New York Times makes up quote from Palin hairdresser in hit piece

Her name is Jessica Steele and she owns “The Beehive” in Wasilla Alaska. Steele found a “quote” from her on page one…

Via C4P and Jessica Steele’s twitter feed:

In a July 12th hit piece published on the front page of the New York Times, reporters Jim Rutenberg and Serge Kovaleski (assisted by Kim Severson and William Yardley in Alaska) made the following claim:

Friends worried that she appeared anxious and underweight. Her hair had thinned to the point where she needed emergency help from her hairdresser and close friend, Jessica Steele.

“Honestly, I think all of it just broke her heart,” Ms. Steele said in an interview at her beauty parlor in Wasilla, the Beehive.

This tidbit was seized upon and has bounced through the Internet and blogosphere — a Google search for “Palin hair thinned” now returns nearly 400,000 hits. Lefties such as Eleanor Clift seized on it as some kind of meme that Palin can’t handle stress.

One problem. Steele was never interviewed by anyone, never said these things and is venting her fury on her twitter feed:

I am Sarah Palin’s hairdresser in Alaska! The media is saying Sarah’s hair is thinning this is a lie!!! I never said this and it’s not true!
about 12 hours ago from Tweetie

@aktiff08 yes, this is what they are saying!!! They say it was an exclusive from her hairdresser! Makes me sick!
about 12 hours ago from Tweetie in reply to aktiff08

Inside Edition contacted me about an interview,I said no because the whole “story” was a lie! Sarah Palin’s hair is not thinning!
about 9 hours ago from Tweetie

I have never spoken 2 Inside Edition or told any reporter at the NYTs that Sarah Palin’s hair was thinning to the point of emergency! Liars!
about 9 hours ago from Tweetie

I will continue 2 tell people: I never said Sarah Palin’s hair is thinning! The Left is desperate to attack Sarah Palin with stupid lies!!!
about 9 hours ago from Tweetie

Media is so desperate to attack Sarah Palin they are saying lies about her hair! I am her HAIRDRESSER!! U will not use me in a LIE media!!!!
about 8 hours ago from Tweetie

@Adrienne2012 it’s so werid to hear & read about things that I “said” that are not true! Never said her hair needed emergency attention!
about 8 hours ago from Tweetie in reply to Adrienne2012

@aktiff08 at this point I am realizing that the truth doesn’t matter, only the perception of the truth is real any more it’s makes me so mad
about 8 hours ago from Tweetie in reply to aktiff08

I’ve got to say Sarah Palin is very strong! I’m pissed off about these stupid lies about her hair, can’t image dealing wth this stuff daily!
about 8 hours ago from Tweetie

If u think about it saying Sarah’s Palins hair is thinning is the dumbest lie the New York Times and inside Edition can come up with yet!
about 8 hours ago from Tweetie

All uhave 2 do is look at Sarah Palin’s hair 2 see that it’s not thinning it’s gorgeous I work with it all the time she’s fabulous! Luv SP
about 8 hours ago from Tweetie

No less than FOUR NYT reporters were in on this story and line editors also have a job to call sources and verify quotes on important stories. Of course anyone who examines our “Palin Truth Squad” category can see that newspapers making things up about Palin is nothing new [start from the oldest posts in the category and move forward – Editor].

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