Dan Rather Statment

[TXTink]

Here is Dan Rathers statment:

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.

 

[Mermaid02]

Originally posted by TXTink
Here is Dan Rathers statment:

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.

Not good enough in my opinion- he's only sorry the people of the U.S. weren't dumb enough to fall for his dirty trick! He needs to admit WHY he did it- he has an agenda.

 

[snarfer1]

Originally posted by TXTink
Here is Dan Rathers statment:

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.

I can't find the 'hurling' smiley but that is what I would put here!

 

[TXTink]

I agree Mermaid, I don't think this should be over for DR or CBS. And what about the producer of the story who supposedly worked on this story for 5 years?

 

[Mermaid02]

Yeah 5 years- and it took less than 24 hours for people on the internet to prove the documents were false... Guess it took them 5 years to find someone who would forge documentation.

 

[RitaZ.]

I'll accept the statement. In the end, Dan Rather and CBS are the ones most affected by this mess, they have ruined their credibility.

 

[Geoff_M]

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.

 

[UncleKyle]

Originally posted by Mermaid02
Not good enough in my opinion- he's only sorry the people of the U.S. weren't dumb enough to fall for his dirty trick! He needs to admit WHY he did it- he has an agenda.

Amen, Rather is about as liberal in the media as it can get.

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

You know what is sad, is that we as the American public have no idea what is fact or fiction. We have to rely on the media which tends to be biased for our information. Unless we were present at any event we have no idea what is true and what isn't. One news report says one thing another says something different.Things people say are taken out of context and reported to be fact. How do you really know what is the truth. When CBS/Dan Rather do things like this it really gets you thinking. Old saying, Don't believe everthing you hear! How true.

 

[currycook]

Well, I guess the debate on whether the documents were real is now over. Hard for me to believe CBS was dupped so badly. I think they will lose a major portion of their viewership because of this and deservedly so.

 

[MarcoS]

CBS was duped by false documents about GW's service record, no one died, no big mess. GW was "duped" about WMD's, many many died, more will die, and even his own people agree it is a big mess. Both should have looked deeper and found thr truth.

So if you want to slam CBS for missing the truth isn't that a little hypocritical?

 

[Geoff_M]

So if you want to slam CBS for missing the truth isn't that a little hypocritical?

If the evidence for the WMDs came from only one source... and was a source with a history of changing their story, admitting that they'd been less than truthful on this same subject, and had one very large axe to grind... then you'd have a parallel.

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by MarcoS
CBS was duped by false documents about GW's service record, no one died, no big mess. GW was "duped" about WMD's, many many died, more will die, and even his own people agree it is a big mess. Both should have looked deeper and found thr truth.

So if you want to slam CBS for missing the truth isn't that a little hypocritical?

Per Geoff's point, your attempt at a "spin analogy" is weak.

 

[eeyore kelly]

WMD's may not have been found, but the mass graves are enough for me to believe we should be there. As for Dan Rather,

Well, there goes my resolve not to get involved with polictical threads.

 

[acepepper]

I've only ever seen Dan Rather a few times but I couldn't concentrate on what he was saying because he whistles when he speaks. Does that drive anyone else crazy, or is that just me?

 

[Kendra17]

Originally posted by mermaid
Yeah 5 years- and it took less than 24 hours for people on the internet to prove the documents were false... Guess it took them 5 years to find someone who would forge documentation.

Absolutely.

His statement is full of blatant omissions. The two other documentation experts let it be known these documents weren't factual. CBS did not present Killian's son's point of view. Killian says he gave names to a CBS producer BEFORE the 60 Minutes report. So what Dan Rather says about corroborating evidence is BS. Rather and his cronies at CBS refused to air testimony from sources that disagreed with their angle on the story.

 

[Jennifer S]

He should be apologizing to Bush too! I can't believe he didn't even mention him. I lost all respect for Dan Rather.

 

[LMC]

I agree, I think that he should publicly apologize to GW. He has admitted his mistake now he should apologize to the person whom it has potentially affected. This may help his reputation/credibility in the future.

 

[Rokkitsci]

Originally posted by MarcoS
CBS was duped by false documents about GW's service record, no one died, no big mess. GW was "duped" about WMD's, many many died, more will die, and even his own people agree it is a big mess. Both should have looked deeper and found thr truth.

So if you want to slam CBS for missing the truth isn't that a little hypocritical?

Is this your idea of an analogy?? Or is it just obfuscation??

The one has nothing to do with the other. It has long since ceased to amaze me to what lengths people will go when they are focussed on slamming Bush.

Is it not possible for any sane individual to just acknowledge that Dan Rather was out to destroy Bush's reputation? And is it not obviuos to anyone that he threw caution to the wind in his blind pursuit of his goal?

Is it beyond logical comprehension that this event should be commented on without trying to tie it into a 'slam bush' statement? What on earth is wrong with you people??? Have you abandoned all reason??? Are you content to be a blind partisan without an ounce of logic or comprehension??

This boggles my mind. But it has been truly boggled before and recovered. I suppose it will again.

There can be no doubt from this time forward. The MSM - especially CBS - has a political agenda to pursue that is much higher priority to them than pursuing the news - or even adhering to minimum journalistic standards. They have removed their mask - or more accurately had it torn from their face - and they stand now as an ugly reminder of the biased crap they have been feeding us for twenty years.

I - for one - am glad I lived to see this humiliation of Dan Rather - he has long been the most insipidly arrogant and slanted anchor of all.

So long Danny boy - it will be a better place without you.


btw Maracos - if you want to debate WMD's, then be my guest - we can do that without mixing it up with a totally different issue. Take your best shot - I will be glad to knock it out of the park.

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by acepepper
I've only ever seen Dan Rather a few times but I couldn't concentrate on what he was saying because he whistles when he speaks. Does that drive anyone else crazy, or is that just me?

No, it'ssssssss not jussssssssssst you.