Eric Boehlert complains that the Washington Times (in this article) smeared Democrats by claiming that some of them saw the Zarqawi killing as a "stunt":

Matt Drudge immediately posted the article up high on his site, while Power Line, Michelle Malkin and legions from the 101st Fighting Keyboarders touted the piece as proof Democrats can't even back Bush, let alone the U.S. military, when a ruthless terrorist is finally knocked out. That's how crazy conspiratorial Democrats are, they think the killing of Zarqawi was a stunt.

Slight problem. The Washington Times completely manufactured the story. Meaning the Washington Times article does not quote a single Democrat who thinks the Zarqawi killing was a "stunt." The article, as far as I can tell, was a pure Democratic hit piece from the right-wing daily owned by the Rev. Sung Myung Moon, who fancies himself to be the son of God. I realize it's not exactly news when the Washington Times adopts unique journalism guidelines, but this instance really did seem to break new ground for the money-losing newspaper since the piece appeared at first glance, based on the whiplash speed with which it made the rounds online, to have been part of an orchestrated campaign to damage Congressional Democrats.

I do wonder why the right loves Reverend Moon so much.

I guess it fits their general love of authoritarian cultists.

Whether the Washington Times article was intended as a hit piece or not, I think it's fair to point out that not quite everyone sees the "stunt" allegation as a smear. In a piece headlined "Zarqawi Death Propaganda Victory for Bush," Islam Online cites the Times article with approval (along with quotes from the legendary Robert Fisk):

CAIRO — The death of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi in a US air strike was seen by analysts, Democrats and ordinary Americans as another "mission accomplished" and a golden opportunity for the Bush administration to say once again "ladies and gentlemen we got him" in yet another propaganda victory for President George W. Bush.

They said the announcement on Thursday is a reminder of the US propaganda of the capture of ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein just to divert public attention from an unpopular war and the latest American disgraces in Iraq: the killing of innocent civilians in cold blood.

"So, it's another 'mission accomplished'," writes famed British columnist Robert Fisk in The Independent of Friday, June 9.

"The man immortalized by the Americans as the most dangerous terrorist since the last most dangerous terrorist, is killed - by the Americans. A Jordanian corner-boy who could not even lock and load a machine gun is blown up by the US Air Force - and Messrs Bush and Blair see fit to boast of his demise," he said.

To this have our leaders descended. And how short are our memories. They seek him here, they seek him there."

Lay people in the United States believe that Zarqawi's death will have more value for Bush and his supporters that it will for anyone else.

"A major propaganda victory on the home front, but, as with Saddam's capture, not much else," says one American in a discussion forum posted by The Houston Chronicle on Zarqawi's death.

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio Democrat, said Zarqawi was a small part of "a growing anti-American insurgency" and that it is time to get out.

"We're there for all the wrong reasons," Kucinich said.

"Where is Osama? Where are the battalions of trained Iraqis? Doesn't matter, we got this guy, right? We wrote a 25 million check as a reward, and get a new headline to bump off Haditha."

"Just as the American public begins to look into Haditha, this happens. I'm going to be interested as to how Bush's approval rating changes, as well as how long we've known where this guy was," a Democrat told The American Inspectator newspaper.

What is this Reverend Sun Myung Moonbat trying to do, anyway? Make the Democrats look good?

MORE: The Zarqawi stunt meme spreads to Turkey.

And Australia.

Actually, unless I am reading this wrong, the Democrats right now seem united in making one thing abundantly clear: the Zarqawi killing was NOT A STUNT.

I think that's good.