Posted on 09/20/2004 5:32:23 PM PDT by Dont Mention the War
Posted on Mon, Sep. 20, 2004
NEW YORK - At the behest of CBS, an adviser to John Kerry said he talked to a central figure in the controversy over President Bush's National Guard service shortly before disputed documents were released.
Joe Lockhart denied any connection between the presidential campaign and the papers. Lockhart, the second Kerry ally to confirm contact with retired Texas National Guard officer Bill Burkett, said he made the call at the suggestion of CBS producer Mary Mapes.
"He had some advice on how to deal with the Vietnam issue and the Swift boat" allegations, Lockhart said Monday, referring to GOP-fueled accusations that Kerry exaggerated his Vietnam War record. "He said these guys play tough and we have to put the Vietnam experience into context and have Kerry talk about it more."
Lockhart said he thanked Burkett for his advice after a three to four minute call.
Lockhart said he does not recall talking to Burkett about Bush's Guard records. "It's baseless to say the Kerry campaign had anything to do with this," he said.
CBS News apologized Monday for a "mistake in judgment" in its story questioning Bush's Guard service, claiming it was misled by the source of documents that several experts have dismissed as fakes.
Burkett admitted this weekend to CBS that he lied about obtaining the documents from another former National Guard member, the network said. CBS hasn't been able to conclusively tell how he got them, or even whether they're fakes or not.
Kerry ally Max Cleland, a former Georgia senator, also said he had a brief conversation last month with Burkett, who told him he had information about Bush to counter charges against Kerry's Vietnam War service. Cleland said he gave Burkett's name and phone number to the campaign's research department.
Kerry spokesman David Ginsberg said nobody in the campaign's research department followed up on Burkett's offer of information.
Lockhart said Mapes asked him the weekend before the story broke to call Burkett. "She basically said there's a guy who is being helpful on the story who wants to talk to you," Lockhart said, adding that it was common knowledge that CBS was working on a story raising questions about Bush's Guard service. Mapes told him there were some records "that might move the story forward. She didn't tell me what they said."
I agree on the Mapes part. My point about Lockhart was that he exhibited a very poor lack of seriousness and judgement about his contacting a supposedly-sacrosanct source of CBS' who could do damage to the Bush campaign on the very same advice of that supposedly non-partisan producer at CBS.
He's an indication of the lack of "gravitas" with which the Kerry campaign has conducted itself so far. And they want the keys to war machine back in their sweaty little palms? :-)
Thanks, I had heard that but didn't know the time frame.
It seems the people that are most involved with this TANG story, Barnes, Burkett, Richards, Rather...now and previously, have had a deep hatred for GWB for a very long time.
Saying an extra prayer for him tonight!
Certainly nt. Politics is a war but when you get caught in the squirrels nest with nutters you have to pay a political price. Such is life.
I agree BUT the Kennedy's have been in Washington far longer than the Clintons have. They have their own set of files, their lethal connections. I suspect the Clintons have made moves to infilitrate that group but I doubt they have all of them under their control. The Kennedy's may not win, but they have the ability to tear some flesh.
The worst thing to happen to the Kennedy's was JFK Jr's death, imo. It diluted their power base when they lost the heir apparent to the legacy.
Lets keep an eye on Van Os.
Others have said it, I'll say it myself.
Absolute Power corrupts absolutely.
They sold their soul for power. Now the ramifications are catching up with them.
Yep. That was their 9/11. And there has been an internal war for power ever since.
Let's see if the "CBS investigative team" will request financial records from Mapes to see if she's getting any backdoor financial retainors from the DNC or Kerry Campaign for her active role as a DNC consultant.
Who wants to draw up a business card for Mary Mapes, Part-Time Politico/Consultant?
Wanna bet that Cleland contacted Mary Mapes after he was phoned by Burkett, who then contacted Joe Lockhart, who then contacted Burkett?
Hello, uh uh Sir, this is Senator Max Cleland and I seem to have auto-dialed this number by mistake. Is this the party to whom I am speaking? ... (waiting for response)
UmmmUmm Now I'm certain that this may be a wrong number but in order to verify that I'm going to count to three and ascribe a little phrase for you to remember each number by ; you just tell me which one of these numbers sounds the most familiar:
ONE- there are documents that will burn Bush's #&&
TWO- these documents are rock-solid and authentic
THREE- One and Two will cost somebody a Hundred G's
FOUR - Somebody was pulling my leg with this number.
Voice on the line... "I think I remember THREE."
Well Sir I'm sorry that I bothered you by mistake. I've gotta go I think 60 Minutes is coming on. click
"CBS has trashed their news reputation over a story about somebody blowing off a military physical while in the reserves 35 years ago."
An acute observation, which points to the conclusion that there is a great deal more at stake, most likely not just for CBS but for their DNC partners in crime. This was to be the cornerstone of a complete edifice of lies and slime on which John Kerry was set to stake his campaign.
Kerry gave a pretty effective speech on Iraq by the way. Bush needs to think through how to handle it, and give a more serious response, in a more serious venue, than flip flop again on the campaign stump. He needs to point out he is already implementing the Kerry points, and that sometimes one needs to tough out reverses, given the stakes. There is no going back. And the prize is huge. It is worth some sweat and toil.
What they said is in the original post you responded to.
Scarborough is talking about Lockhart now!
Will do, for now my eyes are falling asleep, see you guys tomorrow.
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