1) An anti-Obama email, or satirical column (a column poking fun at the people who love to attack Obama, using an obviously exaggerated bogus claim) appears.

2) A well-known (but often dubious) right-wing blog reports the claim from the email or satire as if it were fact.

3) Conservative radio personalities, columnists, and bloggers go absolutely hyperactive in spreading the false story.

4) Mainstream media outlets (usually FOX News) repeat the false claim.

5) Millions of people hear the claim and spread it through their own emails/social networking.

6) The retractions…apologies…never come…or come too late to have any hope of undoing the damage done.

The current example (thank you, J, for bringing this to my attention): A humor blog ran a piece, purporting to have obtained a copy of Obama’s Columbia thesis.  In the piece, the author claims that a Time Magazine reporter unearthed the document, and that it contained considerable criticism of the Founding Fathers, and the Constitution.  A blogger at Pajamas Media, Michael Ledeen, who is also a contributing editor for the National Review Online…took the bait, unable to resist so-called “proof” that the president held contempt for the Constitution and its authors.  Soon, the item was also carried on American Thinker, and comments began to appear on Twitter.  It would not be long before Rush Limbaugh picked up the story, and ranted about it on his radio show…and as millions of people were misinformed, the number of Americans exposed to this lie growing every hour, it was perhaps inevitable that it would eventually appear on the FOX Nation website.  Then NPR.  Then US News.  Then CS Monitor.  Even after the story was proven false, and meager apologies had been offered…Lou Dobbs of CNN STILL decided to run with the story.

All because some who think they deserve to be viewed as journalists…didn’t bother to verify that a story was true before reporting it.

Of course…if we wait for retractions from the right-wing, we’d better not hold our breath.  Rush went so far as to admit that the story wasn’t true, but then hedged that he’s sure that what he reported falsely…is what Obama is actually thinking.  Michael Ledeen, who in many ways bears the brunt of the responsibility for this situation…shied away from a sincere apology, saying essentially that this is all Obama’s fault for not not making his actual thesis available for scrutiny.

Why is this so important?

As I’ve mentioned before, Mark Twain once said, “a lie can travel halfway around the world, while the truth is putting on its shoes.“  And remember…Twain said this well before the advent of cable new networks, email, and the internet.  Now, irresponsibility on the part of the media has far more serious implications.  If a lie is told…so many more will hear it.  This raises the importance of three things: First, the members of the press and the media need to be EXTRA certain that what they are reporting is the truth.  Second, the members of the media and the press, if they do report a story that is not true, must inform the public QUICKLY and THOROUGHLY….REPEATEDLY, if necessary.  Third, there MUST be a form of accountability for those who do not adhere to the first two items I have mentioned.

Do you see the problem now? The third item, the accountability…does not exist.  And because it does not exist, the first two…are not consistently adhered to.  A lot of attention has been paid to the White House’s recent criticism of FOX News.  Many have spoken/written in support of the criticism.  FOX News, and its conservative allies, have attempted to push back, citing that they still hold themselves to be “fair and balanced.”  Even Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA) has stepped forward, calling for the President to apologize to FOX News for questioning its credibility.

Really? Take a quick look at the sheer volume of incidents reported on Media Matters, incidents where FOX was grossly incorrect, unforgivably partisan, and hopelessly biased.  Don’t like that site? Try a search of all the “FOX News-related” items on Politifact.  Go ahead…take a quick look around the internet, at all the sites that do little more than report on the inconsistencies in FOX’s reporting.  Now try to find some similar results for CNN…or ABC…or CBS…or NBC…or MSNBC…you will find nothing comparable in terms of volume or severity.

So…good for the White House…glad they said something…but you know what?  It’s not enough.  We should be doing more than simply criticizing outlets like FOX.  If I say something false and damaging about another person, depending on the circumstances I may be open to charges of libel, slander, or defamation of character.  If that’s the case, then why can an organization go on television, radio, or the internet…and say something damaging, and heard/read by millions…and there are no consequences.  Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that, whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.“  If we accept this as true, shouldn’t there be some penalty for making the people “poorly-informed?“  The FCC fines a broadcaster if they say certain “four-letter words” on the air…but they can speak the most spurious and damaging lies, without retraction, and not be fined a single penny.  And until this changes, organizations like FOX can continue claim to be “news,” and “balanced,” and “fair“…when nothing could be further from the truth.

What is so fascinating about these claims…is that they often reveal that the speaker (like the majority of Americans, according to every survey I’ve ever seen) does not know early-American history, nor do they know about the founding fathers and their positions and intentions, nor do they know about the contents of the Constitution.  It reminds me of the way most Americans are about the Bible: most claim to have read it…most claim to know what is in it…but most fail any survey or test on it.  The American citizenry has long been too trusting when OTHERS, particularly political demagogues and religious figureheads,  tell them who the founders of this country were, what the laws of this country are, and what the Christian scripture actually states.

So…in the interest of public education, I thought I’d do a VERY BRIEF primer on the founding fathers and the early days of our beloved Constitution…

OUR FOUNDERS:

-First off, it is important to note that there were 55 delegates to the Constitutional delegation, 39 of which signed the Constitution.  To be COMPLETELY factually correct…these men could ALL be termed the “founding fathers.”  But let’s face it, there are a handful of figures (generally seven of them) that are universally considered the true “framers“…and I will focus my attention on them.

-A second note: Don’t get confused…”Republicanism” has nothing to do with today’s Republicans, and Jefferson’s Democratic-Republicans…sometimes were called “Republicans,” but are actually the forerunners of today’s Democrats.  Also…back then…the early “Republicans” and “Democrats” had different ideals than today.  For example, the “Democrats” of old, were big advocates for smaller government authority (in favor of states’ rights).  Many today would say that the “states’ rights” position resembles Republican ideology more closely, while the Democrats still support smaller government authority (in favor of individual rights).

-Benjamin Franklin:

• DESCENT: British
• OCCUPATION: An inventor, a philosopher, a politician, a puritan, an editor, and a diplomat…just to name a few.
• ACCOMPLISHMENTS:  Among his inventions and creations were the lightning rod, bifocals, the first public library, and the first fire department.  One of his key political achievements was in obtaining a treaty with France that made our independence possible. He would eventually serve as Postmaster General and as President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania (essentially today’s equivalent of “governor”).
• KEY ISSUES: The abolition of slavery.  Franklin was profoundly disgusted that, in order to get the Constitution ratified, concessions to the southern states on the subject of slavery had been made.  Also a proponent of science.
• RELIGION:  A Puritan, he believed strongly in hard work and self-determination…and in an “individualistic” spirituality, not governed by any church.
• POLITICS:  Early Republicanism (not to be confused with today’s Republican party).  Republicanism espoused that harmony can only be achieved by firm guarantees of personal liberties that cannot be “voted away,” and in representation of the people by people of “virtue and who care about the public good.”  Republicanism rejects the authority of “big government,” rejects the authority of “big church,” and rejects the authority of “big business“…all of these are seen as “corrupting influences.”  Instead, they support mid-sized government that does not interfere in private property or individual’s freedoms, yet provides programs for the public good, and places MANY checks and balances on government, organized religion, commerce, and democracy…as unfettered democracy was viewed as “mob rule.“
• MISC:  Contrary to many Americans’ misconceptions…he was never President.

-George Washington:

• DESCENT: British descent, but was born in Virginia to a family that had lived there for generations.
• OCCUPATION:  A wealthy tobacco planter.
• ACCOMPLISHMENTS:  A skilled leader, administrator, delegator, and arbiter, and was respected by almost all of his colleagues, regardless of their political leanings.  He would serve as the Major General of the Continental Army during the War of Independence, and eventually…as our first President.
• KEY ISSUES:  National legal, financial, and military independence.  Religious tolerance.  Abolition – although Washington had owned slaves, by the conclusion of the American Resolution he came to firmly oppose slavery.
• RELIGION:  Raised in the Church of England, Washington would soon become disillusioned by the influence of the church on England’s government.  He would later, although remaining a Christian, stop attending services altogether.  He was also a Freemason, although this is a distinct, non-mutually exclusive, association, as Freemasons accept all faiths and honor all religious scriptures, whether it be the Bible, the Talmud, the Koran, et cetera.  He was a proponent of religious tolerance and freedom even prior to the creation of the Bill of Rights, and repeatedly in writings stated that America was not designed to be a Christian nation, but rather would serve as a place where all religions could freely be practiced and could freely participate in the nation’s governance…all that is important is that they are good citizens.
• POLITICS:  Ironically, while he personally hoped that political parties would never form, the positions of his two top advisors, Jefferson and Hamilton, would serve as the basis of our first parties: the Federalists (forerunners of today’s Republican Party) and the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans (forerunners of today’s Democratic Party).  History reflects that Washington, in settling disputes between the two men, most often leaned towards supporting Hamilton, due to his belief in a strong, nationalistic federal government, and fiscal stability through the creation of the National Bank and the centralization of the national debt.
• MISC:  When confronted with the decision whether to repair relations with Britain or to support the French (and assist them in their own democratic revolution), he deemed that the country was too young and the government too new to become involved in the strife between the two countries, and sided with mending ties to the British Empire.  As France had just significantly helped us to obtain our independence…they were none too pleased.

-John Adams:

• DESCENT:  Born in Massachusetts, to a family of Welsh descendence.
• OCCUPATION:  Lawyer and farmer.
• ACCOMPLISHMENTS:  Delegate to the Constitutional Conventions, Vice-President under Washington, second President of the United States.
• KEY ISSUES:  Foreign neutrality.  Bicameralism (two legislative bodies).  In a period noted for wide public dissent over foreign policy issues…Adams cracked down on opponents with four controversial measures (The Naturalization Act, The Alien Act, The Alien Enemies Act, and the Sedition Act) which made it illegal to criticize the government (except Vice-President Thomas Jefferson…criticizing him was conspicuously left legal), made it harder to become a citizen, and allowed the president to deport any non-citizen that he wanted to.  These measures were enacted because Jefferson’s Democratic-Republicans (essentially today’s Democratic Party) opposed Adams’ policies, and many of their supporters were immigrants.
• RELIGION:   A Congregationalist who later turned Unitarian.  He accepted the “inherent goodness” of creation and he loved God as universal “architect“, but did not believe that God or Christ intervened in an individual person’s affairs.  Adam’s rejected church doctrine, and believed that churches should serve not as espousers of dogma or doctrine, but that they should continually evolve with the times and reflect the very best in “common sense” and reasonableness.  He once said of his love of God: “My Adoration of the Author of the Universe is too profound and too sincere. The Love of God and his Creation; delight, Joy, Tryumph, Exaltation in my own existence, tho’ but an Atom, a molecule Organique, in the Universe, are my religion.“
• POLITICS:  A strict Federalist, believing in a strong, sometimes nearly authoritarian, government as well as favoring factories, banking, and trade over agriculture.  He would later engage in an internal Federalist conflict with Alexander Hamilton over control of the party.
• MISC:  Benjamin Franklin once remarked, and this seems to be the consensus, that Adams was a man “always honest, often brilliant, and sometimes mad.“

-Thomas Jefferson:

• DESCENT: Born in Virginia, into a prominent family of both British and Welsh lineage.
• OCCUPATION:   A lawyer, farmer, architect, archaeologist, inventor, and founder of the University of Virginia.
• ACCOMPLISHMENTS:  Principal author of the Declaration of Independence.  Governor of Virginia.  Founder of the Democratic-Republican Party.  First U.S. Secretary of State.  Vice-President under Adams…and eventually third President of the United States.  Negotiated the Louisiana Purchase.  Master diplomat, philosopher, and statesman.  Ended the slave trade in America (but did not abolish slavery).
• KEY ISSUES: Separation of Church and State.  Republicanism (again, not the political party)…the idea that liberties and freedoms are key, and that individuals, in return, must see to their civic duties.  States’ rights preferred to centralized, national governance.  Commerce and personal financial interest seen as dangerous, corrupting factors.  Vehemently  fought, unsuccessfully, to convince President Washington and others that America must support France’s own struggle for liberty and democracy.  Also fought with Alexander Hamilton over war debts, as Jefferson was against the formation of the National Bank and said each state should pay it’s own debt (especially because Virginia didn’t have very much).
• RELIGION:   Credited with the term “separation of church and state,” Jefferson himself was interested in religion, but not a practitioner of any orthodox faith and at different times, identified himself as “Episcopalian,” “Unitarian,” “a deist,” or simple as in “a sect by myself.“  He worked with James Madison to ensure there would be no state financial assistance to churches, believed churches should have no sway in government, and that being a member of an “orthodox faith” should not be a requirement to serve in government office.  He even wrote his own “Jefferson Bible,” in which he edited out all references to miracles, so that all that would be left were Jesus’ teachings, as he thought Jesus was an excellent “moral teacher.“
• POLITICS:  Founder of the Democratic-Republicans, Jefferson believed in the sovereignty of states’ rights, and the importance of placing the farmers (and the development of an agrarian economy) ahead of the bankers, businessmen, and industrialists.  While the members of the party held differing views on many individual topics, the general leaning was towards protecting citizens’ liberties against the corruption of a big, nationalized government, big business, a federal bank, federal courts, and a federal military.  On that note, Jefferson an the Democratic-Republicans opposed both the formation of a federal military AND the federal taxes to pay for it.
• MISC:  Had the view that “consent of the governed” was the most important aspect of government…in fact, he believed that no debts and no laws should be passed from one generation to the next: “no society can make a perpetual constitution or even a perpetual law. The earth belongs always to the living generation.“

-John Jay:

• DESCENT:  Born in New York, to a family of French Huguenots.
• OCCUPATION:  Lawyer, politician, and diplomat.
• ACCOMPLISHMENTS:  Governor of New York, President of the Continental Congress, first Chief Justice, ambassador to Spain, leader of the Federalist Party.
• KEY ISSUES:  Abolitionist…eventually managed to outlaw all slavery in New York, after several failed attempts.  Strong defender of property rights, the rule of law, and the prevention of “foreign influence” through neutrality and financial independence.
• RELIGION:  Anglican, later Episcopalian.  Once tried to argue in favor of a measure to prevent Catholics from serving in public office, and is quoted in a letter as saying “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest, of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.“
• POLITICS:  A strict Federalist (see description under Adams), Jay believed in a strong, centralized, national government and in supporting industry and banking.  His rulings on what has come to be known as the “Jay Court” reflect his Federalist positions, as he often ruled from the position that federal law (and courts) supersede state laws and courts.  Also, he clearly defined the “separation of powers” concept in refusing to address issues that were of a nature that they should be dealt with legislatively.  Jay also established the concept that the jury may rule on both matters and fact and matters of law, where in the past, juries were instructed to leave all matters of law to the judge.
• MISC:  Was co-author, with Hamilton and Madison, of The Federalist Papers, which sought to persuade the American people to support ratification of the Constitution.

-James Madison:

• DESCENT:  Born to a family of prominent farmers and merchants of British heritage, in Virginia.
• OCCUPATION:  Lawyer, politician, largest landowner in Orange County, Virginia, philosopher.
• ACCOMPLISHMENTS:  Principal author of the Constitution (wrote over a third of it), fourth President of the United States, leader in the House of Representatives, “Father” of the Bill of Rights (having written the Virginia Bill of Rights, on which it is largely based).
• KEY ISSUES:  In general, the limiting of the power of the national government.  No standing army.  No national bank.  That is…until problems surfaced while he was President during the War of 1812.   Because the government wasn’t strong enough (many militias refused to even fight outside their own states)…suddenly he became more of a Federalist again.
• RELIGION:   Raised Episcopalian, Madison rarely commented on the subject of religion and is considered by most scholars to have truly been a “deist” (there is a God, he doesn’t get involved, no organized church) like many of the Constitutional framers, or perhaps even “irreligious.”
• POLITICS:  Dramatically changed positions many times.  At first, one of Hamilton’s Federalists…out of opposition to the National Bank and a treaty with Britain, he later helped Jefferson form the Democratic-Republicans and rejected Adams’ Alien and Sedition Acts…and then later supported the Federalist positions in favor of opening a Second National Bank, creating a national military, and setting a high tariff to protect our new factories.  He essentially DESIGNED the “separation of powers,” and supported the notion of a strong federal government overruling states when necessary.
• MISC:  At first…he rejected the idea of a codified “Bill of Rights,” even thought he later created them.  He claimed that they would be pointless, because they were trying protect people against powers that the federal government had not been given.  And he felt that they were dangerous, because listing some rights might cause some people to think any rights not listed were excluded.  And he also felt they would be worthless, since at the state level such declarations of rights had always proven ineffective.  NOTE: In short…he believed that the government only has powers EXPRESSLY GIVEN TO IT…if it doesn’t say somewhere that they have a certain power…THEY DON’T.  Meanwhile, it is the opposite with individual rights…you have all the ones communicated in writing/law…AND others not yet codified.

-Alexander Hamilton:

• DESCENT:  Born in the British West Indies to a mother of French Huguenot descent and a Scottish father.
• OCCUPATION:  Lawyer, economist.
• ACCOMPLISHMENTS:  Served as General Washington’s aide and Chief of Staff, served in the Continental Congress, founded the Bank of New York, served in the New York legislature, Treasury Secretary, co-author of the Federalist Papers, established the national bank and the U.S. Mint, as well as import tariffs.
• KEY ISSUES: Centralization of national debts.  Strong central, national authority.  Tariffs as a protection for American industries.  A national army.  Government intervention in favor of big business.
• RELIGION:   Originally Presbyterian, Hamilton later abandoned orthodox religion…but would still “use” it for political/diplomatic advantage.  At one point, he even argued that Christianity and Democracy were “incompatible.”  However…later personal problems would cause him to reconsider, and he would propose a “Christian Constitutional Society” that would select “suitable” candidates for office, as well as the formation of “Christian Welfare Societies” to aid the poor.
• POLITICS:  Federalist (see John Adams and and John Jay above).  In many ways, Hamilton’s belief in a national bank and a standing federal army came to DEFINE the Federalist Party.
• MISC:  After Hamilton aided Thomas Jefferson in defeating Aaron Burr for President, and after Hamilton aided Morgan Lewis in defeating Aaron Burr for governor of New York, and after COUNTLESS other battles between the two men…Burr would eventually kill Hamilton in a duel over a newspaper article which referred to unkind words Hamilton had said of Burr.

It was a time of external threat, and internal turmoil.  A war with France…then a war with Britain, the foremost superpower in the world.  Half the American people were still loyal to the British crown.  Eventually, Britain and France…each asking our support against the other country, and threatening war with us if we would not give it.  French and British residents of America, rioting and committing other acts of rebellion and domestic terrorism to attempt to frighten our fledgling government into supporting their country of origin.

And there were these seven men.  People will tell you that the “founding fathers intended this” or that the “founding fathers believed that.“  It should be obvious, reading the summaries above, that the founding fathers believed and intended many different things…yet all of them together were able to craft the Constitution of the United States, containing freedoms that they agreed must be safeguarded.  All of them together, saw America through those harsh and desperate times when our country was most new, most fragile.  Some people today would have you believe that only Republicans are patriots…or that only Christians are patriots.  That assertion as as ridiculous as it would be to say any of these seven men were not patriots because of their faith, party…or their lack of faith or party.

No…these “fathers” were all patriots, for while they may have disagreed on the size and role of the national government, and while they may have disagreed on religion, and while they may have disagreed on foreign policy…THEY ALL BELIEVED in protecting the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice for all.