As pointed out here, the transcripts of the Sarah Palin/Joe Biden debate from both CNN and the New York Times contained a rather curious "error". Through a complete coincidence, that "error" played into the Democratic narrative.

Those transcripts both had Palin saying:

"And I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm going to talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record also."

However, what she actually said was (bolding added):

"And I may not answer the questions the way that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm..."

This "error" followed the MSM pushing the "Palin won't answer questions" message; while that was to a good extent true, it's extremely odd that an "error" trying to help that message along made it into the debate transcript.

The NYT lists CQ Transcriptions as their source, and they've since corrected it, albeit without a correction on its page (elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/debates/transcripts/vice-presidential-debate.html).

CNN doesn't list an outside company as supplying their transcript, but it's likely that they got it from the same source, unless they're colluding with the NYT. They still have not corrected their copy however (cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/02/debate.transcript).

The Commission on Presidential Debates includes "the way", but whether it contained that in all versions isn't known (debates.org/pages/trans2008b.html).

~ Who helped spread the smear? ~

A list of all those misquoting Palin would be too long, but let's start with an egregious example:

* peoplegetready.jockamofeenanay.com/?p=2423
A commenter points out the misquote, and the post's author ("Schroeder") refuses to make a correction ("I don't really care. I'm not even going to waste my time to investigate because: 1) It's obvious you're a Palin apologist. 2) What Palin said confirms what she actually did.")

The rest of these also don't have a correction:

* Kathleen Parker (in her screed against Palin: kansas.com/205/story/550123.html)

* Matt Corley of Think Progress (thinkprogress.org/2008/10/05/palin-ifill and alternet.org/blogs/video/101700/ifill:_palin_'blew_me_off'_during_the_debate; I asked for a correction in comments at the first, but none has appeared at either)

* Brad DeLong (links to the previous TP article, no correction there either: delong.typepad.com/sdj/2008/10/gwen-ifill-says.html)

* Christopher Beam from Slate (slate.com/blogs/blogs/trailhead/archive/2008/10/02/the-palin-strategy.aspx)

* David Corn at MoJo (motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/10/10062_veep_debate_an.html)

* Melissa Merz, Vice President of Communications of the NDN/New Democrat Network (ndnblog.org/node/2966)

* Chicago Tribune editorial (realclearpolitics.com/news/tms/politics/2008/Oct/03/editorials_on_the_biden_palin_debate.html)

* Sacramento Bee editorial (ibid; at the same page, the Kansas City Star has the correct quote)

* David Edwards and Andrew McLemore of Raw Story (rawstory.com/news/2008/Gwen_Ifill_Conservatives_used_me_to_1005.html)

* Bob Burnett of the Huffington Post (huffingtonpost.com/bob-burnett/palin-wins-sorta_b_131544.html)

* Michelle Goldberg at Comment is Free (guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/oct/03/sarah.palin.debate.feminism)

10/19/08 UPDATE: After posting this, I sent an email to three top officials at Congressional Quarterly. I didn't receive a reply from any of the three.