I find this article interesting because it goes to a point about how to report what people say and what do with it when it comes, and other tidbits about reactions and denials via Letterman. From the New York Times’s Paul Krugman (needs registration for reading). Here’s the final paragraph, a little nudge.

And administration officials shouldn’t be able to spread stories without making themselves accountable. If an administration official is willing to say something on the record, that’s a story, because he pays a price if his claims are false. But if unnamed “administration officials” spread rumors about administration critics, reporters have an obligation to check the facts before giving those rumors national exposure. And there’s no excuse for disseminating unchecked rumors because they come from “the White House,” then denying the White House connection when the rumors prove false. That’s simply giving the administration a license to smear with impunity.

Politically speaking, there are some people networks and politicians don’t want to anger or inspire: David Letterman is one of those people. Here’s why:

TUESDAY: CNN played the clip the day Tuesday morning, stating that the White House had called and said the Late Show did some editing to the piece and what was shown never actually happened. We see the clip of CNN anchorperson Daryn Kagen making the above claim from Tuesday morning. Two hours later, CNN showed the clip again and this anchor person said that the boy was at the speech, but was not standing behind the President as we had seen. We are shown that clip of CNN anchorperson Kyra Phillips adjusting the CNN claim from earlier that morning. Dave informs America that neither statement from CNN is true. The boy was at the rally and the boy was standing behind the President. Something strange is going on, and Dave smells a cover up. While talking about this very incident, CNN sent a message to the Late Show and claimed the White House never called CNN. CNN admitted they had made a mistake.

WEDNESDAY: But why would CNN say the White House HAD called if the White House never did? Hmmm. Dave reveals that our source, a very good source, confirms the White House DID call the CNN.

THURSDAY: CNN admits their mistake and apologizes to Dave. We see a clip of the CNN apology delivered by CNN anchorperson Daryn Kagen. Although the apology seemed diverting and evasive at times, Dave is elated that for the first time in his 25 years on the air, somebody apologized to him. And to top it all off, the young boy from Orlando Tyler Crotty has agreed to be on our show Friday night.