Quoting out of context

This article or section needs to be rewritten, because:
It's too political. (Discuss)

An out of context quotation is a kind of quote mining or discrediting attack which attempts to "use a person's words" against them. "Putting words in someone's mouth" is another example. Sometimes, even a subtle change in wording can radically change what the speaker meant to say.

For example:

• As quoted in an advertisement for the film Be Cool: "...Travolta is as smooth as ever..." —Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
• The actual review: "[John Travolta's character Chili] Palmer is back in 'Be Cool,' and although Travolta is as smooth as ever, the picture is a bust, a grimly unfunny comedy with no connection to reality, and worst of all, running on and on for two dismal hours."

Like, "Most pollution comes from trees," a remark attributed by Anderson supporters to Ronald Reagan during the 1980 presidential campaign.

Or, "She has stated that she is not impartial or balanced." (referring to Ann Coulter). Her political opponents seized upon this misquotation as an "admission" that she is partial or unbalanced in her writing, as a way of accusing her of political bias. What she actually said is that she does not pretend to be that way.