Fox News Fabricates Obama Quote

[jsteele]

When MSNBC selectively edited George Zimmerman's 911 call, there was widespread outrage on this website. Let's see if this example of Fox News inventing a quote will receive similar attention.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/fox-news-fabricate-obama-quote-silver-spoon.php

President Obama recently said the following:

"I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Michelle wasn’t. But somebody gave us a chance — just like these folks up here are looking for a chance.

When Steve Doocy on Fox News quoted Obama, however, he said the following:

"Unlike some people, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth."

Note the "Unlike some people" that Doocy simply made up. What makes this important is that Obama has used the "silver spoon" phrase for years when talking about the importance of education (as he was in this speech). This was not necessarily a jab at Mitt Romney. But, adding the phrase that Doocy invented changes the context so that it appears obviously aimed at Romney. That context is even more apparent given that Doocy was interviewing Romney when he misquoted Obama.

Fox misquote was then picked up by the Washington Post (which has issued a correction), the New York Post, and several conservative blogs.

This is not the first time that Fox has been caught taking a bit too much artistic license with quotations. I'll be interested to see how many posters from the MSNBC/Zimmerman thread will venture here to offer their thoughts about Fox.

[Anonymous]

On the up side. it gives me another chance to point out my favorite GOP foible -- accusing Dems of the precise fault they themselves are practicing at any given moment. In this case you have Romney, in response to Doocey's prodding, attacking Obama for, of all things, attacking Romney.

As Romney attacks Obama, he points out that he does not attack other Americans. And as he does exactly what he claims not to do, what is he attacking Obama for doing? What Obama did NOT do, but what Romney is doing.

Does Romney get away with this? Probably, since Doocey looks so douchey that we are diverted from Romney. Will Doocey apologize? Will Romney? Who gives a shit -- they'll do the same stuff again anyway.

[Anonymous]

I accept it as a given that Fox does this.

Even worse is their complete willingness to throw an unverified rumor or statistic up on the screen and then get three talking heads to discuss it without attempting to verify it at all. If someone in Waziristan writes that 10 million people showed up for a Sarah Palin book signing, Fox will run it and talk about it for half of a show without questioning whether a Barnes and Noble can hold more than a few hundred people, and without picking up the phone to ask their own employee, Sarah Palin, if it sounds about right. In this way they are masters of the second hand lie. Of course they know it's bogus but they don't care. Someone else said it, and so they can run it on the bottom of the screen all day long.

[Anonymous]

I was about to address how you are splitting hairs here to find something to speak negatively about (wrt Fox), when there are obviously so many bigger, more important issues to debate other than who quoted Obama's silver spoon phrase correctly. (he didn't grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth - ok, anybody with an IQ above idiot gets it!)

But I remembered you probably don't have a clue WTF is going on in America - all you watch is MSNBC. I mean, look at the content of your post - Res Ipsa Loquitur!

[Anonymous]

Msnbc, almost all of it is fake

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I was about to address how you are splitting hairs here to find something to speak negatively about (wrt Fox), when there are obviously so many bigger, more important issues to debate other than who quoted Obama's silver spoon phrase correctly. (he didn't grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth - ok, anybody with an IQ above idiot gets it!)

But I remembered you probably don't have a clue WTF is going on in America - all you watch is MSNBC. I mean, look at the content of your post - Res Ipsa Loquitur!

As I said in response to a similar post, please provide links to the threads you have started on more important issues and I will join the discussion. BTW, speaking of lacking clues, you have no idea what television -- if any -- I watch.

[Anonymous]

Just for the record, the WashPost article is now corrected and still called it a possible jab at Romney. I don't really see what your point is. Yes he has used that line before. That doesn't mean he wasnt using it now was a jab -- just that he may need a new speechwriter if he doesn't want it to seem like a jab.

The changed quote doesn't really make a difference in the substance like the Zimmerman quote did.

That is why no one really cares.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Just for the record, the WashPost article is now corrected and still called it a possible jab at Romney. I don't really see what your point is. Yes he has used that line before. That doesn't mean he wasnt using it now was a jab -- just that he may need a new speechwriter if he doesn't want it to seem like a jab.

The changed quote doesn't really make a difference in the substance like the Zimmerman quote did.

That is why no one really cares.

The significance of the changed quote is nicely explained in the 23:39 post above. Obama said something that he has said many times before. Fox changed what Obama said into an attack on Romney. Romney then used the fact that Obama had attacked him to criticize Obama for attacking him. In other words, Romney was able to avoid addressing the substance of the remark -- that the Obamas were able to get educations due to assistance provided by others -- and attack Obama for something Obama didn't do. In the grand scheme of things, it may be minor. But, it is ironic that a Fox fabrication leads to discussion of silver spoons rather than education assistance and Fox supporters complain about discussing unimportant topics. Fox viewers can thank Fox for that.

But, it's good to have a clear indication of Fox viewers' commitment to accurate reporting. Its nonexistent I guess.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:When MSNBC selectively edited George Zimmerman's 911 call, there was widespread outrage on this website. Let's see if this example of Fox News inventing a quote will receive similar attention.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/fox-news-fabricate-obama-quote-silver-spoon.php

President Obama recently said the following:

"I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Michelle wasn’t. But somebody gave us a chance — just like these folks up here are looking for a chance.

When Steve Doocy on Fox News quoted Obama, however, he said the following:

"Unlike some people, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth."

Note the "Unlike some people" that Doocy simply made up. What makes this important is that Obama has used the "silver spoon" phrase for years when talking about the importance of education (as he was in this speech). This was not necessarily a jab at Mitt Romney. But, adding the phrase that Doocy invented changes the context so that it appears obviously aimed at Romney. That context is even more apparent given that Doocy was interviewing Romney when he misquoted Obama.

Fox misquote was then picked up by the Washington Post (which has issued a correction), the New York Post, and several conservative blogs.

This is not the first time that Fox has been caught taking a bit too much artistic license with quotations. I'll be interested to see how many posters from the MSNBC/Zimmerman thread will venture here to offer their thoughts about Fox.

Jeff,

I assumed based on your post that you watch MSNBC and read the Post.

[Anonymous]

"I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Michelle wasn't" -

you cannot be serious in that you do not see how this is aimed at Romney and his wife (as part of the whole he's rich, don't vote for him and his jezebel wife series?). Come on!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was about to address how you are splitting hairs here to find something to speak negatively about (wrt Fox), when there are obviously so many bigger, more important issues to debate other than who quoted Obama's silver spoon phrase correctly. (he didn't grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth - ok, anybody with an IQ above idiot gets it!)

But I remembered you probably don't have a clue WTF is going on in America - all you watch is MSNBC. I mean, look at the content of your post - Res Ipsa Loquitur!

AND YET the OP cites a non-MSNBC source for the story. What's latin for RTFM?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
I assumed based on your post that you watch MSNBC and read the Post.

The fact that the Washington Post picked up the misquote is cited in the article to which I linked. MSNBC was subject to a very long thread here. I wouldn't have known that MSNBC had broadcast a misleadingly edited quote had it not been for the DCUM thread.

I watch the occasional news show on MSNBC and read the occasional Post article online (mostly local politics stories by Mike Debonis, Tim Craig, and Nakita Stewart). I normally watch at least two network news broadcasts and Current TV. I read a broad array of international newspapers online and I follow a couple of right-wing blogs. I do tune into Fox News from time to time, but must admit that I really can't stomach it for any length of time.

[Anonymous]

Somehow I think Mitt will survive the insinuation that he didn't loans to get through school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Somehow I think Mitt will survive the insinuation that he didn't loans to get through school.

This was about education programs, not about Mitt. If you want something that was about Mitt, look at Rosen's comment complaining that Mitt gets his information about women in the economy from his wife, who is totally insulated from economic hardship; THAT was an attack on Mitt (and not on Ann). How do we let ourselves get manipulated by Fox/GOP distortions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somehow I think Mitt will survive the insinuation that he didn't loans to get through school.

This was about education programs, not about Mitt. If you want something that was about Mitt, look at Rosen's comment complaining that Mitt gets his information about women in the economy from his wife, who is totally insulated from economic hardship; THAT was an attack on Mitt (and not on Ann). How do we let ourselves get manipulated by Fox/GOP distortions?

"Fox/GOP Distortions?"

Here is a distortion for you:

While the following is occurring in America, your attention has been deflected by the MAINSTREAM media over to things like how much $$$ Mitt and Ann have:

(1) Worst recession in U.S. history (stimuli/green packages = crap, trillions more debt)

(2) Two wars that have not ended (promise to end = crap)

(3) Wall Street unscathed after the housing/stock market meltdown

(4) Worst natural disaster in U.S. history (Obama told foreign aid to clean up to go home, continued his vacay, and months later took credit for inventing the cap - LMAO!)

(5) Guitmo is still open for business (promise to close = crap)

(6) Obama's proposed tax hike on ALL taxable income over $0

Pre-Bush Tax Cuts / Obama's Proposal:
$0 to $25,750 = 15%
$25,750 to $62,450 = 28% + $3,862
$62,450 to $130,250 = 31% + $14,138
$130,250 to $283,150 = 36% + $35,156 $3,862.50 + 25,750
$283,150+ = 39.6% +$90,200

Bush Tax Cuts (Current Rates)
$0 to $8,500 = 10%
$8,500 to $34,500 = 15% + $850
$34,500 to $83,600 = 25% + $4,750
$83,600 to $174,400 = 28% + $17,025
$174,400 to $379,150 = 33% + $42,449
$379,150+ = 35% + $110,016

(7) Obamacare penalizes people for not being able to afford health insurance on their tax return (and they still don't get any insurance!!!)
Examples:

2014; family of 2; taxable income=$26,000;
penalty=$260 ($260=$26,000x1% > $190=$95x2.)

2014; family of 3; taxable income=$26,000;
penalty=$285 ($260=$26,000x1% < $285=$95x3.)

2016; family of 3; taxable income=$26,000;
penalty=$2,085 ($650=$26,000x2.5% < $2,085=$695x3.)

2016; family of 3; taxable income=$85,000;
penalty=$2,125 ($2,125=$85,000x2.5% > $2,085=$695x3.)

2016; family of 8; taxable income=$85,000;
penalty=$2,125 ($2,1t25=$85,000x2.5% > $2,085=$695x3.)


So you all keep worrying about things like how much money Mitt and Ann have, exactly how one should best say Obama didn't grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth, and bash some Catholics, while intelligent people care about more important issues in America, OK?