KERRY'S HOMETOWN PRESS TRYING TO COVER FOR HIM....

[TexasRainmaker]

GLOBE REPORTER CLAIMS TAPE RECORDED KERRY 'MORE' LEADERS NOT 'FOREIGN' LEADERS; TRANSCRIPTION 'SCREW-UP'

A BOSTON GLOBE reporter at the center of a growing controversy over comments made by John Kerry last week in Florida now claims he "screwed-up" -- and John Kerry never bragged how "foreign leaders" privately backed his presidential bid!

"I mistranscribed a key word," explains Patrick Healy, a political reporter for the BOSTON GLOBE who covered the event in a pool capacity.

"Listening to the audio recorder now, in the quiet of my house, I hear 'more leaders' and I am certain that 'more leaders' is what Senator Kerry said."

______________________________________________________

Dear Mr. Healy, You recently distributed a “correction” to your prior article regarding John Kerry’s statements referencing support from foreign leaders. You’re claiming you "screwed-up" -- and John Kerry never bragged how "foreign leaders" privately backed his presidential bid! You said, “I mistranscribed a key word," when you covered the Kerry event in a pool capacity. You continued, “Listening to the audio recorder now, in the quiet of my house, I hear 'more leaders' and I am certain that 'more leaders' is what Senator Kerry said.”

I’m curious whether this “correction” is being distributed out of your support for your personal choice of Presidential candidates, or whether something more sinister is behind your “correction”. I trust you haven’t been coerced to make this “correction”, but it’s quite odd you’d come out with this in light of other reporters’ recollections of the same statements by Kerry.

For instance, Patricia Wilson, writing for Reuters, recounted the statement this way, “Democratic White House candidate John predicted on Monday Republicans would try to "tear down" his character and said some foreign leaders had privately confided they hoped he would beat President Bush.” Perhaps she “mistranscribed” the recording too?

To understand why I’m questioning your new found recollection, one need only look at the whole quote surrounding the “more/foreign” question.

John Kerry said, “I've been hearing it, I'll tell ya. The news, the coverage in other countries, the news in other places. I've met more leaders who can't go out and say it all publicly, but boy they look at you and say, you gotta win this, you gotta beat this guy, we need a new policy, things like that. So there is enormous energy out there. Tell them, whereever they can find an American abroad, they can contribute," a reference to donations, prompting laughter from the crowd.”

If he really said "more" in place of “foreign”, why did he refer to “the coverage in other countries”? Why did he also say, “Tell them, wherever they can find an American abroad, they can contribute”? Do you expect us to truly believe that John Kerry wasn’t referring to “foreign” leaders, despite mentioning “coverage in other countries” and contributions from “Americans abroad”?

In addition, why would Kerry be defensive about something he didn't say? You see, when asked to name the “foreign leaders” by Colin Powell, John Kerry responded by saying he was “within his rights to keep his conversations with foreign leaders confidential.”

When pressed by a citizen at a campaign speech, Kerry said, “I've met with foreign leaders … I have heard from people who are leaders elsewhere in the world who don't appreciate the Bush administration approach and would love to see a change in the leadership of the United States. I'm talking our allies, I'm talking about people who were our friends nine months ago, I'm talking about people who ought to be at our side in Iraq and aren't because this administration has pushed them away in its arrogance, that's what I'm talking about.”

So, in light of your new revelation of faulty transcription, we have other reporters who heard it the way you originally reported it, and we have the man at the center of the issue, himself, admitting to making the statement and doing his best to defend such a statement.

Your “correction” seems to say more about your preference of candidates than your ability to accurately report on a story.

Sincerely, An Average American http://texasrainmaker.blogspot.com

FEEL FREE TO SEND THIS LETTER TO THE REPORTER DIRECTLY AT phealy@globe.com

[gov_bean_ counter]

When pressed by a citizen at a campaign speech, Kerry said, “I've met with foreign leaders … I have heard from people who are leaders elsewhere in the world

I thought I heard him say after changing the story from "met" to "heard" something like, "yeah, that's it".

Kept waiting for him to follow it up with, "That's the ticket".

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Patrick Healy, a political reporter for the BOSTON GLOBE must be auditioning for White House Communications Director under President Kerry.

Healy's claim is, on it's face, totally unbelievable. As others have pointed out - Kerry didn't deny it in addressing the alleged quote repeatedly over the past several days. And when you substitute a blank for the word foreign/more - and read both the setup remarks and then Kerry's response to the setup remarks, nothing makes sense but foreign. And if he used the term more - the context tells you the implied meaning was "more foreign leaders".

Furthermore, even a blind pig today is capable of copying an analog audio file onto a PC, converting it to an MP3 file and sending it along with the e-mail announcing the "correction". It doesn't seem that he has one so. 

I'd love to know the Rube Goldberg mechanics of the pressure that was applied to get him to attempt a recantation like this.

[Gabz]

Teresa has been trying!!!!

This guy truly gives me hives.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

And not one person at the event came forward to correct the misquote. Not one. Not even Kerry . This makes Kerry look even more feeble.

Nice try, Mr Kerry Kolon Kisser.

[Congressman Billybob]

Please add my name to your letter, as:

John Armor, Esq. (Congressman Billybob on the Internet)

And per another poster, I agree with every word you wrote. This is a perfect letter as presented.

Congressman Billybob

Click here, then click the blue CFR button, to join the anti-CFR effort (or visit the "Hugh & Series, Critical & Pulled by JimRob" thread). Please do it now.

[Milligan]

Is there audio?

[Semi Civil Servant]

"Listening to the audio recorder now, in the quiet of my house, I hear 'more leaders' and I am certain that 'more leaders' is what Senator Kerry said."

You'd think that Kerry would have remembered what he said to you, Patrick Healy, and would have made the correction days ago.

But maybe Kerry incorrectly remembers that he said what you remember hearing back then; but now that you say you hear something else (which Kerry had forgotten he said) he will shortly forget what you said you heard him say and re-remember what you now say you now believe he said. Yeah, that's it.

Or maybe you're both liars.

[JohnG45]

"I'd love to know the Rube Goldberg mechanics of the pressure that was applied to get him to attempt a recantation like this."

As well as the pressure that was applied to the parents of his intern/lover who also discounted what they had previously said.

[SelmaLee]

I laughed when I read it too - I just wondered who informed Patrick that he had mistranscribed that one single word.

[GeronL]

????

Why would Kerry defend and stand by his "foreign leaders" quote if he didn't say it?

[ottothedog]

Ok, now you got me laughing again. I didn't even think about the fact that single solitary mistake that he made was that one word. HAHAHAHA!

When was the last time you heard some media type claim to mistranscribe something? It is going to be a fun year. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

[Mike Bates]

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[hole_n_one]

What are you....are you a Republican......you answer the question!

[pending]

It depends on what the meaning of "foreign" is.

Yhis is getting interesting, what sounds to me like an offhand improvised remark is starting to snowball a bit.

"i invented the internet"
"love story was about me"

[Zack Attack]

more leaders, foreign leaders? Hmm. Could it also have been

corn feeders?
porn readers?
born cheaters?

[cricket]

Don't know which is more insulting; the excuse; befitting a defensive third grader; or the media which apparently decided it was worth sharing.

[Chuck N]

So if this reporter is correct then why did I hear Kerry say it was so, that he did in fact talk to foreign leaders who endorsed him. I heard the tape today on Hannity's radio show. That makes Kerry a liar and trying to cover his tracks over something he didn't say. Go figure. Oh yeah he's lieing through his teeth about not getting botox treatments too. His face is now perfectly smooth. Six months ago he looked like a cross between Edmund Muskie and Lurch. May he loose the election like Ed Muskie and go back to his New England haunted house and never come back out. Sleezy freak. No one should ever forget the lies he made up for political gain when he returned from Vietnam. He will always be a devisive figure in American politics. Totally arrogant he must be promising his so called Band of Brothers big rewards if he gets in office like Head of Veteran's Affairs or something like that. They not sticking by him for nothing. Someone ought to run some investigative before and after of this nut-cake Kerry's face. He's must be one of those in-bred New England blueblood. He sure isn't smart but he's definitely calculating.

[TexasRainmaker]

HERE IS THE THREAD OF EMAILS WITH THE REPORTER HIMSELF.

After receiving the letter I wrote, above, he responded:

"Thanks for writing. I discovered my error today, on my own, and circulated
the correction because that was the right thing to do. The context (ie,
"coverage in other countries") speaks for itself. Patsy Wilson is a
top-flight reporter, and I would hope that you wouldn't presume from my one
error that I or other reporters routinely err. Patrick Healy"

Then I replied with:
"Patrick,
Thanks for the quick response. I'm curious how you see Mr. Kerry's defense
of the comments, acknowledgement of the original version ('I met with
foreign leaders') and comment in response to Colin Powell, given that under
your "revised" recollection, he never actually said "foreign leaders". I
trust you can see why many will be confused by your revision.

Jason"

to which he finally responded:
"Jason, he was clearly referring to foreign leaders at the fundraiser where
he said "more leaders" -- he just didn't say "foreign leaders," though he
has subsequently. In the case of the fundraiser wording, my correction is a
distinction without a difference, I think. Patrick Healy"

Don't know about you, but it doesn't ease my mind much.

[FRgal4u]

The most damning thing of this situation is - why did Kerry defend himself of the charges, saying he met with foreign leaders out loud IF he really says "other" leaders and was misquoted by the Globe. So which version is the real one, the Globe trying to protect Kerry or Kerry being foolish and play defensive on a charge he never made himself. One of these two is a fool, I want to know which...

[Happy2BMe]

"For instance, Patricia Wilson, writing for Reuters, recounted the statement this way, “Democratic White House candidate John predicted on Monday Republicans would try to "tear down" his character and said some foreign leaders had privately confided they hoped he would beat President Bush.” Perhaps she “mistranscribed” the recording too?"

MISTRANSCRIBED - PING.