Last week, amid increasing questions about the authenticity of documents used in support of a 60 MINUTES WEDNESDAY story about President Bush’s time in the Texas Air National Guard, CBS News vowed to re-examine the documents in question—and their source—vigorously. And we promised that we would let the American public know what this examination turned up, whatever the outcome.
Now, after extensive additional interviews, I no longer have the confidence in these documents that would allow us to continue vouching for them journalistically. I find we have been misled on the key question of how our source for the documents came into possession of these papers. That, combined with some of the questions that have been raised in public and in the press, leads me to a point where—if I knew then what I know now—I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question.
But we did use the documents. We made a mistake in judgment, and for that I am sorry. It was an error that was made, however, in good faith and in the spirit of trying to carry on a CBS News tradition of investigative reporting without fear or favoritism.
Please know that nothing is more important to us than people’s trust in our ability and our commitment to report fairly and truthfully.
”Except maybe flaying George Bush alive and feeding his exposed organs to a pack of rabid beavers. But, y’know. That’s just wishful thinking.”
I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question.
I would have insisted that the term “Artist’s Rendition” appear in very tiny type in the bottom of the screen whenever the documents were shown.
I would have used the documents in question, but only if the men’s room hadn’t been restocked by the time I got there.
Oh, you meant “on the air.”
Never mind.
Rather is such an incompetent liar.
“I no longer have the confidence in these documents that would allow us to continue vouching for them journalistically. I find we have been misled on the key question of how our source for the documents came into possession of these papers.”
Whats missing here? The word FORGERY!
CBS and Rather are playing the victim card–they were misled. Priceless!
Anyone else think that Mary Mapes will show up on CSI:NY as a corpse?
Gee Dan, you still vouching for them some other way?
She’ll probably live. But you know damn well that if she burned the Clintons she’d end up in Fort Marcy Park (if you know what I mean).