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."
Did you get me Freepmail
WOW, Red Alert! The CBS producer behind the story gives the Kerry campaign advice on where to get dirt on George Bush!! Even ASKS the Kerry campaign to please call and get the dirt. Absolutely corrupt and partisan.
A few weeks after the election, we will probably see their true outrage at CBS and Rather, but until then, it is too risky for the MSM to give this story the scrutiny it truly deserves.
How the hell could he say this if he -just- joined the campaign??
There's going to be a lot of this coming out with people trying to shift the blame.
"he made the call at the suggestion of CBS producer Mary Mapes."
Bingo!! Collution between CBS and Kerry campaign.
Another AP story without a byline. How nice.
Exactly what I was thinking...I don't think Burkett wants to go down alone...this is only the beginning
They won't fire Mapes -- she knows where all the skeletons are!
That's why, so far, no one has been held accountable for Rathergate.
Yes Mo...I had seen that photo before doing some research..
"I'm proud to say I've never been anybody's lapdog..."
--Dan Rather in The Camera Never Blinks Twice, 1994.
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'.
The plot thickens. These fools are into this up to their eyeballs.
Lockhart recalls the length of the call but does not recall if the National Guard was discussed. Translation, he does not trust Burkett and fears the might be a tape of the conversation. There is trouble in Kerry camp when a spokesman like Lockhart cannot look straight at a camera or a reporter and lie through his teeth and has to use wiggle words like I do not recall. In the good old Clinton days these boys and girls saved the phrase I do not recall, only for when they were under oath.
Nice Find! Ok we need some people to describe exactly who Joe Lockhart is. That name is very familiar, so I know he must be a high ranking guy. This high ranking person would not talk to just anyone. Wasn't it Burkett himself that said he tried to get through 7 layers of beaurocrat kids?!?
This information couldn't have gone so high without major interest.
Also, Burkett's laywer, Van Os said that (paraphrasing) "I swear on my reputation and my character that my client did not forge this documents and IF they were forged he had no idea they were forged or had anything to do with them"
Van Os is a candidate for the Texas Supreme court and a huge Dem. He wouldn't say this unless he KNEW his client didn't forge them. Why waste your whole career on saying something like that?
This needs to be dissected further. Or as Buckhead might say, "pursued aggresively."
Why is the producer for the hit piece on the President, calling the Kerry camp and having them talk to the person they say is the source? Something is really wrong with this!
Riiiiight, we believe you. In a pigs eye.
So the "objective" investigative reporter, after finding out about memos she thinks just might sink the Bush reelection hopes innocently contacts Lockhart to tell him that her source has some "advice" for the Kerry campaign. Lockhart, of course, "cannot recall" whether or not the memos were discussed. Right. Of course. Perfectly normal behavior from a non-partisan independant reporter determined not to show favoritism and a principled member of the Kerry Campaign. How dare anyone question their motives. Outrageous. Nothing to see here. Move along.
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