L.A. Times Caught Fabricating Cheney Remarks
Pictured: Tim Rutten, lying puke.
The Mainstream Media Bias of the LA Times strikes again. This from an article by Warner Todd Huston at Newsbusters today:
In one of the most egregious examples of MSM bias I’ve seen lately, Tim Rutten of the L.A.Times has blatantly lied about remarks that Vice President Cheney made at CPAC in a February 8th piece headlined “Bush’s message for McCain.” Rutten makes the outrageous claim that Cheney said he was “glad the administration had tortured people” during the Conservative Political Action Conference, but a review of the transcript of Cheney’s remarks easily shows that this is not what he said at all. Rutten simply reorders the VP’s words to get his desired meaning quite despite what was really said.
Here is what Rutten wrote on the 8th:
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Vice President Dick Cheney was addressing the meat-eaters at the Conservative Political Action Conference. He told them that he was glad the administration had tortured people and that he’d do it again: “Would I support those same decisions again today? You’re damn right I would.”
Over at Patterico’s Pontifications, however, we get the real words Cheney spoke at CPAC.
The United States is a country that takes human rights seriously. We do not torture — it’s against our laws and against our values. We’re proud of our country and what it stands for. We expect all of those who serve America to conduct themselves with honor. And we enforce those rules. Some years ago, when abuses were committed at Abu Ghraib prison, a facility that had nothing to do with the CIA program, the abuses that came to light were, in fact, investigated, and those responsible were prosecuted.
Mr. Cheney is obviously proud of the country, but he stressed that we do not torture. There is no passage where he said that we “torture people” and that he is “glad” that we do it. Not one such passage occurred in the Vice President’s remarks.
So, where is it that Cheney said he was glad we tortured and he’d do it again, Mr. Rutten? How the heck did you misconstrue that claim?
The only way that Rutten could have gotten a support of torture out of what Cheney said is to splice another section of Cheney’s speech to Rutten’s own interpretation that this country does torture people. Here is that section:
From the very morning our nation was attacked on 9/11, the President of the United States has had to make some immensely enormous decisions. Every day he faces responsibilities that others would pale before. I’ve been there with him. I’ve seen him make the tough calls, and then weather the criticism and take the hits. President Bush has been tough and courageous. He’s made the right decisions for the right reasons, and he always reflects the best values of the American people. I’ve been proud to stand by him and by the decisions he’s made. And I would support those same — and would I support those same decisions again today? You’re damn right I would. (Applause.)
Here the VP is saying that he would make the same decisions he made again, that he is proud of the Administration’s actions. So, yes, the VP did say “You’re damn right” that he’d make those decisions again, but no where did he link that surety to an admission that he was “glad” he “tortured people.”
As Patterico says, “Rutten has told a lie. And he should be called on the carpet for it.”
I couldn’t agree more. How about you?
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I would like to see him presecuted for Sedition and/or Treason.
February 10th, 2008 at 6:52 pmFreedom of press is not freedom of libel. Cheney should sue and put the LA times out of business.
February 10th, 2008 at 6:53 pmGiant pro-troop demonstration and protest against the Berkeley City Council takes place THIS TUESDAY - February 12, 2008 in Berkeley, California. Join us any time from 5:00 AM - 7:00 PM. — Move America Forward
February 10th, 2008 at 7:05 pmThe LA Times caught lying and twisting the truth? No?…I’m shocked I say…just shocked….
February 10th, 2008 at 7:43 pmI think a libel suit might actually stand a chance on this one. There’s no possible way this could be construed as negligence. It may be possible to prove actual malice, which is usually quite difficult to do, and what public officials are required to do in a libel suit. I would love to see these treasonous bastards take a hard fall.
February 10th, 2008 at 7:58 pmWow, Bash!
That’s a great picture of a lying-sack-of-shit!
February 10th, 2008 at 7:59 pmfreakin weasel! there is OBVIOUSLY no such thing as treason anymore. because i have seen quite a few people who deserve to be charged with this but never have been
February 10th, 2008 at 8:00 pmCut-and-paste across different speeches? Man, you could make anyone say anything with that technique. Sock it to him!
February 10th, 2008 at 9:20 pmWith cut and pasting you can get like “Fuck…the…troops…” from like three different statements from Dick Cheney!
But the MSM was caught falsifying data to push their agenda? Say it ain’t so!
February 11th, 2008 at 6:38 amTom in CO: “But the MSM was caught falsifying data to push their agenda?”
Journalism is about telling the story, truthfully; and getting out the facts, not making them up as you go along. Then there are the editors, proof readers, and fact checkers who’s job it is to keep this type of blatant misinformation.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:27 amWhen you look at the big picture the whole system is failing at the LA Times!!! They are no longer members of the press, they are a Political Action Committee, and should be treated as such!
Howie, I was being sarcastic. I guess I just need to refine it a bit more :/ It’s just that this blatant misinformation the MSM shoves down our throats just seems so commonplace nowadays. It’s sickening for one thing. Besides, I’m an avid NewsBusters fan!
February 11th, 2008 at 2:26 pm