CBSNews.com article contains language nearly identical to WorldNetDaily article, including falsehood

An October 10 article on the conservative news website WorldNetDaily about reactions to Ann Coulter's comment that Christians “just want Jews to be perfected, as they say” asserted that the controversy over her comment began when Media Matters for America, “a pro-Democrat media lobby headed by David Brock, noted Coulter's appearance on CNBC's 'The Big Idea' with host Donny Deutsch.” An October 12 CBSNews.com article contained large sections that were nearly identical to the WorldNetDaily report, including the inaccurate description of Media Matters. In fact, Media Matters is not affiliated with any party or candidate.

An October 10 article on the conservative news website WorldNetDaily about reactions to right-wing pundit Ann Coulter's comment that Christians “just want Jews to be perfected, as they say” asserted that the controversy over her comment began when Media Matters for America, “a pro-Democrat media lobby headed by David Brock, noted Coulter's appearance on CNBC's 'The Big Idea' with host Donny Deutsch.” An October 12 CBSNews.com article contained large sections that were nearly identical to the WorldNetDaily report, including the description of Media Matters: “Not unlike other recent media controversies, this one began when Media Matters, a pro-Democrat media lobby headed by David Brock, noted Coulter's appearance on CNBC's 'The Big Idea.' ” In fact, as noted on its website, Media Matters “is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media”; it is not affiliated with any party or candidate.

Large portions of the CBSNews.com article included almost identical language to WorldNetDaily's article. For instance, WorldNetDaily reported, “The National Jewish Democratic Council called on 'mainstream media outlets' to stop inviting Coulter as a guest commentator and pundit and strongly condemned her comments that in a perfect world all would be Christians.” The CBSNews.com article: “The council called on 'mainstream media outlets' to stop inviting Coulter as a guest commentator and pundit and strongly condemned her comments that in a perfect world all would be Christians.”

From there, both articles continued, using virtually identical language for the next 400-plus words. From CBSNews.com:

Not unlike other recent media controversies, this one began when Media Matters, a pro-Democrat media lobby headed by David Brock, noted Coulter's appearance on CNBC's “The Big Idea.” Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton recently claimed credit for helping to launch Media Matters.

In the Monday interview, Deutsch asked Coulter: “If you had your way ... and your dreams, which are genuine, came true ... what would this country look like?”

“It would look like New York City during the [2004] Republican National Convention,” Coulter said. “In fact, that's what I think heaven is going to look like.”

In her recollection of the convention, she said: “People were happy. They're Christian. They're tolerant. They defend America.”

“It would be better if we were all Christian?” Deutsch asked.

“Yes,” she said.

Later, Deutsch returned to the subject, saying: "(Y)ou said we should throw Judaism away and we should all be Christians."

“Yes,” she replied.

When pressed by Deutsch regarding whether she wanted to be like “the head of Iran” and “wipe Israel off the Earth,” Coulter stated: “No, we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say. ... That's what Christianity is. We believe the Old Testament, but ours is more like Federal Express. You have to obey laws.”

After a commercial break, Deutsch said that “Ann said she wanted to explain her last comment,” and asked her, “So you don't think that was offensive?”

Coulter responded: “No. I'm sorry. It is not intended to be. I don't think you should take it that way, but that is what Christians consider themselves: perfected Jews. We believe the Old Testament. As you know from the Old Testament, God was constantly getting fed up with humans for not being able to live up to all the laws. What Christians believe -- this is just a statement of what the New Testament is -- is that that's why Christ came and died for our sins. Christians believe the Old Testament. You don't believe our testament.”

Coulter later said: “We consider ourselves perfected Christians. For me to say that for you to become a Christian is to become a perfected Christian is not offensive at all.”

During the interview, Coulter also said: “I give all of these speeches at megachurches across America, and the one thing that's really striking about it is how utterly, completely diverse they are, and completely un-self-consciously. You walk past a mixed-race couple in New York, and it's like they have a chip on their shoulder. They're just waiting for somebody to say something, as if anybody would.”

From WorldNetDaily:

Not unlike other recent media controversies, this one began when Media Matters, a pro-Democrat media lobby headed by David Brock, noted Coulter's appearance on CNBC's “The Big Idea” with host Donny Deutsch. Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton recently claimed credit for helping to launch Media Matters.

In the Monday interview, Deutsch asked Coulter: “If you had your way ... and your dreams, which are genuine, came true ... what would this country look like?”

“It would look like New York City during the [2004] Republican National Convention.,” Coulter said. “In fact, that's what I think heaven is going to look like.”

In her recollection of the convention, she said: “People were happy. They're Christian. They're tolerant. They defend America.”

“It would be better if we were all Christian?” Deutsch asked.

“Yes,” she said.

Later, Deutsch returned to the subject, saying: "[Y]ou said we should throw Judaism away and we should all be Christians."

“Yes,” she replied again.

When pressed by Deutsch regarding whether she wanted to be like “the head of Iran” and “wipe Israel off the Earth,” Coulter stated: “No, we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say. ... That's what Christianity is. We believe the Old Testament, but ours is more like Federal Express. You have to obey laws.”

After a commercial break, Deutsch said that “Ann said she wanted to explain her last comment,” and asked her, “So you don't think that was offensive?”

Coulter responded: “No. I'm sorry. It is not intended to be. I don't think you should take it that way, but that is what Christians consider themselves: perfected Jews. We believe the Old Testament. As you know from the Old Testament, God was constantly getting fed up with humans for not being able to live up to all the laws. What Christians believe -- this is just a statement of what the New Testament is -- is that that's why Christ came and died for our sins. Christians believe the Old Testament. You don't believe our testament.”

Coulter later said: “We consider ourselves perfected Christians. For me to say that for you to become a Christian is to become a perfected Christian is not offensive at all.”

During the interview, Coulter also said: “I give all of these speeches at megachurches across America, and the one thing that's really striking about it is how utterly, completely diverse they are, and completely un-self-consciously. You walk past a mixed-race couple in New York, and it's like they have a chip on their shoulder. They're just waiting for somebody to say something, as if anybody would.”

According to the article, the WorldNetDaily article was posted at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on October 10. The CBSNews.com article indicates that it was posted on October 12, though the article does not indicate what time it was posted. Neither article carried a byline. The CBSNews.com article began with the notation "(CBS)."