AP baselessly suggested that -- contrary to her own words -- Michelle Obama's "cute" comment was directed at Palin

Summary: The AP put out an article advancing the baseless assumption that Michelle Obama was referring to Gov. Sarah Palin when Obama "asked voters Thursday to make their choice on the issues, not because ... 'she's cute' " -- even though the article specifically noted that Obama followed her statement by saying, "I'm talking about me," and that Obama "did not talk about Palin directly in her remarks."

Associated Press writer Mike Baker authored a September 18 article based on the groundless assumption that Michelle Obama was referring to Gov. Sarah Palin when Obama "asked voters Thursday to make their choice on the issues, not because ... 'she's cute.' " Baker offered no evidence supporting his question, "Might she be talking about Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin?" Indeed, Baker specifically noted in the next sentence that Obama followed her statement by saying, "I'm talking about me," and in the article's final sentence that Obama "did not talk about Palin directly in her remarks." Nonetheless, Baker devoted a 183-word article to making a link between Obama's comment and Palin, despite the absence of any mention of Palin in her comments.

The original version of the article, distributed by the AP's State and Local Wire and published on the USA Today website as part of a roundup package, simply asserted as fact that Obama's comment was "a clear jab at Republican vice presidential pick Sarah Palin," adding that "Obama tried to clarify her remark with a smile, saying she was talking about herself."

The AP article, headlined "Michelle Obama: Don't vote because 'she's cute' "

Michelle Obama asked voters Thursday to make their choice on the issues, not because, "I like that guy" or, "she's cute."

Might she be talking about Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin?

"I'm talking about me," she said with a smile.

Barack Obama's wife, however, is not on the ticket in the presidential election. Palin is.

Her remarks came at a women's round-table on the economy as Democrats work to neutralize the appeal that Palin has brought to John McCain's ticket for some female voters. They are doing so gingerly, so as to not appear sexist or invite another lipstick-on-a-pig tempest.

Michelle Obama told the audience her husband is only candidate focused on equal pay, health care, affordable college, teacher recruitment and other issues of concern to women. She said that's what the election should be about.

"People shouldn't make a decision this time based on, 'I like that guy' or 'she's cute,'" she said.

The line won a big round of applause. Before it subsided, she interjected: "And I'm talking about me."

She did not talk about Palin directly in her remarks.

The AP State and Local Wire article:

Michelle Obama says voters need to decide this election by examining the issues, not because they like a candidate or think "she's cute.''

Obama spoke in Charlotte on Thursday morning at a women's round-table on economic issues. The crowd roared at her remark disparaging voters who might cast a ballot because of a woman's looks, a clear jab at Republican vice presidential pick Sarah Palin.

Obama tried to clarify her remark with a smile, saying she was talking about herself.

Obama said her husband, Democratic hopeful Barack Obama, is the only candidate to deal with women's issues. She particularly focused on equal pay, health care, affordable college and recruiting new teachers.

—M.G.