I just heard a caller on C-Span repeat a HUGE lie about Medicare

[checks-n-balances]

Claiming that Republicans were responsible for inventing it in the first place!!! and that Obama is so arrogant to take it away from the American people...

(I wish I could remember his exact words)

Is THAT the right-wing media/propaganda/lie that's being repeated out there now???

Someone is pulling out all the stops to make the public completely unhinged.

Edited to add:

Some of the replies below sort of miss my point. Yes, I know people call in with misinformation all the time.

MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS PARTICULAR LIE COULD BE A HUGE MEME ABOUT THERE SPOUTED BY RIGHT WING TALK AND I'M WORRIED THAT IT'S BEING REPEATED BY THE TOTALLY DISINGENUOUS TO INFLAME THE SUPREMELY IGNORANT - through emails, talk radio, etc.

:nuke:

[redwitch]

1. Lots of ignorant people call in to CSpan

I can't bear to listen anymore. Some people are so offended by Obama's skin color that EVERYTHING they don't like is his fault.

[RKP5637]

5. I listen sometimes, but some of the callers are embarrassing to listen too. They

talk and sound soooo ignorant and their points of view are often so uninformed. And then they vote. And worse, only they are right, and they don't want to know different ...

[checks-n-balances]

15. I know that.

My point is NOT the caller - it's the lie that's being put out there to fuel this class war being waged by right wing leaders. And it's also their attempt to re-write history. These lies will be used to blame us when the economy hits the bottom.

Right wingers say stupid things every day, but this is a new low and a signal that right wing messaging is more sinister than ever.

[Enrique]

2. holy shit that's 0% true

i hope the C-span person said something.

[ThomWV]

4. the "Cspan person" in this case is Susan Swain, the only clearly right winger on Cspan

[checks-n-balances]

10. I hadn't noticed that until today

It wouldn't have taken her but a few seconds to correct that.

SHAME ON HER!!!

[KharmaTrain]

12. She's Not The Only One...They're Giving Coultergeist 3 Hours On Sunday

I doubt you'll ever see CSPIN give that amount of time to Noam Chomsky or Randi Rhodes.

I've watched this show for years and all the hosts are right wing...using "sources" like the Moonie Times and having a non-stop parade of AEI and Heritage Institute shills on their shows.

The big lie about CSPIN is how they're some kind of "public service" cause they don't run commercials. The channel isn't public...it's own by the cable companies and it was established to bypass local access rules and now is a "player" cause so many politicos watch it.

[checks-n-balances]

7. Not one word of correction from the host of the show

That is PURE OUTRAGE!!!

I hope SOMEONE will call in and demand a correction, no matter that the topic has changed.

Tom Coburn is the guest now and a Dem should call in and ask him to state the truth just for the record.

[ThomWV]

3. Yes, liars and idiots do call in every day, but its still the only venue in which you can see truth.

If you do not watch C-Span you can not know what is actually being said and what is actually being done in our Government. There is no news source. broadcast, cable, or print that does that.

[RKP5637]

6. +1, n/t

[redwitch]

8. I watch until I start to squirm.

Honestly, some days it seems that everyone who calls is so ignorant it is embarrassing. I also read Truthout and lots of other web blogs. Oh, and DU. :-)

[checks-n-balances]

9. I agree, but I'm concerned that it isn't one isolated nut caller

This could be one of the latest astroturf memes out there. These kinds of lies become implanted into people's minds.

A lot of the threads are of the "Nothing to see, move along" type either innocently or on purpose. Or still just missing my main point, asking if this lie is isolated or getting widespread.

[ThomWV]

18. It really shows how strong their disinformation network still is

They have two major venues by which they spread lies. The first is FOX of course, but the second is the churches and the social networks that they spawn. You've got to give credit to the Republicans for what they have done. They have reached out to the ignorant and given them an enemy that is easy to see, their neighbors.

[KharmaTrain]

11. You've Just Watched A Sockpuppet

How many people really care to call into a talk show? I used to work in the genre and have seen how these shows are used to astroturf talking points. CSPIN is one of their favorite haunts as the right wing hosts rarely cut off the talking point and from there its picked up by others. I watch these shows in amusement as I know its all one big game with an occasional "honest" caller out there.

[RickFromMN]

13. If true, it's unfortunate. Unfortunately, people only listen to what reinforces their beliefs.

Only when they are personally affected, will they start to question their beliefs.

Even then, people will accept any explanation why their pain was caused by the opposition.
They will nod when told, if only the opposition hadn't done this, everything would be fine.

They will not accept their pain was self inflicted, caused by the very policies they support.

And those who really benefit from those misguided policies will laugh, laugh all the way to the bank.

[OHdem10]

14. True to form and just as I predicted. Obama will carry the blame

or credit for what ever happens to Medicare.

This is the GOP Plan and Dream. Have a Democratic
President in charge when changes are made. They
(GOP) will cut it until it is unrecognizeable
because they know the President will get the blame.

NAFTA---Was passed by Republicans but BILL CLINTON
carries the blame.

This is the DC racket. Having a Democratic President
puts the imprimatur of Democratic Party on destruction
of The NEW DEAL and the WAR ON POVERTY. This makes
it Bipartisan.

[checks-n-balances]

16. You understand it very well.

I was enflamed this morning about that caller because it reminded me of how all this is being turned back on us.

[Solomon]

17. I heard that call and burst out laughing when she said it.

Just goes to show you, people will "rationalize" anything. I heard another caller complain that it's Obama, not the republicans, who is trying to take away social security.

[checks-n-balances]

19. It was a MAN who said it.

I remember that very clearly. Unless you heard more than one person repeat that big lie this morning.