In the "Better Late Than Never" category, CBS News has finally reported a misstatement by Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton my colleague Rich Noyes exposed last Tuesday.
For those with short memories:
In a speech on Iraq policy delivered Monday at George Washington University, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton recalled facing “sniper fire” on her 1996 trip to Bosnia to visit U.S. troops on a peacekeeping mission. But reporters traveling with the then-First Lady made no reference to any “sniper fire” at the time, and pictures of Clinton arriving at the main air base in Tuzla (see attached video) don’t show anyone ducking or covering.
The video contradicting Clinton's recent account of this trip referenced by Noyes was a report by Sharyl Attkisson for the March 25, 1996, CBS "This Morning." Almost exactly twelve years later, and six days after NewsBusters first exposed this gaffe, Attkinson logged the following report on Monday's CBS "Evening News":
HARRY SMITH, anchor:
Now to the presidential campaign. Hillary Clinton has long been touting her experience, but questions are being raised now about whether she's done some embellishing of her record. Here's investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.
SHARYL ATTKISSON reporting:
It was supposed to be an example of Hillary Clinton's battle-tested experience.
Senator HILLARY CLINTON: I remember landing under sniper fire...
ATTKISSON: In the speech last week, Senator Clinton was referring to her visit to Tuzla, Bosnia, in 1996 as first lady. The brutal war was over, but hostilities continued, and though the trip was exactly 12 years ago tomorrow, the memories seemed etched in Clinton's mind.
Sen. CLINTON: There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base.
ATTKISSON: Problem is, that's not what happened. And we should know. CBS News accompanied the first lady and daughter Chelsea on that Bosnia trip. That's Senator Clinton talking to me on the military flight into Tuzla, and these are the pictures we recorded of the greeting ceremony when the plane landed. Compare that to Senator Clinton's account.
Sen. CLINTON: I remember landing under sniper fire. There was no greeting ceremony, and we basically were told to run to our cars. Now, that is what happened.
(From file footage) Thank you!
ATTKISSON: There was no sniper either when Senator Clinton visited two Army outposts, where she posed for photos, and no sniper fire back at the base where she sang at a USO show starring Sinbad and Sheryl Crow.
(Excerpt of Sheryl Crow performing)
ATTKISSON: Referring to the CBS News video, Clinton aides today acknowledged her arrival in Bosnia was not quite as dramatic as Clinton put it.
Ms. LISSA MUSCATINE (Clinton Campaign Aide): She meant that there was fire in the hillside around the area when we landed, which was the case.
Mr. MIKE ALLEN (Politico.com): Who knows if she misremembered, misspoke, exaggerated, whatever. It makes the case for Senator Obama that all this experience that she's been talking about is at least partly her imagination.
ATTKISSON: Hundreds of thousands have viewed the video online in just the past few days, a reminder that, in politics, memories should always match the videotape. Sharyl Attkisson, CBS News, Washington.Nice report, CBS. Only took you six days.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.





















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
It's all about Obama
March 25, 2008 - 10:04 ET by exLibIf it weren't for Obama, this would have been spiked. Since the media is in the tank for Obama, someone from the Obama campaign must have brought it to their attention and pushed for the story.
agreed
March 25, 2008 - 10:19 ET by candanceAfter weeks of nonstop Obama coverage, Hillary makes the news again at last...and it's a story about a lie she told. That's the only reason CBS ran with this.
Can anyone say - selective memory?
March 25, 2008 - 11:32 ET by FastEdCan't find law firm documents, won't stand by her man, the board of WalMart? I'll have the tax returns released soon -
I'm beginning to believe that genes can be transferred during the wedding. Neither billery can remember what really happend.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Two Weeks
March 25, 2008 - 10:40 ET by indianaconservativeAs far as I can see, this has been out for at least two weeks. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/03/sinbad_unloads_on_hillary_clin.html
Hil = most divisive political personna of our times
March 25, 2008 - 10:41 ET by jondelwicheThis story is the biggest single indictment of her credibility
since she feigned surprise about Bill and Monica.
People don't "forget" or "misspeak" when they face a true
life threatening situation. Double that if her kid would
have been in harm's way.....
As a war veteran, I can say life in rural America is pretty calm
so my war zone memories are, in contrast, very vivid.
This proves she and Bill are perfect for each other, as they
will tell any lie, or exaggerate any point, in their quest for
power. Who supports these losers?????
That's what I dont get.
Back up one lie with another
March 25, 2008 - 10:42 ET by dboAnd the money quote from Hellary is:
“This has been a very long campaign. … Last week for the first time in 12 years or so, I misspoke.”
Liars
March 25, 2008 - 10:47 ET by indianaconservativeIts funny how she and Bill will lie about anything. It doesn't matter how big or small. For example, years ago when we had that large power blackout out east. Hillary comes out and says that they feel the pain too, that the lights were out at her house too. Problem was that they were on because she has a generator. That's fine, I would expect them to have a generator and I have no problem with that. But to go out and lie about such a small item just totry to get "Brownie Points" with the public just shows that they cannot be trusted for ANYTHING!
NewsBusters - You'll hear it here, first.
March 25, 2008 - 11:47 ET by Gary HallNewsBusters - You'll hear it here, first.
As a fellow baby boomer, I
March 25, 2008 - 11:58 ET by QueenMumAs a fellow baby boomer, I would have advised Mrs. Clinton to blame it on a brain fart. The RC and I are always misremembering things. We always joke that between the two of us, we have one working brain. But I suppose that wouldn't be a prudent thing for a presidential candidate to admit.
I am the exotic Queen Mum, and I approved this message.
Nice try...
March 25, 2008 - 12:06 ET by Tom1969caNo, what she meant was that she "land(ed) under sniper fire. There was no greeting ceremony,
and we basically were told to run to our cars. Now, that is what
happened." "Under sniper fire" does not mean there was shooting in the general vicinity; "under fire" is understood by anyone with military experience to mean "shooting at us". The video shows that there was a greeting ceremony, and no-one ran to their cars.
Of course, for the Clintons "reality" is whatever they say it is. Comedian/impressionist Frank Calliendo commented once that Bill Clinton is "the sort of person who could walk out on this very stage, look the audience in the eye and say, 'I am not here!'" And people would be amazed at how Clinton could simultaneously be there and not there at the same time...
~~~
I admire FDR for not insisting on getting the approval of France and Germany before going to war.
--Anne Coulter
CBS
March 25, 2008 - 12:36 ET by R D HelmCatching their Breath to tell the Story (even if it is nearly a week old).
Actually, I'm surprised they reported it at all, as I didn't think this story would see the light of day among the DNC dog-washers in the liberal MSM.
Perhaps CBS decided to cover Hillary's "neurological misfire" in order to not have to report that Obama was lying like a rug when he told us that sob story about his Porsche-piloting pastor of twenty years being the product of an underprivileged upbringing.
Are there any honest politicians around anymore in either party?
Theme for Election '08: I want my mommy!
hillary clinton caught in another lie, claims she's human
March 25, 2008 - 20:46 ET by lunaticcringeradiosorry i just couldn't wait until newsbusters links that story.
lunaticcringeradio