Katie Couric and her selectively edited Q&A. Why are the Anti-Gun Crusaders so dishonest?

[Press Virginia]

Katie Couric has been caught with her finger on the delete button.

The Yahoo! News anchor's anti-gun documentary, Under the Gun, is now airing on EPIX. In it, Couric interviews some members of the gun rights group, Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL).

At a little over 20 minutes into the movie, Couric asks the group:


"If there are no background checks for gun purchasers, how do you prevent felons or terrorists from purchasing a gun?”

For the next nine seconds, the VCDL members stare at the ground in silence. Here's the footage:

Except now, The Washington Free Beacon has obtained the unedited audio from the actual interview that proves they were anything but silent in answering her query. Listen below as members of the VCDL shower her with answers for four minutes straight:






[link:http://freebeacon.com/issues/audio-shows-katie-couric-gun-documentary-deceptively-edited-interview-pro-gun-activists/|

[Brickbat]

1. The idea that they wouldn't have an answer for the question is laughable.

Many of questions and stats that people seem to think are irrefutable or unanswerable "gotchas" simply aren't -- unless you ignore the answers. Then you showed 'em!

[Press Virginia]

2. The very premise of the question is ridiculous. No one is advocating there be no background checks

Most people just don't think you should have to run a background check on Uncle Skip or your buddy from work because they want to buy your used glock 19.

[Duckhunter935]

4. Yes it is indeed

[Duckhunter935]

3. Not surprising

That's all the controllers have is deception and lies

[Eleanors38]

5. The Bellesiles School of Intellectual Honesty.

[ileus]

6. Controllers gotta control....truth be damned.

[Press Virginia]

8. It may be. But that doesn't change the fact that the video from the movie

doesn't match the audio from the original interview, does it?

And both are provided so

[Press Virginia]

13. Great! Why did they edit them out and

Substitute silence

[Lint Head]

23. Silence is the technique I choose. Though some would use a

silencer. I will not be sucked into a debate, nor reply to anything, right or wrong, postulated by a right wing rag. You can do what you please. Until the possibility Trump is inaugurated, it's still a free country.

[Press Virginia]

25. IOWs you applaud the dishonest portrayal of what happened.

Got it

[Lint Head]

26. You obviously "don't" get it. So let's end the conversation here.

[Press Virginia]

27. I get it. You're ignoring the difference between the audio and edited video

because you don't like the source that provided it.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

31. Some folks think Bowling for Columbine was a documentary.

[DonP]

32. Nah, the "source" is just an excuse, more like they don't like the results

"Selective perception" is a highly developed talent with gun control fans.

It's the only way they can stay above water most of the time.

[beevul]

35. You don't seem very silent.

Oh, you mean applying your technique to others , as you finish the post with talk of a "free country".

[Lint Head]

36. .

typical.

[beevul]

38. Typical in that I point out hypocrisy when I see it...

And your post definitely qualified.

[gejohnston]

16. Yes the answers are full of holes.

This is how I would answer.
"Some people would also say that dinosaurs and humans co existed before the great flood, it doesn't mean they should be able to make policy. First, criminals and terrorists don't go to licensed gun stores or gun shows. We know that on studies like the Wright and Rossi studies decades ago. That being the case, background checks won't prevent criminals and terrorists from getting guns because they them. The two Quran Salifasts in California got them through a straw purchase, in violation of federal law. The buyer transferred the guns to the terrorists in violation of California's UBC. Why would they if they can get machine guns on the black market just like Quran thumpers did in Paris and other parts of Europe? It doesn't matter where you are on this planet, if you can get heroin, coke, or pot, you can get a gun. Heroin, cocaine, and other drugs have been illegal for over a century. Pot has been illegal since the FDR administration. Last year, there were more heroin deaths than homicides. These people who kill each other over market share won't be able to get guns? How do we have a serious conversation with people with the critical thinking skills of young earth creationists."

The laws on the books regarding selling guns to people who should not have them have been rendered toothless by NRA lobbyists for weapons manufacturers.

For example?
I have a Bible, Book of Mormon, Tao te Ching, and several guns.

[Lint Head]

22. I said I "own" a Bible. If someone jumps to the conclusion that

owning a Bible, or The Satanic Verses, which I also "own" is a reason to attack the "assumed" religion or non-religion of a person then that assumption is void of any reasoning. I own quite a number of books of science and religion. I do believe that using Christianity to say one is pro life then to be for the death penalty or use of a device to kill and a will to kill is not pro life. I will protect myself and family. I am for life and I am for protecting others whose lives are threatened. But I will never logically understand a right wing religious nut job's reasoning the kill. Nor will I ever accept that nut job's propaganda to justify such. Not all Christians are idiotic. The hijackers of religion crosses all genres of religion. Even anarchists come in all stripes.

[gejohnston]

24. I was simply making a statement

I do believe that using Christianity to say one is pro life then to be for the death penalty or use of a device to kill and a will to kill is not pro life.

The Catholic Church, for its many faults, is consistent on that issue. However, nothing in the Bible that I know of objects to abortion. In fact, the folks in the OT were kind of like the Spartans and Romans in that way. Once you get away from the bumper stickers from the two extremes it is really a complex bioethics issue and, quite frankly, an intellectual quagmire.

I will protect myself and family. I am for life and I am for protecting others whose lives are threatened.

As would I.

But I will never logically understand a right wing religious nut job's reasoning the kill. Nor will I ever accept that nut job's propaganda to justify such. Not all Christians are idiotic.

I don't either, but I'm not overly concerned about Christians, especially on the global scale. There is a difference between a religion of a supposed hippie carpenter and a genocidal warlord.

[Lint Head]

28. .

[Kang Colby]

20. CNN and WaPo are now running with it.

Here the Erik Wemple Blog stroke our gray beard and reflect: In the years we’ve covered and watched media organizations, we’ve scarcely seen a thinner, more weaselly excuse than the one in the block above. For starters, it appears to count as an admission that this segment of the documentary was edited. The artistic “pause” provides the viewer not a “moment to consider this important question”; it provides viewers a moment to lower their estimation of gun owners. That’s it. As far as the rest of the statement, adults in 2016 may no longer write the phrase “apologize if anyone felt that way” and preserve their standing as professionals. To compound matters, here’s the accompanying statement from Couric:

“I support Stephanie’s statement and am very proud of the film.”

That, from the Katie Couric of Yahoo News, of “CBS Evening News,” of “60 Minutes,” of the “Today” show and so on.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2016/05/25/audiotape-katie-couric-documentary-falsely-depicts-gun-supporters-as-idiots/

Another article from CNN.
http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/25/media/katie-couric-guns-stephanie-soechtig/index.html?section=money_latest

Fox News will be doing an interview tomorrow with the VCDL.

Of all the pro-rights organizations to defraud, Katie Couric choose the VCDL....LOL. Those guys and gals are a political powerhouse in Virginia. When Terry McAuliffe took reciprocity from Virginia in December 2015....three months later they had national reciprocity. That wasn't an accident folks.

I had no idea that this silly movie would bear so much fruit. Thank you, Katie Couric for helping to push the narrative that gun control advocates are dishonest.

[sarisataka]

46. I see you deleted

Your initial post condemning the use of right wing sources after I inquired your opinion of this OP http://www.democraticunderground.com/1172195033

Newsbusters is a ring wing source they clearly state their purpose is to " Exposing & Combating Liberal Media Bias" The OP referenced is using it in an antigun post.

Do you have the consistency to condemn the use of an extremely right wing source again or are you brave enough to step forward and say that such use is ok because gunz? Alternatively you can delete more posts showing a lack of conviction of the beliefs you so strongly stated...

[friendly_iconoclast]

9. Genetic fallacy aside, do you dispute the contents of the post?

[Lint Head]

12. I do not and will never consider propaganda from right wing

rags. I'm a Democrat. This is DU not RU.

[Press Virginia]

14. Do democrats condone editing out answers

given to a question, substituting silence to give the impression there were no answers to the question

[DonP]

15. Supporting fraud is now a Dem value?

Who knew?

[Marengo]

30. There are no ethics in the enforcement of correct thought.

[TupperHappy]

17. Are you trying to claim that the audio clip is fake?

If not, if you acknowledge that it's real, what difference does it make who reported it?

[gejohnston]

11. and Media Matters puts out propaganda for the regressive left.

The full clip is on sound cloud. Does the Free Beacon have a right of center bias? Yes, but it doesn't mean the clip was fake or that the source was lying. It is called the genetic fallacy.
I listened to the whole clip. None of them gave the answer I would give.

[Giggity]

21. Here's the Washington Post.

Not that it matters. Facts are facts, no matter the source.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2016/05/25/audiotape-katie-couric-documentary-falsely-depicts-gun-supporters-as-idiots/?client=safari#

[Eleanors38]

33. I think Nixon's secretary started the erasure/delete trend, no?

If you wish to deny the accusation that Katie was using the delete, please do so. Otherwise, it matters little where the truth originates. Incidentally, most MSM is more than willing to accept -- even promote -- deception when it comes to its hard-line gun-control agenda, so Kouric's loud fart in a quiet church will be roundly ignored, certainly not investigated. So you have to find the truth where it lays. Funny, how that works out when it comes to intellectual honesty and sourcing in DU.

[sarisataka]

42. I will patiently await

Your view on this OP http://www.democraticunderground.com/1172195033

It is from http://newsbusters.org/ ...
"Exposing & Combating Liberal Media Bias"

[Oneka]

18. Meet the new Rachel!!

Same as the old Rachel!

[Kang Colby]

19. VCDL sent this out in an email blast yesterday.

https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/727/2016/05/sort/time_rev/page/1/entry/2:13/20160523130145:05635CDE-2108-11E6-A120-F5DCEF10038B/

The full story is included at the link above. The pro rights guys and gals here will like the read.

[TeddyR]

44. VCDL is a bit too conservative for me

But I may have to sign up because these lying, dishonest controllers are liars and dishonest. If a pro-gun group had does something as dishonest the righteous outrage from the media and DU members would be palpable.

[Kang Colby]

45. I did sign up. And I'm not even a VA resident.

I have a lot of respect for the VCDL and Philip Van Cleave.

[pablo_marmol]

29. Feel the need to once again point out the irony of the title 'Under the Gun' --

"Gun control" took it's first truly serious hit when Jimmy Carter commissioned James Wright, Peter Rossi and Kathleen Daly to study the effects of the 1968 Gun Control Act and report back.

Jimmy didn't like what the liberal criminologists told him -- that there was no evidence that suggested any net benefit from "gun control". And keep in mind -- these were criminologists that originally signed off on the assumption that more guns = more gun violence until their research convinced them otherwise.

The name of the book that detailed their research: Under the Gun

http://www.amazon.com/Under-Gun-Weapons-Violence-America/dp/0202303063/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464245397&sr=1-1&keywords=james+wright+peter+rossi+under+the+gun

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

34. An editor can have more impact than an interview participant

Stephanie Soechtig, the director of the film, said in a statement on Wednesday that the editing was not intended to portray activists negatively.

“There are a wide range of views expressed in the film,” she said. “My intention was to provide a pause for the viewer to have a moment to consider this important question before presenting the facts on Americans’ opinions on background checks. I never intended to make anyone look bad and I apologize if anyone felt that way.”

In a brief statement of her own, Ms. Couric said, “I support Stephanie’s statement and am very proud of the film.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/business/media/audio-of-couric-interview-shows-editing-slant-in-documentary-site-claims.html?_r=0

[pablo_marmol]

37. Oh FFS -- Couric's QUESTION was edited as well!

Compare the original question on the audio to the one that appears on the video. During the actual interview -- when the panel began immediately responding to Couric's query, her example centers around a purchase made through an FFL at a gun store. She's clearly oblivious to the fact that ALL sales through FFL's involve background checks! Holy fuck --- the ignorance burns!

Notice that one of the panel members commented on this. The question had to be edited to cover up Couric's stupid question. You'll note that on video, she doesn't use the example of a gun store and FFL.

So, right out of the gate her strawman needed to be confronted. Then, as ge pointed out the 'some would say' "argument" deserved an aggressive response as well. Some would say that cows jump over the moon on Wednesday nights.......but that doesn't make it so. Why don't we check in with the experts -- criminologists -- to take our cues? (Then on to Wright/Rossi etc.)

So one of Couric's people claimed that the pause was inserted to allow viewers to digest the question? LOL........you betcha. We're all dumber than a crate of hammers! We believe you! And Couric stands behind this woman's "explanation" for the editing. Yup. She's got all of the "integrity" of Rachel Maddow on this issue!

[ileus]

39. They beat the dumb cow at her own game and she couldn't let that air.

I'm sure if that question was asked to your typical banner (her intended audience) they'd stare and be clueless. These guys beat her down for 5 minutes with the truth and logic, she's couldn't let that air.

[DonP]

40. Now she's blaming the editor of the "documentary" ...

... and claiming "she never meant that to happen". Wonder who gave that editor direction on what to cut and how to splice? And who approved the final release print?

But her name is credited as "Executive Producer" and as a "Co-Writer" and pretty much every other responsible position for the film.

She's proven herself a contemporary Leni Riefenstahl, with the same level if "integrity" and now she's just upset that she got caught and lost the last few shreds of journalistic credibility she had remaining.

Very smart move by the VCDL folks, recording the whole interview to cover things.

Funny, why would they not trust a lame stream media type to give them a fair shake? After all, they are so even handed and honest.

[pablo_marmol]

41. Kicked - in appreciation of The Controller Cricket Orchestra NT

[Puha Ekapi]

43. Sing it!