Czech President Wasn't 'Stealing A Pen;' Media Caught Instead

A YouTube video is claimed to expose Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus stealing a pen as the camera catches the 69-year-old pocketing the expensive souvenir during a news conference with Chilean President Sebastian Pineda. The video is entertaining, but the rumors have become a complete media fail with regard to facts.

Had like allegations occurred in the U.S. for a favored politician such as President Barack Obama, both political fallout and a media storm would ensue.

In Klaus's case, with more than 4 million page views on one video depicting the alleged theft and now a Facebook page dedicated to event, it does appear to be a guilty looking head of state pocketing something he visibly admires (or is he nodding his head in agreement?). And we're not talking the packaged variety, but a writing instrument adorned with ″semi-precious Chilean lapiz lazuili stones,″ reports Prague Post. So, presumably we're talking felony theft value.

Media spin on Czech president

Were one to convict based on appearances alone, Klaus would be deemed guilty in this Saturday Night Live-esque footage and both media outlets and bloggers have convicted him, not limited to:

* The Huffington Post, which writes, ″Czech TV reporters caught Klaus discretely stealing the official pen.″

* CNN, which states that ″the president of the Czech Republic, was caught apparently pilfering a pen.″

* The title, ″On-video thievery prompts Facebook campaign to send Czech president pens,″ makes the front page of Examiner while pointing out for readers that the president is a "strong opponent of gay marriage." The linkage to kleptomania is a bit obscure here.

ABC News doesn't mince words, claiming the video "shows Klaus stealing an official pen last week during a visit to Chile."

* An Eninews columnist was so inspired by the event to write a 1,020-word essay of sorts on pens, how they are used and liberated, but was variably responsible with his characterization of Klaus.

* The Guardian characterized the event as, ″half-inching a pen might seem like a relatively minor offence -- even if it is one adorned with sparkly bits -- but when Czech president Vaclav Klaus slyly slipped a ceremonial ballpoint into his pocket ...″ [sic].

Indeed, The Guardian doesn't focus on the fabricated crime but instead goes on to cover Klaus's unfavored politics, which seem to seem to be the crux of the issue, in part, for propagating the rumor.

No crime committed

As for the facts, NPR towed the line as one of the first outlets to report that the Czech president was not guilty of pilfering, stealing or otherwise. Moreover, the Prague Post stated the following in no uncertain terms on April 14:

″In the wake of the apparent gaffe, both presidents' spokespeople were quick to point out Klaus had done nothing wrong. Klaus spokesman Radim Ochvat said that it was 'a pen with a logo of the state or office, which presidents and members of their delegation receive during state visits."

What if Obama allegedly stole a pen?

Even if new facts show the president did steal the pen, the point is no one charged Klaus with a crime nor convicted him of one ... except the media.

That the alleged theft is considered humorous makes it no less irresponsible. Today, bloggers, let alone journalists, typically include a variant of the word "alleged" prior to any accusation of criminal action, if only to save their own careers. Such prudence was conspicuously absent here.

It is apparent that the Czech president is no media darling which prompts consideration of how the story would have been spun in the U.S. had a video or photo of the president been taken out of context. Seems that we've been down that road once or twice.