Planned Parenthood reports were lacking

A July 16 Reuters article in the Post-Gazette asserting a Planned Parenthood official had been videotaped discussing the sale of fetal tissue for profit failed to note that the video had been selectively edited, as had been documented by media sites including The New York Times (“Congress to Probe Planned Parenthood After Video Implies It Sells Fetal Organs”). And in a July 22 editorial, The Times states the video “was edited to eliminate statements that Planned Parenthood does not profit from tissue donation.”

Submitting selectively edited materials to the press is a common practice for right-wing groups out to destroy individuals and agencies they oppose. Andrew Breitbart’s edited video made it appear African-American Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod was admitting favoring grants to black farmers over whites. The full video revealed it was not true.

The congressional investigation by Rep. Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina Republican, of Hillary Clinton’s role in Benghazi produced a supposedly damning email that had been crafted from two separate messages.

Right-wing pundit Dinesh de Souza claimed an early photo of Ms. Clinton standing in front of a photo of the Confederate flag made her call for removal of the flag from public displays hypocritical. The flag had been Photoshopped into the original image.

When not debunked by the media, cynical politicians use the doctored evidence as “proof” to continue the attacks. When that happens, the truth and the public lose. The PG can do better! DOUG WEBSTER

Monroeville