Audio & Video Removed!
By Brad Friedman on 10/18/2004, 1:44pm PT  

In addition to the documents removed from the White House website reported here previously, it looks like the White House is now removing even more content from their site! This time it's audio and video that has been taken down!

As with the last "disappeared" material, this one also includes info that directly rebuts a comment made in the Debates. In the 3rd Presidential Debate, Bush said:

BUSH: Gosh, I just don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden. It's kind of one of those exaggerations.

Which was a direct contradiction to his March 13, 2002 statement at a White House Press Conference in which he said:

"Well, as I say, we haven't heard much from him. ... And, again, I don't know where he is. I --- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him."

The White House Website's posted transcript of that Press Conference is still available, for the moment, right here but the links to the Audio and Video of the Press Conference, links to which are still on that page, for the moment, (linkbox pictured at right) are no longer available! They've been taken down!

Audio and Video from the Press Conferences immediately before and immediately after the one in question are still available, but no longer for the March 13, 2002 Press Conference.

Why they would try and remove such public information is beyond me, since the footage is widely available elsewhere. Atrios, for example, has the video clip in question right here, and the Press Conference was covered by all the networks. I can only assume they're hoping to make this information less available however they can? Perhaps they're getting sick of all the homegrown Anti-Bush Videos out there, and are now using the White House website (illegally, I would think) to eke out whatever partisan political advantage they can?

And again, I ask, what else are they "disappearing" from the historical record of the White House website? If you find more missing, please let us know!

(Thanks to eagle-eyed emailer David K. for catching this one!)

UPDATE: More missing Audio/Video on this page...
7/17/02: "President Bush, President Kwasniewski Hold Joint Press Conference"
A very quick breeze through the transcript shows discussion about Poland's involvement in the "Coalition", and some stuff about both Halliburton and Harkin. Any guesses why they want that audio/video unavailable?

Still looking for more...Tips welcome...

UPDATE 10/21/04: Boatloads of more Audio/Video missing! Update here!

UPDATE 10/22/04: Hooray! Mainstream media finally picks up on this story!

UPDATE 10/25/04: The Washington Post finally picks up the story today! Twice!

UPDATE 10/29/04: BRAD BLOG SUCCESS! WH restores Audio/Video! Though much still missing...

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