STATEMENT FROM DAN RATHER (UPDATE: Statement released)

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[TheGeezer]

Update by moderator:

EXCLUSIVE

STATEMENT FROM DAN RATHER:

Last week, amid increasing questions about the authenticity of documents used in support of a 60 MINUTES WEDNESDAY story about President Bush's time in the Texas Air National Guard, CBS News vowed to re-examine the documents in question—and their source—vigorously. And we promised that we would let the American public know what this examination turned up, whatever the outcome.

Now, after extensive additional interviews, I no longer have the confidence in these documents that would allow us to continue vouching for them journalistically. I find we have been misled on the key question of how our source for the documents came into possession of these papers. That, combined with some of the questions that have been raised in public and in the press, leads me to a point where—if I knew then what I know now—I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question.

But we did use the documents. We made a mistake in judgment, and for that I am sorry. It was an error that was made, however, in good faith and in the spirit of trying to carry on a CBS News tradition of investigative reporting without fear or favoritism.

Please know that nothing is more important to us than people's trust in our ability and our commitment to report fairly and truthfully.

[MisterRepublican]

What a load of crap. They were not deceived. They were and are the deceivers. Rather and crew just keep making it worse by not coming clean.

[tdadams]

"I will be resigning the anchorship..... "

Well, thanks to Clinton we're living in an era where no conduct is so publicly humiliating, incompetent, selfish, or embarassing as to justify resigning. You just say a tepid "I'm sorry" and go along like nothing ever happened.

[Patriot32]

I do not want an apology. The man that is owen an apology is President George W. Bush.

[TomGuy]

CNN and MSNBC are on the ills of Iraq. FoxNews in on the CBS statement.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

We made a mistake in judgment, and for that I am sorry

Dan Rather has a seared conscience.

He is not sorry for what he did, he is only sorry he got caught. Big difference.

He knows he lied. he was in on it over the past several years.

I hope they make him an executive at CBS.

[MizSterious]

"It's a great day in America when Captain Dan eats crow."

In order for him to eat crow, there has to be at least a modicum of humility--and I don't see it in that statement. Not even a hint of an apology. Infuriating.

[thag]

GO PJ clad raiders! You guys ROCK!

[Concerned]

Danny Boy's VERY late apology should have come IMMEDIATELY---when it was FIRST exposed---not after his hand was called. (Actually, Danny Boy either KNEW or should have known they were fakes, BEFORE they ever put them on the air.)

It's like a bank robber being caught in the act of armed robbery, on live TV, then being followed home by the cops and saying "Oops, I'm sorry for robbing the bank. Here's the money back. So now that I'm giving back all of the stolen money, I shouldn't be arrested and held accountable."

WRONG!!!

[EggsAckley]

I believe Killian gave the forgeries to Cleland

Huh? Um....Killian is dead.

Welcome to Free Republic.

[I'm ALL Right!]

if I knew then what I know now—I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question.

Translation: We were told by numerous experts that the documents were probably forgeries. If we had know we were going to be caught, we wouldn't have used them.

[mewzilla]

CBS to its affiliates: Screw you.

[MaineRepublic]

They should immediately reveal the source for these memos.

[petercooper]

CBS News: Fake, But Accurate

[Fiddlstix]

......That, combined with some of the questions that have been raised in public and in the press, leads me to a point where—if I knew then what I know now—I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question....

Please allow me to make a small correction:

That, combined with some of the questions that have been raised in public and in the press, leads me to a point where—if I knew then That I was going to get caught—I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question.

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"Never mind."

ROFLOL! Very clever.

[Howlin]

MSNBC is reading a different memo from CBS, saying that Burkett admitted he sent the memos to CBS -- and CBS is now starting an "independent" review of what happened.

[Colofornian]

Love his selective use of perpective: "we promised.... that we would...I no longer have...that would allow us to...I find we have been misled...our source...leads me to...if I knew then what I know now—I would not have...and I certainly...But we did...We made a mistake...I am sorry...important to us...our ability and our commitment..." What a crappy piece of CYA writing. Looks like Rather wrote this himself and no one else would touch it.

Yeah, you can't get more of a disjointed, hesitant piece of writing than that. Can you imagine being in a jury box with the defendant speaking in such a disjointed, hesitant way? How believable would he be?

[b4its2late]

Dan must figure that he broke this story.....

[pepperdog]

Not good enough! Admit that you have determined them to be forgeries!

[bandleader]

Rush just read this pile of SH*T and(of course)came to exactly The RIGHT conclusion!Where is The ANGER at being "USED"to distribute FORGED DOCS.????????????????????