AP Apologizes For Highlighting Jefferson Davis Quote In ‘Today In History’ Series

The Associated Press has apologized for publishing a quote from Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States of America, to be used in newspapers nationwide as part of its daily series called “Today in History.”


This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1314978

The quote, which read “Never be haughty to the humble; never be humble to the haughty,” ran on June 3, Davis’s birth date.

Mussolini’s birthday is on 29 July, so we have something to look forward to.

14 Likes

Judging by their headlines and ledes over the years, AP editors are a pretty conservative bunch and not a little tone deaf either so the choice of this quote at this time is not particularly surprising.

ETA: At least that is my impression although it’s certainly possible in these days of right-wing radicalism and alt-reality that the AP’s attempts to ‘balance’ both sides has led to absurdity and incoherence in their framing; i.e., what you tend to get when you grant psychotic delusions and raving equal time and stature with facts and reason.

4 Likes

Asinine Putzes.

1 Like

It’s not a bad quote. Too bad about the source.

5 Likes

Didn’t float my boat by probably mainly due to the word haughty!

Well you do need to make some sort of allowances for Olde Tyme Talke.

3 Likes

AP Apologizes For Highlighting Jefferson Davis Quote In ‘Today In History’ Series

Time to fire the intern. Again.

8 Likes

“Moussolini is always right.” Updated to “Trump is always far right.”

1 Like

Anyone know what day we get, “You gotta break a few eggs to make an omelette?”

1 Like

Just rename the feature “Life Advice From Traitors.”

7 Likes

I’m sure Ol’ Jeff was never haughty to the humble slave.

5 Likes

No, it wasn’t.

3 Likes

In retrospect, the traitor should’ve followed his own advice.

2 Likes

OK…we don’t want to ERASE him from history. We want to stop GLORIFYING him. C’mon.

6 Likes

Don’t often see a good case of “haughty” in the papers these days.

1 Like

Ivanka.

9 Likes

I’m sure his slaves would have much preferred “haughty” to the treatment they actually received from him.

4 Likes

My take? It’s pure laziness.

The News Media is just full of lazy shortcuts. They always show some technician squeezing some stuff into little tubes when they discuss vaccines, and it’s always the same stock footage. Local News buys garbage like from Sinclair because it’s easy.

But hey, Legislators buy vile crap from ALEC because it’s easy too, so the media sure has no monopoly.

Kudlow opens his yap and spews some lies he heard from Santelli coz that’s easy. Trump spews argle bargle because actual coherent thoughts that address issues or solutions is much harder.

Some reporter on Morning Joe was saying something about Trump was concerned about the economy and wanted it to improve for the American People or some such, and I’m thinking, no, he couldn’t care less about people, any people, he just wants the economy to be better for himself and himself only. But if you want to take the easy road and think he’s some kind of proxy for leadership, well, there you go. Lazy, and stupid too.

edited for clarification on argle bargle line. Argle bargle is easy, coherent thought not so much for Trump.

3 Likes

Jefferson Davis doesn’t deserve any airtime, but the demonization of Davis is just part of the lost cause mythology. I think it’s mostly to protect Lee, “the brave soldiers” etc. It’s much like the stab in the back rhetoric in Germany following WWI.

1 Like