Wash. Times' Curl claims Obama “cut out” bipartisanship line he actually delivered

Written by Tom Allison

Published

In a September 10 article, The Washington Times' Joseph Curl falsely claimed that President Obama “cut out” a line about “bring[ing] the best ideas of both parties together” from his prepared remarks during his September 9 address to the joint session of Congress. In fact, not only did Obama not “cut out” the line about working in a bipartisan manner to achieve health care reform, Curl's own paper quoted Obama as delivering it.

Curl falsely claimed Obama “cut out” line about bringing “both parties together” in health care debate

From Curl's September 10 Washington Times article:

But in the end, it was what Mr. Obama left unsaid.

“Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together, and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do,” said his prepared remarks, e-mailed to reporters hours before his address.

He cut out the line.

But Obama delivered line exactly as prepared

From CNN's September 9 coverage of Obama's address before the joint session of Congress:

OBAMA: Well, the time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action. Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do. Now is the time to deliver on health care.

Wash. Times quoted Obama's remarks in a separate article

From a September 10 Washington Times article:

He warned liberal Democrats not to be obstinate on the public option and extended his hand to Republicans. He praised Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, for contributing an idea to the debate -- while insisting he won't let Republicans spread false political attacks to stop the plan.

“The time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed,” Mr. Obama said. “Now is the season for action. Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do.”

UPDATE: After Media Matters for America published this item and requested a correction, The Washington Times removed Curl's false claim from the online version of his article without indicating that the piece had been updated.