VTdigger is carrying a retraction today that bears some discussion.  This is not to pile blame on ‘Digger for its mistake in posting a press release that was later found to have come from a known hate group, but to consider how easy it is to perpetuate lies and distortions in this era of instant news coverage.  

Publisher Anne Galloway explains that the release, which concerned the purported results of a “survey” on attitudes toward undocumented workers, came to VTdigger from what has usually been a ‘reliable source.’  

The information was distributed by PRNewswire, a commonly used mainstream media information source, and it was also published in The Sacramento Bee.

We received an email from Brendan O’Neill, an activist with Migrant Justice, within minutes of posting the FAIR press release. O’Neill who is an advocate for Mexican migrant workers in Vermont pointed out that FAIR has a dubious reputation. The organization is described as a “hate” group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit civil rights organization, based in Montgomery, Ala.

At least Galloway had the good sense and dignity to promptly remove the scurrilous press release and issue a heartfelt apology.

VTdigger is, after all, of somewhat limited resources, and mistakes can happen; but I was curious to see just how many distinct times this “survey” was referenced on Google by different venues.

The answer is: plenty.  I gave up counting at forty.  

How many times must a lie be repeated before it assumes a mantle of “truthiness” that no amount of daylight can dissolve?