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 

______________________________________
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html