The Personal is Political; the AP is Lying

It was a beautiful day here so we headed out to enjoy the weather. I was surprised when I returned to hear about Bill Clinton's condition, which I learned from Drudge, and went downstairs to tell my wife. We're not big Clinton fans, but any time a former president is seriously ill, we, like most Americans, are concerned and certainly wish him a speedy recovery.

Then we watched live as Hillary gave an update from the hospital. My mother-in-law died of complications following heart by-pass surgery eight years ago, so we're inclined to sympathize with anyone in that predicament. Hillary did a good job, I thought, and held up well under the strain until the last sentence of her statement, when she said something like: "Fortunately, we have good health insurance. I hope some day all Americans will have good health insurance, also." I left the room in disgust, not wishing her husband ill, but wondering if any event in mortal life is apolitical to such people. Speaking to the nation about the condition of her husband, who happens to be the former president, she went partisan and turned his illness into a political opportunity.

Can anyone imagine Nancy Reagan walking up to a microphone after John Hinckley's deed and saying, "Thank goodness we have strict laws against crimes committed with firearms here; I hope everyone who's shot can count on the same kind of penalty that awaits the President's would-be assassin." It was simply appalling.

Then comes the news, which I also heard via Drudge, about the AP's mendacity on the Bush speech in which he wished President Clinton a speedy recovery only to hear the crowd boo his good will. Hindrocket at Power Line has a great round up on the story, including links and cogent commentary. The AP didn't retract its false claim (the crowd never booed but, in fact, applauded when the President said that we all wish Clinton well), but it has changed its story with no explanation. Hindrocket chronicles the spread of the false version of the story:

"UPDATE: The AP's lie is spreading rapidly around the globe. Salon says: 'Audience boos as Bush offers best wishes for Clinton's recovery.' WSTM television in New York has a slightly different version of the story, with an AP copyright, which says: 'Many in Bush's audience booed when Clinton's name was mentioned. The president made no comment on that and continued with his rally speech.' WRIC television in northern Virginia has the same 'many booed' story. In Iowa, KWWL television reports that 'Many in Bush's audience booed when Clinton's name was mentioned. The president made no comment on that and continued with his rally speech.' The same misinformation is being promulgated in Georgia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, California, Tennessee, Indiana, the Carolinas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Minnesota, and New York again."

As Hindrocket notes, the claim itself is patently false; I, too, saw the tape on Fox and no one can be heard booing anything. Only applause is audible. To boot, the AP "journalist" inserted the false claim that "Bush did nothing to stop them." No, since there was nothing to stop.

This is the kind of lie that, before the blogosphere or talk radio, might have spread with only the conservative print media to answer it. Not that they would do a bad job, mind you, but they're not read by most Americans. This episode provides another test of our ability to get the true story out and correct the overt mendacity of the elite media. Unlike the Christmas in Cambodia fiasco, in this case they didn't simply ignore a story; they made one up.

Watch the NYT, WP, and of course the AP itself in the coming days to see if the story is corrected or reported.

Update: Captain Ed at Captain's Quarters lists the names and addresses of AP chieftans in case you want to let them know what you think of their mendacity. Says the Captain:

"Bias has been an ongoing problem at the AP and American media in general. In their desperation to unseat a popular president, they've finally resorted to outright, bald-faced lies. Are you happy to have your airwaves and your news sources hijacked by the rabid, dishonest, and unscrupulous partisans who run the Associated Press? Because if you're not, I would suggest you contact any news organization in your area and forward them Hindrocket's post at Power Line if they run the original version of the story."