Politico Author Talks With The Blaze About Fake Palin Quote
- Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:46pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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George Mason University Prof. Mark Rozell.
It was a mistake by a Politico copy editor.
That’s how Mark J. Rozell, professor of public policy at George Mason University and co-author of yesterday’s controversial Sarah Palin op-ed, explained how a quote was attributed to Palin (seemingly critical of Michele Bachmann) even though she never said it.
“Not only did Palin never say those words, we never attributed them to her,” he said in an e-mail to The Blaze, referring to his and Paul Goldman’s opinion piece about a hypothetical rivalry between the Tea Party darlings.
In the original piece published on Friday, Rozell and Goldman’s op-ed included a supposed Palin quote that went like this: “’I built this constituency, not Bachmann, not anyone else,’ she said.”
Politico eventually issued a correction, removing the quotes and the words “she said” and calling it an “editing error.” After we covered that correction, The Blaze exchanged e-mails with Rozell and he explained in more detail what happened.
According to him, he and Goldman signed off on a version they thought was final. However, after that a Politico copy editor inserted the words “she said” without notifying them:
A copy editor at Politico added the words “she said” to the primal scream reference, making it look like we had attributed the words directly to Palin. The copy editor introduced this error to our piece after we had signed off on what we thought was the final version. I was stunned when I first saw the piece this morning and I called the Opinion section editor to alert her to this egregious mistake. She immediately got the two offending words removed and a correction issued. Obviously that did not end all the speculation and assumptions by many about the origins of the mistake.
That version of events seems to be consistent with the correction issued by Politico. But still, even though Politico inserted “she said,” I wondered who was responsible for putting the phrase in quotes in the first place.
According to Rozell, he and Goldman did use quotation marks in the original version they sent to Politico. To be sure, using quotation marks in a hypothetical quote or when quoting someone‘s supposed thoughts isn’t technically wrong. But considering that it can lead to problems, I asked Rozell why not use some other grammar mark to note the quote wasn’t actually from Palin. For example, it’s common to use italics instead of quotation marks in that type of grammar situation.
“I’m with you: italics would have been better,” Rozell admitted. “Not just better at the correction stage, but better at the outset.”
Despite recognizing italics would have been better and less confusing, Rozell still believes most of the responsibility lies with Politico.
“Had the piece appeared exactly as we had written it, no one would have thought we were suggesting that sentence was a direct quote by Palin,” he explained. “Within context of the reference to her ‘primal scream,’ followed by the colon, it was obvious we were not claiming she actually said it.”
He concluded: “The trouble occurred because the copy editor added the words ‘she said.’”
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Comments (146)
last frontier
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:41pmJerkolist like this is why the left took an ARSS kicken in the last election and they are getting ready to take a severe SPANKING in the next election KEEP IT UP JERK….FS.
Report Post »MoYo
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:35pmLook, it’s pretty simple. You can only use quotes around attributed fictional statements when you write fiction.
So, here’s the thing. Neither of these guys writing this piece have a background in reporting. And most of the editorial staff at Politico don’t have journalism degrees. I find it hard to believe that a — real — editor would have let a fictional quote slip by much less insert an attribution to an unconfirmed quote unless they made the writer first verify sources.
It’s not really journalism unless it adheres to the standards and practices of the profession. It’s just amateurs blogging….
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:46pmI am going to applaud your use of the word fiction. There is a real version of events, and a fictional one , I believe these folks are beginning to believe the fictional versions and it is becomming more and more obvious every day! Nice analysis.
Report Post »emertz8413
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:33pmSo, now, how are we to believe anything else you print isn’t a copy error? Did the copy editor get sacked?
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:47pmIt’s official “Public policy” @ POLITICO. And please define“sacked” This is a DC outfit1
Report Post »suran
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:31pmGrow up and take the blame. It wasn’t a typo. Another adult-baby from the liberal left.
Report Post »PhilipJames
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:29pmBull crap… they lie and lie and lie. The construction of the sentence makes this lie re the two words… she said…. immaterial. He is lying his butt off and screw him.
Report Post »JoePatriot
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:26pmThe media is making every effort to attack candidates the left fears most. The effort made against Palin & Cain should tell the tale. Run Sarah! Run!
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:26pmAin’t it great when you not only have to worry about the mischievous behavior and disinformation of the campaigns and their supporters, but you have to worry about the ‘news’ (pronounced “noose’) professionals who have a stranglehold on our nation!
Report Post »Suzanne Winter
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:26pmMark Rozell’s explanation of inserting quotation marks around words Palin never said and believing no one would have thought he and his co-author were suggesting that sentence was a direct quote by Palin because, words being followed by the colon make it obvious no one is claiming the words were actually spoken: “I lied my ass off to Jonathon Seidl in hopes the obviously stupid people that read “The Blaze” would fall for the ****-and-bull story. My co-author and I wanted to stir up the liberal base to which we pander and, attributing words to Palin she never spoke, especially about Bachmann, was a great way to get the unjustified and irrational hate we liberals and Progressives have for Palin roiling all over again.”
What? The quotes came AFTER a colon.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:41pmRIGHT ON!
Report Post »(obligatory lower case)
Suzanne Winter
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 4:43pmI’m going to forever use “Professor” Mark Rozell’s definitive explanation that “words which follow a colon and are surrounded by quotation marks make it obvious no one is claiming the words were actually spoken” spiel every single time I write about liberals and Progressives, referencing this article, of course. Giving credit where credit is due is of the utmost import and “Professor” Rozell should receive every last kudo due him.
Okay. I’m off to blog. There’s SO MUCH to talk about!
Report Post »BJC
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:21pmI use to visit Politico 30 or more times a day. It didn’t take me long to realize they were top tier Palace Guards for The Agitator In Chief. They have more Journo-List and Palace Guards than the Daily Kos if you can believe that. They suck!! I visit their site once maybe twice a day just to see the spin they put on every story. It’s nice to know they will fold and my bet it will happen right after “they” lose the 2012 election. I meant to say “they” because Politico and this White House are one in the same.
Report Post »PrfctlyFrank
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:19pmEpic exposure!! These guys have gotten away with this for so long they are surprised when they’rre actually called on it.
So basically, they tried to hang Sarah, but the editor tried to make it iron-clad, with a lie..Typical lefty tactic..
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:45pmOfficial “Public policy” at POLITICO
Report Post »Bubba
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:16pmOh, so the article wouldn’t have been incorrect…just snarky. Much better.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:28pmLOL .. love your comment !!!
TEA!
Report Post »OnToppaThat
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:15pmamazingly nobody ever makes a ‘mistake’ that puts her in a good light
Report Post »OhSuzieQ
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 2:32pmSho Nuff!
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:15pmHey Rozell, why don’t you blow it out your ditty-bag.
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:12pmThe rouble Marky, buddy, is that neither you or your cfolleage don’t understand one damn little bit about who and what you bloviate about!! Public policy! PROFESSOR?!?!? And this article and statement is what? The results of study, interviesws, discussions or just a bunch of paid bloviators trying to get to the talk show circuit.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:35pmYou are so right. A “hypothetical” conversation,if that isn’t meant to stick a finger in a gornets nest and stir it around than what is? It is long past time that the so-called “smart people” actually did some smart things. This was LAME on its face.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:42pm….oops hornets nest……dunno what a gornet is.
Report Post »freeweever
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:09pmDon‘t these nazi’s ever look at how similar“ their” lying tactics are to the “nazi’s“ and the” muslim extremists”lies about the west . They just lie to be divisive because they think they are so smart and smug that no one sees their moves, but it is so obvious that its funny. They are used to hiding in their mothers basement, safe from the adults of the real world. Then when the left had to upgrade its ignorant base to add some computer geeks to help them, “socialize”,the social media in the USA. They brought these bozos in from out of their mommies basement.
Report Post »MikeinIdaho
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:08pmPOLITICO is nothing but a group of hacks who constantly apologize for and defend the perverted Marxist (aka Democrat) Party every day in every way! No surprise here. and wouldn‘t have ever admitted this BS if they hadn’t been caught.
Report Post »Talmid of Yeshua
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:00pmExcuses, excuses. We all know the liberal mainstream media is out to get conservatives in every way possible. Just watch MSNBC for 10 minutes, and you‘ll realize that it isn’t even a news channel, but nothing but a conservative smear machine filled with outright lies and contortions of the truth.
Report Post »SmokeyBear
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:58pm“That’s what she said… “
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:57pmGive the guy the benefit of the doubt. However, who can deny that leftist media act like a bunch of jackals whenever Sarah Palin’s name is mentioned………….Be afraid, very afraid, AND THEY ARE!
Report Post »AmericanLass
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:56pmHow many times have they been doing this with other stories ? And their readers eat up false information. They might want to consider doing what their mothers and fathers most likely taught them. TELL THE TRUTH !!
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:56pmAlways“ making mistakes” when it comes to conservatives.
Report Post »brado9505
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:51pmthey’re not fired? wow what a shocker!
Report Post »EDFROMCA
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 5:37pmHave you noticed that the “mistakes ” are NEVER favorable. Why am I not surprised to see no unfavorable mistakes regarding the fraud in the white house.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:55pmPolitico is the children’s version of a political web site. While highly leftist, their writers exude a comically child-like writing ability. They really are quite pathetic.
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:53pmRealistically, if Palin is such a dolt as liberals say, then why do they (liberals) feel need to make sh*t up?
Report Post »jumbles
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:35pmJust to piss you off.
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:46pm@jumbles
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:35pm
Just to piss you off.
_____________
Problem is, I don’t get pissed off by liberals. They’re just too funny to me, a perpetual joke always looking for a place to happen.
Buy, really–all the time the trolls here bash Palin. Sure, maybe she has it coming; I’m indifferent toward her. But, also, if she’s such an idiot and a non-person, why do liberals feel need to make things up?
If there’s anything wrong with this picture, it’s on and from the Left.
Report Post »rayblue
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 2:05pmIt’s a high point in their intellectual careers.
Report Post »They use lies like a addict uses drugs. To screen out the world they don’t like.
To make the world more palatable to their leftover tastes.
Cold War Vet
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 4:19pm@ JUMBLES
Uh oh. I see Jumbles is in here now. Sarah Palin is much more intelligent than you, Mumbles. And you are terrified of Sarah. I bet if you met her face to face, you’d piss your pants! If a bottom-feeding liberal such as yourself wants to get a good look at true stupidity, go find a mirror.
Report Post »hannahh
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 10:20pmIt’s so delicious when Mrs. Palin makes the liberals froth at the mouth. Go Sarah!
Report Post »Dustoff
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:53pmBusted
Report Post »michael48
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:52pmpolitico=part of the comrade press crowd…next
Report Post »bigbud
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:41pmThis “STUFF” is to be expected. They fear her! They know that if she wins, they are out. The RINO’s are out also. She is not going by “their” rules. She would not even give the press or the republican party an itinerary, about her bus tour.
Report Post »Latest Dateline::: There are no “Bomb” shells in her e-mails
Run Sarah Run!!
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 5:44pmHow about: “Busted! Toasted! Roasted! Stuffed!”
Report Post »wes60
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:51pmWhat a bunch of bull shtic
Report Post »Revere1
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:54pmThe only error was that they got caught. They intended to attack Palin like the rest of the media. http://www.elephantwatcher.com/2011/06/feud-between-sarah-palin-and-michele.html
Report Post »jwcoopusa
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:57pmSo, though they now admit Palin didn’t say what was said she said, the don’t deny saying it themselves. What a couple of jerkwaters! And Politico has shown itself for what it is: A shill publication for Lefties…………………
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:00pmHow many more mistakes (accidental on purposes) were printed as TRUTH???
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:04pm‘Had the piece appeared exactly as we had written it,’ everybody would have realized we were just trying to get in some unambiguous Palin bashing .
Oops–should I have used italics there?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:09pmIt was a LIE …. like a lot of other LIES that they have told .. both anti-Palin and PRO-OBAMA! The MSM and these left political hacks can’t stand the truth .. but WE SURROUND THEM.
TEA!
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:17pmPoliticon.
Report Post »calebgs83
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:17pmConservatives need to start filing lawsuits when they are blatantly lied about.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:21pmIndeed these people are busted; they are only apologetic for the fact of being caught red handed, and will continue their smear and distortion campaign tactics against anyone they feel or fear who is opposed to their ideals of madness.
Report Post »NeoFan
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:26pmPolitico is a website where Obama is worshiped like a god. What else do you need to know. Obama is god and anyone that dares oppose him is hated.
Report Post »So why would anyone who does not bow down to the one go there for anything?
BIGJAYINPA
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:26pmYou can always tell who the liberals fear the most by how hard they attack and dicredit them. Romney, Newt, Trump et al are not a threat to the Dumbocrats quest for power. Pallin, Bachman, West and Cain along with the entire Tea Party Movement are who the Dumbs fear. It used tobe “follow the money” now it is follow the vitriol. The more they attack the higher their level of fear. Like the cockroaches they are they fear the light of truth.
Report Post »coladude
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:27pmBull
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »Enuff Zenuff
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:32pmWait! – Didn’t the Blaze leave out the part where Mark J. Rozell admitted, “I’m just an ignorant shill for the Communists and I lie all the time – which is why I love writing for Politico! George Mason University doesn’t have the cojones to fire me or even investigate me for this incident. The sooner we Progressives destroy America the better!”
oops – was I wrong to put the quotation marks on that?
Report Post »thegrassroots
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 2:24pmThe left lies really well — Too Well! No matter what they say or how strongly they say it, it soon comes to light that the opposite is true!
Their Modus Operandi is: “The End Justifies The Means.” The only way they can navigate that M.O. is by having a Zero Moral Compass.
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 2:24pmSure, blame it on the copy editor. What a weasley excuse for trying to slip in something to cause trouble in the Repub ranks. These progressives will do anything to win. Their moral compass is broken, and it’s time for America to recognize that sad fact. Vote conservative if you have any amount of decency and respect for morality in this country.
Report Post »alcarfl
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 2:32pmAh! A new word. “Polishitz” Kinda sums up all the BS in one word.Carry on.
Report Post »DisasterFamilyDotCom
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:38pmI was actually about to make this comment on the other article when I saw this. I was going to say “It looks like a copy editor might have added the words ”She said”. If you take those words out, what you have is just a believable typical nasty liberal comment that was slightly too complicated for some idiot editor to see through her liberal rabies and thought it was a poorly written quote.”
Report Post »jeffyfreezone
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:39pmThe trouble occured because they’re all in the same leftist/progressive/Marxist tank as Weiner and Obama.
Report Post »LIBSALWAYSLIE
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:41pmmy name says all you need to know on the subject
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:49pmThese people are monsters, no better than muslims, no wonder they get along so well, that’s until they no longer have use for them.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 4:14pmI am not a Palin fan but they can at least quote her correctly – she makes enough gaffs that reporters do not have to be making them up! http://wp.me/pYLB7-13c
Report Post »HKS
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 4:16pmThe Republican party has at it’s disposal a powerful smoke screen in Sarah Palin. A few dropped words anywhere and the media will tie itself in knots talking about it. Should make it easy to get things through the system unnoticed. Sorta of like the lefties strategies with a better smoke screen. They should use it more often.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 4:40pmEver heard of proofreading? A two year old could figure out how it sounded before it hit the masses! Our media is so pathetic!
Report Post »Steverino
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 4:44pmThought this old saying was appropriate:
“Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good.”
Sarah is an intimidating, scary figure for the progressives. The fact that she exists, as she is, shines an uncomfortable mirror on them.
Instinctively, they don’t like what they see, even if they don’t know it on a intellectual level.
My 2 cents.
Steve
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 5:37pmBlame the computer, no blame the secretary.
Report Post »Ever notice that liberals have a real hard time with personal responsibility.
That’s because socialism is a mob sheeeple thingy!
Everything is done by committee.
BocaBaby
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 5:42pmexactly…….as in the words of HILLARY CLINTON……it is a vast ‘right wing, RHINO conspiracy”
well maybe Hillary never said RHINO, but we can…………..
the GOP is TERRIFIED of Palin, she can win, and they know that if she does, they are in deep doo-doo.
RUN SARAH RUN!!!!!
Hey ya know, they may come at you one way, BUT THEY WILL FLEE SEVEN!!!! LOL
PALIN TRUMP 2012
Report Post »outsidethebox
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 5:51pmLiars. Enough said.
Report Post »mill
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 5:57pmTHERE ONLY PROBLEM was/is….Palin stood up to them, called them out..
Report Post ».THE OTHER MILQUETOAST DIPWADS WE HAVE CALLING THEMSELVES CONSERVATIVES ARE TOOO GOOD TO CALL THE LIBERALS OUT. GOOOOOOOO PLAIN!!
♥♥ At least she has a set of ♥balls, in fact, I think she might have enough to share with other republicans..hhmmmm???
mill
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 6:02pmohohoh…forgot, the lies go both ways….the lie saying negative things about conservatives
then lie saying positive things about Obama and his @$$hole cronies.
I do not understand the lies, seriously. I understand gaining the upperhand, but the upperhand to what? a destroyed nation?, world?
Report Post »Professional Infidel
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 6:38pmI’ll be polite here and only say “Bull Shitck” Shameless, off with there heads.
Report Post »Citizen Hill
Posted on June 12, 2011 at 2:36pmCan you say ‘double-speak’?… aka Bull****!
Report Post »