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.

[vox_freedom]

Rather's statement that, "...if I knew then what I know now.... is also totally insufficient. As Patriot32 wrote, the apology isn't owed to us but should be given to President Bush. Rather attempted to destroy President Bush's integrity with these lies. We also need to know who perpetrated these documents and the trail of evidence. The DNC and Kerry's campaign need to be held accountable. Laws have also been broken here in fabricating government documents. Bring forward the truth and let the chips fall. Rather needs to resign or be fired NOW and CBS owes an apology to the President.

[mewzilla]

LOL. Not to mention being dumb as a post. Excellent analogy.

[TomGuy]

MSNBC says that Rather will be issuing his own statement sometime today.

[Halls]

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!! Dan should become a comedian cause this statement is hilarious!

[mhking]

AP: "CBS will say it can't prove documents it relied on for "60 Minutes" story about President Bush's National Guard service were authentic, executive says."

[Howlin]

Exactly.

Fox: CBS is saying it cannot authenticate the documents.......LOL.

Not admitting they are fakes.

Basically, they are saying that they can't PROVE they are fakes, so they shouldn't have used them.

They don't seem to be backing off the charges.

[texasbluebell]

So I wonder now if O'Reilly will continue with his 3 week investigation of this.

He can't be sure of anything unless he conducts his own investigation, he claims.

Hey Bill, are you still going to stick up for Blather?

[ClancyJ]

...the source may well implicate Rather and others.
...

Well then they are abetting a crime or withholding evidence aren't they?

[NetSurfer]

Dan Rather: I'd like to break that story...on myself breaking that story...on myself...

[shadowman99]

The version on MSNBC is forged.

[kanawa]

Killian Burkett

[Republic]

What a mess. All Pajamahadeen, please report to battlestations. Prepare to double the pressure on all affiliates, advertisers, and Viacom shareholders

LOL! Is it me, or is there something genuinely priceless about FreeRepublic.com and its extraordinary computer armed militia? He He... I almost feel like getting my PJ's s on right now-LOL!

[EggsAckley]

Check out post #106.


A confused noob.

[mhking]

Is it me, or is there something genuinely priceless about FreeRepublic.com and its extraordinary computer armed militia? He He... I almost feel like getting my PJ's s on right now-LOL!

[JFC]

dan has no legacy

[Hyacinthus Forma]

CBS is the perp. Bush is the VICTIM. Period, Amen.

[cyncooper]

It won't work...for a myriad of reasons. But of course the effort will be made.

[shadowman99]

O'Reilly wants Rather's job. He'll keep his mouth shut.

[Samwise]

[lonestar]

NOTHING will rehab CBS short of a complete review of BOTH presidential candidates records during their military service --and discharge.