Media spokespeople and PR people alike know that being quoted out of context happens all the time and it’s maddening. Regardless of the prep work and all the 1:1 media training on the planet, people continue to get quoted out of context. This usually happens for one of two reasons. The first and most common reason is that the journalist simply wasn’t paying attention, therefore didn’t understand the point and got the quote wrong. Contrary to conventional wisdom, most media people don’t get up in the morning, eat their young and go in search of trying to ruin someone’s reputation by quoting them out of context. The second reason is harsher in that some journalists will take a quote out of context in order to sensationalize a story. In the old days this only used to happen in rags like the National Enquirer. Unfortunately, today even well respected media outlets often quote out of context because it sells newspapers/magazines, makes for good television, and starts a firestorm of chatter in the blogosphere. 

I have been continuously irked by an out-of-context quote that Democrats have been using to bash Senator McCain. For the record, I am a bleeding heart liberal. The fact that I am about to defend a Republican means hell just froze over and pigs learned to fly. Regardless, I believe in speaking the truth and holding no cherished outcome. Obama, Clinton, and Dean are all over the airwaves and in print talking about how McCain thinks it’s OK to spend “100 years in Iraq.” Come on people. Get real. While I don’t think McCain is the most qualified Presidential candidate, painting him as an ignorant, heartless lover of wars is absolutely ridiculous.

One second after making the 100 year comment, McCain said in the same breath, “…as long as Americans are not being injured, harmed, wounded or killed.” When you add that really important part of the statement back in, the comment is benign and certainly not newsworthy. Obama, Clinton, and Dean have all been on the receiving end of being quoted out of context. They should know better than to use this tactic (code for “pull this crap”). Clearly two wrongs don’t make a right unless it’s Wright.

Have you ever been impacted by an out-of-context quote?