Posted on 09/20/2004 8:54:24 AM PDT by TheGeezer
Edited on 09/20/2004 9:07:32 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
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.
They did not work on this for five years. They are SAYING they worked on it for five years.
(that's my opinion)
Translation: The American people are not quite as stupid as we thought they were, 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.
That should read: ..........in the spirit of trying to carry on a CBS News tradition of investigative reporting full of distortions and out and out lying without fear of being caught.
Rather's statement states "I find we have been misled on the key question of how our source for the documents came into possession of these papers".
No, the key question is why CBS and Rather used forged documents in a story that is harmful to a sitting President and why CBS ignored warnings from experts not to use the documents in question.
You're right, it's a really "sorry" apology. He truly owes one to the President. This was no "mistake in judgment"--it was a planned attack, planned for over 5 long years. It was a Kamikazi attack as it turns out, but to claim it was a "mistake in judgment" is all the more infuriating.
Sadly, that's the best we're gonna get from Rather and cbs..
We ARE the grassroots.
And, we may well be the salvation of this country from a propaganda filled MSM.
Kind of like the local militia in the early years.
Pray for W and Our Troops
Just to emphasize your point...CBS discounted the Killians' statements and wouldn't interview sources they recommended because they were too "pro-Bush", but they had no qualms about putting Ben Barnes on camera so he could spout off about how he allegedly got George Bush into the Texas ANG, even though his own daughter says he was lying. Why wasn't Barnes too "pro-Kerry" for them to interview, given that he is one of John Kerry's biggest fund-raisers? The double standard CBS uses for deciding whether to use a conservative or liberal source is nothing short of astounding!
CNBC just quoted CBS as saying that their source admitted to lying about the origin of the documents. This is considerably stronger language than the statement quoted by Drudge.
Now, we're entitled to know who this dirty trickster is, nicht wahr?
Bill Burkett: Steering Committee, Van Os for Texas Democratic Chair 2002
So if this patsy acknowledges he gave the fake documents to CBS, I expect him to be interviewed by the US Justice department for Falsifying Federal Documents and forgery of a Military Officer, which is both Felony offenses.
I WANT HIM PROSECUTED!
MSNBC is saying that, back in February, they interviewed Burkett and could not give 'credence' to Burkett's allegations even then. So, MSNBC did reported on Burkett's allegations.
MSNBC is trying to imply, today, however, that the 'substance' of the memos could still be at issue.
What's this?
"The source" has made a statement too....per Rush
Your words were my thoughts, pal!
Red
We need to see his statement. What I heard on CNN was he admits deliberately misleading CBS but I did not hear if he admitted writing up the things.
Jeff Greenfield has become a total joke. At one point many years ago I actually liked him. But this year everything I've heard him say is a waste.
EMail the sponsors.
Anyone have a pointer to that thread that had all those sponsors?
or, Democratic operatives were heavily linked and CBS doesn't want to allow the Kerry Campaign to take yet another hit...
Burkett and Cleland admit that Burkett passed along the docs to him and he, in his turn, passed him on to Kerry Kampaign people.
Now that the 'source' is reported as saying he/she misled CBS they think they can put paper over it and it will go away.
No one is 'misled' with forged documents. No, they are in receipt of evidence in a crime called forgery.
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