Mr. Elliott's affidavit of August 6, 2004 says that he was misquoted in the Boston Globe article by Kranish (he doesn't say Kranish lied, but he does say Kerry lied, heheheh). As for "misunderstandings" that Kranish may have had, regarding Kerry's own story that Kerry shot a fleeing Viet Cong, Kranish's affidavit of August 6, 2004 reafirms that he (Elliott) has no personal knowledge of the shooting, but relies on an account in a Boston Globe book (again, supposedly Kerry's own story) for his belief.
Long story short, Elliott did all of what you say he should do. You just missed it. You missed it because the media is still busy lying.
I read the affadavit yesterday, but what I am saying is that Elliott needs to clarify what he did say. I assume that he said something like this to Krainish, I didn't actually see the incident, I am relying on reports of others, since I wasn't there I would look foolish if I claimed to have personal knowledge. He needs to explain, that's all. Right now the left is reporting that he just keeps changing his mind.
Affadavits don't accomplish much in this situation. They don't appear in mass media. Elliot cannot effectively counter a media story by going to a notary and signing a statement. Different audiences. Who knows, who cares?
His rebuttal to the Globe story will have to have the same play as the story or his information is going nowhere.
Screaming "the media is lying" on message boards will accomplish about as much -- nothing.