In fact, we may discover that Barnes marketed himself and the documents to Rather as a package. Remember, there is still Danny Boy's "unimpeachable source" to be identified.
I can't imagine that Rather was referring to Burkett in this instance. It may be Mapes, but that doesn't ring true -- a journalist wouldn't refer to somebody else in the same organization as a source.
Of all the principles that have so far been identified in this story, only three characters warrant "unimpeachable source" status -- Barnes, Max Cleland and Robin Rather. But, as yet, Robin hasn't actually been connected to the story.
Here's something to chew on. Who fingered Robert Strong as a potential corroborative source? He came into this story out of left field, apparently with only the most tenuous connection to it.
I suggest that, if we knew who volunteered Robert Strong's name to CBS, we'd be one step closer to identifying the "unimpeachable source".
What is the date that Burkett contacted Max Cleland?
> ... there is still Danny Boy's "unimpeachable source"
> to be identified.
My theory on that, is the White House angle.
CBS gave the memos to the WH, who declined to impeach them.
CBS mistook rope-a-doping for confirmation.
Ergo, the author wasn't impeached,
so they must be unimpeachable.
And possibly the same source who recommended ignoring the family of the dead memo-writer who kept his personal files in a safety deposit box to which only Democrats had the key.