RedState is under fire for a post mischaracterizing remarks by and using a photoshopped picture of Sarah Palin:
Some readers viewed the picture as sexist and demeaning — and the last thing conservative women need from their own side. But there’s an even bigger problem with the photo: It isn’t real.
In an excellent blog post, Stacy Drake notes that the image in question was taken from The Fiscal Times, a left-wing site. And The Fiscal Times’ photo was a hatchet job:
Monday evening, RedState editor-in-chief Erick Erickson took to Twitter to deny that the image had been photoshopped. He subsequenly deleted the tweet, but not before Stacy Drake captured a screencap:
Erickson’s colleague Ben Howe, a RedState contributing editor, also appeared to vouch for the photo’s authenticity:
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/statuses/351891919623815170
He mocked those who complained about the image:
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/statuses/351888486242058240
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/statuses/351887837244829696
After it became clear that the photo was fake, Howe lashed out at Sarah Palin’s defenders, calling them “insane,” “perpetually offended” “cultists”:
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/status/351893187343826944
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/status/351895911900790784
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/status/352053097067053056
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/status/352055140712321024
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/status/352046722857435136
At the time of this writing, the photoshopped “photo” is still up on RedState’s site.
According to blogger Jen Kuznicki, Peter List, the author of the contentious piece, “responded to an email, saying that he honestly thought the picture of Palin was a flattering, real picture of her, and ran out of time to replace the pic before the whole thing blew up.” That may well be what happened. But once it became clear that the image was phony, would it have been so difficult for Erickson and Howe to acknowledge their misstatements rather than deleting a tweet (Erickson) or attacking those who complained (Howe)?
What message are they sending to conservative women like blogger Stacy Drake, whose views diverge from their own?
Erickson & His RS Boys Never Learn http://t.co/j44jPqd3vY Grow up @EWErickson as you look like a fool with photoshop deal. @SarahPalinUSA
— Dr.Christine B Aria (@DRCBA) July 3, 2013
Conservative women get enough disrespect from Left. Think before you frag.
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) July 3, 2013
Related:
RedState Posts Demeaning Photoshop of Governor Palin, Denies When Confronted — Updated
Update:
Howe is still in attack mode:
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/status/352594772390715392
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