I know this is old news, but I was busy last week and didn’t get to express my appreciation. Here’s Breitbart in the lion’s den, MSNBC, talking to “celebrity journalist” and British person Martin Bashir. Apparently Breitbart thought he was going to talk about his new book, Righteous Indignation, but Bashir had something else in mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awlzgkeraogI wouldn’t have thought Bashir could sink any lower than his Michael Jackson interviews, but he managed it here. Basically, this interview consists of two questions:
- Why are you a racist?
- Why are you denying that you’re a racist?
The lowlight is when Bashir asks Breitbart about an ugly, racist Photoshopped picture that Breitbart had nothing to do with. Imagine if somebody interviewed, say, Arianna Huffington and tried to associate her with, say, Wonkette’s savage attacks on Trig Palin. Not because she had anything to do with them, but simply to smear her. To create that association in people’s minds.
Ace of Spades has more on Bashir’s tactics. He wasn’t seeking information; he was merely reinforcing the narrative. Hey, he’s not guilty by his association with MSNBC, but Breitbart is responsible for every single Republican on Earth. After Breitbart explained getting rid of a contributor who had used racist epithets in the past, Bashir continued on as if Breitbart hadn’t said anything. Didn’t fit the narrative. When that didn’t work, Bashir just moved on to the next outrage he wanted to pin on Breitbart. As Breitbart pointed out, Bashir had his Media Matters talking points and was not about to be diverted from them.
If the premise is false, do not accept it. Do not assume that your interlocutor is acting in good faith. Call their plays as they’re making them. That’s what Breitbart does, and that’s why they keep going after him. He refuses to be their straw man.
P.S. Supercommenter Partymanrandy: “I love how Bashir says ‘let’s stay focused’ every time Breitbart calls him on something. ‘Let’s stay focused on how racist you are.'” Yep. Focus = tunnel vision.
P.P.S. Matt Labash has more on what’s wrong with the British.