ABC's Jake Tapper under fire for lying about Bill Clinton

[bernicewilliams]

Jake Tapper, Drudge and the RNC are spreading a lie that Bill Clinton said we need to slow our economy in order to save our grandchildren from global warming. They cropped Clinton's words in order to spread this lie, when what Bill said was THE OPPOSITE.

Media Matters, Columbia Journalism Review among others have criticized Tapper for his dishonesty:

CLINTON: And maybe America, and Europe, and Japan, and Canada -- the rich counties -- would say, "OK, we just have to slow down our economy and cut back our greenhouse gas emissions 'cause we have to save the planet for our grandchildren." We could do that.

But if we did that, you know as well as I do, China and India and Indonesia and Vietnam and Mexico and Brazil and the Ukraine, and all the other countries will never agree to stay poor to save the planet for our grandchildren. The only way we can do this is if we get back in the world's fight against global warming and prove it is good economics that we will create more jobs to build a sustainable economy that saves the planet for our children and grandchildren. It is the only way it will work.

Contact ABC.

And read whole story:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200801310009?f=h_latest

[K Gardner]

1. I really find it hard to believe that otherwise good journalists/reporters/pundits sit

back and MAKE UP stupid chyte like this without "orders from the top". I've seen so many distortions and falsifications in JUST the past month that it is beyond the realm of comprehension to think this isn't a coordinated effort. Otherwise, when ten thousand people write and point out the lies and distortions, wouldn't they correct them? And I don't think I'm being naieve ! :hide:

[rodeodance]

10. That was the headline on his blog that Night--!! I just screamed--then wrote to abc.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. KO gave Rush Limpballs a Worst Person award this evening

for making the very same misstatement. I'm really surprised that a generally reputable person like Tapper would fuck up like that (though I totally expect it of Rush and the RNC).

[neutron]

32. KO should make KO Worst Person in the World

His Clinton diatribes sound like he gets his material from
Daily Kos diaries without bothering to check on accuracy.

[0007]

3. Egads!!

Harrump!

[DJ13]

4. Theres a most disturbing trend beginning to manifest itself in some Hillary supporters

They're starting to exhibit signs of the same kind of constant victim mentality the GOP has fostered among their base since the early 90's.

"Its the liberal media's fault" was one of their first propaganda techniques they used in the early 90's in fostering the hatred for any opinion that differed from the GOP Party line.

[bernicewilliams]

5. What's your point?

What are you trying to say? That Tapper was right?

[rodeodance]

11. YOUR post is Disturbing!! take a long walk

[K Gardner]

15. Hey.. I'm no big HRC fan, but this crap really goes way above and beyond ANYTHING to do with Hillary

The incident cited is just one of a huge litany of distortions and lies and manipulations we have all seen and witnessed, much to our detriment, in the past 8 years and again since this primary started. Sit back and do nothing if you want, but don't complain when the media goes after your candidate, or your cause, or otherwise disassembles the meaning or validity of our vote.

Look how many states have actually voted. We have lost all of our candidates but TWO. McCain has been coronated for the other side. We're getting to the point where we might as well not even vote. Between the media and the superdelegates, is there any point?

[creeksneakers2]

34. It was the media's fault

They've been lying about the Clintons since 1992. ABC is the worst offender. They gave top coverage to every crackpot investigation into the Clintons that came up. Then, when the Clintons were cleared, ABC covered that up too.

Right wing whining about the media contributed to the gross imbalance that led to the bias against Democrats. Those of us on the net who are complaining now are doing their best to restore some balance.

[Nailzberg]

6. DUer's must speak out about this. Cherry picking quotes from politicans is our turf!

It's pretty sad state of affairs when new organizations behave that poorly. I expect it on an anonymous message board, in a cafeteria, or on some nut's placard on a street corner. Sadly, I've come to expect it from "journalists".

[Ewellian]

7. I'm beginning to think that Obama is the "corporate" choice.

I work at home full time and often keep msnbc on in the next room to listen to the news in the morning. The "news" yesterday was that Caroline Kennedy made a commercial for Obama.. this had to be reported by playing it hourly. Today's "news" was that "Obama girl" made a new video. (reported hourly of course)

[rodeodance]

13. dam**

[shaniqua6392]

16. I was home because of a "snow day" today

and I was hearing the same crap on MSNBC. Morning Joe is the worst for playing crap like this over and over. I have seen that Kennedy ad about a dozen times. None of them were seen as a commercial. They were all shown every time on MSNBC. Why all the free advertising for Obama. I have been bothered by the media picking out our candidate for us. I want to make my own decision.

[K Gardner]

17. They do tend to run the same schticky piece over and over and over.. almost like

brainwashing ! I leave the TV on when I'm at home too and this is a very disturbing trend, especially when the pieces they run are "fluff" or downright made up or fabricated bullshit that has been distorted. Today it was Obama. Tomorrow, who knows? We just got out of a 48 hour newscycle where they did nothing but run a cropped picture of Obama at the SOTU and endless commentary about how he "snubbed" Hillary, piled on by every commentator and special interest group they could find. Let's see if we can pick out the "special story" tomorrow and over the weekend !

[rodeodance]

19. Today's "news" was that "Obama girl" made a new video.--glad my tube was OFF

[ruggerson]

8. Tapper already tried to cover his ass on this

he sounded like he had been hit by a tsunami

[rodeodance]

12. he made it headline--nothing can cover that!

[rodeodance]

9. I posted on DU the other night about this and Wrote to abc. I was shocked at the time and

am so so glad he is in trouble.

[rodeodance]

14. PLEASE all--makes you comment to a abc--FLOOD the box. LETS do it!

[rodeodance]

18. REC

[anamandujano]

20. and another /nt

.

[rodeodance]

21. keep this going. Flood abc with emails

[bernicewilliams]

22. Agree. And when it's time to defend Obama from the dark side, we wil all step up to the plate n/t

[UALRBSofL]

25. You wont believe what I decided to do

Between watching CNN and MSNBC the talking heads were so negative in talking about the Clintons and distorting the issues, misrepresenting the general publics affinity towards the Clintons, playing quick soundbites of what Hillary was saying in a negative way, which covered maybe a fifth of the coverage Obama got which received very positive reactions and views that I decided to turn to Fox to see what they were saying and there she was ANN COULTER saying she would vote for Hillary and saying McCain was too liberal. I never thought I would see the day anyone would say anything positive about the Clintons on Fox. Of course after Coulter was through they went back to bashing Clinton. Then in the next minute, here was Romney running his ad bashing Hillary. I guess he thinks Hillary is going to be the democratic nominee. She is getting it from both sides and she's got to have thick skin to take all the nasty media.

[emilyg]

28. Kick

[BootinUp]

23. Tapper loves going hunting for Clintons

He uses a 12 guage shotgun and just fires in the general direction. No matter how small the target its always open season to Jake.

[Babel_17]

24. It's sad, Tapper was a pretty cool guy

Back in '99 and 2000 when he was covering McCain he provided some good coverage and I exchanged some nice e-mails with him.

Back then I would have described him as bright, friendly, and articulate. Now, I either have to drop the "bright" or add "less than honest/ethical". It's sad imo because I don't see how you can be legitimate and still claim that you don't fully get what the fuss is about.

[alcibiades_mystery]

27. Tapper wrote hit piece after hit piece on Gore

In the guise of "amazement" at the Nader movement. He's a right wing shill through and through. His election coverage for Salon probably cost Gore crucial Florida votes. The guy is and was an asshole.

[Babel_17]

31. I had no idea, thanks! (nt)

[bernicewilliams]

26. The New York Times blog has now picked up the story

Mr. Tapper’s post included the full text of the climate portion of Mr. Clinton’s speech, which clearly showed the offending line had been taken out of context. Iain Murray of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, writing on the National Review’s blog The Corner, said: “…That video is actually (and again, I can’t believe I’m saying this) really unfair to Bill Clinton.”

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/bill-clinton-climate-and-the-instanet/?hp

[maximusveritas]

29. Yeah, that was dishonest. Kind of like what Bill did to Obama

when he took his words on the Iraq War out of context.

[Cameron27]

30. kick

and recommend

[Eric J in MN]

33. Wrote ABC, NT

NT

[Eric J in MN]

35. "Investors Business Daily" is repeating Jake Tapper's lie.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200802020002?f=h_latest


A good journalist tries to inform people.

A bad journalist tries to deceive people.

Jake Tapper is a bad journalist. ABC News should ask him to resign.

[BootinUp]

36. I wrote them yesterday evening. nt

[Eric J in MN]

37. What email address did you write them at? NT

NT

[BootinUp]

38. I used the ABC link in the op

its a web based tool for comments.

I told them how the video showing couple of seconds and literally half a sentence was taken out of context completely, and that if they wanted to have the Quality, Accuracy and Reputation of Drudge Report, to give Tapper a promotion.

[rodeodance]

39. i have not checked but I saw the original up on his blogger web site a few days ago