Fabricating quotes hurts credibility

Most of us love the freedom of speech we enjoy in the United States — unless we disagree with those exercising it.

If we do not slander others, we can say whatever we want and the worst that can happen is we get attacked with words. (There are exceptions, of course, like being too outspoken with law officers, judges or pistol-packing drunks.)

For example, it might upset some Americans if I say I highly value being a citizen but, since I have not been to every country, I cannot say for sure we are the greatest country in the world — whatever that means.

Most likely, based on crime rates and standards of living, there are some small countries that, objectively, surpass us.

However, in exercising free speech, no matter how much I despised them, I would never make up a quote.

In a recent letter-to-the-editor in the Clovis and Portales papers, the author made up a quote from Hillary Clinton about Benghazi.

The writer quoted her as saying, “what difference does it make how many Americans were killed?”

During a long, grilling day of interrogation by a congressional committee, Clinton actually said, “With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided that they’d they go kill some Americans? What difference at this point does it make?

“…to be clear, it is, from my perspective, less important today looking backwards as to why these militants decided they did it than to find them and bring them to justice.”

Obviously, the actual quote and its context are quite different from the way Clinton was portrayed as callously indifferent about how many Americans were killed.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but fabricating quotes to score political points while preaching to your no-shades-of-gray choir hurts one’s credibility.

Contact Wendel Sloan at

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