More Problems with Quotes at the New York Times
Michelle Malkin reports that the Air America scandal has finally hit the New York Times. Malkin, who is disappointed with the story’s placement and lack of fresh details, notes several inaccuracies in the following quote in the story:
“I don’t know why he did it,” Mr. Franken said, according to a transcript of the broadcast made by the Department of Investigation. “I don’t know where the money went. I don’t know if it was used for operations. I think he was borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.”
According to the story, the quote is taken from a transcript prepared by the New York City Department of Investigation. Apparently, the Times didn’t bother to check out whether the transcript was accurate. But bloggers have — and it isn’t. You can go to the audio here and listen to the quote for yourself. Here’s what Franken actually says:
I don’t know why they did it, and I don’t know where the money went, I don’t know if it was used for operations, which I imagine it was. I think he was robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Malkin explains the relevance of the omission of the phrase “which I imagine it was”:
The omission of those five little words matters because Al Franken’s actual statement suggests that the money was in fact stolen from poor kids to pay Air America’s bills–a speculation that the Times attributes to “conservative-leaning blogs,” but not to the Times’ favorite liberal talk show host who said it himself.
The audio is worth listening to for more than just this quote. It’s also interesting because of the constant chuckling, the reference to Michelle Malkin as the “bottom of the barrel,” and the way that Franken’s description is reminiscent of the skits he used to do in which he would tell you how a certain issue affected “ME . . . . Al Franken.”
With the NY DOI, who needs Maureen Dowd? Sheesh…
Scott (57c0cc) — 8/12/2005 @ 7:32 amNewspaper of corrections
The NYTimes just cannot get their facts straight on Supreme Court Nominee Judge John Roberts. Take a look at these corrections (via Regret The Error) – all made on one day (8-11-05):
Sister Toldjah (59ce3a) — 8/12/2005 @ 8:00 amI’d like to see if the DOI transcript is actually the source of the inaccuracy there. With the NYTimes being our source somehow I doubt it.
Dwilkers (a1687a) — 8/12/2005 @ 9:45 amAir America Radio Scandel: New York Times ….FINALLY
The New York Times FINALLY has a story on the Air America Radio Scandel, Bronx Boys Club’s Finances Investigated.
FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog (baa0b4) — 8/12/2005 @ 12:33 pmThe state attorney general’s office and the city’s Department of Investigation are looking into whether a boys and g…
Er, I know you have a thing for going after newspapers, Paterico, but if the NY DOI is actually sanatizing transcripts to remove indications of conspiracy and criminality, that seems like a bigger deal.
I suspect that Dwilkers has it right though, and that it was the NY Times that sanitized the quote.
Doc Rampage (47be8d) — 8/12/2005 @ 3:28 pmI don’t know that it’s “sanitizing.” It could just be a really lousy transcript.
And I don’t know whether the DOI’s transcript has the quote right or not. All I know is that even if they didn’t, the NYT could have checked it out — after all, bloggers did.
Patterico (204cd9) — 8/12/2005 @ 3:51 pmConsidering that every one of the changes had the effect of making the story less damning, it’s hard to see this as anything other than sanitizing. How could you accidently change “stealing” to “borrowing” or miss an entire clause?
Doc Rampage (47be8d) — 8/12/2005 @ 6:43 pmHAH!
I knew it:
From today’s NYTimes *ahem* correction section. Scroll down a bit, 9th item.
Dwilkers (a1687a) — 8/13/2005 @ 5:48 amIt kinda looks like you guys were right. I am working up a new post.
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