ABC News Badly Mischaracterizes Obama's Alleged "Testy Exchange" With Reporter

[ProSense]

ABC News Badly Mischaracterizes Obama's Alleged "Testy Exchange" With Reporter

January 23, 2008

Okay, this is really a bad one. Late yesterday, ABC News posted a story called: "Is Bill Clinton getting in Obama's head?"

The piece reported that Obama had had a "testy exchange" withNew York Timesreporter Jeff Zeleny on a South Carolina ropeline, after Obama had been asked whether Bill Clinton was getting "in his head." The whole tone of the story implied that Obama had had a very confrontational moment with Zeleny. Here's the key ABC reporting, with the language implying confrontation in bold:

"I am trying to make sure that his statements by him are answered. Don't you think that's important?" Obama shot back, while walking away.

When Zeleny yelled a follow up question suggesting the Illinois senator had not answered the question, Obama fired back angrily, "Don't try cheap stunts like that."

Obama then walked away and shook hands with the mass of voters that surrounded him.

A few minutes later, Obama came back and confronted Zeleny again.

"I will answer your question though off the record, would you like to talk off the record?" Obama asked. Zeleny refused to go off the record and then motioned toward the gaggle of TV cameras gathered around him.

Did it happen this way? Nope.

If the ABC piece initially linked to any video of the moment, I didn't see it -- I'm pretty certain it didn't. Subsequently ABC and Fox News posted video. If you watch it, you can't escape the conclusion that ABC badly mischaracterized what actually happened:

(Video)

ABC also mischaracterized the exchange about talking "off the record." ABC's telling implied that Obama did something very bizarre -- he offered to talk off the record in front of a gaggle of TV cameras! But if you watch the vid, it's hard not to see Obama's comment as a sardonic reference to the huge press presence there. "You want to talk off the record for a second? It's hard to do," Obama said, gesturing at all the cameras with something approaching a grin.

By packaging a story implying a sharp confrontation with that headline about Bill "getting in Obama's head," ABC strongly implied that Bill is getting in Obama's head and rattling him. But the video plainly shows that the event doesn't support that storyline.

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[Captain Hilts]

1. True. And Bubba didn't lose his cool in NV either. They want a real fight between HRC and BO. nt

[rinsd]

2. Obamaton is pissed at MSM mischaracterization.

Then uses another MSM mischaracterization to attack Bill Clinton!

:rofl:

[ProSense]

3. More

Bill has resorted to whining and lying and is so exhausted from dirty tricks and desperate spin that he can't even stay awake during a televised celebration of Martin Luther King Day.

[Alexander]

6. At least Obama doesn't insult MLK Jr. AND MLK III.

Unlike someone else we know.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Gee, the popping veins, the purple rage, the ANGER! I saw a guy who

smoothly and coolly handled the reporter amid a bit of chaos. ABC literally made up their story, even changing the quotes. Clearly, they had an agenda.

[zanne]

5. If you watch the video, you don't see him "firing back angrily".

Obama should demand an apology from this reporter and a correction by ABC news.

[Cha]

9. Yes, he should..nip this in the bud.

abc..this is sounding like 2000 and 2004 when the m$$$m distorted things about Kerry and Gore.

[kstewart33]

7. I'm a Hillary supporter, but you're right. What nonsense!

He didn't look testy or annoyed at all. He kept his cool.

[ProSense]

8. Kick! n/t