You said it! The editor's response is as "cold" as it gets. 'We'll try to fix it the next time you speak with a guy from the NYT!'
Yeah, it was cold, all right. BTW, I'm the Lieutenant Commander that was a victim of The New York Times' political spin and Charlie LeDuff's dishonest journalistic practices.
As for the "he-said/she-said" argument, it's a valid one. But I remember just about everything I said the day I sailed off to war. It's one of those days that permanently sticks in your mind ... and I can recall every last word I said ... and every last bitter tear I tasted when I kissed my wife goodbye. And I remember the anger at reading my supposed words the next day on the internet (yes, we have internet access on ships!). It's still fresh to this day. Who wouldn't be excited to know that their words would be read nationally? Instead, I found myself outraged at reading something I didn't say.
Your average Joe (apologies to anyone named "Joe") would be ticked off for a fortnight, but I'm not like that. I will spend the rest of my life in defense of my integrity and will never let this go until I get a formal apology from Mr. LeDuff and the NYT. Charlie LeDuff took advantage of the wrong guy. Did he really think he could play me for a fool? Did he really think that I wouldn't question his integrity? His sins are catching up with him, and quickly, I might add.
The Navy Core Values are Honor, Courage, and Integrity. Those three words are going to haunt Charlie for the rest of his career.
I challenge anyone to compare what Charlie LeDuff printed and what I stated on my CBS interview several minutes after LeDuff hastily scribbled some notes from our conversation. The words are as different as night and day.
If anyone wishes the record of correspondence I had with the NYT, don't hesitate to e-mail me:
MKBeidler@aol.com. Peace,
Mike Beidler