What's the Opposite of Burying the Lead?

by: JimC

Wed Nov 17, 2010 at 13:49:24 PM EST

I get news alert e-mails from the Washington Post. This is from the politics edition (can't link to it).

Chamber: We'll leave Obama alone
"It's not in our interest to get into presidential politics," Chamber President Tom Donohue said. "And it is not our intention to participate in any activity to weaken the president for his reelection."

Now here is the actual story.

The leader of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday scolded the Obama administration for the "regulatory tsunami" its policies have created, which he called "the biggest single threat to job creation" in the country.

(snip)

Its bet on the midterm elections seemed to pay off, and Donohue's speech Wednesday was part victory speech, part rallying cry. He appeared confident that the business community would receive a warmer welcome on Capitol Hill as Republicans take control of the House in January and the Democratic majority in the Senate weakens. "The elections are over, and our message was heard," Donohue said. "Along with others, we spoke about the dangers of a bigger and more intrusive government. ... The American people responded in an historic way."

A historic, Mr. D, but I digress.

The quote in the newsletter does appear in the story, but pretty far down. Well below the lead, which I quoted.

Does anyone know why the Post is deliberately misrepresenting its own story? This is not a first, in their news announcements. If it's strategic, I don't like it.

It's one (dishonest) thing for the Chamber to try to have it both ways. But newspapers aren't in that business ... are they?