The first red flag was highlighting as history a famously fakelore quote attributed to Lincoln and naively publicized by Al Gore (who had been taken in by the hoax). This is "I see in the near future a crisis approaching ..." - "a bold, unblushing forgery..."
The rest of the article contains the occasional quote mark, which is proof that Parramore is familiar with these exotic markings. It also includes the footnote, "For more on Lincoln’s railroad advocacy, see James W. Ely Jr.’s 'Abraham Lincoln as a Railroad Attorney.'" Ely is also mentioned in the body of the article.
To show what happens next, I will now link to Ely, which Huffpo neglected to do.
The Parramore text given below does not appear in quote marks, nor is it indented or boxed or otherwise set apart from her exposition.
Ely:
During the late 1850s Lincoln received more in fees from that carrier than from any other single client, and he was closely associated with the Illinois Central until his election to the presidency.Parramore:
During the late 1850s, Lincoln collected more fees from Illinois Central Railroad than from any other single client, and he was closely associated with Illinois Central until his election to the presidency.Ely:
Lincoln first appeared for the Illinois Central Railroad, probably the largest business corporation in the state in May 1853.Parramore:
Lincoln first appeared for the Illinois Central Railroad, probably the largest business corporation in the state, in May 1853.Ely:
In 1851, in his first major railroad case, Lincoln represented the Alton & Sangamon Railroad before the Illinois Supreme Court in a case against a defaulting stock subscriber.Parramore:
In 1851, Lincoln tried his first major railroad case, representing the Alton & Sangamon Railroad before the Illinois Supreme Court.Memo to HuffPo: if the author mentions a source, go look at it. Compare and contrast. Take an interest in whatever it is you're publishing. Some of your readers might and that could prove embarassing.
p.s. A real "cultural theorist" would over-use quote marks if anything, don't you think?
