The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Associated Press reporter Ron Word. He gets the award for the following.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani ran into a buzz saw of opposition Saturday when he explained his opposition to the so-called fair federal income tax.

Giuliani addressed a group of about 500 people in a standing-room only crowd at a town hall meeting at the University of North Florida, answering questions for about 30 minutes on a variety of topics from Iraq and Iran to Social Security and his plan for tax cuts.

Several dozen people wearing white fair tax T-shirts and hats and carrying signs briefly jeered when Giuliani, in response to a question, said he would not be in favor of the fair tax system.

"I have to study it some more," the former New York City mayor said. "I don't think a fair tax is realistic change for America. Our economy is dependent upon the way our tax system operates."

"Fair tax" proposals would abolish federal income taxes and other federal taxes and replace them with a national sales tax.

Giuliani emphasized he supported a simplified tax system and cuts in federal taxes, including elimination of the so-called death tax, but his response to the fair tax question brought some cat calls and jeers.

"I have a real question whether it would be the right transition for our economy," Giuliani said.

Ken Mertz, wearing a fair tax hat and T-shirt, said he not pleased with Giuliani's response.

Notice the words in bold. Now compare the above article with this.

July 8, 2007 -- JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Rudy Giuliani drew jeers yesterday for saying he does not think a flat federal income tax is right for the country.

At a town-hall meeting, several dozen people wearing white "flat tax" T-shirts and hats and carrying signs expressed their disappointment when Giuliani said he would not favor a flat tax.

"I don't think a flat tax is realistic change for America. Our economy is dependent upon the way our tax system operates," he said. "I have a real question whether it would be the right transition for our economy."

People generally would lose breaks such as mortgage interest and charitable-donation deductions, but pay federal income taxes at a single and lower rate. Flat tax proposals typically promise simpler paperwork and the elimination of taxes on estates, capital gains and dividends.

Do you notice how the word became fair. It is the same story, revised by the same author. See how the quote of Rudy Giuliani changes? Do reporters change quotes of people speaking any time they wish? Maybe I'm naive, but I would think that practice wouldn't happen.

By the way if you wonder if it was fair or flat, the Florida Times-Union who had a reporter there, said it was fair.

For shoddy and careless journalism, Ron Word is today's Knucklehead of the Day. Anyone note the irony in this reporter's name?

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