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.
When does John Edwards apologize to W for relying on the now admitted to be fraudulent CBS report? Edwards had a whole series of attacks based on this fake story.
I think if we got the French involved with this investigation, we could get to the bottom of this a lot faster.
In other words, 'we don't know if the docs are phony or not. We just can't prove they are real at this time.'
What a bunch of crap and a non-story.
If the massive popularity of "right wing journalists" didn't convince them, CBS and NPR should now realize that they are misled about the bias in their programming.
CYA baby...
Say good-night Dan.
In the golden years of CBS, Edward R. Murrow said, "To be persuasive, we must be believable; to be believable, we must be credible; to be credible, we must be truthful."
I can't help but wonder what would Edward R Murrow think of his CBS today.
Oh really ... hmmmmmm
I noticed in c-BS's white wash of Rathergate that they have NOT APOLOGIZED to President Bush for slandering him.
You're right I don't think Cleland typed the memos but I think he's the reason SeeBS can't out "the source", it would bring down Kerry faster than you can say "Let them go naked"
Mark Hosenball via phone on MSNBC just said to his mind the Swift Vets said things just as spurious as this report on GWB's service, but the difference here is watching a major media figure go down in flames.
I love these reporters revealing so much about their thinking process, confirming what we perceived for so many years.
They aren't interested in objective fact but taking sides.
Bet they think Rove is behind all of this, so they're prolly looking forward to their boy Dan pulling the trigger on the rest of the story.
I said I had just learned of Dan Rather's admission that he had used forgeries as the basis for a story that smeared the president.
I said that as the local CBS affiliate the station shared guilt in perpetration of a fraud upon the citizens. Entrusted as it is with the licensed use of sparse radio frequency spectrum in service to the citizens, its license might be threatened if it failed to ethically conduct its business.
I said that Rather attempted, using shoddy journalism, to affect a presidential election, and that the affiliate must use its influence to pressure CBS to fire Rather, after Rather apologizes to the president.
I had to say this to the receptionist, a news director's secretary, and finally, to the news director's Audix, but I said it (and I think it got a little better with each rehearsal). I left my phone number in case he wanted to speak to me.
No anger, no threats, just simple truth.
We all should go for it. Call your local affiliates. Call CBS. E-mail 'em if you can. Go for it. Be calm, not shrill, but firm.
Could be. But I think if it was just Burkett and/or Cleland, CBS would toss them over the side in a heartbeat.
"With respect, I don't think Cleland sat there and two-fingered typed those things. Although I do think he's dumb enough to go down with the ship if he's asked."
I don't think Cleland has the capability to use a 1970'2 manual typewriter. (Lot's of physical labor) So, he took the chance with a 2003 Pentium 4 Dell.
Not at all hidden. CBS, ABC and NBC have been the eqivalent of the Ministry of Truth for decades.
That's what I'm thinking too.
Everybody interviewed Burkett back in February. It's when the whole attack resurfaced during the dem presidential primary.
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