Posted on 02/21/2005 1:55:22 PM PST by timewarner
Monday, Feb. 21, 2005 1:33 p.m. EST Wead: Unreleased Tapes a 'Betrayal'
Audiotapes released Sunday of President Bush speaking in a private, off-the-record conversation may not be as damaging as critics had hoped, with Bush winning raves in some cases for sounding the same in unguarded moments as he does in public.
But presidential historian and former first family friend Doug Wead, who secretly recorded Bush, is hinting that the full nine hours of audio he has could be a different matter.
Asked whether the president would view his release of the audio as an act of treachery from a trusted friend, Wead told the Washington Post on Monday, "It depends on what else is on the tapes." Then Wead implied that the unreleased material could be embarrassing, explaining, "Ninety percent of the tapes have not been heard. He can see that my motive was not to try to hurt him."
How could Bush see that, unless Wead was holding back damaging clips?
"If I released all the tapes, it would be an act of betrayal," the author told the Post, further indicating he has some explosive material.
But in the next breath Wead promised: "Most of them have never seen the light of day and never will."
That's not, however, what he told the New York Times for its front page story on Sunday, explaining that he wanted to release them when he died in order to leave the nation a unique record of Mr. Bush.
Other aspects of Wead's story are also raising concerns. He told the Times, for instance, that his motive in releasing some of his tapes had nothing to do with the fact that he has a new book to publicize.
However, the Post reports that Wead's publisher was deeply involved in making the tapes public.
"He said that he had never intended the tapes to become public, but that his publisher, Simon & Schuster, asked to hear them for libel reasons," reports the Post.
The Post continued, "He said after he played them for his editors, he was contacted by the Times and agreed to play portions for a reporter."
Why was the Times alerted? And why did Wead agree to help the paper if he never intended to make the tapes public?
At this point, there's only one logical answer: Mr. Wead's earlier plan to hide his tapes forever changed radically once his publisher began to see dollar signs.
Sounds to me like Mr. Wead is going to be one lonely guy in coming years. Hey, would you talk to him?
Wead has said he recorded only from states where secret recording is legal.
I wonder how he can prove his claim?
OTOH, Wead probably figures if President Bush pushes the issue, it will be a negative for the President.
My, my, my you have posted yet another article regarding this story---what about this story is so fascinating to you?
I think the reason he didn't release the tapes before the election is because either he wasn't finished with his book yet, or, he knew that the book and by extension the tapes, would be more valuable when the person he betrayed is a SITTING PRESIDENT---
Also, Bush fans, the dems promised before the election that they would find "any way possible" to have Bush impeached. Don't look now, but how many millions has this guy been offered by Kerry, Kennedy, Clinton to get ahold of those tapes?
This is just plain nasty stuff---
timewarner, I just hope you are not a troll
The only thing that worries me is the "light of day" statement. Doesn't that statement feed the MSM?
C'mon, no need to be redundant.
Any bets?
I think he's looking for a big check or he's going to hand those tapes over to CNN, that's what it looks like to me. What a scoundrel, the President is many things but not a good judge of character for choosing this man as his friend.
< /sarcasm >
I have a feeling this guy thinks he's a better friend of Bush's than he is.
I wonder if any privacy laws were breached by the making of these tapes.
How do you know this?
beak.
And, I have a feeling this guy thinks he's better than he is.
I have to agree with NewsMax's take on this one.
When I saw Wead's comments about the tapes the description above is exactly how it struck me.
Wead is all over the map: They were for historical purposes and were going to be given the Bush archives eventually, but lo and behold they end up in the New York Times and now he's coyly saying how we've only heard 10% of the tapes and he is hinting there is derogatory material that will never be heard.
He is digging himself deeper with every utterance and every appearance. What a despicable man.
Actually, I haven't seen where he did that; that looks like an assumption on Newsmax's part.
However, by continuing to talk about what hasn't been heard, he's ginning up the "demand" that they all be released; and Bush might object to that.
Can you hear the HOWLS from the MSM.
My thoughts too. Like the guy who recorded newt's cell phone conversation in Fla - he got nailed.
But I think it may be state specific-
Bingo.
The guy wants money, to the collapse of civilization.
He gets to have his cake (no Kerry, Bush in the white house) and eat it too (mo money, mo book sales).
Mr. Wead's book is a flop. Now we know why he released the tapes to the NY Times. His book is going down the tubes:
The Raising of a President
by Doug Wead
Amazon.com Sales Rank in Books: #77
Barnes & Noble Sales Rank: 207
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