There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and internet headlines (apologies to Benjamin Disraeli, Mark Twain, et al.)
On Daily Kos is one example of the third, which introduces a blurb with this enticing headline:
“Rick Scott sends white supporters to harass black voters.”
Shameless.
The accompanying piece describes a Charlie Crist early vote rally in Fort Lauderdale — an event that quickly devolved into a shouting match, with the Democrat’s supporters squaring off against those for Republican Rick Scott.
A commotion supposedly took place at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, where a crowd of devotees, mostly black Democrats, greeted Crist’s bus.
Also meeting the former governor was a group of “mostly white” Scott supporters, many carrying signs saying “shame on you.” In Scott’s group, there was someone with a megaphone.
Heated words were exchanged; hence, the sensational headline.
What puts it in the “damned lies” category is that it simply did not happen that way. Even the original Miami Herald story somewhat contradicts the Daily Kos headline.
“When Republican Party of Florida chairwoman Leslie Dougher held a media gaggle to bash Crist,” writes Herald reporter Amy Sherman, “she was drowned out by the din of pro-Crist supporters.”
Saturday’s event was no different.
Although much can be said about Scott — too much to be listed here —a headline suggesting that he somehow “masterminded” a counter protest with such obvious racial overtones is a little over the top.
Comments about restricted early voting hours aside, accusing Scott of deliberately sending white protesters to a predominantly black event is ridiculous, as is the headline.
