Yesterday, CBS News reported that Ken Starr had come out against the filibuster rule change, and they quoted him as saying that the change represented a "radical departure" and that he opposed its implementation. This got a tremendous amount of exposure in the blogosphere, especially among those who normally vilify the former Whitewater special prosecutor at every other opportunity. Ramesh Ponnuru at the National Review Online contacted Starr to confirm his position on the Byrd/nuclear option -- and the response is quite different from what CBS first reported:

"In the piece that I have now seen, and which I gather is being lavishly quoted, CBS employed two snippets. The 'radical departure' snippet was specifically addressed -- although this is not evidenced whatever from the clip -- to the practice of invoking judicial philosopy as a grounds for voting against a qualified nominee of integrity and experience. I said in sharp language that that practice was wrong. I contrasted the current practice . . . with what occurred during Ruth Ginsburg's nomination process, as numerous Republicans voted (rightly) to confirm a former ACLU staff lawyer. They disagreed with her positions as a lawyer, but they voted (again, rightly) to confirm her. Why? Because elections, like ideas, have consequences. . . . In the interview, I did indeed suggest, and have suggested elsewhere, that caution and prudence be exercised (Burkean that I am) in shifting/modifying rules (that's the second snippet), but I likewise made clear that the 'filibuster' represents an entirely new use (and misuse) of a venerable tradition. . . .

"[O]ur friends are way off base in assuming that the CBS snippets, as used, represent (a) my views, or (b) what I in fact said."

In other words, once again CBS and the Exempt Media has Dowdified a response to fit their story, cutting words and phrases completely out of context to give the reverse impression of what Starr said.

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» And the Heat Begins from RightPundit
As I posted on Thursday, Kenneth Starr is telling people that CBS News took his quote out of context when it used a snippet of an interview with him to attack the Republicans' efforts to end the democrats' filibuster of judicial nominees. As we all ... [Read More]

Tracked on May 12, 2005 11:39 PM

» Slow Learners at CBS cut & paste Ken Starr from The Smoothing Plane
Starr has asked CBS for the entire transcript of his interview. They are refusing...CBS is refusing to release the transcript? Have they forgotten that Jordan fellow? [Read More]

Tracked on May 13, 2005 5:53 PM