Gaffney Cites Made-Up Scene In Path To 9/11 As Symbolic of Clinton Admin’s ‘Risk-Averse Attitude’
Gaffney Cites Made-Up Scene In Path To 9/11 As Symbolic of Clinton Admin’s ‘Risk-Averse Attitude’
Today on MSNBC, right-wing commentator Frank Gaffney cited a made-up scene in The Path To 9/11, in which former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger allegedly refuses to give an order to the CIA to take out bin Laden. 9/11 Commission Chairman Thomas Kean was forced to acknowledge the scene was fictionalized and the writer of the film, Cyrus Nowrasteh, said it was “improvised.”
Gaffney said, “I don’t know the facts here.” Nonetheless, he continued, “To the extent there is basis for this kind of reporting, I think it suggests a risk-averse attitude that was characteristic of the Clinton administration.” Watch it.
Gaffney’s comments underscore why ABC must correct its false scenes in the movie. If it fails to do so, the scenes will be cited as evidence by Gaffney and others, slowly transforming from myth into reality.
Full transcript:
GAFFNEY: Well, I gather that the documentary will elaborate on this in a pretty compelling way, that the call was being made from the ground where they thought they had bin Laden surrounded, directly into Sandy Burger, then the president’s national security adviser. At which point, Burger refused to give them the go ahead and hung up on them.
HOST: Which he refutes.
GAFFNEY: I don’t know the facts here. But to the extent that there’s basis for this kind of reporting, I think it suggests a risk areverse attitude that was characteristic of the Clinton administration that was justified by a desire not to give offense, not to, you know, cause difficulties in foreign relations of this country.
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48 Responses to “Gaffney Cites Made-Up Scene In Path To 9/11 As Symbolic of Clinton Admin’s ‘Risk-Averse Attitude’”
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Gee getting a blowjob in the oval office was pretty risky, which probably added to the excitement.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:20 pm“To the extent there is basis for this kind of reporting????" Umm, this is a docudrama, emphasis on DRAMA. It's a made up scene in made for TV shlock/propaganda. Of course, the people who made this POS, financed it and are chosing to air it 2 months before mid-term elections could not have anticipated that people would actually BELIEVE everything they see.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:20 pmWell, after all, Ronald Reagan did serve in the military didn't he?
September 7th, 2006 at 4:23 pmEasy for Gaffney to sum up what a misleading scene like that might represent. But the millions who'll be watching might just take it a face value.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:24 pmGaffney sez:
See what's going on here? It's already starting! Like an evil oyster, the neocons start with a tiny little sand grain of a lie and cover it with layer upon layer of reference and repetition until it becomes a big ugly pearl of pseudo-truth, patently untrue but believed as truth by the majority of Americans.
This is why this shit need to be stopped right now. The neocons know that the Nazi maxcim of 'tell a big enough lie, and repeat it often enough, and it becomes truth' works...it's been working since 2000. If we don't stop them now, this will only be the beginnning, and our reality will be literally scripted by the neocons.
Again, if you haven't reread your old copy of 1984 yet, you ought to...after all, it's one of the neocons' manuals.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:24 pmHow many Americans lives were lost at the hands of terrorist during the Clinton Administration? How many American lives have been lost during the Bush Administration? And since the Bush Administration believes that Iraq is "central" to the war on terror you have to count all of the lives lost in Iraq too. So I think we all know who has put more lives at risk with their policies.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:25 pmScholastic Press Release
Scholastic pulls all materials - will replace with revised materials tomorrow at http://www.scholastic.com/medialiteracy
September 7th, 2006 at 4:28 pmIs that the same kind of risk adverse attitude good ol' GW showed when he sat for the ending of "My Pet Goat"? He didn't want to risk upsetting them young ones. Or is it more like the risk adverse attitude in letting Pakistan harbor OBL. Don't want to ruffle any feathers there. Or maybe it's more like not wanting to risk upsetting the rich and taking away any tax breaks during a time of war.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:31 pmOk, so, the rightwingnuts are already using a fictionalized account of 911 to shore up their talking points...
I didn't see that coming.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:32 pmIs TP gonna ever fix the spam filter??
September 7th, 2006 at 4:33 pmRisk adverse? Is that like the Risk adverse attitude ol' GW displayed when listening to the rest of "My Pet Goat"? Didn't want to upset the little ones.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:34 pmHello?
This has to be the crappiest spam filter EVER.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:35 pmWell you could say that Clinton was risk averse I suppose. You could also say the same of someone who doesn't want to swallow broken glass.
It is time to get these gamblers out of your TV stations and out of your government. It is time to bring in some people who will actually think about their actions, and not tell you lies in the hopes that you will not notice and take them for truths.
Lastly, it is time to kill the mouse. Boycott Disney!
September 7th, 2006 at 4:38 pmThink Progress would you please FIX that durn spam filter??
September 7th, 2006 at 4:39 pmThis is far too ironic. I was commenting to a friend today at lunch that in no time would the points made by this film become part of the GOP talking points. These guys are not even waiting until the film is aired. This way when people who watch see these made-up events, they will think the events did happen. The "pundits" on TV said it. It must be true.
I am actually scared at this point. Like TripMaster Monkey just said: the Nazi style propagada machine is in full operational mode.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:39 pmHis use of the missleading term "reporting" again makes the ABC show seem like the truth. It isn't reporting it's fiction and this is just why they need to correct it or pull it.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:42 pmThe old "I don't know the facts, but if what they show on the tv is true, then it must be true" argument. The problem is the right wing neocon propogandists NEVER care what the facts are, they only care about the message. That's the very nature of propoganda. Facts mean nothing. Lenin, Hitler, Mao, and Rove all understood this. If it's just said enough with a veneer of validity, people will believe it, no matter how untrue the propoganda is. That is why it is so dangerous when the media is used as a propoganda tool of those in power.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:43 pmAs I said in another thread, the 1930's radio broadcast of "The War of the Worlds" lead to national panic. People wo are not aware of all situation sometimes accept fantasy as fact. ABC should run a streamer at the bottom of the screen during the sit-com stating, in effect, that they are broadcasting fiction.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:44 pmTo the extent there is basis for this kind of reporting, I think it suggests that the so-called 'risk-averse attitude' that the right wing said was characteristic of the Clinton administration is a fabrication made up out of the imagination of fevered right-wing fiction writers intent on rescripting history to fit their prejudices.
That's a reasonable inference, wouldn't you say, Frank?
September 7th, 2006 at 4:44 pmMaybe I'm misreading, but don't you mean "from reality to myth"?
September 7th, 2006 at 4:45 pmI love this very app comment:
"I just Disney an e-mail
I told them I blocked all channels Disney and told my children and grandchildren that Mickey lied and got sick and died. If they want to try to influence my family that I have more influence then they do. I will not let my family be a part of this travisty.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:45 pmdisabledvet | 09.07.06 - 12:45 pm | # "
I found this comment very appropriate.
"I just Disney an e-mail
I told them I blocked all channels Disney and told my children and grandchildren that Mickey lied and got sick and died. If they want to try to influence my family that I have more influence then they do. I will not let my family be a part of this travisty.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:46 pmdisabledvet | 09.07.06 - 12:45 pm"
and told my children and grandchildren that Mickey lied and got sick and died.
Comment by iraqi — September 7, 2006 @ 4:46 pm
Biggest laugh I had all day, thanks.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:49 pmGaffney is the first example of why this dreck was spoonfed to the right wing commentators and no one else. Note to Gaffney: fiction DOES NOT EQUAL reporting.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:51 pmAnyone asking why MSNBC's host didn't call him on that? And more importantly, is anyone digging to find out exactly WHERE that $40 million came from?
“GAFFNEY: I don’t know the facts here. But to the extent that there’s basis for this kind of reporting,â€
translation: since the “basis†is wingnut revisionism, facts are irrelavent….and I was asked to say that on tv….gawd bless america….
September 7th, 2006 at 4:52 pmI'm going to eat this guy alive on my blog later today.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:55 pmAmerica's Least Wanted
MadAsHell - the original? you've changed your signature...
September 7th, 2006 at 4:56 pmI thought disney was gay???!!
September 7th, 2006 at 4:57 pmI think the title of this should be changed to "Woop, There It Is"
In honor of everyone who has been warning us about this very thing.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:59 pmI don't no budpaul, you better have something to wash him down with.
Something strong.
September 7th, 2006 at 5:01 pmOsama?
Usama?
or just
Tim?
September 7th, 2006 at 5:02 pmI don’t know the facts here.†Nonetheless, he continued, “To the extent there is basis for this kind of reporting, I think it suggests a risk-averse attitude that was characteristic of the Clinton administration.â€
And maybe what he was thinking to himself the whole time was, "I'm soooo clever! And nobody can tell I'm wearing my purple string bikini underwear with the yellow polka-dots!"
Gaffney, at this point who cares what you think!
September 7th, 2006 at 5:06 pm"Risk-averse"? As if taking uncalculated risks in sending in too-few troops w/o enough armor is a better thing?
September 7th, 2006 at 5:07 pmDoes history stop with Clinton because dittoheads have limited cranial capacity or because 'terrorism' activities in Reagan's era (and before) reveal some inconvenient truths?
Truth: The US CIA and Brit MI5 took down Iran's Mossadeqq in 1953, pissing off Iran. US was wrong. Iran retaliated 26 years later.
Truth: Reagan used to hostage crisis to get elected.
Truth: Reagan sent troops to Lebanon in 1981-82 after Israel invaded Lebanon AGAIN, in pursuit of PLO. US brokered a deal by which PLO and their kin would be protected if they stood down. The PLO did stand down. Christian Falangists, allies of Israel, slaughtered 800 of PLO and their families. Hezbollah formed in response to that perfidious attack, and took their first act of vengeance by blowing up the Marine barracks. Caspar Weinberger and Pentagon brass knew the Marines were in a dangerous, unprotected place but the left them there, vulnerable.
You wanna point some fingers, neocon echo chamber, point em in the right direction. During Clinton's watch, George Mitchell worked his butt off to bring a practical peace to Ireland, and the US worked with allies to achieve a reasonable resolution of a humanitarian catastrophe in Kosovo. US did not create more victims of its "liberating" activities.
September 7th, 2006 at 5:14 pm#27 - katy,
September 7th, 2006 at 5:15 pmI've had to reenter my Name and E-mail comment boxes every time I post.
So you pay a partisan hack to film a bunch of lies, then you refer to the film as "evidence" that the "lies" are actually the truth or else there wouldn't be "this type of reporting". Talk about circular logic.
September 7th, 2006 at 5:15 pmGaffney should be the new "Republican Hottie of the week" (Sorry Katherine "thrust bubbles" Harris).
September 7th, 2006 at 5:21 pm#4"Easy for Gaffney to sum up what a misleading scene like that might represent. But the millions who’ll be watching might just take it a face value". I accept this as a pathetic testament to how people relate to the TV as the great arbiter of truth. People who you speak of are just plain lazy.
September 7th, 2006 at 5:21 pmSee, I didn't find this scene nearly as appalling as the part where Hillary and Monica square off in the rose garden with butcher knives.
Tsk. For shame, Fox.
Er... ABC.
September 7th, 2006 at 5:27 pmAs Frank would say "I don't know the fact here" but wasn't that Frank having sex with the young retarded girl? Good grief - make up some totally false story and then use it as the basis for an attack on someone's character.
September 7th, 2006 at 5:27 pmI think what would be the ultimate irony in this is if ABC pulls this or edits it beyond it's original Right assumptive character that the person to blame would be Rush Limbaugh. Mr. braggadocios couldn't keep his connections to this masterpiece to himself.
September 7th, 2006 at 5:33 pm#27 - katy, I’ve had to reenter my Name and E-mail comment boxes every time I post.
Comment by WaltTheMan — September 7, 2006 @ 5:15 pm
i know, walt, me too... but i was asking the poster, MadAsHell, if he/she was the original "mad as hell" who has posted on TP for awhile... the "signature" seems different...
i sure hope the problems get fixed soon... i'm getting REAL tired of that "word press" window popping up whenever i hit the back button...
September 7th, 2006 at 5:54 pmOK, here the names, titles and email addresses for a number of key senior Disney decision makers I found, starting at the top
with the CEO and board of directors are at the bottom.
Let's make our voices heard and see if we can get these guys to pull this blatantly obvious Bush propaganda. ABC may profit from the predictable controversy but airing a film designed to obfuscate Bush's responsibility for 9/11 will cause ABC to suffer greatly in the estimation of serious people.
Disney and ABC should leave the RNC propaganda to Fox, it's not ABC's demographic.
Robert Iger - CEO - robert.a.iger@disney.com
Rich Ross - President of Disney Channel Worldwide - rich.ross@disney.com
Sean Cocchia - VP/Business Development, Disney Channel Worldwide- sean.cocchia@disney.com
Gary Marsh - Disney Channel Worldwide President of Entertainment - gary.marsh@disney.com
Sarah Shelton - Assistant to Gary Marshsarah - shelton@disney.com
Scott Garner - SVP/Programming, Disney Channel - scott.garner@disney.com
Karen Myer - Assistant to Scott Garner - karen.myer@disney.com
Meredith Metz - Senior Vice President, Creative Affairs, Walt Disney Television Animation - meredith.metz@disney.com
Lisa Salamone - The Head of Animation Production, Disney Channel - lisa.salamone@disney.com
Joanna Spak - The Head of Finance, Planning, etc., Disney Channel - joanna.spak@disney.com
Mark Kenchelian - The Head of Business and Legal Affairs, Disney Channel -mark.kenchelian@disney.com
Jewell Engstrom - CFO and Executive VP for Disney-ABC Cable Group - jewell.engstrom@disney.com
Olivia Stafford - Assistant to Jewell Engstrom - olivia.stafford@disney.com
Albert Cheng - EVP/Digital Media, Disney-ABC Television Group - albert.cheng@disney.com
Karen Hobson - Digital Media Communications Office, Disney-ABC Television Group - karen.hobson@disney.com
George Bodenheimer - Co-Chairman Media Networks Group - george.bodenheimer@disney.com
Nicole Nichols - Senior VP of Entertainment Communications, Disney-ABC Television Group - nicole.nichols@disney.com
Aime Wolfe - Assistant to Nicole Nichols - aime.wolfe@disney.com
Patti McTeague - VP of Kids Communications - patti.mcteague@disney.com
Siobhan Kenny - Acting Head of International Communications - siobhan.kenny@disney.com
Paul Lee - ABC Family Channel - paul.lee@disney.com
Annie Fort - ABC Family Media Relations - annie.fort@disney.com
Alex Wallau - President of Network Operations & Administration - alex.wallau@disney.com
David Westin - ABC News President - david.westin@disney.com
Mike Shaw - ABC Sales and Marketing President - mike.shaw@disney.com
Fred Kuperberg - Disney/ABC Executive VP of Business and Legal Affairs - fred.kuperberg@disney.com
Kara Rousseau - VP of Ad Sales Marketing for Disney/ABC Kids Networks - kara.rousseau@disney.com
Kim Harbin - Buena Vista Media Relations - kim.harbin@disney.com
Anne Gates - Disney Consumer Products Executive VP & CFO - anne.gates@disney.com
James Fielding - Senior VP, Retail Sales and Marketing for DCP - james.fielding@disney.com
Deborah Dugan - President of Disney Publishing - deborah.dugan@disney.com
Graham Hopper - Senior VP and General Manager of Buena Vista Games - graham.hopper@disney.com
Angela Emery - Director of Public Relations, Buena Vista Games - angela.emery@disney.com
Chris Bess - Buena Vista Home Entertainment - chris.bess@disney.com
Peter Murphy - Senior Adviser to Mr. Iger - peter.murphy@disney.com
Judy Estrin - Board of Directors - jestrin@packetdesign.com
John Bryson - Board of Directors - john.bryson@edisonintl.com
Monica Lozano - Board of Directors - monica.lozano@laopinion.com
John Chen - Board of Directors - john.chen@sybase.com
Gary Wilson - Board of Directors - gary.wilson@nwa.com
Leo Odonova - Board of Directors - leo.odonovan@mbna.com
Thomas Staggs - CFO/Senior V.P. - tom.staggs@disney.com
David K. Thompson - Senior Vice President - David.
September 7th, 2006 at 5:57 pm"I don't know the facts here." Ok, 'nuff said. Now shut up. It is the lack of facts that is at issue here. Don't add on to it.
September 8th, 2006 at 4:30 amIts too late for ABC. They already cashed in their credibility. They can never recover it. They are now reduced to being FOX lite.
September 8th, 2006 at 7:33 amDr. Gaffney has been a right-wing squeezebag for 30 years. His think tanks have done nothing but spew subtle venom at progressives. But, of course, the MSM, including PBS, always gives him air time, just like they did for Kissinger before he fell out of his chair with Alzheimer's.
September 8th, 2006 at 11:03 amWow! They are already using "Path to 9/11 to attack Democrats! Unbelievable! The important thing is that if ABC runs the "docutravesty they and Disney must be made to feel the pain. No more vacations in Disney World! No Narnia movies in the home! No ABC evening news! No Disney Channel! Unless it affects their pocketbooks they won't give a s--t!
September 8th, 2006 at 2:05 pm[...] This sort of thing goes right to the heart of the problem with The Path to 9/11. As one of Legum’s colleagues points out, fabrications in the miniseries have already been used as talking points by right-wing commentators. Similarly, the Legum piece mentioning Patterico was cited by more than a dozen liberal websites, many of which repeat the inaccurate claim that advance copies were sent to right-wing bloggers (link link link link link). A couple of the websites picking up the story are quite popular, and as far as I know, only Glenn Greenwald has made an attempt to correct the error. [...]
September 11th, 2006 at 9:22 pm