David Drumm has already addressed the mistake made by President Barack Obama in his jobs speech to Congress when he called Abraham Lincoln “the founder” of the Republican Party. It is a common mistake, as David points out. However, I am more interested in what appears to be a bit of helpful editing by PBS. The gaffe has mysteriously disappeared like last year’s pledge drive.
Here is what Obama said according to the New York Times:
“We all remember Abraham Lincoln as the leader who saved our Union. Founder of the Republican Party. But in the middle of a civil war, he was also a leader who looked to the future — a Republican President who mobilized government to build the Transcontinental Railroad — (applause) — launch the National Academy of Sciences, set up the first land grant colleges. (Applause.) And leaders of both parties have followed the example he set.”
Here is what PBS reported:
“We all remember Abraham Lincoln as the leader who saved our Union. But in the middle of a Civil War, he was also a leader who looked to the future – a Republican president who mobilized government to build the transcontinental railroad; launch the National Academy of Sciences; and set up the first land grant colleges. And leaders of both parties have followed the example he set.”
PBS corrected the transcript after objections (and suspicions) were raised by its posting. Conservatives jumped on the issue and questioned whether federal funding or political sympathies played a role in the edit. Others have noted that organizations like Times magazine were quick to nail Mike Huckabee on the same error — in that case, it was a certain Time Mag employee named Jay Carney.
Putting aside the conspiracy theories, PBS (as a news organization) should explain how this one embarrassing line was edited out of the speech. There may be an innocent explanation (such as using the prepared text which did not include the gaffe), but there should be an explanation for PBS to remain credible.
This is a minor matter in my view, though (if PBS is using the prepared text rather than the actual speech), it is a poor practice for a leading and respected news organization. It is ironic in the case of Obama who relies heavily on a teleprompter and rarely departs from prepared remarks.
On 9/13/11, you said, “facts dont bother me at all.” I just thought that might make a nice bumper sticker for you.
“Ad hominem” means attacking the person (whether it’s true or not), in order to denigrate his ideas.
I think we should all post ideas and argue ideas. I don’t favor glittering generalities and personal put-downs.
Noah V:
I am not the one who posted this: “Will you be making a bumper sticker at Cafe Press, or can somebody else do it?”
That is why I said you dont care about facts, you distorted what I said and took it out of context. I dont think it is ad hominem if it is true.
Roco, you’re the one who asked “Where are those jobs now?” You created the context.
And please argue your ideas. I can respect you for that.
Don’t toss out ad hominen attacks like “you dont care about facts .”
Noah V:
rather out of context dont you think? But then you dont care about facts so I am not surprised.
Among the jobs Perry “created” are state jobs funded by stimulus money. They should be drying up soon.
Roco: “facts dont bother me at all.”
Will you be making a bumper sticker at Cafe Press, or can somebody else do it?
rafflaw:
when washington reduces regulations.
spend 16 minutes and watch this:
http://www.freetochoosemedia.org/production/free_or_equal/press.php
it is a video and it explains things pretty well. But watch out you might go blind or worse.
if you have a video you like I will watch even if it is Krugman.
http://prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=09&year=2011&base_name=today_in_sat_prep_romney_is_to Romney is to Clinton as Perry is to Obama.
Those jobs are still there, but the stimulus money is running or has run out. The demand produced by the jobs is the only demand out there because corporations will not hire without the demand. When will corporations create their own demand and how? Tax credits alone didn’t work during Bush’s regime.
rafflaw:
facts dont bother me at all. Reality is reality, you cannot change what is only what will be.
But that is for a 3 month period, where are those jobs now?
Did you read the fallacy of the broken window?
Roco,
Here is the link to the CBO’s numbers. You may not like it, but they are as non-partisan as it gets these days. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/115xx/doc11525/05-25-ARRA.pdf
rafflaw:
my claims are not bogus. Show me those saved jobs please. It may have saved them for a week.
Come on, dont just get your info from the Nation, New Republic and Huffington Post.
Roco,
once again, with respect. Your claims are bogus. The facts are that the first stimulus created or saved approximately 2 million jobs. That is more than Bush created(net) in his eight years in office.
Secondly,
your comment that the military jobs should have created jobs is correct. They should have, but not many here. Where is Blackwater(or its newly named corporation) based out of these days? Not the US.