Danger Will Robinson! Right wing circle jerk in progress!

Ah, summer. The sun high in the sky, the smell of freshly mown grass hangs in the air, the noise of kids playing outside until late... But what's that sound in the distance? That moaning, groaning and slapping sound? Why, it's the first right wing internet circle jerk of the summer!

Yes, it's that wonderful time when they all gather in a circle to reinforce their prejudices based on the flimsiest of facts while screaming 'lalala we can't hear you!' at anyone who tries to stop them. Sometimes these circle jerks are known to summon up one of their patron saints (St Glenn Instapundit or St Andrew Milkyloads) to scatter down blessings and referrals upon them.

So, what's this one all about? Like many other right wing circle jerks this one is centred a whole new Euro-myth, giving them the chance to rail against 'our would be masters' in Brussels and bring out the old Stalin and Hitler comparisons. Look on the bright side, at least they haven't gone for the Paisleyite idea of branding anything related to the EU as the work of the Devil and/or the Antichrist (who may well also be the Pope).

What's stirred their ire this time is the revelation that the Council of Europe has been discussing the issue of right of reply in online media. Now, the proposals are a pretty mixed bag, and probably unworkable, but as they refer to online media, it means that right wing bloggers can make that huge jump in logic they love and proclaim that it's all about them and not those minor other websites that get in the way of the great circle jerk. (see here and here for examples)

Now, those of you reading this with any understanding of international organisations may be scratching your heads at this point, wondering what all the fuss is about. After all, the Council of Europe is a separate organisation from the EU and doesn't have the power to make laws, as just a quick look on their website will tell you:

The Council of Europe should not be confused with the European Union. The two organisations are quite distinct...
The Council of Europe's work leads to European conventions and agreements in the light of which member states may subsequently harmonise and amend their own legislation to comply with them.

So, we 've got an organisation that is not the EU, and doesn't have any power to pass laws, but can set standards that member states may adopt should they want to. As the proposal on right of reply that started all this circle jerking states:

(The Committee of Ministers) Recommends that the governments of the member States should consider introducing measures in their domestic law or practice so as to extend the right of reply to the on-line media along the lines of the following principles:

Note the use of the word 'recommends' (not 'forces member states against their will') and the phrase 'along the lines of' (not 'you shall adopt this exact policy or be sent to the Euro-camps'). Hardly the work of a 21st century Josef Stalin, is it? But like almost all the Euro-myths, who needs truth when you've got your 'everything to do with Europe is bad' blinkers on and can spin something into what you want it to be to fit your paranoia about the 'Euro-commisars' and all their evil plots against you and your freedoms?

Still, I'm just a voice in the wilderness here. I'm sure that the message 'the EU wants to censor the internet and throw you all in jail for not complying with it' will have circled the world a few times by now. After all, what's a bit of missing truth amongst friends?

Still, if all that's depressed you, then go and read Harry Hatchet's excellent pro-European piece to cheer you up.

Update: Harry's also got a good post on this story as well.