The Failed Pacifist

G.O.P Rewriting History with Oreos?

Since the notion of rewriting history seems to be in the air, it seems to be a good time to mention the whole Oreo tempest, which has been brewing this month. The Baltimore City Paper has a good review of the story about Oreo Cookies reportedly being thrown at Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, who is black, during a debate in 2002.

While the story has been widely reported as fact by at least a half-dozen news outfits, it seems nobody, including the reporters who wrote about the incident, have any direct evidence that it actually happened. Instead, S.A. Miller, the reporter for the Washington Times who first wrote about the incident earlier this month, is quoted as justifying his assertion because he had "no reason to doubt that it happened". Indeed, Mr. Miller can't recall where he heard it, except from "people on the Ehrlich campaign". Republican Robert Ehrlich is Maryland's governor and was Steele's running mate.

Mr. Steele is now saying he was never "pelted" with cookies (as had been reported), but "The one or two that I saw at my feet were there. I just happened to look down and see them".

So, the story goes from "It was raining Oreos. They were thick in the air like locusts", to being "one or two" cookies on the stage, near Steele's feet.

via Romenesko

posted by Doran @ 1:16 PM