Columnists often lift quotes from political speeches to illustrate the point they’re trying to make. I’ve done it myself many times — it’s an excellent way to add emphasis to what you’re writing.
However, keeping the quote in context isn’t always easy. A case in point, David Moon’s column in Sunday’s News Sentinel. In the April 24 column, Moon used a quote from President Barack Obama to draw a contrast between Ronald Reagan’s tax reform policies and the current president’s financial reform policies.
The Obama quote — from a speech just about a year ago — has been widely repeated by the president’s political opponents who want to paint him as a socialist. Unfortunately, the quote is often taken out of context.