Apparently that tv reporter "misspoke"

www.americanthinker.com ^ | December 11, 2008 | Thomas Lifson

[rightthinkingwoman]

Yesterday, we noted that a report was published November 5th that Blago met with Obama over his successor, contradicting Obama's contention, and supporting the assertion of David Axelrod -- in a statement dismissed by the campaign as mis-speaking after Obama went on the record to the contrary in response to a question.

KHQA-TV in Quincy, IL has withdrawn its reports and scrubbed its website. This gave rise to blogger investigations, looking into it. Evidence developed by other bloggers strongly suggests the following is what happened. Herewith my theory:

Rod Blagojevich's office put out this press release on Nov. 5th, making him look good (they thought at the time).

Reader Kevin White write an apt analysis:

In the press release Blogo emphasizes the importance of his role in selecting Obama's successor. And the headline of the release makes it sound as though Blogo and Obama were discussing ("discusses"), or had already discussed that topic.

But the release did not really say that a meeting had actually been set up, much less that a meeting (or even a discussion) had actually occurred. And frankly, given the distance Obama was keeping publicly from Blogo at that time (Blogo was not at Grant Park), it is unlikely that Blago was one of the early calls that Obama after the election.

Indeed, I'm suspecting now that the reporter who wrote the "story" datelined November 5 may have relied solely on the press release of that same date, gotten ahead of what the press release actually said, and that when contacted more recently discovered as much and pulled the story, rather than bringing adverse attention to the fact that s/he fell for the November 5 press release and got the story so wrong.

Makes one appreciate again how unreliable is the MSM these days

Steve Gilbert of Sweetness & Light has unearthed an audio clip from Chicago NPY affiliate WBEZ radio. He writes:

About three minutes into the audio clip Mr. Blagojevich indicates that he has not yet spoken to Mr. Obama about this appointment.

At four minutes in, Mr. Blagojevich says point blank that he has not yet spoken with the President elect about selecting his replacement in the Senate.

So it looks very much as though a reporter at a small market TV station (Greater Quincy Illinois/Hannibal, Missouri) read the press release puffery and inferred something that wasn't true, but which the PR guys kinda hinted at.

That still doesn't let Axelrod off the hook. It also begs the question of what kind of "process" Blago had in mind when he told the Chicago Tribune on October 30:

"We have had some discussions about a process which we'll share ... if all goes well."

[rightthinkingwoman]

This theory seems plausible to me. We'll see as more info comes out.

[seekthetruth]

If you have not read information at this web site of Leo Donofrio, please do. Leo talks about the media lies. http://naturalborncitizen.wordpress.com/

Then please take 90 minutes sometime soon to listen to the video at this link below. At the link click on the video on the left titled: “WTP Obama Citizenship Challenge - National Press Club”. Information the media won’t report.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=bob%20schultz%20press%20conference&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GWYF&um=1&sa=N&tab=wv#+

Also go to Freeper Joe Thunder’s web site FreedomMarch.org and read other information on the cases before the courts.
Joe’s program on Plains Radio this evening 12/11 at 9:00PM Eastern will be an update on things going on the media won’t report.
http://freedommarch.org/Home_Page.html

http://www.plainsradio.com/

[Jeff Head]

Obama implemented during his campaign, and is now implementing in America at the national level, in preparation for his administration, a propganda machine that would have made Goebbles hang his head in shame.

ANyone who has spoken, speaks, or will speak the truth about any issue or association that in any way detracts from the "image" they are creating for him, will be found to have "mis-spoken".

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA

OBAMA IN HIS OWN WORDS ON THE ISSUES

IT'S TIME FOR A RETURN TO THE OLD SCHOOL

[qwertypie]

Anone who believes that Obama wasn’t interested in his successor or didn’t have some contact with the governor about is naive beyond help. Obama is parsing his words to make it look like he wasn’t trying to influence it at all.

BS. This guy has a god complex and thinks that he can control everything now, even in areas - and with people - where he lacked influence before.

[Uncle Hal]

Folks, the fix is in.

[kennedy]

There were two different reports on the KHQA-TV website. The first, on November 5, reported that they were going to meet. The second, on November 8, reported that they had met.

Both articles have been scrubbed from the website.

[traderrob6]

And how abour the report 3 days later...

Here’s an article from the same publication that confirms they did indeed meet: QUINCY, IL — Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled.

Obama met with Governor Rod Blagojevich earlier this week to discuss it. Illinois law states that the governor chooses that replacement. There’s already been speculation about his selection...from Congressman Jesse Jackson, Junior to Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth.

http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com/2008/12/whos-lying.html

ooops sorry, that one has been scrubbed as well.

[Big_Monkey]

Anyone who believes that Obama wasn’t interested in his successor or didn’t have some contact with the governor about is naive beyond help.

Bingo. In fact, if this whole mess wouldn't have blown up, it would be expected that Obama (or any exiting Senator) would have at least some communication with Hot Rod about his successor. It is simply beyond belief that Obama wouldn't care or communicate his preferences to the sitting Governor.

[Ken H]

Agree. There's nothing improper about a governor discussing a replacement with an exiting senator. Had Blago not gotten pinched, nobody would've raised an eyebrow over such a meeting.

[Longtom]

“Misspoke’’ Theres that word again. No one lies anymore they ‘’misspeak’’. Why didn’t I think of that all the times I got in trouble as a kid?

[beagleone]

This whole episode reminds me of that memorable scene in the movie "Quiz Show" where Martin Scorsese plays the producer of the show and demonstrates to the investigator, played by Rob Morrow, how he is able to be intimately involved in corruption, but how those ties can never be proven:

Martin Scorsese: "Young man, I sell millions of dollars a year worth of Geritol. Geritol. That's the kind of businessman I am.

That show, Twenty-One, cost me XXX million year in, year out. Sales went up 50 percent when Van Doren was on. Fifty percent!

So the very idea that I was unaware of every detail or aspect of that show's operation... well, frankly, it's, it's very insulting."

Rob Morrow: "So you knew."

Martin Scorsese:"That's even more insulting."

Rob Morrow: "You had to know. That's what you just said."

Martin Scorsese: "It's not about what I know. It's about what YOU know."

Rob Morrow: "You don't know what I know."

Martin Scorsese: "You know that Dan Enright ran a crooked quiz show."

Rob Morrow: "Oh, he never informed you?"

Martin Scorsese: "Did he? Let's see what he says."

[This_far]

Nah, it’s their version of the ‘fairness doctrine’.

(we’ll just edit that out, OK, we fixed it)