The BBC spreads another urban myth

Writing before the US Presidential election, BBC reporter Justin Webb falls for another urban myth.

George Bush's father lost the 1992 election because he went to a supermarket and plainly had not the slightest idea of what people did in supermarkets.

Snoopes busted that myth a long time ago.

Then the details of the story started to dribble out. Andrew Rosenthal of The New York Times hadn't even been present at the grocers' convention. He based his article on a two-paragraph report filed by the lone pool newspaperman allowed to cover the event, Gregg McDonald of the Houston Chronicle, who merely wrote that Bush had a "look of wonder" on his face and didn't find the event significant enough to mention in his own story. Moreover, Bush had good reason to express wonder: He wasn't being shown then-standard scanner technology, but a new type of scanner that could weigh groceries and read mangled and torn bar codes.

Besides, I'm sure Bush snr did not lose just because of this myth.

Justin goes on with the usual American voters are dumb routine. Remember this article was written before the election. He ends with this bit of information.

The US does have lessons to teach the world when it comes to democracy; lessons pertaining to freedom of speech and freedom of expression and openness.

But there is another lesson that might be added to the list: democracy is one heck of a mess.

Really, Justin? You prefer something else maybe?

What say you now Justin, now that the election is over?

The highest voter turn out in US history. I'm not sure of the exact number but I've seen 68% turn out quoted, Ohio alone had a 72% turnout.

I'd say democracy is doing just fine Justin, inspite of mainstream media.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------