[chc]

Let me give you a perfectly plausible transcription of the real quote, which is not at all dissimilar to actual reporters' notes I've seen:

> weth lik ON u wl ↑ that plat + mb even 1st

It doesn't make such a wide disparity excusable, but I've known enough reporters to have plenty of reason to believe it was negligence. Many reporters overestimate their ability to read their own notes later, much like programmers overestimate their ability to figure out WTF that clever bit of code is doing six months from now.

[potatolicious]

This is a case where someone has recorded the entire exchange in publicly accessible video for you!

This isn't the 80s where your chicken-scratches made on the spot are the best you've got. This is an age where we have voice recorders, events are routinely recorded with easy-to-access video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t02iJn5Ypio#t=41m12s

[chc]

Yep, and I would describe failing to go back and check that video as downright — wait for it — negligent.

Like I said, I'm not defending any reporter from any accusation but obvious malice.