Kaloogian - Pattern of Deliberate Deception

CA-50 Republican congressional candidate Howard Kaloogian should start to see the mainstream media begin to kick in with stories about his website deception. Let's see who's got the story up.

Let's start with the New York Times.

The whole kerfuffle would be of no moment, except that Mr. Kaloogian posted the photo to illustrate a peaceful and prosperous Baghdad that he claims the antiwar liberals who run the so-called mainstream news media never show.

Poor Howard he had to tell a lie to expose one. He's the victim here.

The Manchester Guardian (UK) finds Howard's end amusing.

The Backbencher has been enjoying the spat over a picture, allegedly of Baghdad, that wannabe Republican congressman Howard Kaloogian posted on his website. It purported to show a peaceful street in Baghdad. "Iraq (including Baghdad) is much more calm and stable than what many people believe it to be," Howard wrote. "But, each day the news media finds any violence occurring in the country and screams and shouts about it". Inevitable, then, that left-liberal blogs would point out that this picture actually shows a street in Turkey. The tight female clothing and non-Arabic signs did give it away.

A dead give away, but someone all those folks who were on the "truth tour" with Howard somehow missed it. Afterall the picture told such a great story. It was the "truth" they wanted, not the TRUTH, as it might be appraised in the reality based world.

Closer to home, the Voice of San Diego gives blogs credit, but allows Howard to say something stupid.

"I made a mistake in posting the wrong picture and I accept full responsibility for
it," he said in the statement. "However, the anti-war activists who are supporting Democrat Francine Busby are trying to use this clerical mistake as justification for opposing the war. How silly."

When Kaloogian posted the photo and caption he was using either a clerical mistake or an outright lie to justify his position for supporting the war. How silly.

The San Diego Union Tribune weighs in with a story in its local news section.

“The simplest explanation is that he lied to prove that
Baghdad is this wonderful suburban safe place,” said Tamara Baker, a St. Paul,
Minn., resident who followed the story on liberal Internet blogs.

The UT story includes details of another "mistake" on Kaloogian's campaign website. In this case a claim by Kaloogian of an endorsement that he didn't have.

Last month, Matt Rexroad, a Sacramento Republican consultant who operates a blog called Cal Races, criticized Kaloogian for inaccurately listing an endorsement from the California Pro-Life Council.

[...]

Kaloogian, in an interview, admitted that the California Pro-Life Council had not endorsed him and he removed the endorsement listing.

Rexroad also points out another Kaloogian claim that turns out to be a fabrication.

Rexroad, who served in the Army in Iraq, also blasted Kaloogian, saying he announced his candidacy on the road from Baghdad to Kuwait City.

“As someone that has driven that highway many times – the last thing you need to be doing along that stretch of Iraq is announcing your candidacy for Congress. Keep your eyes open and your head on a swivel. The military personnel protecting him weren't there as security for his little mobile press conference,” Rexroad wrote.

Kaloogian has since modified his assertion. He now says he made his announcement of candidacy from a hotel suite in Kuwait City, not on the road to Baghdad.

Doesn't all of this look like a pattern of intentional deception? Kaloogian makes a claim, uses it to his advantage and then when his claim is challenged, he blames someone else and the "liberal media" and moves on.