Replies

The Star Telegram article: [requires registration]

Posted on Thu, Sep. 23, 2004
Burkett denies working for Kerry campaign

Key figure in document controversy says "CBS duped me"

By Jack Douglas Jr.

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

The man at the center of a controversy over a CBS report on President Bush's military service denied Thursday that he was working in conjunction with the presidential campaign for Democrat John Kerry.

Bill Burkett, a former commander in the Texas Air National Guard and a critic of Bush's past service in the Guard, told the Star-Telegram in an interview that he still believes that memos he gave to CBS are authentic.

But he said that he had warned the television network to independently verify the reports before it aired them.

The memos, which are purportedly from a Guard commander who wrote that Bush was failing military requirements and that another commander was trying to "sugar coat" Bush's performance, are now widely believed to be forged.

The interview with the Star-Telegram is one of Burkett's first since CBS identified him as a source last week.

Burkett said Thursday that he received the documents earlier this year from an unidentified man at the Houston stock show. Later, he said, CBS approached him about disclosing reports about Bush's service in the Guard and that he "reluctantly" agreed to hand over the memos.

Burkett denied his actions were done at the behest of the Kerry campaign, although he acknowledged -- as has Kerry's campaign -- that he spoke with a staff worker about Bush.

Burkett said he thinks that CBS and anchor Dan Rather have tried to make him the "fall guy" in the dispute. He said Rather interviewed him for 3 ½ hours last week but used only portions of the tape that made Burkett look bad.

He also said that "CBS duped me" by identifying him as the source of the documents.

"Dan Rather ruined me in front of 70 million people," Burkett said.

Burkett, who said he is in poor health, said that since the controversy began he has received hate mail -- including death threats -- and that he has suffered four seizures.

He continues to run a ranch with his wife near Baird in West Texas.

Burkett is protecting the only thing he cares about - the man that can beat Bush: John Kerry.

Burkett hates Bush with every bone in his body, he will defend to the death the Kerry campaign.

He needs to be subpeonad by Greg Abbott.

excerpt from article: "Bill Burkett, a former commander in the Texas Air National Guard"

I thought I'd heard and read that he was Army, not Air.

To amend article posted in #389 ..... This is a correction printed by the Star-Telegram, 9-24-04

Posted on Fri, Sep. 24, 2004

CBS source denies plotting with Kerry

By Jack Douglas Jr.

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

This article has been corrected from the version published in the newspaper and online Friday morning to reflect that Bill Burkett was referring to conversations with CBS when he said, "They tried to convince me as to why I should give them the documents." The earlier version incorrectly reported that he had discussed the documents with Joe Lockhart of the Kerry campaign.

The source of a discredited CBS News report said Thursday that he did not coordinate the release of disputed documents with John Kerry's campaign.
Bill Burkett, a former Texas National Guardsman, also said that he warned the network that the documents critical of President Bush's service in the National Guard would be vigorously challenged and should be independently validated.