Nothing drives them wild at NRO quite as much as when Jimmy Carter gets a compliment! Of course, President Carter is universally recognized as the role model for former presidents. Compare post-presidency Carter to Reagan and G.H.W. Bush, who whored themselves to corporations and lobbyists and foreign interests for million dollar fees. Carter has primarily engaged in volunteer religious, philanthropic and social activism. Naturally, this makes him a target for character assassination at NRO.
In a recent Corner post, Michael Rubin states, "Carter also has lasting animus toward the late Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, whom he blames in part for costing him the 1980 election. The full article is here. 01/25 02:06 PM"
Putting aside any question as to the statement’s veracity, and whether Carter in fact "has lasting animus" toward Begin, Rubin's clear point is that Carter blames his 1980 defeat on several factors, one of which was Israeli Prime Minister Begin, i.e., Rubin says Carter blames Begin "in part for costing him the 1980 election" (emphasis added). Not fully. Not completely. Not totally. But, "in part". In standard English usage, one factor among two or more.
Reflecting upon the connections between the American neocon movement and the Israeli Likud Party, this is not an unreasonable proposition. In fact, the Israeli Likudniks clearly tilted towards Reagan in 1980. And, the level of Jewish community support for the Democratic presidential candidate in 1980, both financial and electoral, was overwhelming but nonetheless lower than usual.
Later that day, Andy McCarthy posted a response to Rubin's comment, stating, "Michael, what's more delusional on Carter's part, his recollection of history or that he thinks it was Menachem Begin that cost him the 1980 election? 01/25 03:24 PM"
This is a classic example of how the right wing echo chamber repeats a statement with subtle modification, twisting what was originally a reality based statement into a smear. According to McCarthy, Carter is now "delusional", blaming his defeat solely on Begin ("he thinks it was Menachem Begin that cost him the 1980 election"), as if Rubin and his source never used the words "in part".
A new NRO urban legend is born: Carter blames Begin, and Begin alone, for his 1980 defeat. No one will ever again cite the original source. No one will ever again cite Rubin’s original "reporting". No one will remember the original modifying phrase "in part". It is McCarthy's misstatement that will reverberate, as "proof" of Carter's "delusional" and "lasting animus" towards Begin and by extension Israel.
Either McCarthy intentionally modified the original researcher's conclusion as reported by Rubin, or McCarthy cannot read at a third grade level. Obviously, a child’s been left behind at NRO.
Remember, I report, you deride! Were these NRO posts crazy, stupid or evil?