Jon Kyl Deletes His Planned Parenthood Lies From Congressional Record
During the debate over the 2011 budget, and specifically the debate over the rider that would have barred any funding to Planned Parenthood, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl said in a Senate floor speech that abortion constituted “well over 90 percent” of what Planned Parenthood does. Polifact declared the statement to be false, and Kyl’s office quickly released a statement saying that Kyl’s statement in his floor speech was “not intended to be a factual statement.”
That itself led Stephen Colbert to rip Kyl apart:
Well, now Kyl has decided that he doesn’t want his “not intended to be a factual statement” to be a part of history:
Sen. Jon Kyl has quietly removed his infamous comment that 90 percent of Planned Parenthood’s business is abortion from the Congressional Record. Senators are allowed to revise and extend their comments in record and his statement now simply says: “If you want an abortion you go to Planned Parenthood and that is what Planned Parenthood does.” Kyl’s office could not be reached for comment.
From “not intended to be a factual statement” to “not intended to be an actual statement,” I suppose.
But, of course, the internet never forgets:
We’ll always have the video. It lives forever.
The Congressional Record has been rather abstract for decades. Members can submit reports, newpaper arivles and the like “to be added to the Congressional Record” even though they were never actually read aloud in the chambers. For much of the 20th century, the word ‘nigrah’ (or obviously worse) was carefully transcribed as ‘negro’ when it appeard in the Record. This small deletion means nothing…indeed, we would be calling him foolish if he did NOT take his option to delete it.
How do I Bluebook this when doing legislative history?
/not a serious inquiry
Thank Goodness for Colbert. His humor brings sanity to the insane world of politics.
His hiding his out and out lie means nothing? What world do you live in? In my world people mean what they say and if caught in a lie….
That is what they meant to say.
Tom,
Is it really a lie if it’s not intended to be a factual statement?
(I’m kidding, of course)
Good one.
Tom p, I only mean to say that the Record is not a place to research accurate information. I consider it the same as changing the copy in a reprint of the National Enquirer. Changes are made to the Record constantly, it is NOT a record of what was said in Congress. It’s just a political paper; take that for what it’s worth.
His new version is actually worse, since saying “If you want an abortion you go to Planned Parenthood and that is what Planned Parenthood does” implies it is 100% of their function, rather than his earlier 90% lie. And “not intended to be a factual statement” just means he knew he was lying when he said it, and so intentionally lied to Congress.