Right, And In Context. Is That Too Much To Ask? Or Is It Just A Fairytale?

I think my greatest pet peeve in this industry is watching people report news without context. Context isn't just important, it's everything — especially in these days of insta-pickup by blogs and online news sites, where just a snippet of text is enough to launch a million clicks.

You'd think that in the case of this election, where the race is tight and a nasty rumor or smear can make all the difference, people might want to be a bit careful. Alas, no. Case in point: The conflagration over Bill Clinton's "Fairytale" comment, made on January 7th at Dartmouth College, before the New Hampshire primary, but exploding over the past few days as an issue of race. Yes, race — that scary third rail of politics around which everyone tiptoes — suddenly an issue around a comment made by a guy once known as "America's First Black President." Wow - he must have said something pretty bad. What was it?

Here's the quote, which was part of a larger comment on Obama's representation of his Iraq war position:

"It is wrong that Senator Obama got to go through 15 debates trumpeting his superior judgment and how he had been against the war in every year, numerating the years, and never got asked one time, not once, 'Well, how could you say, that when you said in 2004 you didn't know how you would have voted on the resolution? You said in 2004 there was no difference between you and George Bush on the war and you took that speech you're now running on off your website in 2004 and there's no difference in your voting record and Hillary's ever since?' Give me a break. This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen."

Wow, strong words — but unequivocally pertaining to Obama's Iraq war position. Pretty clear cut, right?

Ha, as if. Here's what it morphed into in the media: BILL CLINTON CALLS OBAMA'S MESSAGE OF HOPE AND INSPIRATION A FAIRYTALE! HE THINKS OBAMA'S DREAM FOR BLACK AMERICA IS A FAIRYTALE!

I kid you not. Some examples:

New York Times, Jan. 11th: "[Former President Clinton] described Mr. Obama's campaign narrative as a fairy tale."
The Politico, Jan 11th: "...Bill Clinton dismissing Sen. Barack Obama's image in the media as a 'fairy tale'"
BreitbartTV, Jan. 8th, which hosted the full clip yet chose to headline it in the most inflammatory (and inaccurate) way possible: "Bill Clinton Fumes About Obama: 'Biggest Fairy Tale I've Ever Seen'"
Same NYT article, quoting someone else incorrectly framing the comment: "[Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC)] saw the remark as a slap at the image of a black candidate running on a theme of unity and optimism. "To call that dream a fairy tale, which Bill Clinton seemed to be doing, could very well be insulting to some of us."
Maureen Dowd, NYT, Jan 9th: "Bill churlishly dismissed the Obama phenom as 'the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen.'"
Donna Brazile on CNN, Jan. 8th: "For him to go after Obama, using a fairy tale, calling him as he did last week. It's an insult. And I will tell you, as an African-American, I find his tone and his words to be very depressing."

Here's what I find to be very depressing: When someone's words are taken deliberately out of context and blasted across the headlines to make them sound like a racist. That, to me, is despicable. Whether all of the above sources did so deliberately isn't clear (Breitbart obviously did, the NYT and Politico ought to have been more specific and accurate, who knows where Clyburn and Brazile got their information) — but at this point, the misinformation is out there, so much so that Clinton had to call into Al Sharpton's show to explain himself. ("When did you stop beating your wife, sir?")

It's up to the media to be on top of these things — especially when they're reporting on it. For the New York Times to report that Clinton "described Mr. Obama's campaign narrative as a fairy tale" is a completely egregious error of fact. For the Politico to say that Clinton called Obama's "image in the media" a fairytale is equally egregious. Ditto Maureen Dowd saying that the fairytale in question was the "Obama phenom." (And, by the way, the fact that all three of these characterizations are different should have been the first tip-off). For Rep. James Clyburn to say that Clinton was calling the dream of unity a fairytale, for Brazile to say he called Obama the fairytale, in an "insult" that she reacted to "as an African-American" — well, now, that brings it to a whole new and very scary level.

Think about where Clinton started. Now think about where that remark has ended up. Wow, if people weren't careful about what they said about Obama before, I bet they sure will be now. I'd just like to see the media be as careful about what they say about the Clintons.

Update: God bless Frank Rich, who does get it right , referring to: "Bill Clinton's "fairy tale" rant falsifying Mr. Obama's record on Iraq." Knowing he's being strictly accurate about the first gives him that much more credibility in his assertion of the second. And for the record, I point to Obama's response to Clinton below. Also: Here's where the NYObserver mischaracterized the remarks too. One more: Alas, the otherwise wonderful Bob Herbert makes the same glib error, claiming that Clinton was talking about "Mr. Obama's effort."

Video of Clinton's remarks below; transcript after the jump, courtesy of Frank James of The Swamp. Obama's response to Clinton's comments are also available at BreitbartTV.

"But since you raised the judgment issue, let's go over this again. That is the central argument for his campaign. 'It doesn't matter that I started running for president less a year after I got to the Senate from the Illinois State Senate. I am a great speaker and a charismatic figure and I'm the only one who had the judgment to oppose this war from the beginning. Always, always, always.' "

"First it is factually not true that everybody that supported that resolution supported Bush attacking Iraq before the UN inspectors were through. Chuck Hagel was one of the co-authors of that resolution. The only Republican Senator that always opposed the war. Every day from the get-go. He authored the resolution to say that Bush could go to war only if they didn't co-operate with the inspectors and he was assured personally by Condi Rice as many of the other Senators were. So, first the case is wrong that way."

"Second, it is wrong that Senator Obama got to go through 15 debates trumpeting his superior judgment and how he had been against the war in every year, numerating the years, and never got asked one time, not once, 'Well, how could you say, that when you said in 2004 you didn't know how you would have voted on the resolution? You said in 2004 there was no difference between you and George Bush on the war and you took that speech you're now running on off your website in 2004 and there's no difference in your voting record and Hillary's ever since?' Give me a break.

"This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen...So you can talk about Mark Penn all you want. What did you think about the Obama thing calling Hillary the Senator from Punjab? Did you like that?"

"Or what about the Obama hand out that was covered up, the press never reported on, implying that I was a crook? Scouring me, scathing criticism, over my financial reports. Ken Starr spent $70 million and indicted innocent people to find out that I wouldn't take a nickel to see the cow jump over the moon.

"So, you can take a shot at Mark Penn if you want. It wasn't his best day. He was hurt, he felt badly that we didn't do better in Iowa. But you know, the idea that one of these campaigns is positive and the other is negative when I know the reverse is true and I have seen it and I have been blistered by it for months, is a little tough to take. Just because of the sanitizing coverage that's in the media, doesn't mean the facts aren't out there.

"Otherwise I do not have any strong feelings about that subject."

Comments

[xrayman]

This racism charge is much worse than when a Clinton supporter brought up Obama's drug use. It's worse because Clintons' words were twisted and taken out of context. At least Obama's drug use was accurate, not that I condone bringing it up.

I have listened to both Bill and Hill's comments of the past week in there entirety, and see absolutely nothing racist or anything that could even be construed as racist.

Now it is one of those things that will be impossible to go away. Whether the NYT or Politico or anybody else who has participated in the character assassination of the Clintons retracts will be meaningless. People like Clyburn and Brazile just took the NYT article at face value and took shots over the bow of the Clintons.

The seed of racism has been planted and it will not go away.

[degjack]

Let's stop letting the news media jerk us around by a chain.

This is how they derailed us into war in Iraq.

Everytime they distort a position, please:

LET'S CALL THEM OUT ON IT. NAME NAMES, DATES, AND PUBLICATIONS.

Let's fight back, people. The blogs make it possible.

[Canukistani]

I think you've hit the nail squarely on the head with this piece. I'm no special fan of the Clintons, but, as I've said a number of times now, there is no shortage of issues for legitimate disagreements between these candidates without this kind of nonsense. I almost think the press tried to foment this with fancy editing.

I also heard someone interpret Bill's referring to Obama as a kid to be racist. I think Bill was certainly insulting Obama, but not in the way he was criticized for. I suspect Bill was trying to portray Obama as young and inexperienced. I think this would fit far better with the tack they've been taking than any racist implication.

People hear what they want to hear and they rarely really listen. It's good to see a piece like this that sheds a bit of light.

[c.w.]

What a breath of fresh air - someone who actually looked at what Bill Clinton actually said - and then provides a hard nosed analysis of how those remarks have been distorted in the media.

Unless Obama distances himself from this crap he will make is clear to everyone that he is just another sleazy politician.

And THAT will prove that the idea that Obama embodies "change" is just another "fairy tale"!

[TommyMcCarthy]

Sen. Obama's deliberate mischarachterizations of the remarks of others and his cynical manipulation of thinly veiled racial politics this week have cost him my vote.
Signed,
no longer undecided
Clinton '08...............................tm

[JayFlanders]

Greetings,

Sorry, but Bill was out of line. They threw everything they had at Obama because their back was against the wall in NH. Now they have to pay the price in SC for all the loose talk.

I'm tired of the "no-Substance" people. Obama has detailed proposals and positions available on his website and has given many clear policy speeches. Furthermore, his ideas are put forth without speaking to us as though we are children. Compare the websites of the big 3 and see for yourself.

People said Obama wasn't tough enough.
I think he is.
It's going to be a fight, but in the end I will be loyal to the Democrats, but if it's Hillary and Bill again, I'm going to have to hold my nose.

[ginnypoo]

It's becoming obvious to us regulars that Arianna is falling under the Obama spell....her rabid anti-Clinton articles show it. Now she wants the pollsters silenced. Obama is right now giving his stirring yet insubstancial feel-good speech, I have heard it many times, searching for exactly what he WILL DO, I still can't find any cattle, all I find is hat. He invokes firehoses and snapping dogs turned on marchers, then says he isn't talking about race...yes, he is. How dumb does he think I am? He uses all the iconic symbols then says it ISN'T about race. He is playing race cards and denying it at the same time. It is a setup. King and Johnson needed each other to act in their different arenas or nothing would have been enacted, that is a fact, both did THE RIGHT THING. Both deserve credit for their accomplishments.

[wedgie]

John Edwards.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

**

[bvb720]

No More Clintons. The end. Finished!

Hillary needs a face lift and a tongue job. Sorry that is my opinion.

If you watched Meet the Press she said to Tim Russert about 10 times "Well that isn't fair".

Boo Hoo Hillary. What have you done that is fair.

[NABNYC]

Bill Clinton's comments about Obama's war vote have been false and misleading. And demeaning. And some think racist. Honestly, you do not use the terms "imaginary hip black friend" about an opposing candidate, or "fairy tale," or even keep calling the opponent's record a "story," by accident. It's all part of the Clinton campaign to crush Obama under a barrage of lies.

Obama spoke out against the war in Iraq. He was not fooled or mislead by Bush. Neither was I. Neither were most of my friends.

Hillary voted for the war in Iraq. She voted for a resolution that was titled something like "Resolution in Support of the Use of the Armed Forces Against Iraq."

Then she came out later and said that she did not vote for war. She only voted to give Bush authority to go talk to the U.N. Another big lie from the Clintons.

In 2004, when the Democrats were trying to take back the white house and pick up some seats in Congress, Obama soft-pedaled his early opposition to the war. To help his party. And now Bill Clinton is twisting that around to try to say Obama is a liar. Bill "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" Clinton, a man who was disbarred because of dishonesty, is calling Obama a liar. Give me an f-ing break.

The fairy tales are from the Clinton side. Such as Hillary's recent "now I'm female" conversion. Suddenly in every speech she tells the world that she, personally, has provided healthcare to children in some state - NH, Nevada, wherever. Check the record. The S-Chips legislation was introduced by Sen. Kennedy and co-sponsored by Hatch in 1997, long before Hillary was a Senator. Once again, another lie, Hillary taking credit for other people's accomplishments.

The teacher's group that is trying to prevent the hotel workers in Nevada from voting is aligned with Hillary, despite her big lie about that to Russert this morning. Hillary KKK-Klinton, joining the Rove quest to prevent Americans from voting.

Vote Edwards. Or Obama.

[cinemaven]

Rachel, I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to see someone look at context instead of just plucking out something juicy and spinning it.

I'm already cringing in advance of seeing tomorrow's press spin Hillary's hour long appearance on Meet the Press. I'm not a betting girl but if I were, I'd put big bucks on a smear based on a few out of context words.

[hallste7]

Whose parsing words? Whose truncating? Bill Clinton was talking here about more than Obama's war stance.

You all are truncating what the context of the entire comment was. Prior to the talk about Obama's war stance, Bill contextualized it as follows: "let's take a look at this judgment issue again" then he proceeded to belittle the entire view of Obama--not just his war record. This is back to the what is the meaning of the days. The order of events in this little speech was as follows:

-Bill contextualizes his comments as being about the "judgment issue"
-Bill belittles his record in the following way "it doesn't matter that I started running for president when I was in the senate for less than a year"
-I am a charismatic speaker
-and I am the only one with judgment to oppose this war from the beginning
-then he shoots down the one piece of the argument that could possibly support his campaign--and the one argument that is not a straw man--he knock it down with the power of a good lawyer making it look as though Obama didn't have a consistent record on the war.
--THen he sums up the whole case with the fairy tale remark.

SO, who is truncating who? If you are going to criticize the coverage, why don't you look at the entire footage first.

[SCharb]

I watched the clip like eight times when it came out. I got the same impression. No matter how you mince words, it all comes down to this: Bill Clinton (the former 'Next JFK' 'from Hope') goes on a bitter, cynical, depressing tirade calling Obama's entire campaign a fairy tale. For a former President to mock and snark at a potential successor is appalling. I haven't seen him this pissed since "I did not have sex with that woman." (BTW, a better thing he could have said? "None of your business. Leave this to me and my wife to sort out." That would have saved us a lot of time, but instead he had to lie.)

Just like the Bible, you can interpret this quote as many ways as you'd like, but it will always boil down to the same thing. For example, is the "fairy tale" Obama's war stance? Well, Bill Clinton said that Obama's entire campaign is based on his war stance. Therefore, Clinton called Obama's entire campaign a fairy-tale.

Try it, it can't fail.

[Ides]

You know what I hear when the news media covers this? I hear Bill Clinton's single comment from three days ago repeated three to four times a day. I hear Bill Clinton's clarification of his comment repeated twice a day. I hear a newspaper's quote of Bill Clinton's single comment from three days ago repeated once again.

Do you know what I never hear? I never hear fact checking.

On CNN, Wolf Blitzer pointed out that everything Bill Clinton had said came from carefully cropped quotes and outright misinformation.

Yet, as soon as the dialogue shifted from "Is Bill Clinton lying again?" to "Is Bill Clinton racist?" the emphasis went from whether or not he is telling the truth to whether he believes what he said to whether he said what we think he said. Even CNN stopped correcting him and simply changed the narrative to race.

The irony is, the Obama campaign would rather this issue disappear and the Clintons want this in the news as much as possible. But this is being dredged repeatedly, giving Bill Clinton free air time with no critical thought applied to the truth value of his statements.

Clever. Very clever.

[gevan]

I suppose it could have been worse. Bill's remarks could have been confligrated into calling Obama a "fairy". Most media talking heads just want to mix things up. They won't be happy until they see blood in the water, so to speak.