On September 8, 2004, Dan Rather cited exclusive information, including documents to justify major CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes stories alleging that George W. Bush shirked his duties when he was in the Texas Air National Guard in the 1960s and 1970s. Within a few hours of those documents being posted on CBS Newss Web site, however, typography experts voiced skepticism that the documents had actually originated with their alleged author and Bushs former commanding officer, the late Lt. Colonel Jerry Killian. As the evidence mounted, Rather stubbornly clung to the idea that his story was bulletproof, and he derided critics as partisans and Internet rumormongers. When he apologized on September 20, Rather would not concede that the documents were forgeries, only that he and CBS could no longer vouch for their authenticity.
CBS Disregarded Experts, Challenged Laura Bush: ABCs Brian Ross reported on the September 14 World News Tonight that two experts hired by CBS News say the network ignored concerns they raised prior to the broadcast about the disputed National Guard records. But over on CBS, reporter John Roberts wondered why President Bush wasnt taking those memos seriously: The President has yet to weigh in on new documents about his National Guard record made public last week by 60 Minutes. Roberts also chastised First Lady Laura Bush for doubting CBSs memos were authentic: Laura Bush offered no evidence to back up her claim, and CBS News continues to stand by its reporting.
Sticking By His Smear: On September 10, Dan Rather responded to charges the memos he cited as proving Bushs dereliction were forged, telling his CBS Evening News audience that the memos were genuine and attacking any doubters as partisan rumor-mongers. Today, on the Internet and elsewhere, some people, including many who are partisan political operatives, concentrated not on the key questions of the overall story, but on the documents that were part of the support of the story, Rather castigated. But his lame defense ignored key challenges to the documents typography and content, and the doubts voiced by the widow and son of the supposed author, the late Lt. Col. Jerry Killian. Instead, Rather chose to repeat his indictment of President Bushs National Guard service. Rather arrogantly concluded: If any definitive evidence to the contrary of our story is found, we will report it. So far there is none. (CyberAlert, September 11, 2004)