Information Police asked: “WSJ Backtracking From Sketchy ‘Beanpole’ Obama Story
Remember that story in the Wall Street Journal last week about how maybe elite Barack Obama was too skinny for lardy everyday Americans? Sure you do, it was a total water cooler piece and we all ate it up like the obese news gluttons that we are. It had great details, like how the Democratic presidential candidate drinks Black Forest Berry Honest Tea, and great quotes, like that one Clinton supporter who said “I won’t vote for any beanpole guy,” LOL. Well, it turns out that “beanpole quote” came from a sort-of jokey anonymous reply to a message board topic the Journal reporter herself created, and was the only remotely quotable line in that thread. And the Berry Honest Tea detail originated in a memo put out by Obama rival John McCain’s campaign manager. Whoops! Today’s it correction time:
A Weekend Journal article Friday about Barack Obama’s weight included a quote from a Yahoo bulletin board that was posted in response to a question from a Wall Street Journal reporter who initiated the discussion. The article should have disclosed that the reporter used the bulletin board to elicit the comment, “I won’t vote for any beanpole guy.”
Ha ha, the article should probably also disclosed that the quote came from an account (”onlinebeerbellygirl”) only used once — to post that message — and read in full as follows:
Yes I think He is to skinny to be President.Hillary has a potbelly and chuckybutt I’d of Voted for Her.I won’t vote for any beanpole guy.
Fan of Hillary’s “chuckybutt” suddenly won over to McCain by his jowls? Sounds like a serious, reputable source!
Also probably worth putting in a correction? Why the reporter, Amy Chozik, appears to have deleted the original discussion thread.
Fearless, honest journalism in the service of an important story — you just knew Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal would turn out this way, didn’t you? ”
http://gawker.com/5033152/wsj-backtracking-from-sketchy-beanpole-obama-story
Amy
