Big Media Pounces On Lincoln Gaffe

Our foundering President on American history, telling us that Abraham Lincoln was "founder of the Republican Party".  But the Big Media is all over this:

He gives a good speech, but he’s loose with the facts. He called Abraham Lincoln the “founder” of the Republican Party. Nope. Lincoln was not the founder of the party; he wasn’t even the first Republican nominee (John Fremont was, in 1856). Lincoln was, of course, the first Republican to be elected president.

Ooops, my bad - that was TIME's Swampland writing about Mike Huckabee back in 2008.  The author of that immortal and transportable wisdom?  Jay Carney, who now famously flacks for Obama. I still can't find TIME's mention of the Obama gaffe.

INTERESTING:  PBS presents what they claim are Obama's remarks "as prepared for delivery and released by the White House".  Their version omits the news that Abe Lincoln was "founder of the Republican Party", although that phrase appears at the White House site and other transcripts.

Do I smell a rat, and suspect that PBS is airbrushing a Presidential gaffe?  Actually, I notice that the PBS version omits all mention of audience applause.  What I think we are looking at is the divergence between transcripts of speeches "as delivered" and "as prepared".  That suggests that the "Founder of the Republican Party" was an Obama ad-lib, and that TOTUS would never have made such an error.  (A further clue - the "founder" phrase is only a sentence fragment, yet it is presented as a complete sentence in the White House text.) [A FURTHER CLUE - Byron York emails Glenn to confirm the "prepared"/"delivered" divergence.] [YET ANOTHER CLUE - PBS updates to the "as delivered" transcript and explains the swap.  Right Wing Noisemakers get results!].

So, do any sleuths note other differences or ad libs between the two speeches?

CLOSER TO A RATIONALIZATION THAN A CLUE, BUT...  The official White House transcripts is marked "For immediate release" and includes the speech start time (7:09 PM) and the end time (7:43 PM).  I am highly confident that news outlets get a draft version of the speech before the actual presentation, which is NOT for "immediate release", and obviously won't include the time the speech was actually concluded.

A REAL CLUE:  Here is the official transcript:

"(Applause.)  It will provide -- it will provide a tax break for companies who hire new workers, and it will cut payroll taxes in half for every working American and every small business.  (Applause.)

And PBS:

It will provide a tax break for companies who hire new workers, and it will cut payroll taxes in half for every working American and every small business.

No applause, and especially, no repeat of "It will provide".

OK, my current Official Editorial Position - Obama was ad-libbing with his observation that Abe Lincoln was the founder of the American Party (and The Captain is with me on the ad-lib notion).  TOTUS and Obama's speechwriters get a pass, as does PBS. And TIME owes us some Lincoln Lawyer coverage.

LEST YOU ASK:  Obama apologists should risk eye-burn by visiting the Republican National Committee website, where they will learn this:

Abraham Lincoln helped establish the Republican Party with a speech denouncing an 1854 law, written by a Democrat Senator, that allowed slavery to expand into the western territories.  Two years later, he co-founded the Illinois GOP.  Lincoln was runner-up for the 1856 Republican vice presidential nomination and then became a Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate.

Hmm - "helped establish" isn't quite "founded".

DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER "LAUGHTER"?  They are keeping their sense of humor at the White House, which provides a refreshingly candid transcript of Obama's jobs speech to Congress, complete with audience reaction to Obama's diatribe on taxes:

Right now, Warren Buffett pays a lower tax rate than his secretary -- an outrage he has asked us to fix.  (Laughter.)  

And a bit later:

This isn’t political grandstanding.  This isn’t class warfare.  This is simple math.  (Laughter.)  

That sort of undermines my praise of Congressional restraint and reinforces Dana Milbank's point about the incredible shrinking President.

Comments

[Rick Ballard]

"...has Upton passed the dimbulb repeal yet?"

Not yet. The votes are there in the House but it would be a waste of time to pass it before the Great Democrat Defeat in '12.

I believe the Tea Party to be quite capable of helping Upton to find and follow the right path. Call it the chiaroscuro effect - the contrast in moving from the shadow of the scaffold into the light of a brighter tomorrow is quite stimulating.

[Ben Franklin]

"There's a surprising amount of continuity in the Republican Party, considering how long ago that was."

Standing still, often means 'falling behind'.

And what is your basis for believing Dems are weak on 1st Amendment?

[Stephanie 'Kindred Spirit Sister']

transcontinental - intercontinental...

One's a hotel that Moochelle Antoinette is probably familiar with and the other one is a harrrrrdddd word that would confuse a Bono err, Bozo.

Cut em some slack, at least they didn't claim the train was named Thomas. Yet.

[centralcal]

Agree Jane. Extremely moving. God Bless W!

[RichatUF]

Frau-

So do I. Maybe cleo-dana could find another hobby.

Ignatz-

The almost-hero of Altgeld Gardens.

[Chubby]

((Let's all reread Animal Farm))

and for the lazy, there's an excellent vintage animation of Animal Farm on YouTube.

LUN

[Jim Miller]

"And what is your basis for believing Dems are weak on 1st Amendment?"

(1) I have essentially the same position on most campaign finance laws as the ACLU does. Both of us view them as obvious violations of the 1st Amendment. In general, Democrats support these laws more than Republicans; Feingold had more supporters in his party than McCain did in his.

(2) I object to most campus speech codes. Where you find them, they have almost always been imposed by leftists, people who routinely vote for the Democratic Party, though they think it too conservative.

[Jane]

I may have to love Bill Clinton for a while too.

[Jane]

I really didn't plan to spend this day crying.

[Jane]

Oh good, it's Biden, the comic relief has arrived.

[henry]

Thanks Rick. I hope the Solyndra execs don't go quietly under the bus to save JEF.

[centralcal]

I don't find Slow Joe funny anymore, Jane. Too much the partner in the destruction of our country.

[TomB]

If PBS is simply publishing an earlier copy of the speech made available by the WH, its not a transcript, is it? It is not the written account of the actual speech. They should at least stop advertising it as such on their site even if they don't edit it to include the Lincoln gaff, the repeated phrases, and the uncountable "ums," "ers," and "ahs."

[Rick Ballard]

Clarice,

Can I suggest a Tales of the Albatross featurette for Pieces? Perhaps 'Coattails of the Albatross' would be more correct. Weprin is a weak and very stupid candidate (he's a perfect replacement wiener) but the President cannot be considered a party asset any more.

[MarkO]

I object to all campus speech codes. Let criminal and civil law handle any real issues. Censorship is a bad idea--in fact, it precludes the discussion of good ideas.

There are vicious autocrats and then there is the faculty. This is why some college kids never grow up.

[Jane]

I can't argue with that Centralcal.

[cheapest used computer]

Salon's ugly idiot-extraordinaire Alex Pareen on a 9-11 tribute video from Herman Cain: Herman Cain's presidential campaign produced this monstrosity, in which Cain croons 'God Bless America' over footage of the 2001 attacks and their aftermath. Just a warning: If you don't want to see graphic images of the events of 9/11, including multiple shots of the second plane hitting and the towers collapsing, don't watch this video. (Also, don't turn on your TV this entire weekend.) It's one thing to mouth the words, 'Never forget.' It's another to gaze at those tragic images, I suppose. Frankly, I found the video (below) heartfelt and extremely touching as a personal statement, which I've now confirmed it was. Perhaps Pareene should get around to criticizing this below, instead, while pointing out...

[Threadkiller]

--"And what is your basis for believing Dems are weak on 1st Amendment?"--

Unequal 1st Amendment.

[Lou Gots]

As much as I think Obama is a phony and a goniff, I can't say that this Lincoln thing is any kind of big deal. Lincoln, the first Republican president, was a "founder" of the Republican party in a certain sense. I would not expect a detailed explanation of Lincoln's exact role in the formation of that party in the context of a brief address.

We have plenty to jump on this charlatan about without sharpshooting a quibble this way.

[Threadkiller]

Wouldn't the people at PBS be the goniffs? That does not bother you?

[henry]

Anyone need a good laugh? Kloppenburg to run for appeals court.

[Clarice]

Rick I do point out the likely outcome of the two bye elections in this week's CP.

[Clarice]

Not a typo (bye elections)

[Extraneus]

From Rick's link:

Many Democratic strategists are privately blaming Obama for their party's difficulties in both districts and worry that if his numbers don't improve he could hurt their chances at retaking the House in 2012.

lol

[Janet]

Bush 9-11 speech - Evil Is Real & So Is Courage

[Danube of Thought]

I don't think the Lincoln gaffe is that big a deal when considered along with his numerous other gaffes, distortions, outright lies and misrepresentations. But it's great for comparing the press reaction to its jumping all over any comparable GOP error.

[Clarice]

By the way, whatever Sheriff Duscha says, the actions of the strikers constitutes hostage taking under federal law as I read it.

Undoubtedly the union will find some Dana- like law professor who'll argue "up" means "down" and so forth in contradiction,

[centralcal]

How tiresome it must be for Michelle Obama to always and everywhere make sure her toned arms are the highlight of every photo op. Here are a series of photos taken at Area 60 at Arlington - supposedly paying tribute to the fallen, but mostly it is all about her and her effing toned arms.

[Danube of Thought]

I've searched in vain with Google for the meaning of MFM. There is one obvious (and obscene) possibility that suggests itself, but can anybody help me out?

[Janet]

God bless W....I will never get over the hatred shown to him. Our media should be ashamed.

[centralcal]

You are correct about the "obvious" possibility, DoT. MFM - indeed.

[glasater]

I'll never get over it either, Janet.

Every time I hear bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" I just turn into a puddle of tears.

[Captain Hate]

Not surprisingly, ZAndi was an advisor to McCain, along with Holtz Eakin, whose Duke and Duke status was affirmed again, with the line 'that neither side had any solution to
the budget crisis.

"My friends" proved he was an economic dunce in the campaign; unfortunately the jugeared fellow has proved his lack of insight in office, after McAmnesty assured us we didn't have anything to worry about him. Between the two, their economic acumen could easily fit in a thimble.

[Clarice]

I regard O's turning 9/11 into a "Day of Service" desecrates the day .

[Jane]

So where is bambi playing golf this weekend?

[Ignatz]

--Between the two, their _________ could easily fit in a thimble.--

Brains, humility, common sense.
Any other suggestions?

[Extraneus]

Wednesday, the first day of 9th grade, my son's honors history teacher asked the students to write down who their favorite president was. One kid, a brilliant Korean American, wrote "Bush." The teacher asked him "Which Bush?" He answered "The second one."

The teacher then rolled his eyes at the rest of the class and said "Oh yeah, he sure did a great job."

And with that, he laid down the gauntlet for the year.

[Jane]

BTW the same moonbats who believe only stupid people pay for their education are predicting the democrats take back the house in 2012.

There is some benefit to them listening to a dishonest media.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

George W Bush, Flight 93, Memorial Dedication (Video of speech)

[narciso]

There is a false note, whenever any Democrat shows up at these things, with their 'crocodile tears at the treatment of Zubeydah, the human resources chief, KSM, the operations chief, respectively of AQ and others, not too mention Al Quahtani
of that loveable clan from the Nejd, who had it not been for the quick eye of Gomez Menendez, spotting him at the Orlando Airport, would likely have turned Capitol Hill into yet another memorial site, as Shanksville became.

[Clarice]

ext that teacher should be called on the carpet you know.

[MaryD]

It infuriates me that the Obamas would go to Arlington dressed the way they were.Couldn't he be bothered to put on a damn tie? And couldn't she wear something appropriately respectful? Grrrrrrrrrr

[narciso]

Our friend Charlie Blow, provides the unintentional humor:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/10/opinion/blow-rise-of-the-fallen.html?_r=2

[Captain Hate]

I regard O's turning 9/11 into a "Day of Service" desecrates the day .

His respect for anything but himself is nil; like the feet on the desk that was used by former Presidents. Ultimately he's trash just like his parents.

[Extraneus]

Yes, I do know. One lesson it took me far too long to learn was to choose battles wisely, so I think I'll wait until I see the whites of his eyes.

[narciso]

So this seems to be another David Headley type, behind this week's alert

http://www.wcti12.com/news/29135283/detail.html

[centralcal]

Pretty much everything the Obama's do is a desecration to the Presidency and to America.

[Chubby]

((God bless W....I will never get over the hatred shown to him. Our media should be ashamed.))

and traitorous Democrat politicians

[Jane]

ext that teacher should be called on the carpet you know.

I agree. Hell I'll send the letter if you want it to be anonymous.

[SWarren]

Clarice: I regard O's turning 9/11 into a "Day of Service" desecrates the day.

I so agree with you, especially because his reason was to try to wipe out the memory of GWB rallying us through those dark days. O is such a small man.

I will never forget watching President Bush walk out to the mound to throw out the first pitch of the World Series shortly after 9/11.

A lone brave figure striding out there as if to say to our enemies “You hit us and it hurt, but we will not bend or cower”

He then delivered a perfect strike. A very uplifting moment.

[narciso]

It was a very Mal Reynolds moment, 'someone tries to kill you, you kill them right back'
remember how they caterwalled over the strike
on Harethi, one of the players in the Lackawanna cell, and tied to the Cole bombing,
now that's just a usual tuesday afternoon,

[daddy]

((Let's all reread Animal Farm))

Obviously some hostages are less equal than others.

[(Another) Barbara]

I regard O's turning 9/11 into a "Day of Service" desecrates the day.

"Desecrates" is precisely the word, Clarice. Mark Steyn writes eloquently about that today too, citing the ads enjoining us to perform good deeds, such as cleaning a beach or teaching one's sons not to be bullies. I heard one yesterday suggesting we volunteer at a domestic violence center as our way of honoring the anniversary of the "tragedy." Liberals are bent on making tomorrow and all the September 11ths to come a day of ooey-gooey multi-culti group hugs while hinting it is our own violence that must be curtailed. I will not cooperate with their wishes.

[Clarice]

http://cripessuzette.wordpress.com/2011/09/10/classy-lassie/

Another classy moment with the lassie with the chassis.

[Frau Edith Steingehirn]

narciso's link:
"Obama has a list of accomplishments as long as your arm." Charlie Blow

[narciso]

There is somewhat of a parallel here:

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/09/another-reason-to-hate-woodrow-wilson.php

[daddy]

"We have plenty to jump on this charlatan about without sharpshooting a quibble this way."

Bullshit. The MSM empower this SOB by claiming he's the smartest character who ever lived. They thrive on using every possible opportunity to invent memes and selectively soundbite quotes to prove Republicans are dumb, (Sarah Palin "I can see Russia from my porch") while they do their damnedest to hide all evidence of this Presidents stupidity. Especially galling when Jay Carney, Presidential spokes-hack, is the jackass who specifically used this exact example to previously attack Republicans.

Every chance we have we ought to legitimately go directly after this stupid SOB and we ought to do it loudly and forcefully until it penetrates through the MSM smokescreen of his vaunted brilliance. He's a dummy and that needs to be driven home to every sentient voter and schoolkid in America.

[MaryD]

Hear,hear, Daddy!

[Melinda Romanoff]

daddy-

You'll never get through that "smokescreen" because it's all there is. Wisps of intelligence. Vapor. They go where the fairer winds blow them.

And it's MFM.

[centralcal]

I saw that photo earlier today, Clarice, but the size was too large to include in the comment thread.

We have pretty much figured the Narcissist out. What is Michelle's illness? Who wears crap like that?

Can you imagine when they are Former POTUS and Former FLOTUS how much more bizarre they both will be? Especially, Michelle, I think.

[caro]

Go,daddy!

[boris]

'I regard O's turning 9/11 into a "Day of Service" desecrates the day'

W gave a great speech at the flight 93 memorial but IMO the "Crescent of Embrace" that points to Mecca desecrates that site and dishonors the passengers. No argument will ever peirce my epistemic closure that the design is an apology to Islam from the BDS crowd for the first counter attack in the war on terror.

[MarkO]

Federer is human now. It breaks my heart.

[Clarice]

She's also run thru personal staff like Grant went through Richmond. Something;s wrong there.

[bgates]

It's interesting that so many heretofore unseen members of the Concerned Conservative Community think it is important to tell us that Obama's latest gaffe is not important.

[Ranger]

It's interesting that so many heretofore unseen members of the Concerned Conservative Community think it is important to tell us that Obama's latest gaffe is not important.

Posted by: bgates | September 10, 2011 at 05:22 PM

I think the proper term is Seminar Poster...

[MarkO]

It's important because not everyone realizes that he just not that smart.

[Ann]

OMG Clarice, that is hysterical. It must be shared:

US Open Fashion Icon

Hot Icon Stripped to Her Spanx

[TomB]

Here, too, Huckabee got his facts confused. Like every long-term POW, McCain did renounce his country — after being horrendously tortured.

Uh, what the hell does that have to do with anything being discussed here?

[Frau Edith Steingehirn]

I think the biking shorts rode up on FLOTUS and exposed her Spanx(XL).

[MaryD]

OMG, Frau --I think you are right!

[caro]

Baring of toned arms would be appropriate at the Open.

[MaryD]

Caro, the arms aren't so toned anymore.

[centralcal]

Look at the expressions of the very young girls seated behind the big behind! Embarrassment written all over their faces.

[Jane]

She's also run thru personal staff like Grant went through Richmond. Something;s wrong there.

She's a bitch.

Also, imagine working in the WH and going from Laura Bush to moochelle. Talk about a nightmare.

[henry]

CC, in the next shot everyone is leaning away from her. Does she need gasex or something?

[Clarice]

She was wearing long red pants, not biker shorts in the previous shots..I think those are white shorts, not spanx. But the ten yds of shmatas around her waist under the backwards sweater is a new first.

[centralcal]

You might be onto something henry - notice the paddle in her hand - probably was fanning herself.

[centralcal]

But the ten yds of shmatas around her waist under the backwards sweater is a new first.

Sadly, not true. The orange red outfit above has been worn before and photographed before (from behind as she was departing on one of her many vacays). Plus, there is a second one - can't remember the exact color, but it was darker (maybe blue) and she wore it both backwards and frontwards.

Michelle is creative, no? Yeah, didn't think so either.

[Pops]

I think we need to cut the prez some slack like the liberals do everytime a conservative has a gaffe or liberals make up a fake one.

It really depends on what the definition of 'founded' is.

Besides, immediately after the speech Obama clarified that Lincoln had not invented the internet, and certainly didn't start the Republican Party in all 57 states.

[centralcal]

Here you go Clarice - a view of the backwards outfit from the rear view.

Taken at night, with artificial light, it looks more orange than red.

[Pops]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4-AKcH3eC8

There's the truth and then the liberal truth.

[Clarice]

Similar, but different, CC. This one has bandana shmatas, not flowery gauze.

[DrJ]

In other news, the National Council of La Raza is calling off a boycott of Arizona it imposed in May 2010 over the enactment of its SB1070.

[Pops]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9hZpJp7U3Y

The man is clealy much more briliant then anyone before him.

[Rick Ballard]

Ann,

Take alook at the picture c-c posted, you'd better make that 2 three Mexican pumpkins for the silhouette.

[Jack is Back!]

Intercontinental = between continents like to fly between Miami and Caracas.

Transcontinental = between points on the same continent like San Francisco to New York.

Perhaps Obama was thinking the railroad ran from Chicago to Nairobi?

Jake Tapper should ask Carney to explain.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Dixiecrats.

Sorry, you lose. Straight out Democrats: none of the Dixiecrat1s were high-ranking KKK members -- just Robert Byrd (D-WVA)

[centralcal]

I guess that is why you are an attorney, Clarice. Attention to details. Oh well, the silhouette is still the same - gawd awful!

[Michael Zak]

I wrote the RNC website history sections, about Abraham Lincoln and everything else.
See http://grandoldpartisan.typepad.com/blog/2011/09/obama-lincoln-republican-party.html

Abraham Lincoln had little to do with establishing the transcontinental railroad and the National Academy of Sciences and land grant colleges:

http://grandoldpartisan.typepad.com/blog/2011/09/lincoln-transcontinental-railroad.html

I am also the author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of the GOP from the Republican point of point of view.

Michael Zak
www.granddpartisan.com

[Extraneus]

Thanks for the comment, Michael.

[Jack is Back!]

Gee, I wonder if Doris Kearns visits the Daily Kos to set the record straight there?

[Clarice]

Michael . you ought to respond to Friedman/Mandelbaum who are pushing a different line.

[BR]

When Obama said founder, his ship foundered and sank. More speeches! More speeches!

I love that new acronym, OMG = Obama Must Go!

[Jane]

New? That's been on my car since 2008.

[BR]

DoT, here's a 5 May 2010 thread at Ace of Spades where the MFM acronym may have begun.

[BR]

Oh great, Jane!

[Agent J]

Jane/BR it is like a used car, it's new to me! I am copying and posting on FB.

DOT and others, I to want to know what MFM stands for. I lay awake at night trying to come up with something for it..help!

[Andrew]

The first version was provided prior to the speech being delivered. (what he planned to say(

The second version was what he said.

You can parse what "Founder of the Republican Party" but I would have to say that "helped establish" is the same as "founding" You people are grasping at straws

Check out the official republican website:

"Abraham Lincoln helped establish the Republican Party
with a speech denouncing an 1854 law, written by a Democrat Senator,
that allowed slavery to expand into the western territories. Two years
later, he co-founded the Illinois GOP. Lincoln was runner-up for the
1856 Republican vice presidential nomination and then became a
Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate."Read more: http://www.gop.com/index.php/issues/heroes/abraham_lincoln-1/#ixzz1XblRRpVB

[PaulV]

Andrew, You are correct, Lincoln was not in Ripon in 1854 when Republican Party was founded. He does not know history and erroneously thinks his stimulus worked. You nailed his pompous rump.