TPM MUCKRAKER is On the Job

TPM MUCKRAKER is On the Job updated

UPDATE: AP runs credit clarification.

This morning, I'm going to take just a moment and congratulate
Justin Rood and Paul Kiel of Josh Marshall's new TPM
Muckraker. They've broken more than one story, but now their reporting is
so good they're getting ripped
off by the traditional press. But I never miss a day at TPM
Muckraker and frankly, you shouldn't either. I was particularly pleased
they took out after Move America Forward, an organization that uses right-wing
radio hosts to reach out to tens of millions of radio listeners, all to the
benefit of Bush's Republican Party. Anything that gets at right-wing radio I'm all for, because they're the most dangerous propaganda machine in this country.

Kaloogian: BUSTED!

But it's Howard Kaloogian who's in everyone's sights right now. He's yet another Republican employing fake news to take credit
for knowing the truth about Iraq. Compliments of the group Melanie Morgan trumpets
and co-chairs (you remember her, she's the Ann Coulter of right-wing radio and
serial
gambler), Move
America Forward, Mr. Kaloogian put up faux pictures of Iraq to prove peace
reigns, or some other propaganda talking point. TPM Muckraker, with
the help of others, busted Kaloogian for his fake news, fake story and fake
political reality series.

But the bottom line is that Rood and Keil are doing original
muckraking on a blog, which should be read and applauded. Every day they've got another
goodie. I never miss a day.

Here's a bit about Move America Forward.

Similar to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth
— the advocacy group that helped derail John Kerry's presidential campaign
— Move America Forward has magnified its reach by making small television and
radio ad buys and then relying on cable- and local-television news outlets to
give the commercials heavy coverage. Move America Forward has no discernible
formal ties to the White House or the Republican National Committee, and the
group says it operates independently from the Republican Party establishment.
Still, the organization provides a clear benefit to the administration by spreading
a pro-war message that goes beyond what administration officials can say publicly.
… Move America Forward has raised more than $1 million, mainly in small donations,
over the past two years. The group grew out of the successful 2003 effort to
recall Democratic California Gov. Gray Davis. It was officially founded in 2004
by Mr. Russo, whose company provides office space for the organization; Melanie
Morgan, a conservative San Francisco radio host; and Howard Kaloogian, a Republican
former state assemblyman seeking the congressional seat of former Rep. Randy
“Duke” Cunningham, who resigned recently after admitting to taking
bribes from defense contractors. ... WSJ

Move America Forward harnessed the right-wing radio rabble to
make their case, because being pro-war, without offering reality, wins big with
their audience. Melanie Morgan (pictured above) is one of the people who is amazed that Bush
quit saying Saddam had WMDs. The who are you going to believe, me or your
lying eyes? question comes to mind.

Laura
Ingraham is a Melanie Morgan clone, going to Iraq for 8 protected days,
to come back and lecture the likes of Michael Ware and Lara Logan. Keith Olbermann
put Ms. Ingraham in her place, but she likely won't stay there for long. Her
listeners will demand her anti-free press talking points continue. Morgan started
a free press jihad
long before it was fashionable.

Remember right-wing radio isn't
based on facts. It's about pumping
up emotion among the Republican crew, so they'll hit the pavement and GOTV. Again, it's the most dangerous political machine in this country, which many progressives are just waking up to. I've been doing radio interviews since the 1990s, so this is not news to me, or any of you, I suspect. Any time a light is shown on Morgan or her compatriots it's good for our side.

But this week, with the help of others, as Josh explains, TPM
Muckraker put the heat to Kaloogian's
use of faux news to make his Iraq war points. Justin Rood made the wanna be heir
to Duke Cunningham's seat eat dust. Kaloogian
even had to admit that the trip he continually talks about happened last
July.

Kaloogian's Iraq “is much more calm
and stable than what many people believe it to be.” Never mind
that there is no evidence of this “fact,” as TPM Muckraker's Paul
Kiel attests, with art. But it's the picture the likes of Ingraham and Morgan are also painting. Is it any wonder the American people are confused about the reality in Iraq?

Anyway, just a shout out to Josh
Marshall, Justin Rood and Paul Kiel for taking out after Kaloogian, by way
of Move America Forward. Discrediting these propagandists is a strike in favor of the good guys and the cause of truth. Progressives, especially in the era of Bush and his
rubber stamp Republicans, are lucky to have TPM
Muckraker around.

UPDATE: TPM Muckraker crew get “CSI Bahgdad” title.