The AP Changes "Boos" to "Ooohs" in Report on Bush and Clinton
By E & P Staff
Published: September 03, 2004 10:00 PM EST
NEW YORK The Associated Press changed "boos" to "ooohhs" Friday afternoon in reporting on President George Bush's first statement to supporters on the heart ailment that has befallen former President Bill Clinton.
In a dispatch sent to subscribers in early afternoon, the AP reported that when Bush, at a campaign rally in West Allis, Wisconsin, told the crowd that he wished to send Clinton his "best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery," the audience "of thousands booed. Bush did nothing to stop them."
Pretty damning, except that AP soon changed its story, only after the original appeared on many Web sites.
Several Web sites revealed that AP "retracted" the report "citing uncertainties about how to characterize the crowd's reaction."
The new version moved on the wire Friday described the same incident this way, after relating Bush's remarks: "The crowd reacted with applause and with some 'ooohs,' apparently surprised by the news that Clinton was ill."
A Knight Ridder/Tribune (KRT) report put it this way: "Some in Bush's audience booed when he wished Clinton well...." The AFP wire report declared that after Bush's statement "thousands of boisterous supporters clapped respectfully."
PROOF OF THE LYING COMMIE MEDIA ALERT!
What a bunch of scumbags. I can't believe they would go so low. I saw MSNBC play the footage of Bush wishing Clinton well....And there were no boos. I heard nothing but respected clapping when Bush suggested well wishes for Clinton. I did not hear ooohs...either.