[Doug Thompson]

I have always said that when I screw up I admit up and boy, I screwed up big time. Thanks for the Freepers who first brought this to my attention. I should have listened earlier.

Doug

[Phsstpok]

Uh.... WOW....

excuse me....

WOW...

Oh my God! Wow!

And the NY Times, Washington Post, ABC, CNN, Guardian or any other news regugitator that used your source as the basis for an outrageous attack on Bush said what when provided this information? (I know others didn't site the source, just repeated the basic claim of insider info about Bush)

Uh... thank you, by the way... Wow!

I claim to be a conservative, but I define that as a cynical liberal (I believe in most of the ideals, but don't think for minute that Teddy Kennedy, et al, are out for anyone but Teddy boy). You, however, have just messed up my beautiful cynicism about my most loathed profession (g).

[Xenalyte]

You're a helluva guy for admitting it. More power to you, and keep up the good work.

[Maigrey]

It takes a honest man to admit he screwed up. The road back up will be long, hard, and hard-fought, but I hope you're willing to persevere to regain the public trust. Good Luck!

[Ima Lurker]

"You can trust him, he's one of the good guys," one chief of staff told me

"Nobody, and I mean nobody, has ever heard of this guy," my source said.

Well, SOMEBODY has heard of him. Who was that chief of staff? Sounds to me like none of these sources are very reliable.

[longtermmemmory]

hmmm a French Spy? French disruptor by placing false information in "the loop"?

[Zathras]

This guy wouldn't happen to look alot like Bob Mulholland would he?
;-)

[TaxRelief]

Hey, Doug!

What does he look like? Age, height, eye color, etc? Any distinguishing features? The more details the better...

Put out a Freeper APB!

(Could he have been a spook, BTW?)

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Ping

[Our man in washington]

Well, Doug, you must feel pretty bad having the world see that you made a very public and big mistake.

If it makes you feel any better, you're not alone. In November of 2002, I walked out of a voting booth. I. J. Hudson of the local television station happened to be there, and asked me who I voted for. I proudly told millions of people that I voted for Bill Clinton, and even explained why.

Man, I've never lived that one down. I'm of course a conservative now.

[aculeus]

Thanks for the Freepers who first brought this to my attention. I should have listened earlier.

Nice acknowledgement.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Thanks for the Freepers who first brought this to my attention. I should have listened earlier.

Thanks for the honesty in your mistake. It's a rare thing in today's journalism.

I read the entire thread yesterday, and you defended yourself as best you could, but your admission of being had goes a long way toward resurecting your flase claim that Bush was lying.

[OldFriend]

The saddest part is that after watching this president for two years, anyone would believe that he would lie to the American people.....or anyone else for that matter.

[Ichneumon]

In early stories, I collaborated his information with at least one more source.

Wouldn't it be better to *corroborate* his information?

Time to collaborate with an editor/proofreader...

[Southack]

Wow.

I can think of at least two positive and 1 negative lessons from this event that should be taught to journalism students.

Nice mea culpa, by the way Doug. Nice initial catch, William.

[jwalsh07]

I was wrong. I am sorry.

Nice to know there are men in the journalism profession.

[Hatteras]

"It will be a long time (and perhaps never) before I trust someone else who comes forward and offers inside information."

and guess what? It will be a long time (and perhaps never) before anyone trusts you too.

[arasina]

Apparently you did your checking right after posting on the FR thread (by William McKinley) and worked on the correction last night. Thank you.

I do, however, have a few more questions:

• Did you ever meet with "Wilkinsen" in person?
• Do you know what he looks like?
• Has he ever given you any other "tips" that were subsequently used in your reports?
• Why, after being hounded by Freepers for using only one "witness" in yesterday's story, did you do it again today in your retraction? ("A friend from the Hill")

[RippleFire]

bump

[CyberAnt]

I think we may find a democrat behind this whole mess - they are just desperate for something to hang on Bush. They have been waaaaaaay too vocal on saying Bush LIED.

However, I have been praying Isaiah 54:17 - No weapon formed against you shall prosper, AND EVERY TONGUE THAT RISES UP AGAINST YOU SHALL BE PROVEN FALSE!

[Republican Wildcat]

Admitting that you were wrong is not something that is easy for anyone...especially not this lengthy of an admission. My respect for you has greatly increased.