Make that Two

First, CBS News expressed displeasure at the McCain campaign's appropriation of the CBS brand to justify lies about Barack Obama. Now, via the LAT, the usually apolitical FactCheck.org has some strong words as well.

We don't object to people reprinting our articles. In fact, our copyright policy encourages it. But we've also asked that "the editorial integrity of the article be preserved" and told those who use our items that "you should not edit the original in such a way as to alter the message."

With its latest ad, released Sept. 10, the McCain-Palin campaign has altered our message in a fashion we consider less than honest. The ad strives to convey the message that FactCheck.org said "completely false" attacks on Gov. Sarah Palin had come from Sen. Barack Obama. We said no such thing. We have yet to dispute any claim from the Obama campaign about Palin.

They call the ad "Fact Check." It says "the attacks on Gov. Palin have been called 'completely false' ... 'misleading.' " On screen is a still photo of a grim-faced Obama. Our words are accurately quoted, but they had nothing to do with Obama.

Sounds kinda like lipstick, doesn't it. Yeah, Obama said it. Lipstick on a pig. But Sarah Palin wasn't part of that conversation about McCain's economic policies. Not until the McCain campaign put her there.

The McCain campaign keeps gambling that if they call an apple an orange enough times, the American public will bite. The campaign is counting on the mainstream media not to publish pictures of apples and oranges side by side.

Here's hoping the media calls an apple an apple. Period.