(This update courtesy of the Media Research Center.)
by Brent Baker
Senator Clinton was booed when she walked on stage last October at a rock concert in Madison Square Garden to benefit 9/11 victims. It was shown live by VH1 but, as ABC's John Stossel illustrated in a July 20/20 special on media distortions, when the Viacom-owned cable channel replayed it sound technicians replaced the booing with cheering and applause. And that version is the permanent record VH1 put onto its DVD of the event.
During his July 12 20/20 look at media manipulation and distortions, Stossel used the Hillary Clinton incident as his first example.
Stossel explained: “Last fall Paul McCartney headlined a concert to benefit victims of September 11th. Some politicians appeared, including Senator Hillary Clinton.” Over the booing of Senator Clinton as she walked on stage and waved, Stossel noted: “Some people in the audience booed her. Booed and heckled.”
Stossel told viewers: “But then MTV's channel VH1 re-ran the same concert and made it into a DVD.” As 20/20 showed the same scene again, but this time VH1's new version with applause, Stossel pointed out: “Notice a difference? The booing has been removed. Now and forever on the DVD the crowd applauds Senator Clinton.”
The Media Research Center has posted a RealPlayer clip of what Stossel showed. To watch it, click here.