Burkett denies working for Kerry campaign

Fort Worth Star-Telegram ^ | Sep. 23, 2004 | Jack Douglas

[NewMediaFan]

The man at the center of a controversy over a CBS report on President Bush's military service denied Thursday that he was working in conjunction with the presidential campaign for Democrat John Kerry.

Bill Burkett, a former commander in the Texas Air National Guard and a critic of Bush's past service in the Guard, told the Star-Telegram in an interview that he still believes that memos he gave to CBS are authentic.

But he said that he had warned the television network to independently verify the reports before it aired them.

The memos, which are purportedly from a Guard commander who wrote that Bush was failing military requirements and that another commander was trying to "sugar coat" Bush's performance, are now widely believed to be forged.

The interview with the Star-Telegram is one of Burkett's first since CBS identified him as a source last week.

Burkett said Thursday that he received the documents earlier this year from an unidentified man at the Houston stock show. Later, he said, CBS approached him about disclosing reports about Bush's service in the Guard and that he "reluctantly" agreed to hand over the memos.

Burkett denied his actions were done at the behest of the Kerry campaign, although he acknowledged -- as has Kerry's campaign -- that he spoke with a staff worker about Bush.

Burkett said he thinks that CBS and anchor Dan Rather have tried to make him the "fall guy" in the dispute. He said Rather interviewed him for 3 ½ hours last week but used only portions of the tape that made Burkett look bad.

He also said that "CBS duped me" by identifying him as the source of the documents.

"Dan Rather ruined me in front of 70 million people," Burkett said.

Burkett, who said he is in poor health, said that since the controversy began he has received hate mail -- including death threats -- and that he has suffered four seizures.

He continues to run a ranch with his wife near Baird in West Texas.

[Chuzzlewit]

"me thinks he doth protest to much."

[Wait4Truth]

He still believes the docs are real...and he's not working with the Kerry campaign...this guy deserves whatever hate mail he gets.

[man from mars]

He is on their Web site for Veterans for Kerry. I couldn't find the link but
I saw it during the scandal.

[B-Cause]

BTT

Burkett said he thinks that CBS and anchor Dan Rather have tried to make him the "fall guy" in the dispute. He said Rather interviewed him for 3 ½ hours last week but used only portions of the tape that made Burkett look bad.

He also said that "CBS duped me" by identifying him as the source of the documents.

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Remember Rush pointing to everything aims at Travis County Texas? Austin is in Travis County. Robin is in Austin. Rather (Dan) got caught at a Democratic fund raiser there for/with his daughter Robin. Instinct tells me she is the source & main culprit here and Dan Rather is trying to protect his daughter!

---

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Also, this is from a message board.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

Can't pay the time, don't do the crime. He ruined himself. I suppose wrong would depend on what the definition of wrong is....

[GailA]

I see cleland and lockhart and dean are reduced to STAFF workers!

[Area51]

Look on the bright side. If he is working for the Kerry Campaign he is the most sane person there.

[Hatteras]

"Dan Rather ruined me in front of 70 million people," Burkett said."

Yeah, right.

[george wythe]

Burkett said he thinks that CBS and anchor Dan Rather have tried to make him the "fall guy" in the dispute. He said Rather interviewed him for 3 ½ hours last week but used only portions of the tape that made Burkett look bad.

Hello!? That's how the TV producers operates.

Remember what happened between Connie Chung and Newt's mother?

Newt's mother was told she would be asked a few questions to warm up, but that the interview would start later. Guess what? The warm-up questions were the ones used prominantly.

TV producers lie.

[Prost1]

Boy, with a face like that, Dan Rather surely was not kind to her mother!

[Pharmboy]

C'mon...can't be...that's Dan from 20 years ago in a fright wig. Right?

[bootyist-monk]

What did he and Joe Lockhart talk about? Why aren't the MSM asking that question? (Of course, we all know why)

[Auntie Dem]

Geezzz...
That's one homely broad.

[San Jacinto]

I must see documentation to support this denial.

[gsrinok]

Actually, I think this man is to be pitied rather than despised. He has some sort of neurological disorder and is obviously crazy. He should be in a ha-ha house getting large doses of medication.

[Wait4Truth]

LOL! You may be right! Kerry calling Allawi a liar after his speech shows just how insane Kerry is! I couldn't believe that even HE would do that. What a nutcase!

[Wait4Truth]

Sorry, he gets no pass from me.

[Ditto]

Bill Burkett, a former commander in the Texas Air National Guard...

WRONG. Burkett was NEVER in the Air National Guard. He was Army National Guard.

BIG Difference. You would think these prestitudes would learn from Danny-boys example.
(Triva Question: Why did the forged documents use Army jargon as opposed to Air Force jargon?)

[StAnDeliver]

Burkett said Thursday that he received the documents earlier this year from an unidentified man at the Houston stock show. Later, he said, CBS approached him about disclosing reports about Bush's service in the Guard and that he "reluctantly" agreed to hand over the memos.

With a shovel.

But no, seriously, "CBS approached him"? Burkett is bold-face turning dime on C^BS! He's validating the FRonventional wisdom. Gotta like that...plus this guy is ferociously p.o.'ed.

Which intrepid blogsoul is finally going to get Burkett to go on the record and give up Kerry, Lockhart, Cleland and Blather (and Mapes, as if anybody cares)?

[crazyhorse691]

Burkett wanted media attention and finally achieves his dream. Now he is whining about it being the wrong kind of attention. And wasn't it just days before Blather interviewed him that Burkett said he was done with interviews? This man is so delusional, untruthful, and swarthy he is fully qualified to head up the Rats nest.

[marineguy]

Uh huh, and my dog ate my homework-honest!

the best thing this guy can do is turn evidence and start working on the book deals before Dan, Mapes, and Lockhart make him seem like a complete whacko (which he is but...)

[gsrinok]

Sorry, he gets no pass from me.

I understand feeling that way after what he did, but I still kind of feel sorry for this guy. I guarantee that if we could get a look at his medical records, we'd find out that he is a certified dimwit. C(ommunist)BS and the Kerry campaign should be ashamed of they way that they used this guy.

[Brian Allen]

Jail House Blues

[kittymyrib]

Okay, which is it...was Burkett in the Texas Air National Guard or the Texas ARMY National Guard? I thought I read he was in the latter and that's why the terminology of the memos was Army lingo instead of Air Force. Surely the Ft. Worthless Red Star paper wouldn't make a blatant error like this.

[MPJackal]

"WRONG. Burkett was NEVER in the Air National Guard. He was Army National Guard."

And Burkett just happened to be in the Air Guard office when they were purging Bush's file. We all know how closely to Air and Army Guard work. Then he drives like 300 miles to send the documents, but not the originals. Nope he destroyed those (scratching my head wondering why). Now he says he told Danny boy to verify them. Tough to do without the originals. Of course we all know they were forgeries, but good Lord, can't anybody in the MSM see the freakin holes in this swiss cheese story.

[gsrinok]

I don't want to be any part of this guy getting more hate mail. I'm seriously afraid that this poor guy could off himself if he is hammered any more. That would come as a welcome relief to the lefties who are anxious to hang this whole thing on him and pretend that they were all duped. As contemptible as he may be, I still pity anyone who is as obviously mentally unbalanced as he is.

[F.J. Mitchell]

If Burkett is looking for sympathy, he came to the wrong place. Try the Liars Club over at DU.

[rit]

Flips like Kerry...told the Star-Telegram in an interview that he still believes that memos he gave to CBS are authentic.

Compare that to his original interview where he said he burned the originals and gave photocopies to CBS.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Is Robin, Dan's daughter? They do favor.

[Ditto]

And Burkett just happened to be in the Air Guard office when they were purging Bush's file. We all know how closely to Air and Army Guard work.

Especially since the Air Guard reports to the Dept. of the Air Force and not to the State Governor like the Army Guard does. Air Guard records are not kept by the state. The Air Force keeps them and they don't keep them in state buildings in Texas!

Danny-boy could have understood all that but it would have got in the way of his story smear.

[UCANSEE2]

Denies working for Kerry Campaign.

Sure.... no problem. They don't actually have you on payroll, that's what you mean, correct?

Figured you'd get a payoff somewhere down the road.

BTW, that ranch, how'd you afford it? So suddenly?

[LadyPriory]

Wow, I believe him, don't you? I mean, he's such a trustworthy and honest...no, wait, I'm thinking of someone else.

[Katya]

I actually think this guy is the fall guy....for Rather and the DNC, who probably targeted him as the stooge to receive the forgeries. Burkett was the perfect dupe, if the swindle were ever to be exposed...the blame would fall on Burkett. How simple... he's already known as the crazy guy, who hates Bush.

[boop]

Intersting. If Burkett did kill himself, Dan Rather and CBS would be blamed for it.

[Christian4Bush]

I find the timing of this admission extremely suspicious...

[SpinyNorman]

She has a "man face." Remember the Seinfeld episode with the blonde with "man hands?"

[WOSG]

SUGARCOAT

McAuliffe used the word "sugarcoat" of performance reviews in a press conference - BEFORE THE CBS NEWS STORY AIRED.

The same wording found on the forged memos.

Prima Facia evidence of CBS-DNC collusion in using these forged documents to push this story. The DNC must have had knowledge of the memos and their exact wording!

[eeriegeno]

The question that the Justice Department ought to be asking is not whether the lunatic Burkett was working with the Kerry campaign BUT whether the CBS people were working with the Kerry campaign! That's the scarier question that needs answered. And if that question is 'yes', we have a big problem in this country and possibly the birth of Pravda-USA.................

[doug from upland]

Dream headline: Burkett wins suit, judge awards him Viacom.

[kcvl]

bttt