I received a RW email from a friend of mine, asking if I could read and point out errors for her.

[Frustratedlady]

She is an independent and thought the email looked for real since it had references. Well, it did in a way, like (1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; etc., but no page numbers/paragraph numbers, etc. Anyone can use references like that and it looks like they have researched everything, but you can't refute the numbers.

Can I post the email/chart? Last time I tried to warn about an email making the rounds, I got chewed out on DU, so I don't want that to happen again.

[zbdent]

1. Check to see if Snopes has done the work for you, first ...

[Frustratedlady]

2. I did earlier, but couldn't find the one like I received. There was a similar one, but

only a discussion on how Obama couldn't be blamed because of this or that factor, or some such.

I think they pick and choose the period of time that looks the worst and Bush looked the best. I'd love to knock down the points they made.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. If it isn't on Snopes,

try factorfiction or politfacts too. I have yet to find any of these emails, upon research, to be truthful. In fact, when they have a link to Snopes, I click it (unlike everyone who just believes that shit), and it is actually said to be false. There have been some that I spent hours researching just because I didn't think they had any truth to them, but that can take lots of time an effort.

I will not tell you to post the email, since that causes issues for some here...although I wish we could.

[Frustratedlady]

5. Thanks for those sites. I'll give them to try. eom

[Scuba]

4. I'd just send it back to the originator and say "sources not complete, do your own homework".

[Frustratedlady]

6. No, I want to prove it is false if I can.

I have already pointed out that just naming references like they have without complete tracking to the source makes it look authentic, but is probably a smokescreen. She and her husband are too easily led by the noses by this crap, so I want to be able to show her they are lies or exaggerations.

Generally, there is just enough truth to these pieces to be dangerous. Once they get started and aren't debunked, they continue to do their damage.

[Scuba]

7. Good for you. Hope it helps.

[progree]

8. Yes you can and should post it here.

I don't know why anyone would say that you shouldn't post it here. This is the group to deal with these things. If we are too damn delicate and sensitive to see what the right-wing is saying, let alone debunk it, then we will be slaughtered at the polls (like we always are except when the RepubliCONS create a monumental disaster, like the Iraqi war situation in 2006, and the financial crisis in 2008. Other than that, because they outnumber us 10:1 in talk radio time, and control of voting in most states, they win).

Is what you want to post any worse than the below (which is in this forum)?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1022&pid=117

[Frustratedlady]

9. You must go to the dungeon with me...here goes:

Well, shoot! I can't post the chart.

It is a chart (supposedly backed up with references, but it doesn't list the page number/column, etc.) of comparing various areas of government rule between The Reign of George and Obama. For instance, price of gas, sugar cane, number unemployed, median household income, number Blacks employed, number on food stamps, number in poverty, U.S. rank in economic freedom ranking, dollar vs. yen, etc.

Their references are the Wall Street Journal, Census Bureau, Dept. Labor,Realty Trac, Standard & Poor's/Case Schiller, Heritage Foundation, Conference Board, FDIC, etc., but they just assigned them a number and listed it as their reference for each claim. So, where do you go at the Heritage Foundation to find the information?

Looks good, but I can't check it out without them telling me what they used to make the comment. The problem is, however, most people won't bother. They will think it looks legit and quote it.

Thanks, anyway. I had my deck of cards and cribbage board all ready to take to the dungeon. Maybe next time?

Peace!