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STATEMENT FROM DAN RATHER (UPDATE: Statement released)
http://www.drudgereport.com ^ | Drudge

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: badfaith; cbsnews; danrather; danron; dontbelieveaword; forgery; hedratherblather; killian; liar; meastupida; memogate; napalminthemorning; nonpology; rather; rathergate; rathertranscript; seebsnews; stainedbluememo
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To: TheGeezer

Have they specified the time or is it another delay, delay, delay such as last time when they finally made an utterly stupid statement -- and whoever wrote it should be fired for their low IQ.


41 posted on 09/20/2004 9:03:16 AM PDT by Dante3
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To: Semper Paratus

I'm not holding my breath. I would be really shocked if they said anything even remotely near the truth any time soon.


42 posted on 09/20/2004 9:03:25 AM PDT by meema
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To: plushaye
if I knew then what I know now

The question, Dan, is why didn't you know then what you know now?!!

43 posted on 09/20/2004 9:03:38 AM PDT by Pete
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To: TheGeezer

whatever it is, best we not gloat.


44 posted on 09/20/2004 9:03:39 AM PDT by dep (No, we don't have editors. We ARE editors.)
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To: TheGeezer

Fact is, there are a LOT of VERY serious issues that should be pushed HARD OTHER than the documets. The other issues expose HOW THE MEDIA WING OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY ACTUALLY WORKS! CBS' "gold standard" included:

1. The widow and son were IGNORED
2. Document experts were IGNORED
3. Hodges was MISLED
4. The old secretary was NOT INTERVIEWED until afterward
5. Staudt, who had his character attacked in one memo, was never contacted
6. The opinions of the experts were MISREPRESENTED
7. The swift boat veterans were MALIGNED
8. George Bush's roomate DURING HIS GUARD YEARS, who AGREED TO SPEAK TO THEM WAS TURNED DOWN BECAUSE HE WAS TOO "PRO BUSH"...

And the list goes on. Fact is, this was a HIT PIECE ON BUSH. And just because dnCBS owns up to fake documents does NOT CLEAR THEIR PROPAGANDA / DNC REPORTING!!


45 posted on 09/20/2004 9:03:50 AM PDT by woodb01 (Take out the 'dnC'BS "news" trash... Make dnCBS EXTINCT)
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To: tdadams

So CBS allows the perp to be interviewed by the (willing?) patsy? Oh, good one...


46 posted on 09/20/2004 9:03:58 AM PDT by mewzilla
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To: Pete

Why didn't he just come out and say, "hit me here"?


47 posted on 09/20/2004 9:04:21 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever ("The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing...")
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To: TheGeezer
I won't waste my time waiting for this drivel.

Last week they kept putting it off all day to attract attention.

Cbs has become an exhibitionist network, trying to get more viewers by flashing.

48 posted on 09/20/2004 9:04:22 AM PDT by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (anybody but Kerry)
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To: keat
"My favorite line from that movie:

'Those aren't pillows!!!'"

"Those aren't real memos!!!"
49 posted on 09/20/2004 9:05:21 AM PDT by Chummy ("I Rather Know when I See BS." RepublicanAttackSquad.biz: "A vote 4 Kerry is a vote 4 Osama")
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To: TheGeezer

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.


50 posted on 09/20/2004 9:07:06 AM PDT by hispanarepublicana (Miss Free Republic High School-1986)
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Comment #51 Removed by Moderator

To: Chummy

Who was the source?


52 posted on 09/20/2004 9:07:13 AM PDT by pushforbush
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To: Chummy

I just made a trip over to DU (yeah, I need a shower) and it says it's down for maintenance. How much ya wanna bet they don't want us to see them drinking the Kool-Aid.


53 posted on 09/20/2004 9:07:17 AM PDT by GOP_Proud (Those who preach tolerance seem to have the least for my views.)
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To: plushaye
Dan forgot one thing...

He forgot to appologize to George W. Bush!
54 posted on 09/20/2004 9:07:24 AM PDT by SOSCEO
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To: Petronski
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.

And who ever had "mistakes were made" wins the office pool as having the response most closely matching Dan's.

55 posted on 09/20/2004 9:07:27 AM PDT by NeoCaveman (CBS, admit defeat and bow to the pajamahadeen)
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To: GOP_Proud

WE RECKLESSLY PROMOTED FORGED DOCUMENTS AND DECEIVED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN A RABID ATTEMPT TO UNDEDMINE A WARTIME PRESIDENT AND INFLUENCE A FEDERAL ELECTION

sorry

56 posted on 09/20/2004 9:07:30 AM PDT by Enduring Freedom (Socialism Is the Enemy of Mankind, Democrats Its Traveling Salesmen)
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To: Pete

So that's it. Move on, folks-- nothing else to see here. The End. How 'bout them Yankees?


57 posted on 09/20/2004 9:07:32 AM PDT by randog (What the....?!)
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To: TheGeezer

In other words - "OOOPSIE! We were 'mislead'. Sorry about that! Nothing more to see here, let's just move on!


58 posted on 09/20/2004 9:07:55 AM PDT by GaltMeister (I'm just a Pajamahadeen cog in the wheels of the VRWC.)
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To: TheGeezer
Rather: "We made a mistake in judgment, and for that I am sorry."

But for the implied allegations in his previous defensive statements, he isn't sorry and those allegations apparently stand.

Rather's statement is as weak as Bill Clinton's waving finger.
59 posted on 09/20/2004 9:08:00 AM PDT by TomGuy (His VN crumbling, he says 'move on'. So now, John Kerry is running on Bob KerrEy's Senate record.)
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To: TheGeezer
Please know that nothing is more important to us than people's trust in our ability and our commitment to report fairly and truthfully.

BS.

60 posted on 09/20/2004 9:08:02 AM PDT by marty60
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