IMO, Snopes started out unbiased. But that is not where they are at today.
Here’s a little behind-the-scenes background on why I find this story so notable: On Wednesday when everyone was pointing out the Democrats’ petulant actions at President Trump’s speech before Congress – particularly how they treated Carryn Owens, the wife of fallen SEAL Ryan Owens. Debbie Wasserman Schulz and Keith Ellison (either of whom, had circumstances gone differently, could be DNC Chair right now) notoriously sat for the two-minute long standing ovation that everyone else gave Carryn.
Red Dawn wrote about that moment. And then we started getting links from readers to a butthurt entry from Snopes saying that it wasn’t true – that McFrizz and Ellison both stood and applauded for Carryn Owens.
But here’s the thing: I had seen the video. I had been listening to news coverage and analysis of the speech from various pundits. I had read articles about it. Every. Single. One of those sources said that those two had disrespectfully sat for the big ovation. True, they did say that the two stood for Carryn’s much shorter introduction, but that was it. Which is what IJR’s Benny Johnson – who was there – tweeted –
That two such prominent Democrats refused to stand and applaud for the widow of an American hero is a disgrace. It was a HUGE part of the news of the day. It was such a contrast between President Trump’s respect and compassion for the Owens family, and the Democrats’ childish disdain for anything Trump does.
And Snopes had the gall to say that it wasn’t true? Even with all the video evidence and eyewitness accounts of it happening?
Do I sound pissed that this fact was being disputed by a bunch of partisan left-wing imbeciles when it had already been so widely – and legitimately – reported? Just a bit? Good. ‘Cause I was.
And now Benny Johnson, the reporter from IJR who was actually at the speech and initially brought this to light, is directly taking on Snopes’s dishonesty –