Jim Davila uncovers an atrocious misquoting of Mel Gibson by the New York Times. Apparently the only thing they’ve learned from the Jayson Blair scandal is that they should lie by selective quoting rather than by outright making things up.
This is a quote from Gibson about his movie, Passion, that was widely republished and makes Gibson come across as a blatant anti-Semite. This is how Frank Rich characterized Gibson’s comments,
Asked by Bill O’Reilly in January if his movie might upset “any Jewish people,” Mr. Gibson responded: “It may. It’s not meant to. I think it’s meant to just tell the truth. . . . Anybody who transgresses has to look at their own part or look at their own culpability.
As Davila notes, the clear implication there is that Gibson is an anti-Semite who thinks the Jews are collectively culpable for the death of Jesus. When I first read that quote a few days ago, I thought it was revolting and couldn’t believe Gibson would say something so blatantly anti-Semitic.
But Davila unearthed the transcript of the O’Reilly interview. Here’s what Rich left out of the ellipses,
O’REILLY: Is it [Passion] going to upset any Jewish people?
GIBSON: It may. It’s not meant to.
I think it’s meant to just tell the truth. I want to be as truthful as possible. But, when you look at the reasons behind why Christ came, why he was crucified, he died for all mankind and he suffered for all mankind, so that, really, anybody who transgresses has to look at their own part or look at their own culpability.
As Davila notes, Gibson is not saying that the Jews have some special collective responsibility for Jesus’ death, but rather that Jesus’ death is the fault of everyone who sins (which in itself is a bizarre idea, but not an anti-Semitic one).
Not only does this sort of distortion violate what few ethical principles are left in journalism, but it also could/will backfire. I think there are plenty of good reasons to be concerned that Gibson and his movie might be anti-Semitic. Making quotes up like this, however, will simply further turn the debate away from the facts of the movie and Gibson’s beliefs and on to a debate about how the largely secular media filters and presents religious ideas and views.