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NY Times' Zeleny blogged that VFW greeted Clinton with "standing ovation," but that fact was missing from print article

August 21, 2007 1:58 pm ET
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SUMMARY: In a New York Times article, Jeff Zeleny characterized the "reception" for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at the VFW national convention as "respectful yet tepid," but he did not mention the "standing ovation" that Clinton received, which he had previously reported in a blog post.

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In an August 21 New York Times article, reporter Jeff Zeleny characterized the "reception" for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) national convention as "respectful yet tepid," making no mention of the "standing ovation" that Clinton received, which he reported the day before on the New York Times blog The Caucus.

Additionally, Zeleny opened his blog post by writing: "No, she did not get booed," suggesting that booing was the expected response to Clinton's appearance before the VFW, an organization of American citizens who served overseas in the U.S. armed forces during a foreign conflict.

In his August 20 "Caucus" posting, Zeleny wrote of Clinton's reception:

The audience of hundreds of veterans and spouses listened respectfully, greeting her with a standing ovation. During the Iraq portion of the speech, there was silence in the downtown convention hall, but at several other points, moderate applause rang out.

By contrast, in his August 21 Times article, Zeleny made no mention of the standing ovation he had reported the day before on the blog and stated that "[t]he reception for Mrs. Clinton was respectful yet tepid." In addition, he wrote in the August 21 article that the applause she did receive "often was started by three young people in the middle of the room" who were not wearing convention badges:

The reception for Mrs. Clinton was respectful yet tepid. Mr. [Republican presidential candidate John] McCain received loud applause when he suggested that a troop pullout would be "a mistake of colossal historical proportions."

[...]

Still, she devoted only a small part of a 41-minute speech specifically to the mission in Iraq, instead detailing legislation she has introduced to improve services for military veterans. She received no jeers when she called for a gradual withdrawal of troops from Iraq, but the downtown convention center was nearly silent.

[...]

Mr. McCain's speech was interrupted by friendly applause from people seated throughout the hall. When Mrs. Clinton spoke, applause often was started by three young people in the middle of the room who were not wearing the trademark blue V.F.W. cap or convention name badges. But when she finished her speech, she walked onto the convention center floor and shook hands and posed for photographs for several minutes. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, the country's oldest and largest organization of combat veterans, has a membership of 2.3 million. A survey released by the organization's internal magazine found that 91 percent of veterans voted in presidential races.

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    • Author by JLyons (August 21, 2007 2:14 pm ET)
         

      I do not know why they would cheer McCain, this is someone who supports the war that is killing the young colleagues of the VFW members.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by bruce1ace (August 21, 2007 2:18 pm ET)
           

        Maybe because he is a Vietnam Vet and a POW?  Doesn't that deserve some respect?

        Report Abuse
        • Author by JLyons (August 21, 2007 2:19 pm ET)
             

          Yes , you do have a point.

          Report Abuse
        • Author by chin music (August 21, 2007 5:49 pm ET)
             

          It deserves much respect, one would think.  On the other hand, John Kerry is a decorated combat veteran, but that didn't keep the VFW from going along with the sliming of him in '04.  After the "swift boat" debacle, the opinions of veterans organizations holds no interest for me.

          Report Abuse
      • Author by lostlogic (August 21, 2007 2:20 pm ET)
           

        Say what you will about McCain but at the end of the day he is one of them.  He is a vet.  he is not someone who didn't walk the walk.  I would imagine most believe his postion comes from a sincere place since he has in fact been there and would certainly not misunderstand the ramifications of his positions regarding war and combat. 

        Report Abuse
    • Author by CaseySpring (August 21, 2007 2:23 pm ET)
         

      McCain as a former POW Deserves all the respect in the world.  He is wrong on Iraq but he is a true patriot.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by smittymatt16 (August 21, 2007 3:38 pm ET)
           

        Good post.  I appreciate the fact that you can respectfully disagree with someone's position on foreign affairs, but be humble and respect Sen. McCain's service to our country. 

        Report Abuse
    • Author by anotheramerican (August 21, 2007 2:29 pm ET)
         

      Gee I don't know where anyone gets the idea Hillary is a calculating politician. (snicker)

      When Mrs. Clinton spoke, applause often was started by three young people in the middle of the room who were not wearing the trademark blue V.F.W. cap or convention name badges.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (August 21, 2007 2:35 pm ET)
           

        Gee I don't know where anyone gets the idea Hillary is a calculating politician.

        Probably the same place they get the idea that you have anything worthwhile to contribute to any subject. (snicker)

        Report Abuse
      • Author by lostlogic (August 21, 2007 2:46 pm ET)
           

        Gee I don't know where anyone gets the idea Hillary is a calculating politician. (snicker)-Another American.

        You are finally getting it...the idea usually comes from bogus and misleading reporting...glad you finally picked that up.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by anotheramerican (August 21, 2007 3:02 pm ET)
             

          Maybe not. What I don't get is why didn't MMFA refute that little tidbit?  I mean why was it even bolded in the first place? 

          Report Abuse
          • Author by seeryer (August 21, 2007 3:37 pm ET)
               

            Hey Genius, you think these three people started the standing ovation that greeted her?  Where were these three when the hall was "completely silent"?  If there were 3K in attendance, how could this NYT reporter spot these three and note that they weren't members of VFW, as was implied.  The point here is this reporter reported biasly from the first sentence.  Imagine if an AP reporter would have started a story about Bush speaking in New Orleans and it started, "No, President Bush was not booed by the citizens of NOLA".  Would Limbaugh and Hannity suggest the reporter had a bias about the way he would be received in NOLA.  IT would have made Hannity's America!!! 

            Report Abuse
            • Author by anotheramerican (August 21, 2007 3:54 pm ET)
                 

              Thanks for the compliment!

              Hey, why would you believe there was a standing o and not believe from the same reporter there were three young implants in the crowd? 

              I am not disputing either.

              Report Abuse
              • Author by seeryer (August 21, 2007 4:25 pm ET)
                   

                The reporter did not mention the standing O in the story.  Or the editors nixed it.  I find it far more plausible that they gave her a standing O out of respect for her standing as a sitting Senator and former first lady than I do that 3 non VFW members were leading the applauses.  Men and women who have fought for this country don't take their que from three people out of 3,000.  Bad reporters write bad stories and people like yourself, who normally vomit on the NYT, use it as confirmation of her calculating nature.  Ironic, don't you think?  

                Report Abuse
              • Author by solon (August 21, 2007 6:46 pm ET)
                   

                And the proof they were implants was...drumroll please as we await the inevitable

                Report Abuse
      • Author by magnolialover (August 21, 2007 2:58 pm ET)
           

        Let me guess.

        You got this off of World Net Daily? Or some other such alleged bastion of information? Or off of Powerline or Freeperville?

        Would you like to cite a source for this information? Or are you afraid to put that out there because most, if not just about everyone on here, would most likely destroy your source.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by anotheramerican (August 21, 2007 3:05 pm ET)
             

          Magnolia,

          Hahaha.. You caught me. I sure did. It was one of those alleged bastions of information.  ;-)

          Report Abuse
        • Author by anotheramerican (August 21, 2007 3:07 pm ET)
             

          Magnolia,

          I'm afraid it would destroy my source if I told you.

           

          Report Abuse
          • Author by magnolialover (August 21, 2007 3:13 pm ET)
               

            Therefore, I and everyone else, can just assume that you're making it up. If you want to drop items like this, at least have some back up, and or available sourcing (which just makes you a liar in this case). But that's OK, we'll just go along with our lives not believing a word that you've said in this, or just about any other thread.

            No source, no credibility, unless you're stating an opinion, but you weren't, you were stating something as a fact, with no possible way to verify it. But that's OK, rumor and innuendo are the last bastions of "information" that the republicans have. Keep up the great work!

            Report Abuse
            • Author by magnolialover (August 21, 2007 3:36 pm ET)
                 

              I now take back what I said above about this particular post, and promote myself to "Dunce of the Day" on this one. Stupid me.

              But, see how easy it is to take credit for one's missteps?

              Report Abuse
              • Author by anotheramerican (August 21, 2007 3:57 pm ET)
                   

                Foggedaboudit.  It happens to all of us at one time or another. ;-)  I couldn't resist having a little fun. 

                You're a good sport!    

                Report Abuse
                • Author by magnolialover (August 21, 2007 4:10 pm ET)
                     

                  When I do something dumb, and or wrong, I've got to take credit for it. It's one of those "I'm not wrong often, but when I am, I take credit where credit is due". Just don't tell my fiance, she would use it against me forever.

                  Report Abuse
              • Author by worrierking (August 21, 2007 5:07 pm ET)
                   

                "Dunce of the Day"?

                Don't be so hard on yourself Magnolia.

                The "Dunce of the Day" has been our beloved president, everyday since January 20, 2001.

                Report Abuse

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