AP Bias strikes again (Free Republic is cited for finding bias)

Swimming through the Spin ^ | September 3, 2004 | bkm

[NavySEAL F-16]

Friday, September 03, 2004

AP Bias strikes again

The AP is really showing their bias again, except this time, they have been caught in the act.

Sharp eyed posters over at Free Republic spotted this story about the president's reaction to news of Bill Clinton's upcoming surgery:

WEST ALLIS, Wis. - President Bush (news - web sites) on Friday wished Bill Clinton (news - web sites) "best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery."
"He's is in our thoughts and prayers," Bush said at a campaign rally.
Bush's audience of thousands in West Allis, Wis., booed. Bush did nothing to stop them.
Bush offered his wishes while campaigning one day after accepting the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in New York. Clinton was hospitalized in New York after complaining of mild chest pain and shortness of breath.
Bush recently praised Clinton when the former president went to the White House for the unveiling of his official portrait. He lauded Clinton for his knowledge, compassion and "the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president."

Needless to say, there was massive outrage. Many on the thread had listened to the speech live and heard no boos at all and were screaming liberal media bias...and rightfully so. Others e-mailed the AP to express their displeasure. So, minutes later, a new version gets posted to the same yahoo link and another thread pops up on Free Republic:

WEST ALLIS, Wis. - President Bush (news - web sites) on Friday offered former President Bill Clinton (news - web sites), who faces heart bypass surgery, "best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery."
"He's is in our thoughts and prayers," Bush said at a campaign rally.
Bush offered his wishes while campaigning one day after accepting the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in New York. Clinton was hospitalized in New York after complaining of mild chest pain and shortness of breath.
Bush recently praised Clinton when the former president went to the White House for the unveiling of his official portrait. He lauded Clinton for his knowledge, compassion and "the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president."

Of course, someone with access to the raw wire posted this as well to archive this monumental, and perhaps intentional screw up.

BC-Bush-Clinton, 1st Ld-Writethru,150 Bush offers best wishes for Clinton's recovery
Eds: SUBS lead to include reference to surgery. DELETES 3rd graf previous, Bush's audience, because of uncertainty about crowd reaction.
WEST ALLIS, Wis. (AP) - President Bush on Friday offered former President Bill Clinton, who faces heart bypass surgery, "best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery."
"He's is in our thoughts and prayers," Bush said at a campaign rally.
Bush offered his wishes while campaigning one day after accepting the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in New York. Clinton was hospitalized in New York after complaining of mild chest pain and shortness of breath.
Bush recently praised Clinton when the former president went to the White House for the unveiling of his official portrait. He lauded Clinton for his knowledge, compassion and "the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president."

Someone at the Associated Press has some major explaining to do.

UPDATE: Just so there is no doubt, a Freeper posted a screen capture:

UPDATE #2: Boston.com still has the first version up on their site.

UPDATE#3: Another Freeper who attended the rally checks in.

I wouldn't have posted this as a separate topic until I heard on the radio on the way home from the rally that the AP had reported the crowd booed when it was annnounced that the former president had been hospitalized. That is a bold faced lie. I understand it was later retracted, but that's like unringing a bell. I do not think it was in error, either, since the writer further stated that 'Bush did nothing to stop them.' Shameful.
The rally was amazing. I don't know how many were in attendance, but the crowd could not have been more enthusiastic.

UPDATE#4: Some of our comments are featuring posts from liberal bloggers who are taking the first version of the AP story at face value. However, another reader has provided a sound clip of the quote in question: Judge for yourself.

# posted by bkm : 2:23 PM   

Comments:

The Yahoo message thread is now going on and on about the generous media censoring itself by no longer running that initial account! I can't believe this, but I can't manage to post to the Yahoo message board at the moment, either.
-Meridian

# posted by Anonymous : 3:13 PM

 

I would love to hear/see this part of the speech. Any ideas as to where it could be found??

# posted by Zee : 3:29 PM

 

I don't know, Zee. The folks at FR all were listening to it and then the AP filed their story. I'm sure it will be aired tonight on C-SPAN like they usually do.

# posted by bkm : 3:33 PM

 

The Republican hate machine rolls on...

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2004_08_29_atrios_archive.html#109423715322217770

http://available_light.3harpiesltd.com/archives/001108.html

# posted by Anonymous : 3:35 PM

 

Who wrote the original, and when are they going to get fired for making things up that never happened?

# posted by Corrie : 3:35 PM

 

I really hope this gets exposed nationally, if it is indeed a fraud. I noticed Reuters didn't even mention any "booing" in their report and they'd be on the front lines of reporting it if it really happened, IMO. Something's really fishy here.

# posted by Zee : 3:37 PM

 

You know what? SCREW THE REPUBLICAN PARTY:

http://www.oliverwillis.com/node/view/499

# posted by Anonymous : 3:37 PM

 

I put up a sound clip from this speech so you can hear for yourself:

http://tinyurl.com/6yfug

# posted by Anonymous : 3:41 PM

 

I emailed this post to Drudge a few mintues ago...

He just updated his site (4:47 pm or so):

AP CLAIMS: 'AUDIENCE OF THOUSANDS BOOS' AFTER BUSH WISHES EX-PREZ 'SPEEDY RECOVERY'; 'Bush did nothing to stop them'...

THEN RETRACTS... DEVELOPING..

http://www.drudgereport.com/

Good work!

# posted by Anonymous : 3:47 PM

 

LMAO! expose this as a fraud??? I hope BUSH get exposed for the REAL fraud he is and has been over the last 4 years !

# posted by Anonymous : 3:49 PM

 

Zee, check this post again...there is now a sound clip linked

# posted by bkm : 3:51 PM

 

Update: The politics of hate:

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/007772.html#007772

# posted by Anonymous : 3:53 PM

 

From Drudge (around 5:02 pm EST):

AP CLAIMS: 'AUDIENCE OF THOUSANDS BOOS' AFTER BUSH WISHES EX-PREZ 'SPEEDY RECOVERY'; 'Bush did nothing to stop them'...

THEN RETRACTS... AUDIO REVEALS LOUD CHEERS FOR EX-PREZ... DEVELOPING...

http://www.drudgereport.com/

# posted by Anonymous : 4:00 PM

 

[Swanks]

'he' made an honest mistake

Hmmm. + traveling with Bush = Scott Lindlaw (is my bet...)

[ableChair]

Call:

202-776-9400

And ask for the reporters name, which they refuse to give. If they refuse, ask to speak to a supervisor. Keep doing that until they get riled.

[RinaseaofDs]

Dog nailed it. He found the revised article on the Guardian UK site and it had the byline on it.

[ableChair]

Post it.

[baseballmom]

Just listened to this on FNC with Shep. All we heard was clapping and generally positive type audience reaction. No booing that I heard.

[gogipper]

I was there today in West Allis. I remember thinking that it was very American that we could cheer our president asking our prayers for President Clinton. The local talk show host went nuts. We will stay on this here.

Go Bush.

[gogipper]

BTW one caller was standing right by the press pool and stated unequivically that there were no boos. We have class here in Milwaukee.

[Cboldt]

*bump* Very good letters. Others should note your use of the word "correction," rather than "retraction." The "retraction" word is like garlic to a vampire.

[DameAutour]

Here's the audio, got it from Drudge:

audio

[Cboldt]

I am an American living abroad. The BBC is reporting the booing like it is the honest truth, complete with appalled faces on the anchor and the reporter. Really shows you how the media bias works. IT IS ALL LIES......

129 posted on 09/03/2004 7:26:35 PM EDT by falcon1966

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1206776/posts?page=129#129 <-- It's Global

[NYCVirago]

There's a big difference between 'ooohing' from surprise and BOOOING.

Exactly. And of course people would be surprised -- Clinton appeared to be in great health, especially with him having lost all that weight recently. Only the liberal media would spin the ooohs into boos.

[flashbunny]

mark belling who was investigating this said he believes it was scott linldaw.

[O Neill]

Sacramento, CA (AP)

Swelling crowds of booing Californians have been gathering around the Capitol building since about 2:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Savings Time, when the announcement came that the former Best President of the United States, Bill Clinton, had been hospitalized after a Big Mac Attack.

The impetus for the booing remains uncertain at this time. Eyewitness Arnie Schwartz-Negger, visiting from the ever-tolerant U.K., said the booing started just as a squirrel crapped near the base of a majestic Sequoia Sempervirens tree in the park adjacent to the Capitol building.

[Gondring]

Just to be fair, this is not a sign of disrespect. Standard AP style is to use the title only on the first occurrence in a story. This isn't something up to the reporter's judgment; it's laid out in the "AP Stylebook and Libel Manual". Note also that the story also refers to "Clinton" after the first mention.

[Gondring]

"Suggest once in a while your refer to Bush as President Bush, unless such respect is a career ender at the AP."

Just to be fair, this is not a sign of disrespect. Standard AP style is to use the title for only the first occurrence in a story--after that, the last name is used. This isn't something up to the reporter's judgment; it's laid out in the AP Stylebook and Libel Manual. Note also that the story also refers to "Clinton" after the first mention.

[Lijahsbubbe]

I am in awe. Congrats! Just think, you may have played a big part in history!

These commies may not ever underestimate the power of the internet again!

[Lijahsbubbe]

BTW one caller was standing right by the press pool and stated unequivically that there were no boos. We have class here in Milwaukee.

Not only that, but Pres. Bush set the tone. I'm sure many in the crowd can't stand Clinton, but know that our President would express condolences and hopes for a speedy recovery, and would not appreciate anything contrary from the crowd.

[RonDog]

Crosslinking RELATED threads.

From search FR for "AP" and "boos":

The AP Changes "Boos" to "Ooohs" (Finally getting the truth out)
	Posted by MaineRepublic On News/Activism 09/04/2004 5:01:21 AM PDT · 102 replies · 1,992+ views Editor and Publisher ^
The AP Changes "Boos" to "Ooohs" in Report on Bush and Clinton
	Posted by BigSkyFreeper On News/Activism 09/03/2004 9:40:17 PM PDT · 63 replies · 1,699+ views Editor & Publisher ^ | 3 September 2004 | E&P Staff
Drudge Updating AP Lie (Audience boos as Bush offers best wishes for Clinton's recovery)
	Posted by Rokke On News/Activism 09/03/2004 1:47:30 PM PDT · 44 replies · 2,387+ views Drudge Report ^ | 3 Spet 2004 | Drudge
AP CAUGHT LYING: No boos at Bush rally in Wisconsin (I was there)
	Posted by Trust but Verify On News/Activism 09/03/2004 1:04:48 PM PDT · 187 replies · 10,048+ views 9/3/2004 | Trust but Verify

And, from search FR for "AP" and "booing":

Booing the AP(AP reporter ID'ed using Lexis-Nexis)
	Posted by Dog On News/Activism 09/04/2004 5:36:40 AM PDT · 145 replies · 3,949+ views Galley Slaves blog ^ | Sept 3 2004 | Jonathan V. Last
Drudge has audio for AP lies: Booing incident
	Posted by ETERNAL WARMING On News/Activism 09/04/2004 12:43:47 AM PDT · 11 replies · 674+ views Drudge Report ^ | Sep 4, 2004 | Matt Drudge
AP LIES ABOUT GOP BOOING CLINTON AND REFERS TO BABY KILLING TERRORISTS IN RUSSIA AS "REBELS"
	Posted by crushelits On Bloggers & Personal 09/03/2004 8:02:24 PM PDT · 3 replies · 118+ views Crushkerry ^ | September 3, 2004 | Crushkerry
AP Flat out lied about booing Clintons health (Audio of cheers!)
	Posted by Phantom Lord On News/Activism 09/03/2004 7:21:09 PM PDT · 46 replies · 1,822+ views Fox News Audio ^
Clinton to Undergo Bypass Surgery (PEOPLE, THE AP BOOING LIE IS SPREADING!!)
	Posted by MaineRepublic On News/Activism 09/03/2004 5:31:21 PM PDT · 121 replies · 3,496+ views sunherald.com ^