Posted on 09/09/2004 2:45:04 PM PDT by hispanarepublicana
Amid questions raised on Internet weblogs about the authenticity of National Guard documents potentially damaging to President Bush, CBS News told WorldNetDaily it stands by its claims.
Spokeswoman Kelli Edwards said she was aware of the charge that the documents, purportedly produced in 1972 and 1973, appear to have been forged with a modern word processor.
"As is standard practice at CBS News, each of the documents broadcast on '60 Minutes' was thoroughly investigated by independent experts, and we are convinced of their authenticity," said Edwards.
Edwards refused to comment further, referring back to her statement as the final word.
Later, however, she sent an e-mail to WND, adding, "CBS verified the authenticity of the documents by talking to individuals who had seen the documents at the time they were written. These individuals were close associates of [Bush commander] Colonel Jerry Killian and confirm that the documents reflect his opinions at the time the documents were written."
A White House spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
CBS News has a copy of a memo here in pdf format.
Among the assertions "60 Minutes II" derived from the documents were that Bush's Texas Air National Guard squadron commander, Col. Killian, was pressed to embellish a performance evaluation and that Bush did not follow an order to report for a physical.
They so wanted this story to put Bush up against the wall, but now THEY'RE the ones on the defensive. God, I love the internet.
60 Minutes consulted a handwriting analyst and document expert who believes the material is authentic.
Apparantly, CBS's claim that you quoted above is not true, according to their own spokesperson's last email to WND.
Were they lying then or are they lying now? It's still on their website somebody catch it before it disappears into Cambododia..who would have knowledge of the documents being written 30 years ago? time for them to spill their source...
Read this! They didn't consult a handwriting or document expert at all!!!
I've recovered the capacity to write more than one word. That contemporaneous mutual remembrance crap is mind boggling, arrogant stupidity.
The old media's credibility will take another hit.
Forging military documents is a felony. That's a good one for starters. And "protecting sources" will only prolong the legal agony.
Rather could well be finished. They'll call it retirement, but everybody will know what really happened.
If FCC administrative regulations have been violated, the network's owned-and-operated TV stations could be stripped of their licenses, although the process would take years.
This could be really unpleasant for Viacom both legally and financially.
The FREEPIN' WASHINGTON TIMES just picked it up!!!!!
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040909-040052-8114r.htm
OK lemmie see. CBS will not produce the name of the expert who examined the documents. But will say that they have credible witnesses who saw the dead guy type this?
Huh?
My uncles-brothers-nephew-nextdoor neighbor's girlfriend's pet pig saw that doument being typed.
Can I have the make and model of that typewriter please?
I don't think this is how Terry McAwful thought this would turn out.
Sounds like "intent of the voter" nonsense...
They are trying to say now that these documents 'Just represent the thoughts of Colonel Jerry Killian'. They are changing their tune and soon it will be just a copy of an up to date memo which refers to a previous memo which was observed by people who knew the Colonel and or President Bush at the time reflected in the memo or before or after that time. What a bunch of Word Wankers. This is going to be just a bunch of Yakady yakady yack offs.
This is as bad as Dateline:NBC rigging a GM pickup truck to explode upon a side impact.
At very least they have no confidence in these documents. If they did, they wouldn't have amended their statement.
If you are going to levy charges, you had damn well be sure you have backed up the claims. For evidence, look to the Swiftees campaign. O'Neil had it all documented and in order before charging forward.
IMO, CBS didn't do their homework because they believed the charges. Their zeal to smear G.W. may have resulted in forged documents on air without proper scrutiny.
They screwed up. They are dead meat. How much you want to bet this leads right back to the DNC?
His opinion in 1980?
Since Killian is dead, I'm sure he will be voting for Kerry.
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