Misquotes and quotes out of context

[The Avon Lady]

I have noticed 2 such occurences today here on the General forum alone. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has encountered them in various forums and articles over the Internet.

I thought this thread would be a good anchor to accumulate such examples. So, I'll start with the 2 I found today here.

Originally Posted by bradclark1

And Bush calls Iraq a comma in history! Is this guy a little short in the reality department? Not to mention that comment insults those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Bush was being interviewed by CNN's Wold Blitzer. Here's the exact quote from CNNs' transcript:

BLITZER: Let's move on and talk a little bit about Iraq. Because this is a huge, huge issue, as you know, for the American public, a lot of concern that perhaps they are on the verge of a civil war, if not already a civil war…. We see these horrible bodies showing up, tortured, mutilation. The Shia and the Sunni, the Iranians apparently having a negative role. Of course, al Qaeda in Iraq is still operating.

BUSH: Yes, you see — you see it on TV, and that's the power of an enemy that is willing to kill innocent people. But there's also an unbelievable will and resiliency by the Iraqi people…. Admittedly, it seems like a decade ago. I like to tell people when the final history is written on Iraq, it will look like just a comma because there is — my point is, there's a strong will for democracy.

My point here is not to argue for or against Bush's opinion on creating a new Middle East. For the record, I strongly disagree with him. My point is to note that his subject of the word "comma" was not Iraq, as Brad claimed. Rather the subject is the difficulties Iraq is going through at this time in history, and from a future standpoint.

Next, a quote I spotted in forum member Immacolata's sig:

"The power of the executive to cast a man into prison without formulating any charge known to the law, and particularly to deny him the judgment of his peers, is in the highest degree odious, and the foundation of all totalitarian government whether Nazi or Communist." - W. Churchill

Excellent quote. Accurate, too. Sounds like a great way to condemn Guantanamo, perhaps. Otherwise, of what interest is it?

Now go find the source and the subject. It was from a telegram Churchill sent on November 21, 1943, from Cairo, to British Home Secretary Herbert Morrison. The subject of this particular quote was the incarceration of British citizens in the UK, without filing charges. This had nothing to do with anything near the likes of today's Jihadi terrorists, who qualify as illegal combatants. EDIT: Come to think of it, Rudolph Hess was imprisoned for years by the British and only received a trial after the war. Also, I doubt Churchill had Roosevelt's incarceration of Japanese Americans in mind, either.

Unfortunately, in many such cases of misuse and abuse of quotes, the response is akin to "fake but accurate."

Seen some misquotes here or anywhere else? Post 'em!