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White House Blasts NBC Over Interview Edit

'Deceitful' cut took Bush out of context, counselor complains

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 20, 2008 11:36 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The White House went after NBC yesterday, accusing the network of doctoring a recent interview with President Bush, the Hill reports. Asked if comments about Iran were directed at Democratic candidate Barack Obama, Bush declined to answer directly, but White House counselor Ed Gillespie says the interview was purposely edited to make it appear as though Bush was affirming that speculation.

“This deceitful editing to further a media-manufactured storyline is utterly misleading and irresponsible,” Gillespie complained in a scathing letter. He demanded the network air the full, unedited footage. NBC stands by its version, and notes that the full interview is available online. But “It's simply absurd for people to have to log onto the Internet … to get accurate information from NBC,” Gillespie counters.

President Bush, accompanied by Counselor to the President Ed Gillespie, walk on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 28, 2008.
President Bush, accompanied by Counselor to the President Ed Gillespie, walk on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 28, 2008.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Ed Gillespie listens as President Bush, not shown, in this June 13, 2007 file photo.
Ed Gillespie listens as President Bush, not shown, in this June 13, 2007 file photo.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)
President Bush speaks to reporters about the economy during his meeting with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, not pictured, Monday, May 19, 2008, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.
President Bush speaks to reporters about the economy during his meeting with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, not pictured, Monday, May 19, 2008, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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White House gripes about editing
New York Times

The full text of the letter
The Atlantic

 
Iran • Barack Obama • NBC • White House • Ed Gillespie • American media • NBC News • George W. Bush • appeasement

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