Jake Tapper's Smoke Detector Goes Off at ABC News

Did Obama fib about smoking as Tapper claimed? I have no idea. Does it matter in terms of Obama's White House run? I can't imagine how it would.

I don't even know how to describe Tapper's I-think-Obama-lied-about smoking report. It certainly does not represent journalism in any fundamental way. I don't mean to be juvenile, but I think the phrase brain fart comes closer to the actual description. Meaning, it's, "I have an idea in my head. I don't know if it's true but I'm going to type it into my computer and post it online under the auspice of ABC News."

The irony is that these sort of careless, thoughtless online endeavors represent precisely what mainstream journalists accuse bloggers of being: unserious and unsupervised. Yet, in truth, I can't think of a single A-list (liberal) blogger who would attach their name to such a speculative -- and meaningless -- allegation as the one Tapper lobbed at Obama.

Read the full Media Matters column here.

Comments

[Aleka]

I honestly think he's being paid by Clinton to smear Obama with her own "liar" problem.

Thats all his blogs are - Obama crediblity smears.

[inthenitemare]

According to the report that I read; Trapper said: "I think Obama may have lied to ME about smoking." I believe that was also the headline of his story.

He goes on to say how he didn't get a chance to directly ask Senator Obama if he had just had a cigarette, so he called the campaign head quarters and asked them to ask him. And supposedly they did and he said no.

So, It was not Trapper who Obama lied to (if he indeed lied or if indeed he was even asked). It would have been the campaign staff that Obama lied to. Not Trapper

[chlllfactor]

Tapper has gone beyond silly -who cares? There is nothing legitimate to attack Senator Obama with so let's write about ridiculous nothingness.

[LittleBrother]

Tapper is one of those reporters who showed a gleam of promise when he first arrived on the scene, but has long since degenerated into a typical corporate news hack infotainwhore.

It's pathetic that he wastes our time and his employer's money on such puerile, vapid, self-important "scoops" as whether Obama has nicotine stains on his index finger.

What's next? A dime novel hidden in the corn crib?

[silverball]

i couldn't agree more....whenever i see him come on i usually flip channels...he's pretty clueless and yet in a msm position of power to be taken seriously....our fourth branch of government is really pathetic...our founding fathers must be stunned as they are now rolling in their graves....next it will be something equally important like...hmmm...his shoes needed polishing....