The Washington Monthly

August 18, 2009

WHITE HOUSE CHANGES EMAIL TIP LINE.... The "controversy" was mind-numbing from the start, but White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs explained that while flag@whitehouse.gov is no more, Americans can still get in touch with officials with questions about health care reform.

Gibbs ... said a White House effort to encourage people to provide examples of "misinformation" about health care reform has not ended but has instead been folded into a broader initiative to combat opposition to the Obama's health care proposals.
That information can now be provided to the "reality check" section of the White House Web site, Gibbs said.

"To better understand what new misinformation is bubbling up online or in other venues, we want your suggestions about topics to address through the Reality Check site," states a message posted Monday night on the White House Web site by White House Director of New Media Macon Phillips. "To consolidate the process, the e-mail address set up last week for this same purpose is now closed and all feedback should be sent through" an address on the "reality check" Web page, Phillips writes. "We also ask that you always refrain from submitting others' information without permission."

In other words, "We really, really don't want anyone's names or contact information. Seriously."

In the meantime, the Republican obsession continues.

Conservative media have baselessly suggested that people who reportedly claim to have received unsolicited email from White House adviser David Axelrod may have been added to a White House "enemies list" after emails they sent that were critical of the Obama administration were purportedly forwarded to flag@whitehouse.gov. These media figures have failed to provide any credible evidence in support of this conspiracy theory.

I've been told by reliable sources who watch the network that Fox News has emphasized this "story" on a near-constant basis over the last 24 hours.

—Steve Benen 4:20 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (12)

Comments

I've been told by reliable sources who watch the network that Fox News has emphasized this "story" on a near-constant basis over the last 24 hours.

Of course they have. It's scary sounding. And it isn't true.

Posted by: chrenson on August 18, 2009 at 4:28 PM | PERMALINK

I wouldn't be surprised if they were signed up by Fox themselves using registration information from FoxNation.

Posted by: dk on August 18, 2009 at 4:32 PM | PERMALINK

"And now our newsreader, Candy, will tell you more about Obama's death camps while exposing her cleavage and pouting her full lips."

Posted by: Speed on August 18, 2009 at 4:35 PM | PERMALINK

Shouldn't that be Fox "News"?

Posted by: Singularity on August 18, 2009 at 4:42 PM | PERMALINK

Shouldn't there be some truth in advertising re FOX? Wasn't a group trying to sue them to change their by-line (fair and balanced)? What a farce.

I've been emailing with a friend who thinks FOX and Dobbs are the only ones telling the truth. I've sent her the Wendell Potter transcript (with Bill Moyers) and Paul Krugman articles, but with no effect. Meanwhile she's upset for her friend who can't get insurance due to a pre-existing condition yet she's against healthcare reform and is worried about her mother's Medicare.

It's so hard to get through when people are being indoctrinated by the fearmongers and liars. I truly think it's a lost cause trying to convince anyone, and the Dems and Obama should just go all out for what is right! And if that's single payer, then even better. Scr*w the R's and the 18%'ers!

Posted by: Me on August 18, 2009 at 4:45 PM | PERMALINK

I've been told by reliable sources who watch the network that Fox News has emphasized this "story" on a near-constant basis over the last 24 hours.

If your "reliable sources" are progressives "taking one for the team", they should get a fricken medal for watching that mind numbing shit. If however they're republicans who just happen to watch FOX, how can they be reliable?

Posted by: Little Miss Attila on August 18, 2009 at 4:46 PM | PERMALINK

No evidence....we don't need no stinking evidence.

We are the government and Fox keeps demonizing some fantasy government that doesn't exist anywhere except in Foxland

Fits right in with "Some people say..." and "I heard from a listener named Bob". Now we got "I've received emails from some who say.." Of course I didn't being any with me....

Posted by: bjobotts on August 18, 2009 at 5:12 PM | PERMALINK

They have all the evidence they need - because trolling flatfiles for names is what they'd do.

Posted by: Crissa on August 18, 2009 at 5:30 PM | PERMALINK

Fox News is a dick.

Posted by: David Bailey on August 18, 2009 at 6:22 PM | PERMALINK

I want to say something really nasty about Bob Novak. But he was a human beingm a father, grandfather, and husband. RIP

Posted by: Trollkiller on August 18, 2009 at 6:30 PM | PERMALINK

What Obama should say is, "Enemies list? We don't need an enemies list. You enthusiastically supported a bill to allow us to look at anything you write without a warrant."
"Enemies list--how quaint..."

Posted by: pbg on August 18, 2009 at 9:12 PM | PERMALINK

I would still like to know where they got my email address, I mean I know they hired a company to send them out but where did that company get my email address. And I didn t watch FOX to see what they had to say I wondered initially when I received 2 emails within 10 days from the White House.

Posted by: Suzito on August 27, 2009 at 12:26 PM | PERMALINK