Posted on 09/21/2004 12:21:26 AM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON -Anchor Dan Rather admitted he was duped on documents used to assail President Bush's military service - shattering CBS' credibility and sparking White House charges John Kerry's campaign may be behind the hoax.``It was a mistake. I want to say personally and directly, `I'm sorry,' '' Rather said on last night's CBS newscast.
The network's esteemed public face who reported the story as a blockbuster on ``60 Minutes'' nearly two weeks ago, was contrite - insisting the mistakes were in ``good faith.''
``I didn't dig hard enough, long enough,'' Rather, who turns 73 next month, told a reporter. ``I trusted someone who changed his story.''
Bill Burkett, a retired Texas National Guard official, was CBS' source for the bogus documents containing claims the officials gave Bush preferential treatment even as he refused to take a required physical.
Burkett, in an interview aired last night with Rather, admitted misleading a producer about the origin of the documents, and said he told the network it needed to authenticate the memos. CBS now admits it rushed the story.
Burkett, who previously claimed he got the memos from a former National Guardsman, has changed his story.
``Now he says he got them from a different source,'' CBS said in a statement, noting Burkett refused to divulge the new source.
Bush's spokesman, meanwhile, bluntly hinted that Democratic challenger Kerry's campaign may have played a role in the forged document scandal - a charge Kerry officials adamantly denied.
``This raises a lot of questions,'' White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. ``There were media reports about Mr. Burkett speaking with senior - or having senior-level contacts with the Kerry campaign.
``What were those contacts and what was discussed with Bill Burkett? Who was the original source of these documents and who was responsible for forging these documents?'' he asked.
The Bush camp offered no proof to bolster its claim, but in an e-mail last month to some Texas Democrats, Burkett, a Democrat, reportedly claimed he had passed along information to ex-Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.), who is a key Kerry supporter, to blunt attacks on Kerry's Vietnam military record.
Cleland said he lacks ``any knowledge'' about the CBS documents.
Kerry adviser Joe Lockhart confirmed he had a phone conversation with Burkett at the urging of a CBS producer, but that the conversation involved advice over the swiftboat flap and did not involve the National Guard documents.
``It's baseless to say the Kerry campaign had anything to do with this,'' Lockhart said.
CBS cited four memos by the late Air National Guard Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, Bush's former commanding officer, saying he ``sugarcoated'' Bush's performance ratings after pressure from his commanders. Bush's father was a congressman at the time. The memos also purported to show that Bush refused orders to take a flight physical.
Good, call these Communist forgers and propagandists out. The DNC=Dan Ratter=CBS=John Kerry=Communist Back Stabber
Oh, I don't know; this looks like a pretty deep hole to me.
``I trusted someone who changed his story.''
Actually, he didn't; your people just never pressed him to produce his source.
As a southern lady I recognize when someone has been called out.
In the south what would come next is a slap in the face and a challenge to a duel.
In the west you would spit in their beer and then go out in the street.
In the northeast I guess you cry, call your lawyer and then go out and windsurf in girly man clothes.
It is time to see if Kerry has any cajones.
Geeesh the Lockhart, Clelland connection has been all over the news. Where are these guys? The Kerry campaign HAS a role in the scandal and Scott McClellan says nothing about whether or not this is innocent, he is merely asking questions.
BTTT!
In classic Bush fashion, he's not throwing fuel to the fire. He's just poking it enough to keep it alive.
No, Bush's father was a failed Senate candidate and ex-Congressman at the time. It ticks me off when even the Boston Herald gets this stuff wrong. They should know better.
What was W's call sign in TANG, "Avenging Angel"?
Bush's spokesman, meanwhile, bluntly hinted that Democratic challenger Kerry's campaign may have played a role in the forged document scandal - a charge Kerry officials adamantly denied.
Then the reporter gives the actual quote:
``This raises a lot of questions,'' White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. ``There were media reports about Mr. Burkett speaking with senior - or having senior-level contacts with the Kerry campaign.
``What were those contacts and what was discussed with Bill Burkett? Who was the original source of these documents and who was responsible for forging these documents?'' he asked.
Finally the reporter argues against the substance of his own interpretation.
Fox News this morning had a former CCN news manager on and he siad that he thinks most people in the US believe that Bush pulled a Qualye and got speical treatment it's jkust that they can't find any proof.
Diud he say whether anyone gives a rat's behind?
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Yep, that's exactly how NYC handled 9-11, just like that. If we didn't have you brave southern souls to come to our rescue the rubble would still be there smoldering.
"It's baseless to say the Kerry campaign had anything to do with this,'' Lockhart said."
But Joe! We already know you spoke to Burkett!
There is no way President Bush would let this statement see the light of day if they didn't have POSITIVE PROOF as to it's veracity.
The next few weeks are going to be fun if the Whitehouse follows through...
It ought to peak right around the time of the debates.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
No they didn't, I forget the man's name but he is someone that was with CNN at the beginning and they were kinda star struck and they didn't refute him.
But it was just more Socialist poop.
Dan comes on and says we were "mislead by someone who changed their story". Sounds plausible on the surface.
But that has NOTHING to do with running the story and the document evidence. It's real or it isn't. They are forged or they're not. Interviews were NOT conducted (killians, secretary, Hodges recanting, Staudt). So I don't care WHO changed a story - this is a red herring.... a diversion apology
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