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."
Somebody at the DNC forged the documents, routed them thru Burkett.
Which is why Rather so clumsily tried to portray CBS as the predator of the documents... to protect the DNC.
Shocking and so disappointing. Imagine, the Kerry campaign up to their nasty tushkas in forgery, fraud, collusion, wire fraud and slime. "I don't recall" right out of the Hillary Diaries.
Remember that 90 minute phone conversation Kerry had ??
Hmmmmmmmm
Wasn't she the producer of that sham "The Wall Within" slander of Vietnam veterans? I believe ABC won a major award for their expose of it.
No,not a lap dog just a Kerry Butt boy.
Eating this up :-) !!!!! The problem though, is this is getting so convoluted that soon we will need a scorecard to keep track of who is stabbing who in the back.
It is a glorious thing to watch your enemy eat thier own. hehehehe.
And all along the Poker playing Bush/Rove team are just holding thier cards and stoking the fire.
He doesn't recall. The old Clinton playbook.
This is something he would certainly remember.
Someone said the same thing about Blather.
AP is SOOOO biased against Bush that this entire news release seems somewhat contrived. I'm very happy this will help the president but my gut tells me there's a bigger fish to fry.
The first was Sean Hannity on his radio show this afternoon. And he mentioned freepers at one point, and he talked about the by-play of people talking back and forth, on the internet as to how the story came out.
But the second reference to within "questions were being asked within an hour of the airing" was from Van Sauter, former CBS new President, on Hannity and Colmes this night. I had to pick my jaw up from the floor.
Thanks for setting the record straight!
Sidney's old job.
https://www.democrats.org/fortunateson/ You have to watch this! When was this made?????
Loggyist
"As anyone explored a possible connection between Robt (Bob) Slagle and Burkett/Kerry/whoever. Slagle, an attorney, is long-time Demo. operative in Texas. In fact, his office is in Sherman, Texas. Just a hunch. Freepmail me if you have any info. I'm working on somethin'."
I live not to far from Sherman, if you need me for anything.
Loggyist
"As anyone explored a possible connection between Robt (Bob) Slagle and Burkett/Kerry/whoever. Slagle, an attorney, is long-time Demo. operative in Texas. In fact, his office is in Sherman, Texas. Just a hunch. Freepmail me if you have any info. I'm working on somethin'."
I live not to far from Sherman, if you need me for anything.
El Sid has his hand in the document deal. No doubt about it.
Mapes father came out today and said he is ashamed of what she has become and is just a typical liberal.
BINGO! That is the big question!
I figure there is plenty of cross talk between reporters and campaigns. No sweat.
But THIS call, whoa. This isn't a "can I get you on the record," or "You opponent has said such and so, what is your response?", etc. This was "We are running that TexANG story, and you need to call Burkett."
Now that I think about it, I think Lockhart's mention of the Swift Boat opposition actually ties in. He sees the Killian memos as rebuttal or response to the Swift Boat Veterans allegations (it isn't respnsive to the issues they raise, but when are DEMs ever responsive?).
I think Lockhart came forward with this for damage control--someone may talk or check the phone records. It is beyond belief that the CBS producer doing a hit job on Bush would seek and get assistance from the spokesman of his opponent..I think this is going to blow fast...and Lockhart will again be out of a job as Kerry tries to limit his damage...Not going to work--
Heh, heh.....Bush, Rove et al are just playing it cool and standing pat. Let the Dem/CBS duo hoist themselves on their own gonads. After all, you don't need to shoot back when the bad guys are shooting themselves.
Pretty unlikely concidence wouldn't you say?
Me too.
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