GENERAL SHOOTS DOWN MEMOS (CBS's Pathetic Response)

The New York Post ^ | 09/18/2004 | Deborah Orin

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

In a new blow to CBS anchor Dan Rather's credibility, the man who has supposedly exerted pressure to "sugarcoat" President Bush's National Guard record has spoken out — and says the story is dead wrong. "I never pressured anybody about George Bush because I had no reason to," retired Brigadier Gen. Walter Staudt, who headed Bush's unit in the Texas Air National Guard, told ABC News.

The dubious documents that Rather used in a "60 Minutes" report last week that accused Bush of shirking his National Guard duty include a supposed Aug. 18, 1973, memo that claims Staudt was "pushing to sugar coat" Bush's ratings.

More than a dozen document experts — including two hired by CBS — say the memos are computer-generated fakes. Skeptics also note anomalies like the use of Army rather than Air Force terms and the fact that Staudt had retired 18 months before.

~snip~

CBS spokeswoman Sandy Genelius brushed off Staudt's statements: "In a debate this heated, one can hardly expect Gen. Staudt to endorse the point of view that he exerted undue influence."

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

See BS is just plain pathetic. Did you seek Staudt out when you investigated your story in the first place you Clymers?

[mrustow]

BTTT

[Jenya]

[Jenya]

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

CBS spokeswoman Sandy Genelius brushed off Staudt's statements: "In a debate this heated, one can hardly expect Gen. Staudt to endorse the point of view that he exerted undue influence."

In a debate this heated, I guess one can hardly expect CBS or Dan Rather to endorse the point of view that they've used forged documents in an attempt to harm a sitting President of the United States during wartime.

[flashbunny]

The CBS position: Everyone who disputes these documents is obviously biased. But when a little old lady who said bush was "selected, not elected" claims they reflect a dead man's sentiments, then, well, that's news!!!

[FesterUSMC]

but they will take the word of a 86 year old woman who plainly states that she does not like President Bush... amazing...

[Hank Rearden]

This is just getting around-the-bend surreal.

See? BS!

[happydogdesign]

[JPJones]

Did you seek Staudt out when you investigated your story in the first place you Clymers?

Exactly. One short meeting with him would have killed the story...

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

It truly is pathetic...

Why bother going to the source of the alleged undue influence and the guy who got Bush in the Guard in the first place (Staudt) when you can listen to a certifiable nutjob (Burkett) and a Democrat partisan shrill (Barnes) to make your case?

What passes for "journalism" these days is just plain pathetic.

[Post Toasties]

Mr. or Ms. Sandy Genelius, whatever you are, just STFU and try to stop being a disgrace to news reportage for a change.

[goldstategop]

C-BS is calling a retired general a liar. Wow, that's the way to re-establishing credibility with viewers. Hey Dan, keep bringing it on!!!

[Howlin]

APPROACH THIS MAN CAREFULLY: The race is on to score an interview with Walter Staudt, the former commander of the Texas National Guard and the man the infamous CBS documents allege pressured Killian to "sugar coat" Bush's performance review. Staudt might be able to clear some things up for everyone, but story after story over the last few days has frustratingly reported that he won't return anyone's phone calls. Time even sent a reporter out to knock on Staudt's door, but the octogenarian didn't answer. It's not a surprise. Staudt doesn't seem to be a big fan of the media or the Guard story. Here's what he told the Spokane Spokesman-Review earlier this year:

"I love the guy," Staudt said of Bush. "I'm so tired of this negative crap about him that I'd like to volunteer to build a barn and take you press guys out behind it and kick your asses."

Maybe that Time reporter should get hazardous duty pay.posted 10:40 p.m.

[JPJones]

"In a debate this heated, one can hardly expect Gen. Staudt to endorse the point of view that he exerted undue influence."

Yeah especially IF HE DIDN'T DO IT. YOU STUPID IGNORANT MORON.

[flashbunny]

Wow, great quote. Sounds like he needs to invite rather over for an old fashioned barn-raising.

[Howlin]

Or burning, as the case may be.........LOL.

[FesterUSMC]

What passes for "journalism" these days is just plain pathetic.

What even more amazing is supposedly they CBS and their producers Mary Mapes investigated this story for 4 years! 4 years!!! I don't look like they took 4 days let alone 4 years! i think CBS should ask Mary Mapes for their money back LOL Now the news media is trying to back up Mapes by saying she was the one that broke Abu Gharab.. well news flash... the military broke that story.. just because Viacom has deep pockets and can pay for pictures doesn't mean that they are good journalists, I'm sure hustler magazine could have outbid them for the pictures if they wanted to! would that make Larry Flynt a top notch journalist?

[1stMarylandRegiment]

CBS spokeswoman Sandy Genelius brushed off Staudt's statements: "In a debate this heated, one can hardly expect Gen. Staudt to endorse the point of view that he exerted undue influence."

Unbe-freakin-lievable. They just don't stop.

[woofie]

Meanwhile, the Pentagon yesterday released newly discovered documents from Bush's Guard file that show his commanding officer took special interest in him — and that he reported for duty again in Texas in 1973 after several months in Alabama.

The 1973 documents note Bush wasn't allowed to fly. He lost his flying status in 1972 in Alabama when he didn't take a required medical exam. He has said he didn't take the test because the Alabama base had no planes he could fly.

I have been out all day ...was there anything else on the "new" docs ?