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How the White House Edited His Remarks, and Why Stenographers Are Upset!

In a recent speech, President Joe Biden addressed the spread of misinformation and ideological divides, but it was his comments about Trump supporters that quickly stirred up controversy. Specifically, he referred to certain ideas promoted by some Trump-aligned factions as "garbage." However, the White House’s official transcript subtly altered his words, leading to frustration among stenographers responsible for accurately documenting the President's remarks.

The Controversial Edit: Adding an Apostrophe

In Biden’s original statement, he said, “Some of these folks in the MAGA crowd, they talk about things they don’t understand. They’re pushing garbage.” The White House’s transcript, however, included an apostrophe, changing “they’re” to “their,” making it read, “They’re pushing their garbage.” This subtle edit shifted the meaning slightly, implying ownership of the “garbage” rather than general ideas or misinformation.

President Joe Biden also said, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters — his — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”

The transcript released by the White House press office, however, rendered the quote with an apostrophe, reading “supporter’s” rather than “supporters,” which aides said pointed to Biden criticizing Hinchcliffe, not the millions of Americans who are supporting Trump for president.

Why Stenographers Are Upset

Stenographers (aka transcriptionists), tasked with capturing the verbatim content of official statements, were quick to notice the change. Their frustration arises from a commitment to accuracy and the importance of faithfully preserving the spoken word for historical record. An alteration, even as small as an apostrophe, is seen as a misrepresentation of what was actually said, potentially altering public perception of the President’s intent.

The Significance of Verbatim Records

For transcriptionists, maintaining verbatim records is essential. Any alteration, however minor, undermines the integrity of the record and can have lasting implications. The reaction underscores the critical role transcriptionists play in preserving the accuracy of official statements and emphasizes the importance of transparency in public communication.

This is not political commentary. It's a reminder that what we do with integrity and accuracy matters.