ABC takes headline from “anonymous” quote

I love this. I haven’t picked on the press in a while, but this one I couldn’t let pass.

Check out the headline: EXCLUSIVE: Is CIA Leak Probe a ‘Witch Hunt’?

Wow…sounds pretty interesting, doesn’t it? Sounds like those Bastard Bushies are putting on their stormtrooper uniforms and getting ready to goosestep into Foggy Bottom any second now, with a McCarthyist witchhunt! They’re going after EVERYONE!

Except…that’s not really the case…

According to people familiar with the Goss e-mail, sent in late January and classified secret, the CIA director warned that any CIA officer deemed suspect by the agency’s Office of Security and its Counter Intelligence Center (which handles internal affairs) could be subjected to an unscheduled lie detector test. CIA personnel are subjected to polygraphs at regular intervals in their careers, but one former intelligence officer called the new warning a “witch hunt.” Others said Goss’ e-mail was narrowly focused and did not suggest agencywide, random lie detector tests.

“It would make no sense at all to give everyone here a lie detector test,” said one person who knew about the e-mail.

Goss told CIA employees there were ways other than talking to the news media to resolve any issues they had with classified CIA operations.

Oh. So…really…there’s no story there. In this case, as in any other, a CIA agent deemed to be leaking might be subjected to a polygraph. What’s new?

But…it’s a BIG headline! One anonymous source called it a “witch hunt,” so that’s the lede, baby, that’s the headline – even if others quoted, both named and anonymous, suggest differently.

Because when you’re trying to create a meme, you let the headline do the heavy-lifting for you. Folks see a headline, get the “gist” (Wow! Another Bush WITCH HUNT) and move on. Insideous. The press is very good at it. they get lots of practice.

UPDATE: Betsy Newmark caught it, too.