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.

[tm22721]

Pubbies need to take advantage of CBS while their pants are down around their ankles.

BUMP

[mhking]

Greenfield says that's hard to sustain (how pitiful that I am grateful for this commonsense concession).

Blitzer sounds incredulous at Greenfield's position on it (i.e., that the substance also has to be faked).

[OXENinFLA]

re-examine



RE???????????????

[conservativecorner]

Pardon my language, but it was so apropos to this special occasion. LOL!!

[hgro]

What a load of that well known commodity.

[mwl1]

This has Cleland-Sasso connection all over it.

[mewzilla]

Is Burkett admitting that he actually forged the docs?

If not, who did?

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks the CBS Schadenfreude and Shenanigans will continue.

This halfa$$ed statement will not stop their fall from grace into irrelevance.

[cyncooper]

Burkett has confessed to being the source and deliberately misleading CBS.

It won't work---CBS had a chance to authenticate. This Burkett statement will not get them off the hook.

Also remaining to be seen---Burkett spoke with Cleland who referred him to the Kerry campaign. Did the Kerry campaign ever seen them? (I suspect "yes") and what if anything did they do with them.

[Rutles4Ever]

He essentially apologized for getting caught. He didn't apologize to any of the victims of his reckless disregard for the truth.

It's a non-apology.

[swheats]

This is becoming worse each day. Now CBS says they can't authenticate the documents. Yet they went forward with the information to defame the President's character and record.

This still can't stand. Apologies are not enough.

[mhking]

Greenfield trying to link/compare Rathergate and the Swifties...

[WashStateGirl]

[rabidralph]

Dang, I was hoping he'd use the Pennsylvania councilman's solution, famously referenced in that Filter song "Hey Man Nice Shot."

I wish I would’ve met you
Now it’s a little late
What you could’ve taught me
I could’ve saved some face
They think that your early ending
Was all wrong
For the most part they’re right
But look how they all got strong
That’s why I say hey man nice shot
What a good shot man

A man
Has gun
Hey man
Have fun
Nice shot

Now that the smokes gone
And the air is all clear
Those who were right there
Got a new kind of fear
You’d fight and you were right
But they were just to strong
They’d stick it in your face
And let you smell what they consider wrong
That’s why I say hey man nice, nice shot
What a good shot man

A man
Has gun
Hey man
Have fun
Nice shot

I wish I would’ve met you
I wish I would’ve met you
I’d say
Nice shot

[ClancyJ]

How much farther behind the internet can they get? The documents have already been found as fakes (a week ago).

President Bush deserves an apology from CBS and a personal one from Dan Rather - publicly.

The forger needs to be exposed. To do otherwise is withholding evidence.

[ApesForEvolution]

We made a mistake in judgment, and for that I am sorry, however, our Communist DNC goals are far more important right now and John Kerry must win this election at any, I repeat, any cost, considering all of the USSC Justices that will be brought in by the next POTUS. We all know that the people and their representatives need a Liberal set of activist Justices and therefore, we apologize for poor judgement, but not, however, for trying to bring you your United Socialist States of the Americas.

[DestroytheDemocrats]

I am waiting for the "apology tour." Within hours from now the talking heads will start advising CBS and Rather about how to frame a better apology. I hate the media I really do. They have too much power. All of them.

[TYVets]

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

Report fairly and truthfully,,,,,,

Dan Rather does a 180 in his reporting now?

I stopped believing Dan years ago and I see no reason to change my opinion today.

[cyncooper]

Wrong---Blitzer brought up CBS's statement to that effect and Greenfield said it can't be sustained (or is hard to sustain).

[Rutles4Ever]

Give the b*tch her f*&%$n' overhead!