What is the truth?

I have talked about this recently, but it is one of the more facinating phenomenon of the modern world so I thought it deserved a rehash. A friend of mine who is fond of 9/11 conspiracy theories (just because it is a conpiracy theory doesn't make it crazy or false, but that is another issue). Today, he sent me a forwarded rant about Bush's attack on the Constitution which threw out the alleged Bush quote 'Stop throwing the Constitution in my face. It is just a god damn piece of paper.'

I thought that quote was quite damning coming from the President of the United States and was amazed I hadn't read much about it. So, not believing it was real, I decided to do a little (very little) research into it. Ok, I did a Google search. It turned out 42,900 hits. That has to mean it is true, right? I was ready to at least take it as the accepted truth at least.

But then I started to look at the links and none came from a completely reputable source. Many were comments to blogs or newpapers articles. People trying to spread the story that the main stream media just wouldn't. The main source, capitalhillblue, all but recanted the story finally leaving it up but with a large disclaimer. It turns out two of the sources who heard the quote were not in the room and heard second hand. The last source refused to confirm it happened. Even the original reporter of the story isn't sure it is true anymore. All the other references appear to either be unattributed to refer back to the original, partially recanted story.

Is this just a big cover-up with the MSM sitting idly on a bombshell story? Does this administration march in such lockstep that no one who heard this shocking statement was willing to come out and report it? Or is it just a great quote that many people would like the President to have said so they can destroy him?

My inclination in this case is that latter, but who knows. Bush has certainly shown by his actions that he has little respect for the Constitution. I don't need the words to come out of his mouth to understand his position on the issue. But still, 42,900 hits? Doesn't that basically make it true in this age of mass (dis)information?