Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Media Watchdog: CBS Has 'Long Way to Go'
CNSNEWS.com ^ | 9/20/04 | Melanie Hunter

Posted on 09/20/2004 4:40:27 PM PDT by kattracks

(CNSNews.com) - A media watchdog group said Monday CBS has "a long way to go" before the controversy surrounding documents critical of President Bush's National Guard Service is "put to rest."

The network and veteran Dan Rather's apologized Monday, saying they were "misled" by Texas Guard official Bill Burkett about the source of the documents. CBS said it could not prove that the documents were authentic, but did not admit that the memos were forged.

"Dan Rather and CBS suggest they were 'misled' as if they are the victims here," said Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center, the parent organization of CNSNews.com. "They were not misled.

"Their sources were dubious at best - so much so that their primary source was never cited publicly - and they were certainly partisan with a political agenda against the President," Bozell said in a statement. He pointed out that "CBS did not check all of their facts, and even their own experts told them not to go with the story.

"CBS also had on-the-record statements from Lt. Col. Jerry Killian's own son who said the story wasn't true - and still they were repeating the discredited 'sentiments' a week later," he added.

"Dan Rather has said: 'If I knew then what I know now - I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question.' Mr. Rather, what you know now is what you knew then," Bozell said.

"The documents were not a credible basis for this story and CBS had no business airing this attack on President Bush. CBS is not the victim here, the victims are the President, his family, and the general public that was misled," he said.

"This issue will only be resolved when the public knows not just why CBS fell for this fraud but who exactly was behind this smear. CBS owes it to the public to take definitive action against all in its ranks who are culpable - no matter how high up the blame goes," said Bozell.

"Then, and only then, will the public have confidence that stories reported by CBS are based on fact, not fiction," he concluded.

See Related Stories:
CBS News, Rather Acknowledge They Were 'Misled,' Promise Probe (Sept. 20, 2004)
'Serious' Questions Remain About Source of Documents, White House Says (Sept. 20, 2004)
Burkett Boasts He 'Reassembled' Bush Files, Aided Michael Moore (Sept. 17, 2004)

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.

 



TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cbsnews; medialies; rathergate

1 posted on 09/20/2004 4:40:27 PM PDT by kattracks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: kattracks

They did the "Modified Limited Hangout" today. How Nixonian, or Ratheronian.


2 posted on 09/20/2004 4:42:49 PM PDT by ABG(anybody but Gore) (Dan Rather plans to spend the winter in Valley Forgery.-hflynn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ABG(anybody but Gore)

Even Dan Bladders retraction was hardly a retraction...

You know he still thinks its all true


3 posted on 09/20/2004 4:46:43 PM PDT by Dustin Hawkins (Dude, it's a Republican: dustinmhawkins.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
Rather did admit that Burkett had a well known grudge against Bush, didn't he? And didn't he say earlier that some people and/or document specialists were not used in the original interview because of they were deemed Bush sympathizers by Cbs?

Why'd ya use Burkett but not folks such as Killian's family, huh Dan? It's not like Cbs/Mapes/Rather just found out this weekend Burkett's leanings...

This ain't over

4 posted on 09/20/2004 4:48:57 PM PDT by uvular (Release your uncensored military, senatorial, and medical records, Mr. Kerry)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
"CBS Has 'Long Way to Go'"

It depends on what direction you're talking about.

5 posted on 09/20/2004 5:01:17 PM PDT by Savage Beast (The internet is the newspaper of record.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kattracks

"You're traveling through another dimension,
a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind;
a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are
that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead-
- your next stop . . .
The Twilight Zone!"

6 posted on 09/20/2004 7:52:57 PM PDT by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson