Posted on 09/03/2004 9:40:17 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper
Published: September 03, 2004 10:00 PM EST
NEW YORK The Associated Press changed "boos" to "ooohhs" Friday afternoon in reporting on President George Bush's first statement to supporters on the heart ailment that has befallen former President Bill Clinton.
In a dispatch sent to subscribers in early afternoon, the AP reported that when Bush, at a campaign rally in West Allis, Wisconsin, told the crowd that he wished to send Clinton his "best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery," the audience "of thousands booed. Bush did nothing to stop them."
Pretty damning, except that AP soon changed its story, only after the original appeared on many Web sites.
Several Web sites revealed that AP "retracted" the report "citing uncertainties about how to characterize the crowd's reaction."
The new version moved on the wire Friday described the same incident this way, after relating Bush's remarks: "The crowd reacted with applause and with some 'ooohs,' apparently surprised by the news that Clinton was ill."
A Knight Ridder/Tribune (KRT) report put it this way: "Some in Bush's audience booed when he wished Clinton well...." The AFP wire report declared that after Bush's statement "thousands of boisterous supporters clapped respectfully."
and I don't think the AP has named the writer who wrote this lie.
If they retract (a big IF), AP will note that the report was meant to say "cheers" but through a typographical error, it said "jeers." Anyone could make that mistake, no?
Caught in the act! The Old Media is has become a very silly joke.
Hope Rush talks about this on Monday.
"Caught in the act! The Old Media is has become a very silly joke."
But more dangerous than ever.
My guess would be Ron Fournier.
mark belling (milwaukee talk show host, sub for rush) said he believed the reporter was scott lindlaw. He tried calling the milwaukee ap branch and they refused to tell him who actually wrote it.
So he gave out their number and told the listeners to keep calling all the way through the weekend and just ask "what's the name?"
All he had to do was turn a TV on, which I am sure it was, but he injected his Liberal bias into the story. Doesn't matter if you happen to be in WI or NYC, you don't need to be there to report on the crowd reaction in a live shot.
I read somewhere on a blog (I forget which one) that Scott Lindlaw wrote the original piece. He has written other deeply misleading stories about Bush (what a shock).
My guess would be Ron Fournier.
No, it's been tracked back to a fellow named Tom Hays. I have the latest here. Read it all...quite a few updates...
Somebody mentioned that it was a writer who had been chastised by MRC? for writing anti-Bush stuff.
Well, I'm sure the fellow will be fired. Sure he will.
That's the citation I saw, not Hays.
Thanks for the update. This is infuriating. Not surprising, but still infuriating.
GO to the link, flashbunny.
AP apparently tried to cover tracks, but the Lexis Nexis electronic trail reveals the original byline as Tom Hays.
The original reports that Lindlaw did the story are incorrect.
Let's Roll!
BTW, B.M. - Long time no see. Keep kickin'.
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