News Roundup for 10/26/10

American Action Network?

-Headline of the Day-
"CT station to shadowy right wing group: Sorry, we're not airing your falsehoods anymore."

An attack ad from the American Action Network claims that healthcare reform will mean "$500 billion in Medicare cuts," create "thousands of new IRS agents," and will mean "jail time for anyone without coverage." People in the horseshit-spotting business have looked into these claims and have declared them horseshit. Turns out the American Action Network is a bunch of people whose pants are on fire.

And who are the American Action Network, anyway? Who knows? It's all a big secret. It could very well be al Qaeda. It's probably not. It's probably insurance company lobbyists. But it could be. At any rate, as far as I know, they've never denied being al Qaeda. That'd be proof enough for Bill O'Reilly. So I think it's probably safest to assume they're al Qaeda.

And one Connecticut TV station isn't taking the chance that the ads give aid and comfort to America's enemies. The ads attack Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy, who's running a tight race against Republican Sam Caligiuri -- a man who has also never denied being a member of al Qaeda. According to the report, "FoxCT, the local Fox affiliate, informed the Murphy campaign that it would stop running the American Action Network ad after the Murphy camp sent the station a letter detailing the ad's falsehoods, the Murphy campaign confirms." Word is that another station in the state may pull the ads as well.

Take that, al Qaeda. (Plum Line)


-Is NPR jihadist?-
The Daily Show is back and the big story in Washington is NPR firing Juan Williams. Jon Stewart takes a look at the story, along with Fox News' insane overreaction to it.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
NPR Staffing Decision 2010
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

There's a lot of funny here, but I think Aasif Mandvi gets the best line: "If they re not going to make a distinction between Muslims and violent extremists, then why should I take the time to distinguish between decent fearful white people -- and racists?"

So. Much. Win. (Comedy Central)


-Bonus HotD-
"Tea Party Nation: Vote Out Rep. Keith Ellison Because He's Muslim And 'Supports' Terrorists."

This is what you call "making Aasif Mandvi's point." (Think Progress)