You've heard about him but have you seen the incredible amazing Yawning Boy. Here's a timeline:
Monday, March 29
Letterman airs hilarious footage of a kid who, while standing right behind Bush speaking at a rally in Orlando, could hardly stay awake. The footage shows him fidgeting, yawning, cracking his neck and can be seen here:
http://www.local6.com/news/2968435/detail.html
Tuesday, March 30
CNN Live Today anchor Daryn Kagan shows the Letterman piece as a lighthearted news item. Shortly after, she comes back on the air and reports:
"We're being told by the White House that the kid, as funny as he was, was edited into that video, which would explain why the people around him weren't really reacting."
Then later that day, CNN Live From... anchor Kyra Phillips replays the tape but warns:
"We're told that the kid was there at that event, but not necessarily standing behind the president."
During his Tuesday broadcast, Letterman replays the above CNN clips and then remarks:
"An out-and-out, 100 percent absolute lie. The kid absolutely was there and he absolutely was doing everything we pictured via the videotape. ...when you cast your vote in November, just remember that the White House was trying to make ME look like a DOPE."
But apparently, during the taping of Dave's Tuesday show, CNN, realizing their mistake...or whatever...acknowledges that in fact the White House did not call and that the tape was in fact not doctored. Dave gets a note during the show and this is his reaction:
"CNN has just phoned and ... the anchorwoman misspoke. They never got a comment from the White House. It was a CNN mistake...Now I've called the White House liars, and you know what that means - they're going to start looking into my taxes!"
Thursday, April 1
Letterman proudly airs the apology from CNN:
http://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/#
then click BIG SHOW HIGHLIGHT under DAVE TV
Friday, April 2:
Paul Krugman writes this appropriately skeptical column about all the "miscommunication" over at CNN:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/02/opinion/02KRUG.html
His skepticism appears to be borne out by this Washington Post article that reports that access to the boy is being controlled by the White House, which I guess shouldn't be surprising since the boy is the son of a Bush Fundraiser "Pioneer"...well, it just shouldn't be surprising:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43501-2004Apr1.html
Appropriately, the weeklong saga is ending with the boy appearing on Letterman tonight. Check it out.