Andrea Mitchell Can't Handle The Truth

MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell became the latest talking head parading as a legitimate reporter of the news to pass off patently false statements as fact. As Atrios, Think Progress, and Crooks and Liars have reported on Monday night's edition of Hardball Ms. Mitchell said:

They're going to try to really tamp this down and appeal to the polling which indicates that most people think, in fact, that he should be pardoned. Scooter Libby should be pardoned.

Ms. Mitchell may believe that Mr. Libby should be pardoned, this is her opinion which she may freely state as such. Recent polling by CNN shows that only 18% of Americans think Mr. Libby should be pardoned while fully 69% opposed a pardon. It would seem that the only way Ms. Mitchell could make the above statement was to wholly fabricate it.

The larger problem is that such statements are allowed to pass unchallenged and unreported and as such enter the mainstream media as truths. These blatant falsehoods are then bandied about by right wing pundits, politicians, and so-called news sources and peddled as the truth.

The American people deserve better, they can handle the truth.