“....a zealous belief in the truth of the segment seem to have led many to disregard some fundamental journalistic principles, “ the report said.
The piece was aired during a tight and hotly contested presidential race between Mr. Bush and Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry. The timing of the story prompted charges of political bias against CBS News.
"....the Panel cannot conclude that a political agenda at 60 Minutes Wednesday drove either the timing of the airing of the segment or its content.”
TRANSLATION: "The panel cannot conclude anything based on what is right before its own stinking eyeballs."
I did like the part where Les Monves clearly linked Rather's resignation to his part in the fraud (as opposed to the ever-popular "stepping down to spend more time with his family").