WaPo Faux News: FReeper Changed From Terror Rally Critic to Bible Thumper

Saturday, August 12, 2006 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

The Washington Post had two articles posted online reporting on today's pro-terrorist rally in Washington, D.C. The earlier version accurately quoted and characterized my words and actions as part of the D.C. Chapter's counter-protest of the rally on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House.

Unfortunately, that article has disappeared down the memory hole. Only an excerpt remains in The Post's archive search:

...front of the White House, after they had several heated exchanges with the demonstrators. "It was for safety reasons," Kristinn Taylor who organized the small group to oppose the rally he called "pro-terrorists." The primary organizer for today's...

That excerpt was about the police ordering us to leave our spot in front of the White House where we were up close and personal with the pro-terrorist crowd.

Later today, The Post placed the print edition of their rally coverage online. Lo and behold, I've been miraculously changed from a terror rally counter-protester into a Bible thumping rabble-rouser!:

By early afternoon, the march wound its way around the White House. As the marchers turned onto 15th Street NW, they encountered about two dozen counter-protesters.

"There is no other God but Jesus!" shouted Kristinn Taylor, co-leader of the local chapter of the conservative group FreeRepublic.com. He held a megaphone in one hand, a Bible in the other.

The crowd shouted back: "Rah, rah, Hezbollah!"

I called The Post and informed them of their error. I told them there was a group of two or three genuine Bible thumpers a few blocks away from us, but that they were not with us and I was not one of them.

It's funny what an editor can do to a reporter's story. The reporter on both stories is Petula Dvorak (the second was co-written by Robert Samuels.)

I spoke with Ms. Dvorak in person on the march route. She got the story right in her solo version, but things got twisted later.

Just goes to show once again how The Post can get the easiest reporting wrong.

Link to current article.

[kristinn]

Not that there's anything wrong with being a Bible thumper :-)

[NormsRevenge]

Thank goodness , they could have called you a lot worse things. ;-)

Thanks to you and all there today.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Great job Kristinn!

The crowd shouted back: "Rah, rah, Hezbollah!"

That is just nuts...

[AmericanInTokyo]

Man I hope you guys have insurance policies, and a quick exit plan when/if things get overheated and you are overpowered by numbers. You really are getting up close and in the face of the beast. I admire your guts in going against the terrorists like this eye-to-eye.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Not that there's anything wrong with being a Bible thumper :-)

"Do not thump the book of G'Quon. It is disrespectful."

Funny story!

[Jet Jaguar]

Did they mistakenly call you "her" and "she" this time?

Or did the actual interviewer write the story?

Thanks for busting your butt out there.

[denydenydeny]

Kristinn, do you know if anyone saved a screenshot of the original article?

[kristinn]

They were also chanting "Long live Hezbollah!"

[OSHA]

How else does one tell if his Bible is ripe....BA DA BOOM...

Thank you! I'll be in the Tiki Lounge all week, two shows on Friday and Saturday. Be sure and bring the kiddies to our daily puppet show matinee and remember to tip your wait staff!

[singfreedom]

In their twisted reasoning, though, kristinn, that was their way of minimalizing anything else you might have said. People really need to start suing these media outlets when they are willfully misquoted in this fashion. It is just another attempt to push their own warped agenda.

[kristinn]

I didn't. Though I did save the archive page excerpt.

[singfreedom]

Just out of curiosity, were most of the pro-terrorist protesters Middle Eastern or were they misguided Americans?

[Brad from Tennessee]

Thank God for the internet--to me an information evolution equal to the invention of movable type. Otherwise, we would still be in the dark ages of the establishment media.

[NonValueAdded]

Let us know where they bury the retraction.

[Lurker]

I hope you took a long hot shower after your encounter with a WaPo reporter.

Lord only knows what nasty stuff they carry.

L

[AmericanInTokyo]

I think a serious letter should be sent from a United States Congressman to the Attorney General, asking for an immediate clarification as to what US federal policy is, while we are in a state of war on terrorism (as so stated by the President), and individuals openly support through public demonstration, banners, speech and flyers, an organization that is determined by the Government of the United States to be a terrorist organization.

The question could be if aspects of the Patriot Law or other national security aspects are in violation. I am deadly serious about this point, in view of your after action report just now.

In other words, if an American had a poster in support of al-Qaeda, he or she would be subject to immediate surveillance and investigation, if not arrest I am sure. Hezboallah to my knowledge has the same classification by the USG as far as I know.

[operation clinton cleanup]

"Rah, rah, Hezbollah!"

[magslinger]

Maybe the reporters would remember you better if you wore this shirt. Click shirt for link.

[AmericanInTokyo]

From the U.S. State Department Page on Terrorist Organizations, October 2004:

Hizballah (Party of God) a.k.a. Islamic Jihad, Islamic Jihad Organization, Revolutionary Justice Organization, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine, Organization of Right Against Wrong, Ansar Allah, Followers of the Prophet Muhammed Description: Radical Shia group formed in Lebanon; dedicated to creation of Iranian-style Islamic republic in Lebanon and removal of all non-Islamic influences from the area. Strongly anti-West and anti-Israel. Closely allied with, and often directed by, Iran but may have conducted operations that were not approved by Tehran. Activities: Known or suspected to have been involved in numerous anti-US terrorist attacks, including the suicide truck bombing of the US Embassy and US Marine barracks in Beirut in October 1983 and the US Embassy annex in Beirut in September 1984. Elements of the group were responsible for the kidnapping and detention of US and other Western hostages in Lebanon. The group also attacked the Israeli Embassy in Argentina in 1992. Strength: Several thousand. Location/Area of Operation: Operates in the Bekaa Valley, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and southern Lebanon. Has established cells in Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and elsewhere. External Aid: Receives substantial amounts of financial, training, weapons, explosives, political, diplomatic, and organizational aid from Iran and Syria.

[GeronL]

You didn't expect the article to be fair and accurate did you?