The media was able to do this because this administration refused to rebuke their lies!
Communication professor examines media bias in president's speeches
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1747605/posts
(snip)
This goes beyond reporting alternate points of view. “In short,” Kupyers explained, “if someone were relying only on the mainstream media for information, they would have no idea what the president actually said. It was as if the press were reporting on a different speech.”