steven Metcalf ... said that ..." and "Metcalf added"
These are all describing people saying things, without determining whether those things are true or not.
Gateway Pundit also tells the reader what they should think.
- "Worse abuse than Gitmo"
- "This is an absolutely horrific account!"
- "... being treated worse than America's most dangerous enemies."
These are judgments, not statements of fact. This is standard practice for an outlet whose intent is to appeal to pre-existing beliefs, rather than present the facts.
Politico provided extensive quotes from the detainee and several lawyers on one side, as well as spokespeople for the jail system and the FBI on the other, and offered an opinion from an unconnected veteran attorney.
Politico leans left, 'tis true, but it presented the information in this article ethically and completely; for a right-leaning equivalent, look at The Hill or The Wall Street Journal.
Gateway Pundit advertises its bias in its headline banner: "We report the truth—and leave the Russia-Collusion fairy tale to the Conspiracy media."
www.thegatewaypundit.com
