07/23/2008
CBS Scrubs McCain Interview Gaffe, Replaces it with New Answer
In an interview with John McCain, CBS scrubbed an erroneous statement by the candidate about the Iraq surge and replaced it with a soundbyte criticizing Obama's position on the war in Iraq. McCain has been scrambling since the weekend, when Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said in an interview with German magazine Spiegel that he supported Obama's 16-month plan for troop withdrawal.
Regarding al-Maliki's statement, more has emerged since the Bush administration seemed to push al-Maliki to backtrack on his statements, and release a statement saying the interview was mistranslated. The New Republic threw water on those reports late yesterday, reporting that al-Maliki actually saw a copy of the interview before it was published and approved it.
Going back to the subject of this post, why is McCain's gaffe being covered by CBS in favor of a non-sequential soundbyte criticizing his opponent?
Watch the clip, AFTER THE JUMP...
Here's the portion of the interview CBS edited out:
As Think Progress notes, "In fact, the Sunni revolt against Al-Qaida in Iraq’s Anbar province — commonly referred to as 'The Awakening' — 'began' long before Bush even announced his 'surge' policy in January 2007." The 'Awakening' actually began in September 2006.
Posted 7:43 AM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Election 2008, John McCain, News | Permalink
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Corporate media shilling for the Repubs. What a shock. (Insert sarcasm here)
Posted by: gay as life | Jul 23, 2008 7:57:32 AM
I think we can agree this is unethical, but doesn't it also strike you as illegal as well?
Posted by: protogenes | Jul 23, 2008 7:58:51 AM
Check out ABC correspondent Martha Raddatz's unbiased reporting...http://thehive.modbee.com/?q=node/8907
Posted by: TMP | Jul 23, 2008 8:38:40 AM
It's not news that American media is notoriously biased by it's corporate ownership. You have to be exposed to independent news from outside sources to get closer to reality. As George Carlin correctly observed, we are kept tightly controlled by our 'owners' and they decide what message we are exposed to. A rule of thumb I follow is to be extremely skeptical of any news item from major news sources.
Posted by: Jay | Jul 23, 2008 8:51:50 AM
I have never been able to take Katie Couric seriously as a hard news anchor. Like Dan Rather before her, she is ultimately responsible for the content of what goes on the air, and she should pay what ever consequence comes of the blunder. Any other person with a set of journalist balls would have left the gaff in there, and then would have cornered McCain to clarify it. She decided it would be better to edit something that sounded better.
Please tell me she's leaving (and not soon enough).
Posted by: Rad | Jul 23, 2008 9:09:00 AM
Welcome to the Propaganda State, where all media is an extension of the Government. Turn of the TV people; TV is why we have gay republicans, and the dumbest population in the western world.
Posted by: ggreen | Jul 23, 2008 9:12:25 AM
come to canada. we may be ridiculous, but we're not savvy enough to be malevolent. we're kind, polite, and canada has some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet.
Posted by: brad | Jul 23, 2008 9:36:54 AM
COURIC: Sen. McCain, Sen. Obama says, while the increased number of US troops contributed to increased security in Iraq, he also credits the Sunni awakening and the Shiite government going after militias. And says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What's your response to that?
McCAIN: At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you cunt.
(It's the perfect answer to every question!)
Posted by: David D. | Jul 23, 2008 10:14:42 AM
Looks like Katie's gonna stay, sorry RAD, sorry America. Months ago, she suggested she might be done, but just in the last few days, she had a press conference with CBS execs saying that she loved it there, and wouldn't be leaving any time in the foreseeable future. Later she complained about sexism on Huffington, saying she understood Hillary's complaint about that. She was sorry that the present-day news had changed so much from its "Glory Days."
Not even once hinting that she might have a large role in that.
Posted by: soithoni | Jul 23, 2008 11:06:13 AM
Like all Palace intrigues with the death of one of their leaders (the odious Tim Russert) all bets are off and all allegiance is to oneself until a new pecking order is established. Katy was leaving till Russert died, now she moves up the shit slinging ladder. These corporate shills have no respect but for others like them (millionaires) and boy do they love money and fame.
Posted by: hootn | Jul 23, 2008 11:20:31 AM
And now it's gone. CBS is doing some serious "scrubbing" for McSame. Courick and CBS should be ashamed.
Posted by: christopher | Jul 23, 2008 11:34:31 AM
Oh, the irony:
The Tampa Tribune's front page leading article:
"Obama Exposure Irritates GOP" where McCain says he is being treated unfairly by the media...
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jul/23/na-obama-exposure-irritates-gop/
Posted by: Mike | Jul 23, 2008 12:58:44 PM
Katie Couric is an evil cunt. A buddy of mine does children's birthday parties (corny entertainment) and he once did one for Couric and he told me she was a SCREAMING IRRATIONAL INSANE WOMAN - like - seriously imbalanced. And she also sucks as a newscaster.
Posted by: dishy | Jul 23, 2008 1:01:09 PM