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why is it so hard for people to get their facts straight?

By American Girl in Italy on October 21, 2008 at 11:50 AM in Current Affairs

I keep reading and hearing people in the MSM and in blogs completely misquote Palin from the debate, and it is driving me crazy! How hard is it to report on the truth?

Many journalists and bloggers have criticized Palin for saying:

“And I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I’m going to talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record also.”

Hell, CNN even typed the transcript wrong. And I heard it repeatedly misquoted in the MSM afterwards, with pundits criticizing her for making the statement. Many said she was not playing by the rules by making that statement. She was even called arrogant for it…

But that is NOT what she said, and it just bugs me. For crying out loud – do these people forget that youtube exists? Do they not know how to google? Do they just thrive on inaccuracies, or are they just blatantly spreading mistruths? Spin is one thing, but lies and misquotes are another.

This is what she said:

“And I may not answer the questions the way that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I’m going to talk straight to the American people and let ‘em know my track record also.”

Has a completely different meaning doesn’t it?

And in case you don’t believe me, listen for yourself (it is at the 1:57 mark)


This kind of thing just drives me crazy. (In addition flat out lies Biden told during the debate, like the one about clean coal, or preconditions, or the constitution, or Hezbollah…)

I also find it hilarious that many bloggers were criticizing Palin, saying that she sounded like she was from Fargo (nice way to insult thousands of midwesteners), for sounding like a valleygirl (again, nice way to piss off thousands of voters…like, totally), for sounding like an idiot (aren’t idiots, i.e. “minorities, GED’s, drop-outs”, the new target group for the Democratic Party?) or for sounding like a *moran* BUT according to CNN, Palin spoke at a higher level. Grade level: Biden, 7.8; Palin, 9.5 (Newspapers are typically written to a sixth-grade reading level.)

This kind of thing just makes me giggle.

  • Wow

    So being a minority is being an “idiot,” just like someone with a GED?

    When did this blog become stormfront?

  • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

    It really is remarkable, isn’t it? How many ways can the MSM make it clear that they are no longer the Fourth Estate, but a propaganda arm?

    Thanks for the post!

  • AnninCA

    Your comment about her accent reminded me of my own thoughts this afternoon.

    One of the reason Powell and Obama have succeeded is that they do not talk “BLACK.” That’s the best way I can put it.

    People do really have problems with adjusting to accents.

    I guess this is a case of “works both ways.”

    I grew up in the South. One of the first things that happened was running into a lot of people who thought I was automatically stupid because of my accent.

    Unfortunately, I overcompensated. Too bad, because it turned out to be a very good negotiating tool. The men nearly always underestimated me and ended up in trouble.

    However, I do know that accent affects people’s opinions. I find it odd, too.

  • Faye

    American girl,
    The MSM lies, misquotes, takes her and McCain’s words out of context because they can and many Americans don’t care that this is happening.

    • AnninCA

      Television news has always been sloppy.