It usually takes a while, but I don’t think people are aware. And first impressions (or convenient ones) really do stick in your head. I think the media does this all the time - throwing something they know they’ll have to retract after pressure is applied, but knowing they already succeeded with their agenda.
But, I read things like this all the time. The latest being the war in Iraq (WMDs, etc), but here’s one I remembered only because of a woman’s name.