Howard Fineman just repeated bogus Spanish election interpretation

[Eric J in MN]

Reporter Howard Fineman on "Countdown" just said, "if there is another terror attack, will we be like Spain, or will we be different?," implying that Spain voted Socialist because of the train attack there.

"The Daily Howler" has pointed out that polls showed a close election.
www.dailyhowler.com

The train attack may have had NO EFFECT on the election results.

But pundits like to repeat these stories.

[TrogL]

1. Ok, that's what I figured

I was ranting about this awhile ago.

Do you have a link to the exact article in the The Howler?

[Eric J in MN]

2. link

http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh031804.shtml

In the final poll, on March 7, the Popular Party led, 42-38.
On March 14, they ended up losing, 43-38.

That represents a very minor swing in public opinion. In fact, it may represent no swing at all; have you ever heard of “margin of error?”

But so what! Our airwaves are full of people like Donald Lambro—people railing about the vast swing which the bombing produced. Meanwhile, it’s almost impossible to find the real facts—facts which suggest something different.

But readers, this is just as we’ve told you: Our public discourse is driven by spin. Facts play almost no role in our discourse. Indeed, the very notion of a “fact” seems to be missing from modern press culture. The Lambros invent phony tales about Gore—and rush to type approved points about Spain. How big a role did the bombing play? At last, you get a look at the facts. Your “press corps” has widely ignored them.

[RBHam]

3. They voted against the Party that LIED to them....

The ruling party had proclaimed that the Basques did it...

[frank frankly]

4. you got that right, RBHam

you've put done some AWESOME posts today!

great work!