CBS News:A Source of Contention (Rather Phones Burkett Per Story)

Newsweek ^ | Sept. 27 issue | Mark Hosenball, Michael Isikoff and Anne Belli Gesalman

[Anti-Bubba182]

Sept. 27 issue - CBS insiders are increasingly worried that the credibility of the network's news division has been grievously damaged by anchor Dan Rather's persistent defense of a story which relied on questionable documents about George W. Bush's National Guard service. "This has clearly hurt us," one veteran correspondent told NEWSWEEK. Network sources describe finger-pointing within the news division, with concerns greatest among "60 Minutes" producers, who fear the issue has tainted their entire program. While CBS News president Andrew Heyward has publicly backed Rather, the network has quietly assembled a team of additional producers to work the case. Rather is privately telling colleagues he remains "confident" that the story, and the memos, will be vindicated......."

[Anti-Bubba182]

"..Rather is privately telling colleagues he remains "confident" that the story, and the memos, will be vindicated..."

The old man is goofy.

[Anti-Bubba182]

"...Three days before the broadcast, Burkett e-mailed a friend that there was "a real heavy situation regarding Bush's records" about to break. "He was having a lot of fun with this," said the friend, Dennis Adams. Burkett told a visitor that after the story ran, Rather phoned him and expressed his and the network's "full support." CBS has declined to comment on the sourcing of the network's story. Burkett's lawyer told the press his client would never "condone forgery," but did not respond to detailed questions posed by NEWSWEEK. Burkett himself refused to talk to reporters camped outside his house last week, although he did tell a journalist that since he began speaking out, unnamed assailants had killed his dog and threatened to rape his wife..."

[Bertha Fanation]

I'm very worried that the impact of this whole Rathergate thing will to force the Dems to go negative.

[rocksblues]

CBS insiders are increasingly worried that the credibility of the network's news division has been grievously damaged by anchor Dan Rather's persistent defense of a story which relied on questionable documents about George W. Bush's National Guard service.

Poor Dan he still think's that this is 1974?

[js1138]

At least they didn't kill his cat.

[jocon307]

"Burkett's lawyer told the press his client would never "condone forgery,"

Yeah, and how many homiciders condone murder? Not too many I imagine.

[js1138]

I'm lost. What is questionable about the forged documents?

[twntaipan]

bttt

[dc-zoo]

I'm beginning to think that Dan is Rather senile or his daughter is guilty as sin. Maybe both.

[Political Junkie Too]

Poor Dan he still think's that this is 1974?

Maybe he thinks that it's 1984 and that we're still at war with Oceania.

We've always been at war with Oceania.

-PJ

[Iam1ru1-2]

and God send them strong deception that they should believe the lie because they refused to believe the truth that would save them.

[elhombrelibre]

This guy is a bozo and a fraud. The only reason Rather couldn't see through him is that he didn't want to see the truth if a lie might be used to get Bush.

[Rocky]

"I'm very worried that the impact of this whole Rathergate thing will to force the Dems to go negative."

LOL!

(You don't hire guys like Begala and Carville in order to go positive.)

[madison46]

They are about to go negative? THe memo's were them going negative. Now, losing even worse, they are about to attack Bush as a liar and beat down the troops in Iraq. Oh, and doing it this late...oh yeah, it will back fire.

[gop_gene]

Three days before the broadcast, Burkett e-mailed a friend that there was "a real heavy situation regarding Bush's records" about to break. "He was having a lot of fun with this," said the friend, Dennis Adams.

Gee, wonder if he's still having fun now?

[ambrose]

What happened to the Newsweek poll this week?

[joyce11111]

they are all nutz...

[Iam1ru1-2]

"What is questionable about the forged documents"

Since an all knowing Ra^ther tells us that the documents are legit, and 1,000's of other reputable sources says they are fake, the it becomes a toss up and therefore "questionable forgeries" according to the "unbiased" mainstream biased press.

[Anti-Bubba182]

"I'm lost. What is questionable about the forged documents?"

Not a thing, that is their problem and the probability that their source is a discredited partisan with an Axe to grind and history of mental problems does not help either.

The big deal with this article is the report, FWIW, of Rather calling Burkett and promising "full support". If true why would he do that if Burkett is not the source.