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| | Since 2004, Media Matters has monitored conservative media and attacked high-profile conservatives with provocative language. In addition, it is often accused of using out-of-context [[quote mining]]. It is headed by [[David Brock]], a former conservative who claims he made up stories about such people as [[Anita Hill]], who charged Supreme Court Justice [[Clarence Thomas]] with sexual harassment during Thomas’s confirmation hearings. Brock developed a relationship in the 1990s with then-First Lady [[Hillary Clinton]]'s press aide, [[Neel Lattimore]], and came out of the closet, announcing he was a [[homosexual]] and joining the [[liberal]] cause. Brock later hired Lattimore at Media Matters as director of "special projects." | | Since 2004, Media Matters has monitored conservative media and attacked high-profile conservatives with provocative language. In addition, it is often accused of using out-of-context [[quote mining]]. It is headed by [[David Brock]], a former conservative who claims he made up stories about such people as [[Anita Hill]], who charged Supreme Court Justice [[Clarence Thomas]] with sexual harassment during Thomas’s confirmation hearings. Brock developed a relationship in the 1990s with then-First Lady [[Hillary Clinton]]'s press aide, [[Neel Lattimore]], and came out of the closet, announcing he was a [[homosexual]] and joining the [[liberal]] cause. Brock later hired Lattimore at Media Matters as director of "special projects." |
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| − | Brock is a self-proclaimed fabricator of lies who strong-armed sources that didn’t agree with him.<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=20711 Media Matters: Defaming Journalists, Getting Sued], by Catherine Moy, ''Human Events'', 05/15/2007.</ref> While writing ''Blinded by the Right'',<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_23_119/ai_94639741/pg_1 Slime-master: inside the `vast right-wing conspiracy' - Blinded by the Right: The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative] - Book Review, Christian Century, Nov 6, 2002 by Gary Dorrien.</ref> Brock was hospitalized in a mental facility where he spent time in a "quiet room" and "had delusions, he thought people were trying to kill him," according to the Drudge Report.<ref>http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2002/05/22/20020522_143906_brockb.htm</ref> | + | Brock is a self-proclaimed fabricator of lies who strong-armed sources that didn’t agree with him.<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=20711 Media Matters: Defaming Journalists, Getting Sued], by Catherine Moy, ''Human Events'', 05/15/2007.</ref> While writing ''Blinded by the Right'',<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_23_119/ai_94639741/pg_1 Slime-master: inside the `vast right-wing conspiracy' - Blinded by the Right: The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative] - Book Review, Christian Century, Nov 6, 2002 by Gary Dorrien.</ref> Brock was hospitalized in a mental facility where he spent time in a "quiet room" and "had delusions, he thought people were trying to kill him," according to the Drudge Report.<ref>http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2002/05/22/20020522_143906_brockb.htm</ref> |
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| | + | In February 2012, The Daily Caller ran a story outlining Brock's "erratic behavior" based on sources within his organization and Media Matters' close coordination with the Obama White House and liberal news organizations.<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/12/inside-media-matters-sources-memos-reveal-erratic-behavior-close-coordination-with-white-house-and-news-organizations/ Inside Media Matters: Sources, memos reveal erratic behavior, close coordination with White House and news organizations]</ref> |
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| | Brock outlined his lies and conversion to liberalism in his 2002 book, ''Blinded By The Right.'' He launched Media Matters in 2004 after conferring with [[Hillary Clinton]]. | | Brock outlined his lies and conversion to liberalism in his 2002 book, ''Blinded By The Right.'' He launched Media Matters in 2004 after conferring with [[Hillary Clinton]]. |
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| | “David Brock has invented a new form of political organization: a tax-exempt group that is subsidized by taxpayers while Brock gets to spew his hate/smears,” said Anthony “Andy” Martin, a journalist suing Brock & Media Matters for defamation. | | “David Brock has invented a new form of political organization: a tax-exempt group that is subsidized by taxpayers while Brock gets to spew his hate/smears,” said Anthony “Andy” Martin, a journalist suing Brock & Media Matters for defamation. |
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| | [[Jamison Foser]] is described on the Media Matters website as having "served as Research Director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ([[DCCC]]) for the 2002 cycle" and is one of several staffers with connections to the faction of Democratic Party linked to the Clintons. | | [[Jamison Foser]] is described on the Media Matters website as having "served as Research Director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ([[DCCC]]) for the 2002 cycle" and is one of several staffers with connections to the faction of Democratic Party linked to the Clintons. |
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| | Glenn Thrush of ''Newsday'' has reported very close ties between Brock and the [[Hillary Clinton]] campaign, noting that Hillary "advised Brock" on creating his organization. He added, "For her part, Clinton's extended family of contributors, consultants and friends has played a pivotal role in helping Media Matters grow from a $3.5 million start-up in 2004 to its current $8.5 million budget."<ref>[http://www.aim.org/aim_report/5541_0_4_0_C/ AIM Report: Hillary's Hit Man Strikes Again], Accuracy in Media, June 19, 2007.</ref> While speaking at a [[Daily Kos]] event; Hillary Clinton bragged about her role regarding <ref>[http://newsbusters.org/node/16046/print Hillary Clinton Told YearlyKos Convention She Helped Start Media Matters]" News Busters, October 1st, 2007</ref> | | Glenn Thrush of ''Newsday'' has reported very close ties between Brock and the [[Hillary Clinton]] campaign, noting that Hillary "advised Brock" on creating his organization. He added, "For her part, Clinton's extended family of contributors, consultants and friends has played a pivotal role in helping Media Matters grow from a $3.5 million start-up in 2004 to its current $8.5 million budget."<ref>[http://www.aim.org/aim_report/5541_0_4_0_C/ AIM Report: Hillary's Hit Man Strikes Again], Accuracy in Media, June 19, 2007.</ref> While speaking at a [[Daily Kos]] event; Hillary Clinton bragged about her role regarding <ref>[http://newsbusters.org/node/16046/print Hillary Clinton Told YearlyKos Convention She Helped Start Media Matters]" News Busters, October 1st, 2007</ref> |
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| − | ==Recent Developments== | + | ==Media Matters and Israel== |
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| | Media Matters has come under attack by the influential [[Simon Wiesenthal Center]] for supporting bloggers who promote "dangerous political libels" and "toxic anti-Jewish prejudices". According to the Center, Media Matters Senior Foreign Policy Fellow [[MJ Rosenberg]] "has repeatedly smeared Jewish groups such the [[Anti-Defamation League]], the [[American Jewish Committee]], and the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] as “Israel Firsters.”"<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/simon-wiesenthal-center-time-to-clean-up-the-discourse/2011/12/13/gIQAThG6rO_blog.html Simon Wiesenthal Center: Time to clean up the discourse]</ref><ref>[http://biggovernment.com/tag/mj-rosenberg/ Democrats' 'Brain Trust' Hit by Antisemitism Accusations]</ref> | | Media Matters has come under attack by the influential [[Simon Wiesenthal Center]] for supporting bloggers who promote "dangerous political libels" and "toxic anti-Jewish prejudices". According to the Center, Media Matters Senior Foreign Policy Fellow [[MJ Rosenberg]] "has repeatedly smeared Jewish groups such the [[Anti-Defamation League]], the [[American Jewish Committee]], and the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] as “Israel Firsters.”"<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/simon-wiesenthal-center-time-to-clean-up-the-discourse/2011/12/13/gIQAThG6rO_blog.html Simon Wiesenthal Center: Time to clean up the discourse]</ref><ref>[http://biggovernment.com/tag/mj-rosenberg/ Democrats' 'Brain Trust' Hit by Antisemitism Accusations]</ref> |
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| | In a Twitter post by MJ Rosenberg, he called Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "terrorist".<ref>[http://biggovernment.com/abreitbart/2011/05/20/media-matters-honcho-attacks-israel-aipac-calls-netanyahu-terrorist/ Media Matter's MJ Rosenberg tweets, calls Israel PM Netanyahu a "terrorist"]</ref> | | In a Twitter post by MJ Rosenberg, he called Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "terrorist".<ref>[http://biggovernment.com/abreitbart/2011/05/20/media-matters-honcho-attacks-israel-aipac-calls-netanyahu-terrorist/ Media Matter's MJ Rosenberg tweets, calls Israel PM Netanyahu a "terrorist"]</ref> |
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| | + | At gathering of pro-Israel supporters held at the University of Pennsylvania in early February 2012, noted liberal Democrat and high-profile lawyer Alan Dershowitz was quoted as saying that Media Matters could cost President Barack Obama the 2012 presidential election.<ref>[http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/m-alan_dershowitz_says_media_matters_could_cost_obama_the_election.html Alan Dershowitz Says Media Matters Could Cost Obama the Election]</ref> |
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