NewsMax's Kessler: Date was wrong; Obama campaign: 'Story is false'

[sabra]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/03/newsmaxs-kessle.html

11:50 a.m. ET: "Your headline should be 'story is false,' " Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor just told us.

Until the conservative website NewsMax.com can say for certain what date it maintains Sen. Barack Obama was present when the senior pastor at his church made some controversial remarks, then the "central detail" is wrong and the entire story falls apart, he said.

...

As we reported this morning, the Obama campaign said the senator was not present at the July 22 service.

A few minutes ago, Kessler told us by telephone that "the NewsMax editors have talked with Jim Davis" and "he might have been wrong about the date."

Davis, Kessler added, "says he could have been wrong about the date, but it definitely happened."

Kessler added that he's confident about the rest of Davis' reporting because "I was impressed by the details he had." Asked if getting the date wrong isn't something that would raise questions about the rest of a reporter's work, Kessler said no. And he said that "in general, (Obama's) claim that he doesn't know anything about these sermons is ridiculous."

Kessler said NewsMax will be posting a new story about this shortly.

[anonymous171]

1. What a surprise!

Clinton supporters here who were spouting this should be ashamed.

[bunnies]

5. Are you kidding?

They'll be posting the new "story" as soon as its up. :eyes:

[roguevalley]

27. news max. right. an unimpeachable source. might be wrong on the

date but the rest is right. 'because I say so'

[Teaser]

2. well that was fun while it lasted

.

[quantass]

3. What the....I'm shocked! (roll eyes)

[maximusveritas]

4. Looks like they came to their conclusion and then made up "facts" to support it

Sounds like they're emulating their hero.

[sabra]

6. "There's no doubt that Obama was at that sermon"

:sarcasm:

[easy_b94]

7. Damn Shame!!!!

[WDIM]

8. I don't understand why this Jim Davis would be credible anyways

Who cares what he thinks he saw. Give me some proof.

[rinsd]

9. Its fucking newsmax for crissakes.

Who would take them seriously other than trolls looking to cause mischief?

[Emit]

10. And I'm sure there'll be 100 NewsMax stories posted on DU to "prove" it

when they print the new 'story'

[C_U_L8R]

11. And all the Clintoons worked themselves into such a lather about this farce

Too friggin' funny. What a bunch of Henny Pennys they are.
They're gonna need to wash all that slime off themselves.

[alcibiades_mystery]

12. Are you sure about that five minutes? Are you sure about that five minutes?

"I may have been mistaken."



:rofl:

[blogslut]

13. So, he was there, just on a different day?

But he heard the speech by what? Osmosis?

Keep dancing Newsmax. Maybe you can catch up with the beat.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

14. Getting the date wrong wouldn't raise questions about a

reporters work? Give me a break,its like saying the fourth of July happened on the fifth, that date is an all important fact to the story, was Obama there or not?

[sabra]

15. NewsMax posts "Clarification"

http://www.newsmax.com/kessler/Obama_hate_America_sermon/2008/03/16/80870.html

Clarification: The Obama campaign has told members of the press that Senator Obama was not in church on the day cited, July 22, because he had a speech he gave in Miami at 1:30 PM. Our writer, Jim Davis, says he attended several services at Senator Obama's church during the month of July, including July 22. The church holds services three times every Sunday at 7:30 and 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central time. While both the early morning and evening service allowed Sen. Obama to attend the service and still give a speech in Miami, Mr. Davis stands by his story that during one of the services he attended during the month of July, Senator Obama was present and sat through the sermon given by Rev. Wright as described in the story. Mr. Davis said Secret Service were also present in the church during Senator Obama's attendance. Mr. Davis' story was first published on Newsmax on August 9, 2007. Shortly before publication, Mr. Davis contacted the press office of Sen. Obama several times for comment about the Senator's attendance and Rev. Wright's comments during his sermon. The Senator's office declined to comment.

:eyes:

[americanstranger]

16. So, who do we trust?

A Democratic candidate or a stringer for a Rightard propaganda site?

That 'clarification' clarifies absolutely nothing. The stringer is 'standing by his story' that during one of the services he attended in July - not July 22 - what he says he witnessed actually happened.

Maybe those who have been re-posting this bullshit story ought to take a minute and decide whose side they're on.

- as

[sabra]

18. so their new story is Obama went to church in July...

:crazy:

[alcibiades_mystery]

19. What, he witnessed Obama nodding at a sermon, but not necessarily THAT sermon?

Holy shit, people! Obama nods at sermons when he goes to church!!!!!! OMG!!!!

We know when Wright gave the sermon in question. If the date is wrong for Obama's attendance, then the story is bunk, pure and simple.

[writes3000]

21. Game, Set, Match.

This reporter claims that July 22 was the date of the controversial remarks.

Obama says he wasn't there and he has pretty good proof.

No, the reporter wants to change the date that he claims Obama was there and the date when Wright supposedly said these things?

These people are pathetic.

You called it exactly.

[NorthernSpy]

22. that's a muddification...

The church holds services three times every Sunday at 7:30 and 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central time. While both the early morning and evening service allowed Sen. Obama to attend the service and still give a speech in Miami

Unsupported factual claim.

Mr. Davis stands by his story that during one of the services he attended during the month of July, Senator Obama was present and sat through the sermon given by Rev. Wright as described in the story.

Yeeeaaaaahhhhh, that's NOT "his story". His story was that Obama was in attendance at Rev Wright's sermon on July 22, period.


And doncha just love the url: Obama_hate_America_sermon .


:eyes:

[NorthernSpy]

17. what kind of journalist can't even figure out what day it is?

:dunce:

[CreekDog]

20. and if he comes up with a date that is plausible

are we then going to believe the nodding part? :eyes:

[pdxmom]

23. That's about as believable as the police report we had for a client, where it

never mentioned that Miranda rights had ever been read. Twelve months later, after we filed for suppression of statements, the cop filed an "amended report", stating that why yes, of course she read him his rights.

[City Lights]

24. The key here is "controversial" versus "incendiary."

Obama made it clear - at least on MSNBC - that he did not hear Wright make the type of "incendiary" remarks being played on the toob. He did not say he never heard Wright say anything "controversial."

Who gets to define what is "controversial" and what is "incendiary?"

[Scurrilous]

25. K & R

:thumbsup:

[progressoid]

26. Well, I'm sure the diligent media will straighten this all out.

:eyes:

[Forkboy]

28. Kick

[Forkboy]

29. kick