Political Quotes

“today I stand as co-chair of the Afghan Caucus with the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). Newsweek reporter Michael Isikoff fabricated an incident at Guantanamo Bay where American soldiers allegedly desecrated a copy of the Quran. Yesterday, Newsweek editor Mark Whitaker announced that Newsweek may have ``inaccurately reported'' the incident; yet he refuses to run a retraction. Isikoff inaccurately reported an incident that led to riots throughout the Muslim world. Isikoff inaccurately reported an incident that led to the death of 17 innocent people. Isikoff inaccurately reported an incident that resulted in the international condemnation of the American military. Newsweek's behavior is not merely unfortunate. It is criminal. Journalists wield considerable power, and therefore, must exercise responsibility. Though Isikoff's actions resulted in the death of innocent people, he is evidently accountable to no one. His Newsweek editor, Mark Whitaker, even refuses to run a retraction. Michael Isikoff and Mark Whitaker's fraud explains why the Gallup poll says that media credibility is at its lowest point in 30 years. I call on Michael Isikoff and Mark Whitaker to take responsibility by issuing a full retraction of their fabricated story and an apology to the Nation and to the Afghanis. America's troops are in enough danger without self-righteous, yellow journalists like Michael Isikoff defaming them for a cheap headline. ____________________”