Did President Obama watch a documentary of himself last night instead of watching the election returns? Nope. The erroneous report was a result of a simple misunderstanding reports FOX.
(HBO/AP)Photos (1 of 1)
FOX admits blunder in reporting Obama watched documentary
By Jimmy Orr | 11.04.09
Earlier today we told you about a FOX news anchor who reported that President Obama decided not to watch election returns last night so he could watch a documentary about himself instead.
The news anchor — Martha MacCullum — said that White House press secretary Robert Gibbs gave reporters this information at a morning briefing.
But as we pointed out, Gibbs never said that. Gibbs was asked if the president watched the returns last night. He replied no.
Did the president watch the new HBO documentary about the presidential campaign instead? To that, Gibbs said he didn’t know, but said that he hoped the president was watching the Chicago Bulls game.
So how did this get all turned around?
FOX says it was a simple mistake. FOX White House correspondent Major Garrett said he thought that’s what he heard Gibbs say.
“At 10 o’clock this morning, Martha [MacCallum] reported that the president didn’t watch the election returns and watched the HBO movie [instead],” Garrett explained to FOX anchor Shephard Smith.
“That’s because I misheard Robert Gibbs in the gaggle. The White House says he was probably watching the Bulls-Bucks game. My mistake.”
FOX supplied The Vote with a link of Garrett’s explanation. Click here to see it.
———-
Hey, if we ever incorrectly report that you were watching TV, we’ll let you know about it on Twitter. So follow us!
<< At White House, music to Michelle Obama’s ears | MainComments
2. sierraseven | 11.05.09
Good grief! Even when issuing a correction, they can’t (or won’t) get it right.
Gibbs said he HOPED the President was watching the Bulls game - Fox’s Garrett reports that “The White House says he was probably watching the Bulls-Bucks game”. Can Fox “News” really not know the difference between a humorous remark about what Gibbs “hoped” he was watching, and a statement that that was what he was “probably” watching?
I miss real news.
3. friskya | 11.05.09
Typical, in that Fox is willing to issue corrections when they make an error?
That’s what I got out of this particular “non-story”
7. Still Broke | 11.05.09
well there’s a story of great importance! You sure Gibbs didn’t say - well, ummm, errr, I - well I , hmmm, errr, think that - you should know that, ummmmm stammer, that I…..don’t know?
8. Will | 11.05.09
What? A FoxNews correspondent wasn’t listening and decided to report his preconceived notions instead? That never happens!
9. Pinky Dresdner | 11.05.09
It is long over due to shut down false news.
This is not a credible news organization.
They have not integrity nor sense of journalistic excellence.
With 2.5 million viewer does not make the American general public.
That is less than 2% that went to polls last November.
Spewing hate, divisiveness and pure inflammatory propaganda is not NEWS.
10. tormentor | 11.05.09
OMG, when is fox news going to throw in the towel in this war??
its ridiculous………..sighs
11. RosieTheRiveter | 11.05.09
Fox News, a modern day oxymoron!
A “yellow journalism” entity that is a house organ for a far right agenda. They preach to the choir which has ears that just need to be tickled.
12. Gail | 11.05.09
Anyone can take any story and “put a spin” on it with what is said, what is not said, what words are used, etc. If you are smart, you will not believe what you read but, rather, question motivation.
14. Kirk | 11.06.09
We have no idea if it’s an “honest mistake” or not. What we do know is that Fox News (if “News” really belongs in their name) has a rich history of these sorts of “mistakes”).
There have been many, many times when Fox has mistakenly mis-identified the party of a Republican official when a scandal breaks, almost invariably showing “[Name of Offial] - D” instead of “R” in the overlay text below the image on the screen. They did it with SC governor Sanford, labeling him as a Democrat during his press conference. They did it with Mark Foley, the Florida Republican caught up in the scandal with his pages, and they’ve done it with several other scandal-tainted Republicans.
Yet, somehow, they always seem to get that “D” after the name correct, if it’s a Democrat. If this was truly a mistake, it’s just indicative of the biased mindset of Fox’s talking heads, and will now be passed around as gospel truth by their listeners.
16. Truthseeker | 11.12.09
Thank goodness the thick, sticky film of perfection still resides in the hallowed halls of MESSNBC and all the other liberal propaganda engines. HA! At least Fox makes an effort to retract mistakes, unlike the reflex denial mechanism built into all the other Marxist purveyors of nonsensical babblings, (Olbermann, and Matthews do you hear me?). Liberals, get a life and stop trying to undermine one of the few sources of actual news this Country has left.
18. StopTheInsanity | 11.15.09
The significance is that Fox will only acknowledge a mistake only when caught making it.
The point is that they will intentionally spin their version of the news to consistently chip away at the Obama Administration.
Often even when apologizing for their mistakes, they are smirking and coming around with another barbed hook.
Such is the infotainment that is, FOX News.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
Leave a Comment
We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The comments feature is a forum to discuss the ideas in our stories. Constructive debate - even pointed disagreement - is welcome, but personal attacks on other commenters are not, and will not be published.
Tip: Do not write a novel. Keep it short. We will not publish lengthy comments. Come up with your own statements. This is not a place to cut and paste an email you received. If we recognize it as such, we won't post it.
Please do not post any comments that are commercial in nature or that violate copyrights.
Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.
Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. cbcvb | 11.04.09
typical