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Date: | Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:46:16 -0400 |
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Today's Richmond Times Dispatch had an article about a Massachusetts
pediatrician who claims via oral history to be descended from James
Madison's father and from James Madison. Difficulties in getting
genetic testing done and by whom, etc. are preventing forward motion
at the moment.
The Washington Post's Jonathan Mummolo wrote the article and in it was
a paragraph: "Despite genetic evidence that has linked Hemmings' line
to Jefferson's family, and documentary evidence that historians say
points to Jefferson as the father, there are still some who deny the
link."
The first part about linking SH's line to Jefferson's family is true
via DNA. The second part about documentary evidence is highly
contested and cannot be ascertained with certainty. The third part
goes completely off the rails by tarring those who might deny that TJ
was the father.
Of such things is disinformation promulgated. The first step is to
make a statement that is true. Then you warp it one degree as the
second part did, and then the third part is introduced as the new
"truth" and we're off to the Goebbels finals with a flourish.
Let the fireworks begin.
Lyle Browning
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