Here’s a really strange (well, not that strange) case of false equivalence from Glenn Kessler, who writes the Washington Post’s Fact-Checker column.
As Twitchy reported, President Trump tweeted earlier Thursday about the Jussie Smollett case, obviously offended that Smollett had faked a hate crime and tried to pin the blame on Trump supporters shouting, “This is MAGA country!” — which, incidentally, is what triggered so many people to suspect there was something off about Smollett’s story.
Kessler’s now wondering if Trump is going to tweet about U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Christopher Paul Hasson, a self-proclaimed white supremacist with a cache of weapons and a hit list including MSNBC and CNN journalists who was arrested Friday by the FBI.
It will be interesting to see how many presidential tweets @JussieSmollett merits versus the U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant and self-identified white nationalist arrested with a cache of weapons and ammunition stockpiled to target politicians and journalists in a terror attack. https://t.co/Fi32POkLCk
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) February 21, 2019
Why would that be interesting? Smollett actually pulled off his crime and did it in part to smear Trump supporters, whom he hates. Hasson, thank goodness, was arrested before he could hurt anyone. But why would Kessler expect Trump to tweet about a white supremacist and potential terrorist? His connection to that story is … what now?
We know what Kessler’s getting at — we mean, come on, how transparent could you be — but whataboutism really doesn’t work with these two incomparable situations.
Recommended
1. Deflect
2. Deflect
3. DeflectNice try, Glenn….
— Michael (@aeQQue) February 21, 2019
When the alleged weirdo gets dozens of tweets from liberal pols and stars, and fawning coverage on the mainstream media, you can start comparing them and not be laughed at. https://t.co/HMHlu7ZUjS
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) February 21, 2019
Is that really the issue of concern here?
— IMissMartha (@1catshort) February 21, 2019
Whataboutism's only apply to the right? Cause that's what u doing sir…
— deeluvsluka (@DeanaSandberg) February 21, 2019
"no no.. don't focus on this bad thing, look at this NEW thing that just happened"
— Emy?️?⃠ (@GunsmithCatgirl) February 21, 2019
Neither are acceptable. Only when you get that without trying to deflect will our country ever heal!
— Kellie Chapman (@Ktufgurl) February 21, 2019
Let’s keep the story on this. I think there is more fall out to come from this #JussieSmolletHoax pic.twitter.com/AcF6E6f4KX
— AJ?? ?️??♥️❌ (@AJLOVESPETS) February 21, 2019
This difference may be one was embraced as the 3rd lead on a popular TV show and the other was a fringe lunatic.
— Matt Jones (@jonmatthawk) February 22, 2019
I’m thankful that authorities were not distracted by something like the Jussie Smollett hoax and were able to stop this guy in Maryland from doing a James T Hodgkinson style attack on political figures.
— Georgette O (@Orwell_2012) February 21, 2019
The coast guard assult was still in an aspirational stage and seems to have been stymied by good government work before anything happened.@JussieSmollett fully developed and implemented his evil plan. Garnered hours and hours of media coverage and perhaps committed mail fraud.
— Dean H (@Dean_Housden) February 21, 2019
To be perfectly honest, you guys in the press aren't helping much. Smollett is receiving an outsized amount of media coverage compared to Christopher Hasson.
— Annoyed Norwegian (@norwegian76) February 21, 2019
Perhaps look after your own house. How much media time do these respective stories generate?
— James Scott Ward (@JSWGolden) February 21, 2019
About as many as the stories MSM covered about Jussie just after the incident. Compared to the number of stories about the white nationalist
— J4all79 (@jlink_79) February 21, 2019
It will be interesting to see how many journalists and politicians backpedal their absolute faith in Smollett.
Also, the two are different stories outside being impressed with law enforcement officials doing a good job. In one case preventing a crime, in another exposing one.— Max Thornberry (@Max_Thornberry) February 21, 2019
It would be interesting to see the left leaning media report honestly instead of having a political agenda every story.
— Joshua Daly (@JDaly84) February 21, 2019
It would be interesting to see how many positive tweets you have done about our economy over the last 2 years.
— Robmor81- (@romor6425) February 21, 2019
Trump held off criticism of Jussie until facts came out. Perhaps he's doing the same thing with the coast guard.
— LauraMona (@monasfineart) February 21, 2019
Well, maybe he should wait to find out the facts unlike the fake news media did with the Smollett and Covington stories.
— mcurley (@CURLEYQ10) February 21, 2019
@GlennKesslerWP that’s the best you’ve got?
— steve thornhill (@steve_thornhill) February 21, 2019
Bad take as usual.
— David Gleeson (@Dave1555) February 21, 2019
So because Trump tweeted about a gay black man who faked a hate crime, he needs to tweet about a white supremacist nutjob for balance? Is that it?
Related:
Why yes, President Trump is not happy that Jussie Smollett apparently framed his supporters https://t.co/uiApOGQ224
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) February 21, 2019
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