NYT pulls a Kerry

The Old Gray Hag, once known as the venerable New York Times before it fell on credibility and accuracy hard times, has pulled a John Kerry: the turnout in Iraq for the historic vote was low...before it was high. From Newsbusters:

A New York Times article placed prominently on the front page of Sunday’s print edition, written by Dexter Filkins and John F. Burns, played down the success of Saturday’s vote in Iraq concerning that nation’s constitution, and suggested that turnout was lower this time than during January’s elections:

“On Saturday in Baghdad, streets were noticeably bare of pedestrians, polling centers were less busy, and voters exhibited little enthusiasm.

“‘I sense that the turnout will be lower this time,’ said Zainab Kudir, the chief poll worker at the Marjayoun Primary School in a predominantly Shiite neighborhood in Baghdad. ‘People feel their needs have not been met. There is no security. There are no jobs.’"

Yet, after many other media outlets reported that turnout was going to surpass January’s final tally, Filkins and Burns posted this at the Times website just moments ago:

“Officials at Iraq's election commission said that the early count pointed to a turnout as high as 65 per cent of the country's 15.5 million voters, a showing that would exceed the 58 per cent turnout in the January election that chose a transitional government.”

A reader of Newsbusters has a "Top Ten List of Excuses Why the Times Changed the Story":

1- Still using the DNC/Kerry Exit Polling Method.

2- Jason Blair contributed to the first article

3- Staff psychic received new vision

4- Distracted by Karl Roves fourth appearance before the grand jury

5- Got the DNC fax too late for the first story

6- The Iraqis voted against voting before voting for voting

7- Those pesky purple dimpled finger chads

8- On assignment reporter finally left the green zone

9- Save the trouble of offering an uncorrected correction two months later

10- Bush’s fault

That's hilarious...almost as funny as libs who maintain there is no liberal media bias! Almost, that is.