In Washington, a transcript of an official White House event is not necessarily an accurate report of what was actually said -- especially when that transcript is produced by the Bush administration.
Seems presidential spokesliar Scott McClellan suffered from a rare moment of honesty recently when he told NBC reporter David Gregory at the White House press briefing "that's accurate' when Gregory asked if it was a fact that Karl Rove had leaked the name of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame.
But the transcript of the briefing changed McClellan's comment to "I think that's accurate" and then the White House had the gall to demand that two publications that also produce transcripts of the briefings change their transcripts to fit with the lie. Both refused.
Video of the briefings clearly show McClellan responded "that's accurate" to Gregory's question. The White House, however, is sticking to its revision of reality.
Rewriting history is commonplace among our elected leaders. Members of Congress are allowed to "revise and extend" their remarks printed daily in The Congresional Record, the official publication that is supposed to be an accurate report of what is said and done on the floors of both the House and Senate. In fact, it is nothing but fantasy.
Well, nothing this administration does surprises me anymore.
Just want to clarify the reporter's name. Could it be David Gregory? David Bloom died in Iraq.
Every time I see Scott McClellan approach a microphone, I just want to cover up my ears!
Thanks for the good work.
You are correct.
You mean, change it to "I don't think that's accurate" -- ?
Your comments on the "spinning" of history in real time was 100% on the money!
Have you really sat down and read a standard history text, for say middle schoolers, in the USA recently. I hold an advanced degree in History with a concentration in American History and I can tell you that whomever writes and/or edits these texts are either idiots, liars or both.
A few years back I was attempting to help my stepchild with her history to get her grade up to where she wanted it to be.
The more I read the angrier I got. I called the school administration's offices and complained that their history text appeared to be a work of politically correct fiction rather than an attempt to ground our children in actual history. I was made to understand that the text was a state-approved text and was very highly regarded in the school systems in that state. I no longer live in that state.
It became obvious that I was talking to an automaton who has as much business teaching our children as I do in piloting a space mission.
Truth is optional in the USA today. Our childrens' test scores demonstrate that they are learning little and if this text is representative what they are learning is almost useless.
In this administration headed up by a man with a room-temperature IQ and extremely questionable morals there is little to wonder about the trend you report in your piece. Paranoia runs rampant when the liars are outed.
Great piece my fellow American! Keep up the good fight.
Michael Robbins