You know how Sarah Palin said Paul Revere warned the British? Well, he did. Now, who looks stupid?

You may have heard recently something about that Sarah Palin telling a reporter that Paul Revere warned the British on his famous rousing revolutionary ride.

Now, that so many Americans have wallowed in their smug confirmation that Palin is an idiot unqualified for anything but repeating sixth-grade history, how far, wide and fast do you think the contradictory news will spread that the former governor of Alaska was indeed correct?

That the Republican non-candidate, in fact, knew more about the actual facts of Revere's midnight ride than all those idiots unknowingly revealing their own ignorance by laughing at her faux faux pas? How secretly embarrassing this must be, to be forced to face that you're dumber than the reputed dummy.

As it happens, though, such phenomena are regular occurrences in American politics, reminding consumers of news to be wary when some fresh story seems to fit contemporary assumptions so absolutely perfectly.

The well-known fable is Revere's late-night ride to warn fellow revolutionaries that....

...the British were coming. Less known, obviously, is the rest of the evening's events in which Revere was captured by said redcoats and did indeed defiantly warn them of the awakened militia awaiting their arrival ahead and of the American Revolution's inevitable victory.

Palin knew this. The on-scene reporters did not and ran off like Revere to alert the world to Palin's latest mis-speak, which wasn't.

Like a number of famous faux gaffes in American politics, the facts of the situation no longer really matter.

The initial impression was eagerly grabbed by so many, starting with the reporter and millions of others gleefully sharing the story that reinforced their beliefs and/or desires.

This phenomenon is actually not a new one in American politics, although its immediate spread is obviously hastened by the Internet. Speaking of which, Al Gore did not invent it. Nor did he claim to, as often as you've heard otherwise.

In 1999, the hapless former journalist, who should have known to make a better word choice, told CNN that in Congress he "took the initiative in creating the Internet."

Democrat Gore never used the word "invented." That was part of another willful misinterpretation that fit expectations of Gore's boasts and was gleefully spread by opponents as further proof of his unseemly hubris. It lives on to this day.

Perhaps you remember how one day during a photo op President George H.W. Bush was overheard asking a store checkout clerk how this price scanner thing worked?

That quote was immediately transmitted as proof of how disconnected that Republican chief executive was, that he had no knowledge of something as ordinary as a checkout scanner.

The fact is, asking such inane and often obvious questions as "what are you doing here?" is a bipartisan ploy used by politicians to fill the awkward time void they are hanging around someone working while photographers snap their photos several hundred times.

President Obama likely said much the same thing last Friday in that Toledo Chrysler plant when for the benefit of nearby photographers he feigned interest watching assembly-line worker Anthony Davis install a dashboard instrument panel. (See photo below)

A classic example of this faux faux pas was in 1992 when Vice President Dan Quayle agreed to participate in a New Jersey classroom spelling bee.

Working from a placard, Quayle corrected one sixth-grader by telling him to add an "e" to "potato." Journalists gleefully noted the spelling misteak. And Quayle's dunce hat was glued in place.

Trouble is, that mis-spelled placard was actually written out by the classroom teacher herself, either through her own ignorance or, a few suspect, some sly political set-up. Quayle knew he hadn't written it and thought the error was the point of the lesson.

And because the classroom spelling bit was a last-minute addition, aides who would have foreseen the everlasting damage of their boss inexplicably adding a mistake to a student's work did not know what the placard said. Quayle subsequently forbade them from explaining the error to the media, for fear of embarrassing the teacher.

One of the immutable laws of public communications in politics and other fields is, if you have to explain something, you lose. Seeking to explain you were for something before being against it simply digs a deeper hole.

This time the mistake for Palin, who used to be accused of dodging reporters' questions, was bothering to answer such an amateur media gotcha question in a noisy, moving crowd. Better would have been a simple dismissive and cheery, "You're kidding, right?" Such are the ongoing lessons for primary candidates. Which she isn't now, of course.

Early in a previous race for the Republican presidential nomination almost 12 years ago, then Texas Gov. George W. Bush was in a jammed New Hampshire airport meeting room, answering questions from local media. Apropos of nothing, one reporter (perhaps prompted by an opponent's camp) asked Bush his pre-written gotcha: Name the new president of Pakistan.

Obviously, Pervez Musharraf had nothing to do with New Hampshire issues and is similar to some Democratic candidates flubbing the name of Russia's then prime minister during 2008 debates (Dmitry Medvedev).

Bush didn't know the Pakistani leader's name that day and looked clumsy attempting to answer. He could have brushed it away by instantly asking the reporter some arcane political who's-who, laughing off their mutual ignorance and quickly taking the next question. But he didn't and took media lumps for several days.

As everyone now knows, such a splashy gaffe can effectively doom any chance a candidate has of winning two terms in the White House.

Related:

Sarah Palin plays the media like a violin; They'll try to get even

Piper Palin shares her Mom's hot/cold attitude toward the media

Mitt Romney leads in Iowa poll, Sarah Palin comes in second, Ron Paul falls to 7th

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photos: Jonathan Ernst / Reuters; Gary Hershorn / Reuters; Jeff Kowalsky / EPA (Obama at Chrysler, June 3).

Comments

[alex]

Sure she was right but, she made it sound like he ran and told the British she should have said more and none of this wouldhave happened. Anyway. Sarah Palin is still a perfect example of an American idiot. Remeber she wants Julian Assange assassinated? Yeah still an idiot

[PhuyY]

The Paul Revere story fit so beautifully into the template that all Republicans are dumb (and greedy) and that all Democrats are brilliant and caring of the needy. It is a shame to dash the joy of the press and the rest of the Palin detractors. Chances are this account will never make it to the broader media market so many will never see the story and many won't believe it anyhow.

[SLBushway]

Now we're gonna have people on the right that are going to think that what Palin said was correct because this biased and obviously uneducated author said so. Palin said that as Revere was riding to warn our leaders that the British were coming that he along the way also warned the British that they were not going to take our arms - THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE. Of all the riders that night it is true that three were captured and that Revere was held the longest once it was established that he was a messenger. His mere capture alerted the British that we were onto them - but at no time did Revere state publically or otherwise that he warned them that they were not going to take our arms. Had he made such a bold statement the chances of him being released as early as he was would have been slim to none. A question to the author - did you actually see the interview? Have you seen any of her follow-up interviews? The press didn't manipulate her statements as was done to Gore with the "invented the internet". Her statements are quite clear and quite wrong. What gets me is that the Times allowed this editorial to appear in their paper as though it were fact.

[Gregwashere]

This is pure spin. Sarah Palin said that Paul Revere gave that message to the British by riding through towns -not by being interrogated by the British after he was captured.
My understanding of history is that Revere was sent out to warn Hancock and Adams and that his mission was supposed to be secretive. We all know that Longfellow's poem is fictionalized, but we really don't know what Revere did. As far as ringing bells and shooting guns, I think this is unlikely during a sstealth mission. Revere was a silversmith and metal worker by trade and was commissioned to make many bells in New England ...so perhaps there is some confusion there as well?

[Tom McDonald]

The author leaves out the most recent and important example of a faux faux pas. Now Senator Chris Coons and a large audience of Widener Law students laughed at Republican candidate Christine O'Donnell for saying "the separation of church and state" does not appear in the Constitution. The media ran stories about how stupid O'Donnell was, but it turns out she was right. The Constitution does prohibit the establishment of a preferred US religion, but it does not explicitly or implicitly decree that there should be a separation between the two.

[Michael Grusell]

The author is really stretching on this. Either he didn't hear her comment, or is in denial of her ignorance. This kind of political spin story is not news but commentary.

[bobby b]

This is truly funny, and fun to watch. Y'all who are so frantically trying to insist that, no, NO!, she can't be right, she didn't even mention the horse's name!!!, everybody knows the horses name except her, she's so dumb!!, and she said he warned the British, but it wasn't really a warning at all so much as it was a boast, so, yes, she got it ALL WRONG!!, . . . . well, I'm betting none of you knew anything at all about Revere even talking to the British until you read about this little historical nugget yesterday.

Y'all are sort of pathetic. What time do you switch over to "oh, look, they're getting all excited because she remembered Paul Revere, big deal, they should get a life, who cares"?

[marine43]

You leftists amaze me! You ignore every blunder by Obama, and fix on anything ever so slight Palin says! Thanks though, for showing all of us out here in flyover country, who it is you fear the most. You will NOT pick our canidate this time! (Huntsman) No no no.....

[David Schulze]

Well at least she knew of Paul Revere and that he rode a horse.

How many politicians and news people have no idea who he was? Probably a lot.

[Flackman]

Who looks stupid? You do, Mr. Malcolm.

Here's what Ms. Palin said on Fox, defending her gaffe:

"I didn't mess up about Paul Revere," replied Palin, a paid contributor to the network. "Part of his ride was to warn the British that were already there. That, hey, you're not going to succeed. You're not going to take American arms. You are not going to beat our own well-armed persons, individual, private militia that we have," she added. "He did warn the British."

"Part of his ride was to warn the British that were already there". What was that "part"? To intentionally get captured so he could tell the British? And where is the additional detail that you claim on Palin's behalf, yet that she herself didn't state? Boy, you conservatives like 'em dumb.

[tdrag]

I love it when you Libs get your tails twisted. You complain about Palin's intelligence but the present occupant of the White House is supposed to be a Harvard educated Constitutional Law professor. No one knows for sure because we have not seen any transcripts, seen anyone interviewed who talks about attending class with this him and no professors have come forward to talk about him being in their classrooms. The most telling evidence of his incompetence is the fact that America has been in a downward spiral since he took office. This is either intentional or out of a total lack of ability. Either way we're screwed! How's all that Hope and Change working for you?

[Stan]

An article that actually says something nice about Sarah Palin? I thought I was reading FOX or the Washington Times. Then it says something nice about Al Gore and President Obama? This kind of objective, thoughtful and downright forgiving article has no place in the world of modern "journalism."

[GuidoRabinowicz]

Andrew Malcolm as Palin apologist?

Shocking I tell ya, shocking.

[Joni Evans]

Palin is correct. The media is stupid. people should do their own research and not depend on the media to think for them.

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1261.html

"Paul Revere was taken prisoner and during his interrogation deliberately provided greatly inflated numbers of militiamen awaiting the British at Concord.

During the ride back to Lexington, Revere and his captors heard shots fire and church bells ring throughout the area — events that gave some credence to Revere’s report of colonial preparations. Fearing for their safety, the British released Revere, but took the precaution of giving him a tired horse to slow his return to Lexington."

[Chris]

No, she WAS wrong. She said he warned the British "by ringing those bells". She had no idea what she was talking about and you are trying to spin it.

[Jonathan]

You dummy. You draw a paycheck for this? Why didn't you include what she actually said? Oh, yeah, because it completely invalidates your thesis: that she had any earthly idea what she was talking about.

From the Telegraph:
"Part of his ride was to warn the British that were already there. That, hey, you're not going to succeed. You're not going to take American arms. You are not going to beat our own well-armed persons, individual, private militia that we have," she added. "He did warn the British."

"He who warned the British that they weren't gonna be takin' away our arms by ringing those bells, and makin' sure as he's riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed," she said.

...

In an undated letter posted by the Massachusetts Historical Society, Revere wrote of the need to keep his activities secret and his suspicion that a member of his tight circle of planners had become a British informant. Joel J. Miller, author of "The Revolutionary Paul Revere" said Revere would never have rung any bells on that famous night because the Redcoats were under orders to round up people just like him.

"He was riding off as quickly and as quietly as possible," Mr Miller said. "Paul Revere did not want the Redcoats to know of his mission at all."

[Cynicor]

You look stupid, Andrew.

[Robert]

I dont think Palin would be a good president, but cut her some slack. Politicians say stupid things all the time. And as far as history goes, Bill Clinton right after he was elected, visited a historic sight in DC and did not recognize a bust of George Washington! Duh

[glbeach]

I am so grateful you found a case where one of Palin's faux pas could be construed as correct - regardless of how tenuous the connection . . . sort of like a broken clock being right twice a day, eh?

[ComradeAnon]

Anyone notice how Wikipedia has been furiously rewritten since her statements?

[you are full of crap]

The history is well documented, this article is as incorrect as Palin's words.

[Anon]

"She is still and idiot."

Posted by: me | June 06, 2011 at 04:25 AM

People in glass houses...

[Sally]

Oh come on...her 'bells and drums' comment is not the truth. Her multiple 'uhs' show that she was winging things. And if you seriously think she had read that obscure material on Revere, you are more gullible than her crew of donors. She had never even read the poem, never listened to the guide (she was too busy signing autographs,) and she made up a story to get in digs about the 2nd amendment, which had yet to be written. And by the way, there were no 'Americans' in 1775 either...we were all British citizens still (and Revere was a descendent of a French illegal.) So, now who feels stupid? And who is, still, stupid, but given a media pass as usual?

[David Lee Evans]

The fact that Palin misspoke is not totally clear, if she clearly intended to relay the facts which took place during the return trip of Paul Revere ride then she would have expressly did so, she didn't. She would have mentioned the two rider escaping the British patrol, Dawes and Prescott, the letters found in Revere's boots and other events not commonly known. If she wanted to articulate these facts to the reporter, and obvious failed to do so, its not the fault of the reporter(Maybe his editor or the fact checking department?) that the reporter chose to run with the story.

Palin kind of got lucky and made a statement that while true, is esoteric to the true importance of events that happened that faithful night, it will be defended by her supporters as insightful, astute and the most historically accurate account of Paul Revere ride ever given by a politician. I'm totally good with that spin, just call it "revisionist-history-of-history"(trade marked). Personally, I think Palin has a certain charisma, I can't explain why she so charismatic, but if she should receive the Republican nomination, she had better start preparing better for public speaking engagement better than what we seen from her so far; learn how to deflect questions that you don't know the answers to and respond with a "fuzzy logic, fuzzy logic" reply to a valid question. But then again, that just might be her charm, she's a political train wreck waiting to happen, and we all have a fixed gazed stare on her.

http://www.davidevans.googlepages.com

[Walt]

...must we look for a "loophole" in everything? Face the FACTS. Sarah Palin truly doesn't know much about this country's history.

[Steven Ray]

SAK: Well, it is to laugh, an opportunity to laugh at ourselves as well. One can’t be right all the time and occasionally makes assumptions, such as concerning Paul Revere.... for he is FAMOUS for having made his Midnite Ride to warn the PATRIOTSs…NOT for when he was later captured…
…so EVEN if she was technically correct (guess she reads Revere...why didn't she tell Katie? haha) it is still significant that she gaffed her one-liner...and her response was out-of-kilter with the general public’s view of the gist of Revere’s Ride. No matter. Occasionally we get caught in the foible stuff ourselves. Who of YOU has not Mispoke? The Real reason for our dislike of her is because she mainly displays egotism…not professionalism...and…she may be a bit crazy as well…as her background is what it is. Quitting her governer position probably damned her…
I'm going off to watch professional wrestling now...along with the other Palin
"supporters". Yahoo. Get r done! (lol) SAK.

[Carol]

Please refresh my memory Palin bashers. Were there any moron, idiot, stupid comments made when Barack Obama (as president no less) pronounced navy corpsman as "corpseman"? Not once, mind you, but TWICE while addressing a military audience? I'm talking about comments from left wing readers and the media. Please link any such comments.

[cre]

Your moron in the white house thinos there are 57 states. Come on.

[Laughing]

Sarah Palin one smart cookie and the left wing nut jobs can't stand it. He he he

[Mark]

I'm regularly reminded of the need to be careful before I beleive what someone says about someone else. When my father was alive he used to tell me not to, "believe anything your hear and only half of what you see." Why are the lefties so afraid of Sarah? With the current group of inept, inexperienced and lazy politicians "leading" our govt...you'd think that the media would be busy pointing out the obvious-these guys, from the President on down don't know what they are doing. With an intentional commitment to lying whenever they can, taking credit for things they had nothing to do with and blaming others for the mess that we are all tryng to endure-they need to get busy, work hard and tell the truth.

This story is a prime example of simple laziness. These history "experts" failed to even consult history before they were determined to speak negatively about what they thought was true but was in fact NOT.

Ken, he was riding, his diaries and personal comments about the nights events tell us that. Was he captured? Yes, did he warn the British...yes he did-at this time everyone who enetered America began with a pledge of Allegiance to the King of England-they were all "British" at this time. What are you afraid of Ken?

[Jim Drewe]

Let's not forget that in 2008, candidate Obama compaigned in all "57 states". If you doubt me, take a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws .

[lolol]

She is right, if you get your history from the classic cartoon movie and not Paul Revere's actual words (They are on the internet, you can google them, you should try it sometime).

<3 the apologetic Palin does no wrong types, you people are comic relief for the rest of America.

Keep it up.

[D Wallace]

Yep...Palin is a genius, and the rest of us are complete idiots...you nailed it man.

[Justin]

I'll give you wingers and your right-wing rags credit for standing up for your team. Your loyalty is spectacular.

It's not as obvious as your apathetic sociopathy, your ecological naivete, or your righteous anger at having to share the world with anyone else, but it's a start!

[chipgiii]

The real comedy here is all those rushing to continue the "she's stupid" attack, regardless of what this piece says. Now they attack his account of things so they don't feel foolish for calling Palin stupid? lmao. You can't make this stuff up.

The Bush and the scanner thing was purely political, and even James Carville (the creator of that out of touch reference) later admitted it was just good political strategy; clearly the Gore thing was abused, as was the Quayle thing.

So what's obvious? People regardless of right or left, will continue to believe what they want regardless of facts. If you don't like the facts, then you just nuance them to death.

My question: Who really cares?

[Lindag]

Amazing how all the liberalites are so quick to judge Sarah Palin and accuse her of being dumb but they seem to forget that Barack Obama thought there were 58 states in the United States or that he himself said that he was from Kenya!

[Tim F]

Which one of the 57 states did this allegedly occur?

[Rick]

If you actually watch the comment, she had the classic deer in the headlights (aka Katie Couric clubbing a baby seal) look in her eyes. She obviously did not know what she was speaking about, disgraceful Palin apologists notwithstanding.

[Barton Fink]

Oh, this is the same Andrew Malcolm who said that the birthers were an intelligent group of people whose love of truth compelled them to demand the long-form certificate? Okay, so now he stands up for Palin and twists history to fit into Palin's weird ad-libbing episode. No shock there! Once a Republican propagandist, always a propagandist.

[Brian]

I nominate Palin for Mensa!

[flashsparks]

Great article! This is an amazingly non-biased, well researched, and balanced article. This writer should apply to work at Fox News.

[dareisay]

The real problem is, our batch of reporters are covering up for the far left politicians! Obama's had many gaffes and not a peep out of our bias reporters. They shouldn't be called "reporters", they should be called what they are, liars.

[Ken Farbstein]

Ms. Palin also commented in the video about "sending those warning shots." Was that an accurate statement about this historical event?

[Mark Kalan]

I really DOUBT that Palin new the intricate details of events surrounding Paul Revere on that evening. Even YOU note that he "Defiantly" told the British soldiers about the revolt. I'd be hard pressed to call that "warning" the British. Palin is nothing more than another vacuous celebrity playing the media like Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian. Sadly, the only thing to laugh at is that she's become the same sort "celebrity" that she accused Obama of being during the 2008 campaign. Happily, when it comes to the ranks of celebrity she is nothing more than a minor bit player with a following shrinking faster than FOX News' audience share.

[Mike Wooen]

Say what you will, but at least she knows that there are fifty states in the good ole USA, unlike your god, Obama, who thinks there are fifty-seven.

[Rasputin]

To answer the title of the article: .... This journalist looks stupid. Your sad attempt to twist her fumble into something resembling historical truth is kind of pathetic.

[Credulous Dolt]

Sir: You're straining. It's not good for your colon health. Read the quote again: "He who warned, uh, the British that they weren’t going to be taking away our arms uh by ringing those bells and making sure as he’s riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be secure and we were going to be free and we were going to be armed."

Now, if by some post-modern act of textual deconstruction you can tell us -- with a straight face, please -- that she *actually* said "Well, after Revere was captured by the British, he warned them that the militia had been awakened and was waiting", then you belong in a department of philosophy in the '80's, and not on the staff of a newspaper.

She said, and meant, we assume, that Revere *rode to warn the British*, with "warning shots and bells". Not even a generous reading of the history comes close to supporting this sloppy vivisection of fact.

Yours is also a willful act of ignorance of Palin's basic problem: she can't organize facts on the fly and speak extemporaneously. She gives no evidence of being able to do anything other than repeat a few, tired saws. She's somewhat shrewd -- this bus tour stunt is brilliant -- but not fit to be president.

Sorry, try again.

[Old Dave]

As a staunch conservative I hope Sarah Palin does not run. In the left leaning news media she will become the issue and not the real issues confronting the USA. The media will only focus on the personality and how they fit or don't fit the liberal/progressive template rather than the message.

The worst made product in the US today is the news media. How they go bonkers when the name of Sarah Palin comes up should be proof enough for anyone to understand them and their agenda.

[Don]

It's instructive to recall that at the time of Revere's ride, all those good folks between Charleston and Concord were in fact British citizens. The fact is Revere called out, "The Regulars are coming.... the Regulars are coming...", meaning the British Regular Army. Until the war was won, all citizens were technically British citizen, so her comment was technically correct.

[actor212]

You're a bigger idiot than Palin.

Here's her exact statement:
"he who warned the British that they weren't gonna be takin' away our arms, uh, by ringin' those bells and, um, makin' sure as he's ridin' his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we're gonna be secure and we were gonna be free. And we we're gonna be armed."

"He warned...by ringing those bells (ed. note. never happened) and...send those warning shots and bells..."

So he warned the British by riding through town shouting "To Arms!" (again, never happened)

Now, I'd give you the GHW Bush mixup. And the Obama mixup. And even the George W Bush mixup, if I got distracted enough. But this one?

Nah uh. She said what she meant and she meant what she said, and she's a moron.

And so are you for defending her.