Posted on 09/04/2004 8:54:18 AM PDT by kattracks
The Associated Press has retracted its Friday afternoon report that a crowd at a Bush rally in West Allis, Wisconsin booed when President Bush offered ex-President Clinton best wishes for a speedy recovery from coronary bypass surgery scheduled for next week.In a report that moved on the AP wire at 9:27 a.m. Saturday, the AP said: "This is a correction to an incorrect story posted by AP on Friday stating the crowd booed the President when he sent his good wishes. The crowd, in fact, did NOT boo."
A transcript of Bush's remarks released by the White House noted applause after Bush's offered Clinton "best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery."
ABC Radio Network news also confirmed that the Clinton reference was applauded, not jeered.
In its original version of the story, the AP had reported: "Bush's audience of thousands in West Allis, Wis., booed. Bush did nothing to stop them."
The erroneous report prompted a firestorm of outrage on interactive news web sites like FreeRepublic.com, where posters complained of media bias and circulated contact numbers to protest the AP's false claim.
In a revised version of the story that moved on the wire late Friday, the AP said: "The crowd reacted with applause and with some 'ooohs,' apparently surprised by the news that Clinton was ill."
Has Hays been fired to for deliberately fabricating a story?
That's not a retraction, it's a correction. A retraction would be in the headline.
Damage is done. Quite simply, if they are committed to integrity, Hays' head should roll for this breech.
And they need to know that.
AP should fire the lying reporter ASAP.
Knowing the AP they will send him a bonus for effort.
I saw that tape a couple times.......not one person booed. The audience acted properly on hearing the news and clapped in accordance when GWB expressed his heartfelt wishes.
bookmark bump
Is that the guy? Where do we go to explain to him the value of honesty?
Tom Hays Associated Press
212-587-8035
thays@ap.org
There you go.
This is revision, not retraction.
BUMP - for those like me that missed the story ... (crazy)
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