Kerry Aide Talked to Retired Guard Officer (Lockhart called Burkett, on Mapes' Suggestion!)

Associated Press ^ | September 20, 2004

[Dont Mention the War]

Posted on Mon, Sep. 20, 2004

Kerry Aide Talked to Retired Guard Officer

Associated Press

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."

[Dont Mention the War]

Another Kerry Konnection!

[commish]

DRIP DRIP DRIP

Notice, this is a CLINTON HACK shoving the knife furthur into the Kerry Campaign.

[Diago]

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.

Farewell, Miss Mapes!

[Biblebelter]

Clintoian, I do not recall. You know the ship is sinking when Lanny Davis hits the airwaves.

[Real Cynic No More]

"He had some advice on how to deal with the Vietnam issue and the Swift boat" allegations, Lockhart said Monday...

And, oh yes, there is a bridge for sale in Manhattan!

[Tallguy]

I guess that Lockhart & Clelland figured they'd better get out in front of the story before Burkett's phone records came out.

[Peace will be here soon]

I wonder if Burkett is a member of a 527 group? : )

[mwl1]

Mapes, your resignation tomorrow morning, por favor.

[BunnySlippers]

Things that make you say "hmmm" ...

[Dog]

Whoa!!!!!

Get a load of this...

[Stonedog]

The Kerry people are trying to cover their tracks for when the phone logs get subpoenaed.

[spacejunkie]

sure looks like a smoking gun to me.

[Mo1]

Yoooo .. check this out

dot dot dot

[Lawgvr1955]

he (Lockart)made the call at the suggestion of CBS producer Mary Mapes.

What the Hell?? Talk about CBS being part of the DNC. The media is out finding people to help Democrat campaigns.

[itsinthebag]

Uh-oh

[Chummy]

"...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...."

Let's recap: Lockhart phones Burkett. Lockhart is an adviser to the Kerry campaign. Lockhart denies any connection between the Kerry campaign and the papers.

Okay, got it.

[Vinomori]

Mapes asked him the weekend before the story broke to call Burkett.

. . So CBS calls the Kerry campaign anytime they find anything that will help the Kerry campaign? It was unprofessional and inappropriate for her to do this and it proves the bias CBS is trying to disprove. Also, Lockhart would not volunteer this unless he knew there was worse stuff ahead and he needed to get his part of the nightmare out there early to take the sting out of it.

[Real Cynic No More]

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."

So, now we have Lockhart colluding with Mapes? Is Lockhart the unimpeachable source?

So Mapes is now providing ammunition from CBS's investigations to the Kerry campaign for their use? This just keeps on getting better!

[jwalsh07]

Mapes is a goner. Lockhart is a goner. Cleland is a goner. Burkett has been gone for years.

[theDentist]

Farewell, Miss Mapes!

Yup. Sounds like she's going to be promoted.