In CNN.com’s reporting that “Cheney blasts Kerry over ‘sensitive war’ remark“, the story opens with the following lead (emphasis ours):
Drawing derisive chuckles from the crowd, Vice President Dick Cheney Thursday blasted Sen. John Kerry for a remark the Democratic presidential candidate made last week about fighting a “more sensitive war on terror” if elected.
The White House’s official transcript of the event, however, hardly makes mention of the ‘derision’ expressed in the audience’s laughter, which is instead more succinctly conveyed as follows:
Senator Kerry has also said that if he were in charge he would fight a “more sensitive” war on terror. (Laughter.)
“Laughter”? What the fuck is that? Boring — and not derisive enough — is what it is. And if there’s one thing that drives this devoted newsreader crazy, it’s the posting of an incomplete and inaccurate transcript on the White House’s website. With that in mind, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to provide you with the complete and unedited script of events as they ensued at the Dayton Convention Center during the Vice President’s controversial speech.
[Heavily, heavily revised take on] VP’s Remarks in Dayton, Ohio, Dayton Convention Center, August 12, 2004:
Senator Kerry has also said that if he were in charge he would fight a “more sensitive” war on terror. (The gathering of large white men starts snickering, a delicate trickle at first, until three men in the back of the room begin to guffaw, which in turn leads to the audience’s eruption into a hooting, snorting catcall of scornful, disapproving laughter directed at that fucking pansy Senator Kerry. Can he be any more of a faggot?) America has been in too many wars for any of our wishes, but not a one of them was won by being sensitive. (A man in a navy-blue business suit yells out, “You’re damn right!” and nearby members of the audience stand up to give him high-fives.) President Lincoln and General Grant did not wage sensitive warfare — nor did President Roosevelt, nor Generals Eisenhower and MacArthur. (“Those were real presidents…they kicked the terrorists asses!” barks out an overweight and undereducated woman. The entire audience laughs merrily, because they know that George Bush is a real man, and a real president, and wouldn’t be caught having gay sex like that swishy Senator from Massachusetts.) A “sensitive war” will not destroy the evil men who killed 3,000 Americans and who seek the chemical, nuclear and biological weapons to kill hundreds of thousands more. The men who beheaded Daniel Pearl and Paul Johnson will not be impressed by our sensitivity. (“I’m heading down to Bath & Body Works to torch that fucking place! Who’s with me?” queries a furious, bespectacled man.) As our opponents see it, the problem isn’t the thugs and murderers that we face, but our attitude. Well, the American people know better. (“You tell those Democrats, Mr. Vice President, sir! I may not know how to read, but the USA is number one in my book!” intones a middle-aged man waving a copy of the Wall Street Journal in the air.) They know that we are in a fight to preserve our freedom and our way of life, and that we are on the side of rights and justice in this battle. Those who threaten us and kill innocents around the world do not need to be treated more sensitively. (“Let’s go beat our bitch wives!” cries out a cadre of supporters in the middle of the crowd, and the audience collectively hollers back approvingly. Someone else adds, “And our mistresses too!”) They need to be destroyed. (Applause, followed by a bearded man yelling out, “I’m going to go attack some black homosexuals!”)
