Fox News’ Major Garrett, whom Glenn Beck claimed to never gets to ask questions at the White House, asked White House press secretary Robert Gibbs about people claiming to be on a so-called list and receiving unsolicited email from the White House. Fox News then edits video to show Gibbs using the word “list” first in order to back up Garrett’s claim of said act. The actual transcript tells a different story… Note the bold sections and where they match up to the actual transcript.
On August 14, Major Garrett stated the following:
GARRETT: I have three times now told Robert Gibbs I have emails to present to him or anyone else he assigns at the White House to look into this, provided I receive substantive answers back as to how these people’s names ended up on a White House list. And remember, I never said “list” until Robert Gibbs said “list.” He said it first, then I repeated the word “list,” so apparently there is one. I don’t say that; he said it.
August 13 Major Garrett’s exchange with Robert Gibbs, edited:
GARRETT: — I receive e-mails from people who have never, ever signed up for anything related to this White House, Senator Obama as a candidate, Senator Obama as anything, and have received e-mails from David Axelrod. How could that be?
[Fox's video cut]
GIBBS: I’d be interested to see who you got that e-mail from and whether or not they’re on the list. I don’t –
[Fox's video cut]
GIBBS: Again, I just want to be — but I just want to be very –
GARRETT: So what you’re telling me is I need to give you these people’s e-mails so you can check them on a list? I’m just asking.
Here is the actual transcript showing how the video was manipulated:
GARRETT: Robert, a couple things on public option. It wasn’t listed in the email that David Axelrod sent out today where he was defining principal goals for health care reform. By my reading of it, I didn’t see any mention of a public option as a mechanism of achieving what you just outlined. Was that an oversight or is this — are there other –
GIBBS: I’d have to go back and reread the email.
GARRETT: Are there other priorities that take a higher precedent –
GIBBS: Well, again –
GARRETT: — for the president than a public option?
GIBBS: Let me be clear — I thought I was a minute ago, but I’ll take another whack at it — this is an option that provides choice and competition in an otherwise narrow or closed insurance market. That’s the president’s goal, is to ensure that if you didn’t get your health insurance through your employer, you didn’t have those type of options, that you would have something that might compete with the only game in town. That’s — I think that’s in David’s email, choice and competition.
GARRETT: Speaking of the email, how was the list for who would receive it determined?
GIBBS: I believe it’s for people that have signed up to receive email updates from the White House.
GARRETT: The reason I ask is I have received emails from people who did not, in any way, shape, or form, seek any communication from the White House, who have never registered on OFA, who have never registered on a campaign website –
GIBBS: Well, hold on, let’s –
GARRETT: Let me finish my question, let me finish my question.
GIBBS: No, no, no, but let’s be clear, because –
GARRETT: Let me finish my question.
GIBBS: No, no, no, but let’s be clear before you — I’m going to give you a chance to finish your question. You’ve done this a couple of times, Major, and I just want to be very clear, OK? OFA — no, no, no, no, don’t look funny. OFA, whether Obama for America or Organizing for America, has nothing to do with, never has had anything to do with what — if you sign up for, through whitehouse.gov, to receive emails, so let’s just — the reason I interrupted you is because I want you to rephrase your question that doesn’t continue to assume that –
GARRETT: Well, all I’m trying to get at is –
GIBBS: — somebody is violating the law and mixing up political –
GARRETT: — I receive e-mails from people who have never, ever signed up for anything related to this White House, Senator Obama as a candidate, Senator Obama as anything, and have received e-mails from David Axelrod. How could that be?
GIBBS: I’d have to look at who you said got the email.
GARRETT: I mean, do you seek other pieces of information identifying who might be curious about health care outside of people who have asked for emails?
GIBBS: I’m sorry, say that again.
GARRETT: Do you in any way seek databases or information about people who might be interested in health care?
GIBBS: I will certainly check. I will certainly check. I am not under that impression. But again –
GARRETT: I mean, folks have emailed me — I just want to know — would like to know how they get an e-mail from the White House when they have never asked for one.
GIBBS: I’d be interested to see who you got that e-mail from and whether or not they’re on the list. I don’t –
[Fox's video cut]
GIBBS: Again, I just want to be — but I just want to be very –
GARRETT: So what you’re telling me is I need to give you these people’s e-mails so you can check them on a list? I’m just asking.
GIBBS: Well, you’re asking me if they’re on a list.
GARRETT: No, they’re telling me –
GIBBS: If you can figure out a different way of checking without asking me to double-check the name, I’m happy to –
GARRETT: Perhaps I’m not phrasing this correctly. They’re telling me they’re not — they can’t be on a list because they never asked for an e-mail from the White House.
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