The RNC significantly doctored the tape to make Solicitor General Verrilli’s frog in his throat and gets a drink a water during court arguments sound a lot worse than it actually was.  It’s doctored with added pauses to give he impression his argument was worse that it actually was. Disjointed. And he was hesitant to give it. They didn’t change what he said, just added moments of “nothing” as spaces. But those pauses made a difference in message.

Is this presenting a situation in the best light for your argument different that putting glue on tomatoes and buns in a Hamburger commercial to make the food look healthy and vibrant in a Burger commercial as I’ve done working for clients. Not really. But it does illustrate how something as simple as editorial control over real content can quickly turn facts into fiction – no matter who’s doing it.