CONGRESS BIGS NIX PROBE INTO 'RATHERGATE'

New York Post ^ | 9/16/04 | IAN BISHOP

[kattracks]

September 16, 2004 -- WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders yesterday put the kibosh on demands from a powerful House Republican for a probe into "evidence that CBS News has aided and abetted fraud" by peddling suspect documents critical of President Bush.

Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Calif.), chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, sought the investigation "given the shortness of the time between now and the election, which the apparent fraud is meant to influence."

He complained the network has declined to give the source of the documents.

But fellow Republican Joe Barton (Texas) rebuffed Cox's demand, saying an investigation "hardly seems appropriate or necessary."

Barton, who heads the House panel that oversees the telecommunications industry, said the court of public opinion will issue the best verdict.

"I do not personally believe these documents are legitimate, and it seems clear that the press and the two presidential campaigns are properly dealing with that issue," Barton said.

[lawgirl]

I was afraid of that. But I liked the sentiment anyway.

[HitmanLV]

I'm with Barton.

Making this a government investigation invites CBS to wrap itself in the cloak of a 1st Amendment warrior, and the angle would be played out from that perspective from that point forward.

Right now, the issue isn't allegations against Dubya (no matter how hard the talking heads are trying), the issue is CBS and its shoddy professionalism.

All by itself, the story appears to get better by the hour. We don't need a congressional investigation.

[Anti-Christ is Hillary]

"fellow Republican Joe Barton (Texas) rebuffed Cox's demand, saying an investigation "hardly seems appropriate or necessary.""

However, it was totally appropriate for them to hold an investigation over Fox News and brow beat an owner of a radio station for refusing to play the Dixie Chicks.

I wonder when the republican leadership will quit being cowards and finally put a boot in their butts.

[Jaysun]

But fellow Republican Joe Barton (Texas) rebuffed Cox's demand, saying an investigation "hardly seems appropriate or necessary."

I'm with Barton on this.

[Just Lori]

Right now, the issue isn't allegations against Dubya (no matter how hard the talking heads are trying), the issue is CBS and its shoddy professionalism.


CBS is MAKING the issue all about Dubya not showing up, not doing his duty, while Kerry all the while got himself 3 purple hearts doing his duty in Vietnam! Can the Americans who count on the maindream media for news figure this out? I truly wonder.

[teletech]

Let the rival press beat up on See BS. Republicans want to stay above the fray and concentrate on their various election races. Enough is being revealed now about the source(s) of these forged documents that I believe the truth will come out shortly.

[clee1]

We don't need no estinkin' investigation. CBS is doing a fine job of sinking their own ship - and they are drowning Kerry at the same time.

[inconspicuous]

...I want the G* D* Forger to get fried!!!...

...those Dummycrats will pull this scam again unless it's fully exposed and the evil people get jailed...

[nonkultur]

It was not going to go anywhere just yet, but it has now been placed in the congressional record.

[Anti-Christ is Hillary]

and isn't it fun to watch!!!!! I giggle everyday.

[ambrose]

Agreed. This was a stupid idea.

Right now, it is media vs media, with the President and GOP on the sidelines.

With Congressional hearings, the media would circle the wagons, and the Sheeple may see criticism of the documents as "partisan".

[Centaur]

"I do not personally believe these documents are legitimate, and it seems clear that the press and the two presidential campaigns are properly dealing with that issue," Barton said.

He forgot to mention the PJjournalist brigade. They are so much faster and genuine than any congressional investigation anyhow.

[HitmanLV]

CBS is failing in making that the issue, that's my point.

CBS's behavior increasingly makes them look worse. The wide consensus now is that the docs are fake, and the talking head actvity is "what is CBS doing?"

[shawngf]

I think Barton is right. This had the ability to look like a partisan mess with the Big Bad Republicans taking on the Great Honest CBS if it went to a congressional hearing(however well deserved it might be) but this way it really IS the will and voice of the people that will hand down the verdict and help Dan and CBS to the showers..

[zeppenwolf]

So Janet's titty deserves an investigation, but forging government documents in an effort to sway a federal election doesn't?

True, congress is not CBS' watchdog, but there's more going on here. Setting a precedent of Shock & Awe Prosecution against those who would blithely forge gov dox hoping to defame a sitting president seems to me like a good idea.

Let them walk, and lord knows what the libs will come up with in 04.

[HitmanLV]

Exactly.

Though it would be nice to tune into the CBS Evening News and after the first 60 seconds, hear a commotion and then Zell Miller kicks the door down and beats Rather's arse on national tv. ;)

[flying Elvis]

So long as it isn't affecting Bush in the polls, it isn't worth the difficulties involved. I'd wait until after the elections and go after CBS with a vengence.

[Nathan Zachary]

I guess I'm more sharkish, When there is blood in the water i want to see a feeding frenzy. MSM won't do it.

[smonk]

so, where is the public apology from mcauliff and harkin for using these fake docs as their reason for calling the president a "liar" for three days straight?