A New Beginning: Gateway Pundit Gets White House Press Credentials
Pamela Geller tweeted this out last night from the so-called “Deploraball” (eye roll):
Me and @gatewaypundit, who just got White House press credentials! #DeploraBall #inauguration pic.twitter.com/QHAgvz6u7x
— Pamela Geller (@PamelaGeller) January 20, 2017
You might wonder whether she was trolling, but Oliver Darcy said the same thing:
Jim Hoft will apparently have a White House correspondent. https://t.co/jpG1AUa72X
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) January 20, 2017
I am of two minds about this.
On one hand, Jim Hoft of Gateway Pundit is, um, not a journalist. To put it mildly. I have described Hoft as someone “whose two-step editorial fact-checking process consists of 1) asking whether a story benefits Trump, and 2) determining how many exclamation points to include in the title.” Kimberly Ross recently wrote a post that laid out some of his past whoppers. You should read that post now if you haven’t already. Let me cite the errors noted by Kimberly and add a couple of my own. (Warning: if you actually click on any of the Gateway Pundit links, close the tab as soon as you’re done, since his site will furiously auto-refresh every second or so until you do.)
- The “Michelle Obama scrubs Hillary from her Twitter timeline” story, which Hoft had here, and which Sean Hannity apologized for repeating.
- The “Washington Post reporter took pictures of Rex Tillerson’s notes” story. Hoft’s original headline still resides in his URL for the post: http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/01/sick-wapo-reporter-caught-sneaking-photos-rex-tillersons-notes-senate-hearing-video/. As you can see, he directly accused a Washington Post reporter of being the “photographer” based on reports that the woman was Doris Truong of the Washington Post — but had to admit in an update: “This post was updated to note the reporter was not Doris Truong.”
- Remember how Hoft breathlessly assured the world that Darren Wilson, the officer in the Michael Brown shooting, had suffered a “blowout” orbital fracture to his eye socket? Months later he updated his post to say: “We previously reported that Officer Wilson suffered and [sic] orbital eye-socket fracture. It now appears he suffered severe bruising but no fracture.” The original claim still resides in his URL: http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/08/breaking-report-po-darren-wilson-suffered-orbital-blowout-fracture-to-eye-socket-during-encounter-with-mike-brown/
- Then there was Hoft’s post titled WHOA! It Sounds Like Chris Matthews Just Endorsed Trump (VIDEO). As I pointed out at the time, a non-edited version of the video showed Matthews saying “I say this not because I want Trump to win.” (WHOA! Sounds like he is endorsing Trump!!!)
So that’s a part of the case against Jim Hoft. Why, then, am I of two minds about this? Because, frankly, if you took most of the major news organizations, you could draw up an equally compelling list of absurdly misreported stories.
Just to take one example among many, I spent years covering the leftist nonsense coming out of the L.A. Times, until I got bored with it. If I started listing examples, we’d be here all day. But you could always go to this link and scroll down to sample some of the year-end roundups I used to do of the numerous errors, distortions, bias, and omissions I documented over the years.
They have White House press credentials.
So do organizations employing reporters who were revealed by Wikileaks to be overly cozy with Democrats.
In other words, Jim Hoft’s standards are non-existent. Indeed, they are much worse than those of most people in Big Media. But there are some in Big Media who are really almost as bad. They’re just a little more genteel, use fewer exclamation points, and (critically) have the opposite world view.
So, when I heard that Jim Hoft has White House press credentials, I’ll admit that I rolled my eyes. But I’m not going to declare the end of the free world.
And, in the end, Hoft is a clown covering another clown. Isn’t that kind of appropriate?
[Cross-posted at RedState.]
Hoft must have gathered that look from when Harry Caray called the Cardinals games.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 1/20/2017 @ 11:39 amDid Trump seek rapprochement with Geller, who he branded as a provocateur?
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 1/20/2017 @ 11:40 amMr. Hoft’s growing into a new role I wish him many lucks
he’s a good pickle
happyfeet (a037ad) — 1/20/2017 @ 11:43 amLooks like a Vegas lounge lizard and his cocktail waitress squeeze between shows.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/20/2017 @ 11:44 amYou may think The Donald is a clown, but the evidence is to the contrary. Besides he’s our president now and deserves better than short shrift.
ropelight (82fc11) — 1/20/2017 @ 11:44 amPatterico, you seem to like Jim Hoft more than I do. He’s a disgrace to blogging and inhabits the same space as Alex Jones. How do you know when a blogger is lying? When his name is Jim Hoft.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/20/2017 @ 11:55 am“Besides he’s our president now and deserves better than short shrift.”
– ropelight
Is he sick of the high hat, too? You sound like a cartoon character.
Leviticus (efada1) — 1/20/2017 @ 11:56 amMy take; Gateway Pundit is the same kind of inaccurate, spun, partisan news source as CNN, MSNBC, CBS, etc… though he’s a bit more ethical than they are, and a bit more accurate too. So, Jim Hoft is surly no worse than much of the White House press corps.
However, just because others are as bad in no way makes this okay.
Arizona CJ (191c8a) — 1/20/2017 @ 12:29 pmJust a reminder: Ropelight gave Obama short shrift. Deservedly so.
John Hitchcock (9de721) — 1/20/2017 @ 12:30 pmPatterico gives Trump short shrift. Deservedly so.
Ropelight’s panties are in a bunch. Couldn’t happen to a better … person.
“THAT WAS FAST: All References to ‘Climate Change’ Deleted From White House Website at Noon Today.”
Colonel Haiku (603887) — 1/20/2017 @ 12:30 pmHate teh sin AND teh sinner!
Colonel Haiku (603887) — 1/20/2017 @ 12:31 pm#7, Lowbrow, don’t be so pissy. You’ll feel better when the parade starts and the thugs you admire begin to demonstrate their commitment to peace and love.
ropelight (82fc11) — 1/20/2017 @ 12:38 pmI’d forgotten about you Hitchcock. You can’t imagine the joy I feel knowing you’re celebrating The Donald’s glorious victory. My smile would light up the night sky.
ropelight (82fc11) — 1/20/2017 @ 12:45 pmMr Hitchcock, get yourself an Arby’s sandwich and grab a cold beer from the fridge so you can sit down and enjoy the parade on tv!
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/20/2017 @ 12:50 pmThose nasty Obama people have finally been evicted.
I’m beginning to think we have more than a few gingerists around here…
Colonel Haiku (603887) — 1/20/2017 @ 12:52 pmWe need to stop giving credentials to publications which present biased coverage.
Let’s begin with The New York Times.
http://thefederalist.com/2017/01/18/nyt-hid-numbers-hottest-year-record/
Colonel, you’ll appreciate this one.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/20/2017 @ 12:59 pmAnother case in point:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2017/01/valerie-jarretts-daughter-will-cover-justice-department-for-cnn.php
Peter B (cda406) — 1/20/2017 @ 1:05 pmThat’s Phil Donahue with Ann Margaret as Leisure Suit Larry Cosplay.
Pinandpuller (9e4e0f) — 1/20/2017 @ 1:15 pmThat’s a great link, CS. I’ll likely blog that one.
Patterico (dc43de) — 1/20/2017 @ 1:19 pmColonel, Geller in everyday apparel is eye candy, but this photo looks like a late October weekend. As to Gingerism, we prefer matching sets of curtains and …
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 1/20/2017 @ 1:32 pmYeah, I’d read that, CS. That’s the NYT and the alarmist bureacracy for you.
ULB… lol.
Colonel Haiku (603887) — 1/20/2017 @ 1:42 pmBroken clock broken once again, damn
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 1/20/2017 @ 1:47 pmhttp://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2017/01/20/chris-matthews-msnbc-trump-speech-was-hitlerian.html
Yep, the Trump administration is off and running!
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b1pJ2kCLBjQ/WIF0yRnjlAI/AAAAAAABE7g/syR807RE1Y0J_gGb98xvf–ZKGPSGym-wCLcB/s1600/1ninetymiles8eM7G1w3ciqto1_1280.jpg
Rev. Hoagie® (785e38) — 1/20/2017 @ 1:56 pmInstant classic, Hoagie!
Colonel Haiku (603887) — 1/20/2017 @ 2:00 pm#16: Yes, there is a STEM school term for reporting a value of 0.01 (+/- 0.1).
“D-“
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/20/2017 @ 2:34 pmExactly, Kevin
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/20/2017 @ 2:39 pmAnd publications with. (supposedly) more science cred than the NYT does that stuff, too.
That is why I had a hard time taking the AGW people seriously.
Greetings:
Me, I’m still a bell-curve kind of guy so my knickers don’t go into knots when I get three or four standard deviations off the mean media mean. I find Gateway useful as a site approaching the conservative extreme but his work enumerating the Trump voters coming out to Trumpkin rallies, however many times, was an indication of how the election might very well go and one that media to his left pretty much refused to notice or actually buried.
As to Ms. Gellar, well, “she fights” maybe too often and maybe not too well but “she fights” against the Islamization of both America and Europa to the point that Theresa May of the British ruling class actually banned her from entering the previously Great Britain because she would undoubtedly terrify all those well assimilated Muslimaniacs that the British ruling class find so charming except in the rare moments that the rare few go a-murdering about.
Things aren’t going to get fixed via tea-time manners. It’s omelet time.
11B40 (6abb5c) — 1/20/2017 @ 2:42 pmThe Latimes is surprisingly accurate today online. It’s opposite day!
Patricia (5fc097) — 1/20/2017 @ 3:29 pmThey’re burning flags on the courthouse steps in Portland–someone needs to page Rick Monday to send him out on a rescue mission.
M Scott Eiland (1edade) — 1/20/2017 @ 4:20 pm#29 M Scott Eiland, with Barack in office, the lefties have had to pretend to love America for the past 8 years. As a result of there now being a Republican President, today’s the first opportunity they’ve had to express their pent up hatred for America.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/20/2017 @ 4:56 pmYes, he is. And, if you are honest with yourself, I think you think he is too. Unless, you believe there is some kind of credential or qualification one must have before one can be a journalist.
By my definition, all you need is the will and the means to publish.
I can see why some might believe him to be a poor journalist. If I had to guess, I suspect you might want to add some more adjectives to “poor”. But, he is a journalist.
Anon Y. Mous (9e4c83) — 1/20/2017 @ 5:54 pmM Scott Eiland (1edade) — 1/20/2017 @ 4:20 pm
I appreciate your comment.
felipe (023cc9) — 1/20/2017 @ 7:28 pmIs there something I’m missing here? Isn’t Gateway Pundit a pundit and isn’t a pundit someone who comments on the news rather than report it? He’s an editorialist, an opinion writer – a pontificator, if you will. Just like most journalists, only has the decency to tell you right up front he’s giving you his spin on the news with no pretense of objectivity and neutrality.
Jerryskids (16a4d5) — 1/21/2017 @ 12:07 amI used to like Gateway Pundit. Until the layout change that preceded even his Trumpmania. Too cluttered; too hard to read; too many better sites out there.
DavidD (da856e) — 1/21/2017 @ 9:24 amGreetings, Jerryskids: ( @ 33 (16a4d5) — 1/21/2017 @ 12:07 am )
So sweet, that “an opinion writer – a pontificator”.
11B40 (6abb5c) — 1/21/2017 @ 9:43 amRegardless that Gateway Pundit is a pure fansite for Trump (which isn’t unique …. Breitbart e.g.??), I agree that there is no attempt to do original investigation or reporting. Hoft appears to be a Drudge wannabe, but he goes farther. He takes other posts and article and spins them with is own editorials and faux-reporting.
CasualObserver (ad658a) — 1/21/2017 @ 10:12 am