Yeah, that's pretty much my reaction to this story as well. It sounds like Ms. Mapes was giving advice to the Kerry campaign at the same time she was working for CBS news. That's very odd.
Or maybe it's not odd -- maybe lots of "reporters" in the MSM are working with the Kerry campaign on the side.
We know Begala and Carville are, openly. You just know there are oodles of "informal" and "friendly" connections between the media and the organized parties and campaigns.