I guess it really goes back to the sophists though.  I bet Canis knows when it first appeared on the scene.

Repitition a valid substitue for facts?  It would seem so.  Sound bite media produces mass delusion by reptition.

Read all about it!  Witness the case of the picture of Barack circulating all over the media this morning.  In traditional african garb.

And the email spam/limboob big lie.  Barack would not put his hand over his heart during the pledge of allegiance.  This was touted as fact (nearly unchallenged) by a wing nut congressman on the most recent  Bill Mahr show.

These are the kinds of lies that will all be  combined into a big lie to beat Barack in the general election.  Media will parrot this propaganda constantly, while at the same time, decrying it as lying.  

At least some in the media are.  The more "fair and balanced" talking heads are letting "you decide".  This is how reframing works, you use lies to move the center over.  We report, both sides, lies and fact, and you decide.

So maybe the decision of the chronically soundbite informed comes down in the middle?  

"This is too important to take a chance with", decry the talking heads,

"Barack's creibility has been damaged by these questions about his loyalty.  Will that make him look weak in the eyes of the terrorists?"

"In this time of terrorism will the american people take that chance?"  

"Let's check the polls."

Rove is salivating over this prospect. He is the mother of all modern big liars.  Tricky Dick Nixon is the grandmother.