Back when the Journal-World used to publish my letters to the editor (Ralph Gage threw a hissy fit over my scrutiny of his newspaper's reporting, so the J-W no longer accepts my letters), I was often asked to provide sources. However, during the last few months I have noticed letters that are published (from liberals, of course) for which there are no sources or no credible sources. A case in point is a letter today by Julie Matchett.
Matchett's first claim is that President George W. Bush said, "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face, it’s just a goddamned piece of paper.” According to Matchett, "These remarks were leaked to the press by three GOP politicos in attendance, who didn’t want to be identified."
The only source for the Bush quote is a December 5, 2005 article written by Doug Thompson on a web site called Capitol Hill Blue. Wonkette characterizes Capitol Hill Blue as "the political rag that also functions as a tin foil hat." Another Thompson story seems to confirm that characterization. FactCheck.org goes even further in casting doubt on Thompson's article.
Matchett also claimed the following: "Barbara Bush, on 'Good Morning America,' March 18, 2003, while defending her son’s administration’s censorship of images of flag-draped coffins returning from Iraq, said, 'Why should we hear about body bags and death … or, I mean, it’s not relevant, so why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?'"
Of course, on March 18, 2003, there were no flag-draped coffins returning from Iraq since the invasion of Iraq had not yet started. Matchett implies that Barbara Bush was reacting to past events when instead she was being asked to speculate about possible future events. Snopes.com, which analyzes urban legends, put Bush's comment into proper perspective nearly three years ago. Nevertheless, the J-W decided this letter was fit to print.
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