Anatomy of a Forgery

The American Spectator ^ | 9-10-4 | Washington Prowler

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Anatomy of a Forgery

By The Prowler

Published 9/10/2004 12:09:06 AM

More than six weeks ago, an opposition research staffer for the Democratic National Committee received documents purportedly written by President George W. Bush's Texas Air National Guard squadron commander, the late Col. Jerry Killian. The oppo researcher claimed the source was "a retired military officer." According to a DNC staffer, the documents were seen by both senior staff members at the DNC, as well as the Kerry campaign. "More than a couple people heard about the papers," says the DNC staffer. "I've heard that they ended up with the Kerry campaign, for them to decide to how to proceed, and presumably they were handed over to 60 Minutes, which used them the other night. But I know this much. When there was discussion here, there were doubts raised about their authenticity." The concerns arose from the sourcing. "It wasn't clear that our source for the documents would have had access to them. Our person couldn't confirm from what file, from what original source they came from." The documents that CBS News used were not documents from any of Bush's personnel files from his time in the National Guard. Rather, CBS News stated that they were documents uncovered in the personnel files of Killian. That would explain why the White House or the Pentagon had never before released or even seen them. According to a Kerry campaign source, there was little gossip about the supposedly hot documents inside the office of the campaign on McPherson Square. "Those documents were not something anyone was talking about or trying to generate buzz on," says the staffer. "It wasn't like there were small groups of people talking about this as a bombshell. I think people here weren't sure what to make of it, because provenance of these documents was uncertain." A CBS producer, who initially tipped off The Prowler about the 60 Minutes story, says that despite seeking professional assurances that the documents were legitimate, there was uncertainty even among the group of producers and researchers working on the story. "The problem was we had one set of documents from Bush's file that had Killian calling Bush 'an exceptionally fine young officer and pilot.' And someone who Killian said 'performed in an outstanding manner.' Then you have these new documents and the tone and content are so different." The CBS producer said that some alarms bells went off last week when the signatures and initials of Killian on the documents in hand did not match up with other documents available on the public record, but producers chose to move ahead with the story. "This was too hot not to push. If there were doubts, those people didn't show it," says the producer, who works on a rival CBS News program. Now, the producer says, there is growing concern inside the building on 57th Street that they may have been suckered by the Kerry campaign. "There is a school of thought here that the Kerry people dumped this in our laps, figuring we'd do the heavy lifting on the story. That maybe they had doubts about these documents but hoped we'd get more information," says the producer. "If that's the case, then we're bigger fools than we already appear to be judging by all the chatter about how these documents could be forgeries." ABC News' political unit held a conference call at 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening to discuss the memo and its potential ramifications should the documents turn out to be a forgery. That meeting took place around the time that the deceased Killian's son made public statements questioning the documents' authenticity. According to one ABC News employee, some reporters believe that the Kerry campaign as well as the DNC were parties in duping CBS, but a smaller segment believe that both the DNC and the Kerry campaign were duped by Karl Rove, who would have engineered the flap to embarrass the opposition.

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[Chemist_Geek]

Somebody will have no one left to say, "so and so gave me the memos."

I wouldn't want to be that person. If he's a Kerry staffer, the election is OVER.

Perhaps... Hopefully, the story of attempted forgery & attempted libel will get traction in the minds of the Great Unwashed Mushy Middle. Are they tuned in yet?

[Steel Wolf]

I'm also wondering if another neat thing will happen. Forging military records isn't exactly on par with jaywalking. There are legal ramifications of forging government documents, especially with such a clear intent to decieve.

The source of these documents can and should at a minimum be exposed, if not prosecuted.

[Uncle Miltie]

What did Kerry know, and when did he know it?

[VRWCTexan]

Amazing - it took me all of 5 minutes today to compare the CBS fake memo signatures with those available on the internet from GWB's TX ANG records - as they said - NOT even close!!!

[JulieRNR21]

This story has been amazing to watch today. Thank you to all the FReepers who devoted so much time to correcting such a horrendous smear. It's like watching Watergate unravel before my very eyes.

---

I was out all evening & missed the 'uncovering of the forgeries'....but I was lucky to be in on the 'uncovering of the AP's false report of Boos at the Bush Rally'

Thanks to so many dedicated Freepers......it looks like Rathergate will be hugh! This is a very series matter!

[Kozak]

Oh yeah when does that blowhard Harkin apologize?

[Swampmarine]

Post #75 just nailed it.

[RayChuang88]

It might take a lot of popcorn to watch all the fun this could cause.

You'll need a lot more than popcorn--how about all-out tailgate party instead? ;-)

And I can't wait for the blogosphere and FreeRepublic to rip Kitty Kelley's new book to confetti and smaller pieces next week. :-)

[hobson]

It's almost like Christmas!

[swheats]

It's a difficult task but I'd have to say Heinz Kerry. After her weeks of silence she comes back insulting folk who doesn't agree with her husband.

[Phantom Lord]

self bump

[jwalsh07]

:-} Yup!

[Alouette]

there was uncertainty even among the group of producers and researchers working on the story.

FONTGATE!!!

They all knew it was bogus but were afraid to say so out loud because their jobs were on the line.

"Oh, your Imperial Majesty, that new wardrobe of yours is just to die for!"

[gobucks]

LOLOLOL.

[Steel Wolf]

You know from a tactical point of view if we can encourage this belief in the omnipotence of Rove, we can paralyze the opposition

If Karl Rove really is as cunning as liberal folklore holds him, Democratic donors would be better off saving their money until he retires. It's only a matter of time before they refer to Rove as 'He Who Pulls Strings' in darkly hushed tones, and glance around first before saying it.

[swheats]

Lets not forget Pitkin coming out saying he was made to say things in his testamony that wasn't true. What or who made Barnes say the things he's said and why? His own daughter doesn't believe him.

[gobucks]

Maybe it is as you say a forged source. In that case, I suspect we would indeed hear who it is...

But, again, I doubt it. Too many things from long ago have neatly lined up for Hillary. This particular goof is so utterly spectacular .... unless Kerry is Supposed to Lose.

[randog]

Coordination between CBS and Kerry folks?

I was wondering how long it would take until someone saw the big picture here. Take a good look folks--we've got the DNC and Kerry campaign admitting that they coordinate with one of the big 3 networks--CBS. You know, the guys that adamantly deny that they have a liberal bias?

IOW, CBS IS ADMITTING THAT THEY'RE WORKING FOR THE DNC AND KERRY CAMPAIGN!!!

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

I will be willing John F'n Kerry now wishs ten million times he had taken the offer to denounce the story.

And that S..... F... McCainiac said not a word, that nutcase was hoping it was true.

[GOPcapitalist]

Bingo. We've got our DNC connection.