Media Matters Hides Facts In Domenech Attack

Media Matters is calling for the WaPo to fire newly hired conservative pundit Ben Domenech. But at least one part of their appeal conceals part of the facts.

Domenech has also been caught at least once apparently fabricating a quote. A June 20, 2002, Spinsanity.org entry demonstrated that Domenech made up a quote he attributed to Tim Russert in order to defend President Bush.

That isn't entirely accurate because Domenech posted a lack of faith in the quote he posted.

For anyone who doubts the veracity of the original quotes I posted from the AP article, I'm not currently at a computer that has WestLaw access, so I can't post the thing in its entirety at the moment (I've only got a printed copy). And while it's not like I have a taped copy of the debate to check the article against, I tend to trust the AP, especially when there's no official MSNBC transcript.

Update: I've listened to the online version of the NH debate now, and I don't hear the second part of Russert's question as printed in the AP article. Considering that most accounts of the debate don't include this part of the question either, I'm close to believing that the AP article I have is inaccurate. I've been taken in by faulty reporting before, but never by the AP. Either way, I'll post the article tonight.

Update II: And here's the article. Still, I think that it's an unreliable source.

Media Matters links to the posted transcript, but fails to acknowledge Domenech's qualifier.

Domenech addresses the other issues here.

Update2: Please see update here regarding the alleged plagiarism: Domenech has to answer or go

Update: Now this may be a bit harder for Domenech to explain.

More unsettling, though, is evidence uncovered by Atrios that Domenech may be some sort of serial plagiarist: See examples one (also partially borrowed from here), two, three, and four.

Comments

[Phoenix]

Wow.

The four examples? Yeah. How to explain those?

I read his response to the president's decision to attend Coretta Scott King's funeral instead of the annual Pro-life march, etc., (Not that any president, pro/con, should attend that thing), and my gut was telling me 'thumbs down' on this guy.

A bit too fast with the comebacks. Practiced, maybe?

[Dan]

I dont know - get back to the small and attractive bit from yesterday! Heh!!

[Phoenix]

Sheeesh. I was impressed with him. He took on the administration. Great style.

No judgment. Looks maybe as if your first reaction is it.....the left is coming unhinged. Heh. !!

[Alex]

Dan,
For the record, part of the problem with the incident noted at Spinsanity, which I think MM could have been more specific about, was that the article he posted, which he claims to be his original source, doesn't seem to exist, and he was never willing or able to produce anything but a copy of it he typed up himself.

[JillK.]

Someone is only a wunderkind if they are a wunder!

This kid is just a whiny, nasty plagarist with excellent connections to a crony-laden administration.

[Scottie]

I find his turn of phrase quite grating. I feel he has a lack of experience in matters that are beyond his years. His immaturity is flashing in big lights for all to see and he will not be taken seriously by right and left alike, much like that Ann Coulter thing. If this is the best that the WaPo can do, they're in big trouble.

[Dan]

Well, my thoughts right now is that he should be canned assuming the plagarism is true, as it appears to be. And frankly, he's probably also more than I prefer as far as punditry. But then I rarely if ever read RedState. But plagiarism isnt something to be overlooked. He's done as a writer and blogger if it's true.

[Vinny From Indy]

WOW! It is starting to break all over the blogosphere that ol' Ben might have a very serious case of "sticky fingers" when it comes to others work. I think they call it "pliagarism". Is the Washington Post in need of an intervention to keep it from continuing to hurt itself? Will anyone be held to account?

[Phoenix]

Scottie,

I got the same feeling. I liked his style....but then I felt it was phony...grating, as you said. It comes from editing others' work and from writing for other people - like speeches. He's full of style and it's too much to be believable. A prima donna and good at it. I was up and down with him.

I agree - plagiarism - he's done.

[gorillagogo]

Your initial defense of Domenech is pretty thin. Domenech's "lack of faith" in the post came only after he was Spinsanity debunked it. If I understand your logic here, it's OK to make up quotes as long as you back away from them when someone calls BS. Convenient!