rightwingnuttia: Creating the story of President Obama's $200 million a day trip #p2 #tcot #gop

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/11/5/917952/-Creating-the-story-of-President-Obamas-$200-million-a-day-trip?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos%29

The rightwingnuttia is abuzz with the news that President Obama's trip overseas will cost the American taxpayers $200 million a day, that 34 U.S. warships will be stationed for his protection, and that his entourage of 2,000 will use 870 rooms at a five-star hotel.

Except it's not true.

So, how did this truly ridiculous lie become a story? It's easy:

The numbers evidently originate with the Press Trust of India, whose report [based on one anonymous source] was linked on the Drudge Report and picked up by Fox News host Glenn Beck.

From there it exploded in what Rachel Maddow calls the "alternate, self-contained, right-wing media universe," where it has become "de facto fact."

And naturally, the traditional (sometimes called "liberal") media feels compelled to report that there is a story out there, never mind that it's a load of garbage ... because after all, it is the fair and balanced thing to do.