The Eisenstadt Hoax

Remember Martin Eisenstadt, the "McCain advisor" who claimed "Joe the Plumber" was related to a figure in the Keating scandal?

Turns out that "Republican strategist" Eisenstadt is an elaborate multimedia HOAX that ensnared MSNBC and a host of bloggers. 

Including me; I went ahead and quoted him after I saw legit media outlets go with the Keating tale. (To my credit, I didn't believe it based simply on stuff written in other blogs - seemed odd to me.) 

As a wise man once said: It's only funny if it has some basis in reality.

That's not to say "Joe the Plumber" is off the hook, though.

From PR Watch.org:

Joe Wurzelbacher's 15 minutes of fame have prompted news reports that point to some contrasts between reality and his public comments related to the U.S. presidential campaign. It has become clear that he is politically conservative and a fan of John McCain -- not exactly an "undecided voter," as originally portrayed. Wurzelbacher also told reporters today that he does not actually have a plumber's license and that his earnings are well below the $250,000 level that he previously claimed would cost him in higher taxes under Obama's economic plan. These details suggest that "Joe the plumber" is someone with strong political opinions and a rather relaxed attitude toward specific facts -- which, if true, would put him in the same category as quite a few of his fellow Americans. However, I haven't seen anything that gives credence to "Martin Eisenstadt" and his claim that Wurzelbacher has any real relationship to the Keating scandal or other political subterfuge. Some Obama supporters might want to believe otherwise, but as often happens in politics, if you hear a story that is too good to be true, it probably isn't.

"Eisenstadt" has lately claimed to be the source of the "Palin didn't know Africa is a continent" story. Not true - part of the "hoax project." That is, the part about being the source is not true.

What remains true (at this writing) is that Fox News' Carl Cameron reported on Sarah Palin's foibles and shortcomings based on sources in the McCain camp that he promised not to name. Eisenstadt, so far as we know, was not one of Cameron's sources.

Unless Cameron got hoaxed ...

UPDATE: From Huffington Post:

However, while MSNBC — which ran with Eisenstadt's story, along with The New Republic and Mother Jones — has retracted the story (that Eisenstadt was the McCain camp leak), Fox News won't be retracting Carl Cameron's original report about the Palin/Africa flap, because it did not come from Eisenstadt — which the Huffington Post was told on background earlier this week and which the [Eisenstadt hoax] filmmakers confirmed to TVNewser Thursday:

 "To be very clear, no, we were not the source for Carl Cameron and never spoke to him," Mirvish tells TVNewser. "We took credit for his anonymous sourcing. If they were going to be cowards, then we figured we may as well step in."

Comments

[Cindy]

So you're absolved because you used "legit" media outlets as your source to continue a smear campaign. Mind if I ask what those were?

[John Michlig]

No absolution. The "Eisenstadt Hoax" effectively showed that "legit" media is capable of being culpable.

Unfortunately for "Joe," he has sufficient other contradictory baggage to keep us amused.

[John]

Almost forgot to answer this part: The "legit" media I waited for (because I'm naturally suspicious) were - - I have no idea; can't remember, took no notes. I just know I was too chicken to believe it until I'd seen a mainstream journalistic site go with it. In fact, one site maintained by a journalist detailed a bunch of research the guy had done to get a fix on the relationship; I gotta dig that one up.

I read this, I remember, to see if the name matched: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE3DC143EF933A25751C1A967958260

This page was exciting because it includes a picture of a GI Joe artifact I featured in a book I wrote (hence, I remember it):
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95767079

"Joe the Plumber" remains a hollow political figure based on his acknowledged contradictions to the cartoon the RNC attempted to create. And my problems with Palin have little to do with whether she misidentified Africa or who specifically passed along that vindictive tidbit

I find the "Palin is not too bright" meme to be distasteful (and untrue) and instead tried to concentrate on her propensity to lie and cover-up when it suits her.

And insofar as the Eisenstadt Hoax reminded people of the Keating-McCain cozy clutch and the damage Keating caused to unsuspecting Americans - - there is a bit of irony there.

[BD]

The election is done...Your man won..GET OVER IT already

[John]

I get what you're saying, BD, but the Eisenstadt Hoax is fascinating, and I have to own up to being taken in.

Also, the BIG winner in this election is none other than SARAH PALIN, and I will NOT give her a free ride.

[Johanna Markham]

Seems to me that the people calling this a case of liberal media bias are way off the mark. It's more likely a symptom of media of all stripes just going too fast to do a decent job of reporting. More on that here:
http://notimetothinkbook.com/?p=120