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ABC News Edited Out Key Parts of Sarah Palin Interview
Newsbusters ^ | 09/13/08 | P.J. Gladnick

Posted on 09/13/2008 5:08:24 AM PDT by coffee260

A transcript of the unedited interview of Sarah Palin by Charles Gibson clearly shows that ABC News edited out crucial portions of the interview that showed Palin as knowledgeable or presented her answers out of context. This unedited transcript of the first of the Gibson interviews with Palin is available on radio host Mark Levin's website. The sections edited out by ABC News are in bold. The first edit shows Palin responding about meeting with foreign leaders but this was actually in response to a question Gibson asked several questions earlier:

GIBSON: Have you ever met a foreign head of state?

PALIN: There in the state of Alaska, our international trade activities bring in many leaders of other countries.

GIBSON: And all governors deal with trade delegations.

PALIN: Right.

GIBSON: Who act at the behest of their governments.

PALIN: Right, right.

GIBSON: I’m talking about somebody who’s a head of state, who can negotiate for that country. Ever met one?

PALIN: I have not and I think if you go back in history and if you ask that question of many vice presidents, they may have the same answer that I just gave you. But, Charlie, again, we’ve got to remember what the desire is in this nation at this time. It is for no more politics as usual and somebody’s big, fat resume maybe that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment, where, yes, they’ve had opportunities to meet heads of state … these last couple of weeks … it has been overwhelming to me that confirmation of the message that Americans are getting sick and tired of that self-dealing and kind of that closed door, good old boy network that has been the Washington elite.
 

Next we see that Palin was not nearly as hostile towards Russia as was presented in the edited interview:

GIBSON: Let me ask you about some specific national security situations.

PALIN: Sure.

GIBSON: Let’s start, because we are near Russia, let’s start with Russia and Georgia.

The administration has said we’ve got to maintain the territorial integrity of Georgia. Do you believe the United States should try to restore Georgian sovereignty over South Ossetia and Abkhazia?

PALIN: First off, we’re going to continue good relations with Saakashvili there. I was able to speak with him the other day and giving him my commitment, as John McCain’s running mate, that we will be committed to Georgia. And we’ve got to keep an eye on Russia. For Russia to have exerted such pressure in terms of invading a smaller democratic country, unprovoked, is unacceptable and we have to keep…

GIBSON: You believe unprovoked.

PALIN: I do believe unprovoked and we have got to keep our eyes on Russia, under the leadership there. I think it was unfortunate. That manifestation that we saw with that invasion of Georgia shows us some steps backwards that Russia has recently taken away from the race toward a more democratic nation with democratic ideals. That’s why we have to keep an eye on Russia.

And, Charlie, you’re in Alaska. We have that very narrow maritime border between the United States, and the 49th state, Alaska, and Russia. They are our next door neighbors.We need to have a good relationship with them. They’re very, very important to us and they are our next door neighbor.

GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?

PALIN: They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.

GIBSON: What insight does that give you into what they’re doing in Georgia?

PALIN: Well, I’m giving you that perspective of how small our world is and how important it is that we work with our allies to keep good relation with all of these countries, especially Russia. We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it’s in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along.

We also see from Palin's following remark, which was also edited out, that she is far from some sort of latter day Cold Warrior which the edited interview made her seem to be:

We cannot repeat the Cold War. We are thankful that, under Reagan, we won the Cold War, without a shot fired, also. We’ve learned lessons from that in our relationship with Russia, previously the Soviet Union.

We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it’s in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along.

Palin's extended remarks about defending our NATO allies were edited out to make it seem that she was ready to go to war with Russia. 

GIBSON: And under the NATO treaty, wouldn’t we then have to go to war if Russia went into Georgia?

PALIN: Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another country is attacked, you’re going to be expected to be called upon and help.

But NATO, I think, should include Ukraine, definitely, at this point and I think that we need to — especially with new leadership coming in on January 20, being sworn on, on either ticket, we have got to make sure that we strengthen our allies, our ties with each one of those NATO members.

We have got to make sure that that is the group that can be counted upon to defend one another in a very dangerous world today.

GIBSON: And you think it would be worth it to the United States, Georgia is worth it to the United States to go to war if Russia were to invade.

PALIN: What I think is that smaller democratic countries that are invaded by a larger power is something for us to be vigilant against. We have got to be cognizant of what the consequences are if a larger power is able to take over smaller democratic countries.

And we have got to be vigilant. We have got to show the support, in this case, for Georgia. The support that we can show is economic sanctions perhaps against Russia, if this is what it leads to.

It doesn’t have to lead to war and it doesn’t have to lead, as I said, to a Cold War, but economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure, again, counting on our allies to help us do that in this mission of keeping our eye on Russia and Putin and some of his desire to control and to control much more than smaller democratic countries.

His mission, if it is to control energy supplies, also, coming from and through Russia, that’s a dangerous position for our world to be in, if we were to allow that to happen.

That answer presented Palin as a bit too knowledgeable for the purposes of ABC News and was, of course, edited out. Palin's answers about a nuclear Iran were carefully edited to the point where she was even edited out in mid-sentence to make it seem that Palin favored unilateral action against that country:

GIBSON: Let me turn to Iran. Do you consider a nuclear Iran to be an existential threat to Israel?

PALIN: I believe that under the leadership of Ahmadinejad, nuclear weapons in the hands of his government are extremely dangerous to everyone on this globe, yes.

GIBSON: So what should we do about a nuclear Iran? John McCain said the only thing worse than a war with Iran would be a nuclear Iran. John Abizaid said we may have to live with a nuclear Iran. Who’s right?

PALIN: No, no. I agree with John McCain that nuclear weapons in the hands of those who would seek to destroy our allies, in this case, we’re talking about Israel, we’re talking about Ahmadinejad’s comment about Israel being the “stinking corpse, should be wiped off the face of the earth,” that’s atrocious. That’s unacceptable.

GIBSON: So what do you do about a nuclear Iran?

PALIN: We have got to make sure that these weapons of mass destruction, that nuclear weapons are not given to those hands of Ahmadinejad, not that he would use them, but that he would allow terrorists to be able to use them. So we have got to put the pressure on Iran and we have got to count on our allies to help us, diplomatic pressure.

GIBSON: But, Governor, we’ve threatened greater sanctions against Iran for a long time. It hasn’t done any good. It hasn’t stemmed their nuclear program.

PALIN: We need to pursue those and we need to implement those. We cannot back off. We cannot just concede that, oh, gee, maybe they’re going to have nuclear weapons, what can we do about it. No way, not Americans. We do not have to stand for that.

Laughably, a remark by Gibson that indicated he agreed with Palin was edited out:

PALIN: But the reference there is a repeat of Abraham Lincoln’s words when he said — first, he suggested never presume to know what God’s will is, and I would never presume to know God’s will or to speak God’s words.

But what Abraham Lincoln had said, and that’s a repeat in my comments, was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God’s side.

That’s what that comment was all about, Charlie. And I do believe, though, that this war against extreme Islamic terrorists is the right thing. It’s an unfortunate thing, because war is hell and I hate war, and, Charlie, today is the day that I send my first born, my son, my teenage son overseas with his Stryker brigade, 4,000 other wonderful American men and women, to fight for our country, for democracy, for our freedoms.

Charlie, those are freedoms that too many of us just take for granted. I hate war and I want to see war ended. We end war when we see victory, and we do see victory in sight in Iraq.

GIBSON: I take your point about Lincoln’s words, but you went on and said, “There is a plan and it is God’s plan.”

Gibson took her point about Lincoln's words but we wouldn't know that by watching the interview since it was left on the cutting room floor. I urge everybody to see just how the unedited version of the first interview compared to what we saw on television  by checking out the full transcript. It is a fascinating look into media manipulation via skillful editing.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS: 2008; abc; abcnews; bias; charliegibson; chucklestheclown; democrats; dncmediamachine; dnctv; elections; enemedia; gibson; gibsonpalin; inquisition; interrogation; interview; marklevin; mccainpalin; mediabias; mediagestapo; msm; obamedia; palin; propagandawingofdnc; sarahpalin
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To: Prophet in the wilderness
bring your own camera crew.... I think Fred Thompson had someone video taping everything at his campaign stops.

No wonder they never reported on his campaign stops. Since they couldn't misrepresent them, they convinced everybody Fred was napping and didn't HAVE any campaign stops.

181 posted on 09/13/2008 7:48:27 AM PDT by Sal (Pyrrhic Pooty just took Russia down to a 3rd class, 3rd world POS country that is dying.)
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To: coffee260
Carlie,

Good grief man your editors could make Carl Marx a flag waving capitalist. Just give us the whole truth and we'll decide about Palin. This cutting and pasting of the interview is very sad proof of your untrustworthiness.

182 posted on 09/13/2008 7:49:22 AM PDT by reflecting
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To: polymuser

Here’s the total (unabridged, unlike the Gibson interview) SPJ Code of Ethics - which ABC, and much of the MSM are violating every day...

Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist’s credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society’s principles and standards of practice.

Seek Truth and Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Journalists should:

— Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
— Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
— Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources’ reliability.
— Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
— Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
— Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
— Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.
— Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
— Never plagiarize.
— Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
— Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
— Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
— Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
— Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
— Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
— Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
— Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public’s business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.

Minimize Harm
Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.

Journalists should:

— Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
— Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
— Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
— Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
— Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
— Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
— Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
— Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.

Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public’s right to know.

Journalists should:

—Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
— Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
— Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
— Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
— Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
— Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
— Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.

Be Accountable
Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.

Journalists should:

— Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
— Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
— Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
— Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
— Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

The SPJ Code of Ethics is voluntarily embraced by thousands of
writers, editors and other news professionals. The present version of
the code was adopted by the 1996 SPJ National Convention, after months
of study and debate among the Society’s members.

Sigma Delta Chi’s first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the
American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi
wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984, 1987 and 1996.


183 posted on 09/13/2008 7:50:37 AM PDT by philsoc
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
Reporter/Questioner: “But you didn’t say that in the interview.” Palin: “Why I certainly did! You mean they edited that out too?”

Perfect!

184 posted on 09/13/2008 7:50:51 AM PDT by Sal (Pyrrhic Pooty just took Russia down to a 3rd class, 3rd world POS country that is dying.)
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To: silverleaf
The McCain campaign would be wise to have their own film/video crew record these interviews at the same time as the networks do, just like you see citizens videotaping the police when an event occurs.
Tell the media—We have the ENTIRE interview and you on tape, any funny editing will be released and exposed—get it?
It is time to really expose these jackasses for what they are-—nothing more than democrat party propaganda hacks and the lowest most vile scum.
185 posted on 09/13/2008 7:51:58 AM PDT by scott says (Obama has the Moose in the headlights look now)
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To: Sal

And many on our side, most of whom had agendas for competing candidates, helped out.

But, all things considered, we’re doing pretty well at the moment. Thinks are looking up for the future.


186 posted on 09/13/2008 7:53:22 AM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (Palin 2008 (oh yeah, and McCain too))
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To: timestax
" I’m thinking of hiring a detective to investigate this Charlie Gibson AND his children to see what skeletons are in his closet. The press refuses to police themselves, so that leaves me no choice but to hire detectives to investigate them all! NOW LOOK OUT ! "

Rev. Manning agrees, and thinks this also.
Watch this video of Rev. Manning's condemnation of Obama and the MSM.
This should be sent to the Obama Campaign and Rev. ( Chickens coming home to roost ) Wright, the MSM, Keith Olbermann, Crissy Matthews.
A blistering spanking of Obama and the MSM by Rev. Mannning.
Devastating !!
Rev Manning Condemns the attacks on the Palin family

187 posted on 09/13/2008 7:53:48 AM PDT by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM .53 : 1 The FOOL hath said in his heart, there is no GOD.)
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To: cake_crumb
Obama’s interview with CBS was edited to make him appear more knowledgeable, eloquent and lucid than he really is, while Palin’s interview with ABC was edited to make her appear to be exactly the opposite...

And yet she is the one who looked knowledgeable, eloquent and lucid and he did NOT. Even with the dishonest editing.

188 posted on 09/13/2008 7:54:13 AM PDT by Sal (Pyrrhic Pooty just took Russia down to a 3rd class, 3rd world POS country that is dying.)
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To: Diogenesis

Good one! Saved to my collection.


189 posted on 09/13/2008 7:54:19 AM PDT by cake_crumb (Terrorist organizations worldwide endorse Obama.)
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To: coffee260
"ABC"

The... Always Barack Channel

190 posted on 09/13/2008 7:55:31 AM PDT by Condor51 (I have guns in my nightstand because a Cop won't fit)
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To: I got the rope
Even with 24/7 Obamessiah worship

What they cannot figure out is that their Obamessiah worship is only making it worse for their maximum leader. Last time we saw this kind of arrogance before the American people was Bob Haldeman testifying at the Watergate hearings. He didn't sell well either.

191 posted on 09/13/2008 7:57:18 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

You are so right about our “own” candidates, but TG you are also right that we’re doing pretty well right now and the future looks great. And Fred is on board (and I believe will help in guiding SC picks).


192 posted on 09/13/2008 7:58:31 AM PDT by Sal (Pyrrhic Pooty just took Russia down to a 3rd class, 3rd world POS country that is dying.)
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To: Wasichu
" the earmark Obama got for the hospital Michele works for (she got a huge raise afterwords )"
Correct me if I am wrong, but ? could this be described as a kickback ?
193 posted on 09/13/2008 8:01:20 AM PDT by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM .53 : 1 The FOOL hath said in his heart, there is no GOD.)
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To: Sal

I was hoping he’d even be one of the SC picks. He’s older than we’d like, of course, but as a former senator, he’s a conservative who could probably get through a Rat senate.


194 posted on 09/13/2008 8:01:37 AM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (Palin 2008 (oh yeah, and McCain too))
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To: Sal
"And yet she is the one who looked knowledgeable, eloquent and lucid and he did NOT. Even with the dishonest editing."

Yep. The mass media is like a drawer full of dull knives. You keep picking them up one after another and testing them in the hope that you'll find just ONE sharp enough to slice that tomato for your sandwich, but you never seem to find one unless you sharpen it yourself...

195 posted on 09/13/2008 8:02:42 AM PDT by cake_crumb (Terrorist organizations worldwide endorse Obama.)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP
America knows the bias.

I wonder about that.....

I've read at least 6 or 7 posts here on this thread..( and I've not read them all..)...by FReepers saying they "finally have had it with the MSM"...or "Wow...didn't realize they were THAT biased"...OR..."Geeze...I thought Gibson was one of the good guys"

IMO, the MSM/DBM media is one of.. (if NOT the most..) the most dangerous group of folks in the U.S.A.

196 posted on 09/13/2008 8:03:48 AM PDT by Osage Orange (As Geraldine Ferraro said: “If this guy were white, we wouldn’t even know his name.”)
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To: Prophet in the wilderness
McCain/Palin do any more interviews the must insist zero, nada no editing done

In fact she should preface every interview forcing a verbal comittment from the interviewer as part of the interview: "Are you going to edit this interview, appending my answers to out of sequence questions and cutting my responses they way Charles Gibson and ABC did? Because I won't stand for it!"

ABC is trying to outdo Rather and CBS with this infamous act.

197 posted on 09/13/2008 8:09:19 AM PDT by Theophilus (Abortion: 9/11 Every Single Day)
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To: Evil Slayer

The FCC cannot “make” ABC air anything. That pesky First Amendment thingy.


198 posted on 09/13/2008 8:10:29 AM PDT by Fudd Fan (There's a new political superstar and she's a REAL LADY!)
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To: ExTexasRedhead

Ping to this thread.


199 posted on 09/13/2008 8:11:14 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (Sarah Palin is NOT worried about anything being above her pay grade!)
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To: coffee260; All

Deceit, dishonesty, fraud. More evidence of the Democrat Crime Syndicate and their enablers/co-conspirators at work.

Do “independents” need more examples?

Thanks to all truth-seeking, life-loving lurkers reading this thread.


200 posted on 09/13/2008 8:12:07 AM PDT by PGalt
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