It's called the narrative.
Honest people would call it a lie, but idea-less politicians and demagoguing media call it “the narrative.”
It's the story a thoughtless politician tells to make themselves look good and their opponents look bad. It has little or no basis in fact and is often the polar opposite of the actual truth.
Politicians cannot always run on the strength of their characters or records, because their characters and their records are less than good. They have to create a sanitized version of themselves and a demonized version of their rivals, no matter how admirable they may be.
West Virginia Sen. Chris Walters (R-Putnam) is only the latest victim of the narrative.
A radio ad campaign produced by the Katz Media Group of Philadelphia and sponsored by the misnamed “West Virginia Family Values” political action committee could be construed that Walters had “testified in court on behalf of a convicted child molester. Called this sexual predator ‘trustworthy.'”
Given Walters' sterling reputation and record, that would be shocking news indeed, if it were true, but, of course, it isn't.
“It’s ridiculous,” Walters told the MetroNews. “I’ve never testified in court ever in my life ever on behalf of anybody. It’s an ad that’s done to trick and mislead the people of West Virginia and to defile my character.”
Walters countered the narrative by sending cease-and-desist letters to all the radio stations broadcasting the commercial and by filing a defamation suit against Katz and West Virginia Family Values. In his complaint, Walters claims the advertisement depicts him as dangerous to children.
Walters’ opponent, Glenn Jeffries, should publicly condemn the ads, which supposedly ran to benefit him.
