The classic saying is that, “to err is human.”
Well, to not correct your errors, especially in the course of attacking opponents, sounds very WaPo these days.
First, back in March, reporter Janell Ross falsely stated the same morning Donald Trump disavowed David Duke that he had not done so in 48 hours. Even when her paper’s own Factchecker column that she linked to was updated to reflect the new disavowal Ross refused to correct her piece.
Now opinion writer and MSNBC talking head Jonathan Capehart stands accused of publishing a chart last week about the supposed vast right-wing conspiracy working to thwart rights for gays and transgendered individuals that falsely stated one key group received funding from another. The chart was produced by the LGBT advocacy group, Freedom for All Americans, which seems to think there is something sinister about like-minded conservative organizations working in tandem to support or oppose particular legislation.
Liberals have been known to do that kind of thing as well.
Liberty Counsel, which famously represented Kentucky clerk Kim Davis over her refusal to issue gay marriage licenses, said Tuesday the chart falsely claims they get funding from the Alliance Defending Freedom. And Capehart refused numerous requests for a correction.
Yes, whether or not one conservative legal group gets funding from another is not a big deal. But if Capehart is so indifferent to accuracy here people should wonder what other falsehoods he has been casually peddling.
In his piece, “Here they are, the ‘enemies of equality’ for LGBT Americans,” Capehart alludes to “coordination” between ADF and Liberty Counsel.
ADF confirmed to the Washington Gadfly that they don’t fund Liberty Counsel. “That was only one of numerous factual errors and misleading insinuations in the graphic,” said spokesman Greg Scott. “It would be nice if Jonathan Capehart did some fact-checking on his own. It’s a shame that a venerable publication like The Washington Post would allow itself to be used as a seedbed for poorly-executed propaganda. ”
Capehart did not reply to repeated requests for comment.