Amid Skepticism, CBS Sticks to Bush Guard Story

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-guard11sep11.story
THE RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Amid Skepticism, CBS Sticks to Bush Guard Story
By James Rainey and Elizabeth Jensen
Times Staff Writers

September 11, 2004

<snip>
The controversy over the television report prompted CBS Evening News' Dan Rather to issue an unusually long and detailed response Friday evening. The veteran anchor said that the network stood by its original report: that Bush got favored treatment to win a coveted spot in the Texas Air National Guard and then failed to meet performance standards once he was admitted.<snip>

"We worked hard, we worked long, we dug hard and did our best to be accurate, to authenticate what we could," Rather said. "This story is true, the questions we raised about then-Lt. Bush's National Guard service are serious and legitimate questions."<snip>

But a CBS news executive insisted that Maj. Gen. Bobby W. Hodges, who was Killian's immediate supervisor, had changed his story....On Friday night, retired Maj. Gen. Hodges, Killian's former supervisor, said in an interview that he also now believes the documents are not real — in part because of the statements of Killian's relatives.He also said that he could not recall any conversations in which Killian had complained about Bush's performance or about the fact that Bush failed in August 1972 to take a physical exam, removing him from flight status"I have no recollection of anything like that happening," said Hodges. "It's possible we did talk about the physical not happening, because we would have to ground him."
<snip>

As another of the corroborating experts for its report, CBS and Rather presented an on-air interview with Marcel B. Matley, a San Francisco document examiner. Rather said Matley had corroborated the four (should be one) Killian memos (actually only the one with the full signature dated May 4, 1972).<snip>

A CBS official who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the network had two other document experts, who CBS did not identify, examine the documents (for type font or style, spacing and other variables - and the memo's typography fully comported with the state of the art for that era)....and deemed the memos legitimate, said the official.
<snip>

[realFedUp]

1. My letter in response to this...

I don't think it will get published, so
will share it with you.

To the editor,
Re: Amid Skepticism, CBS Sticks to Bush
Guard Story (another Republican copy editor?)

The only controversy over the Killian
memos from CBS's 60 Minutes program
revealing Bush's special treatment
before, during and after his TANG
enlistment began in a website
called Free Republic by "freepers".
These rightwingnuts often do the dirty work
defending conservatives and this administration.
Karl Rove was happy to let them shovel
the dirt. What's alarming is that the
media (sans CBS) gave these
people credence, headlines and more
ink than covering the bigger picture of Bush's
failure to complete his national commitment
and not truthfully telling why.

rfu.

[papau]

2. Nice!

:-)

[blm]

3. A real reporter would obtain James Bath's records and compare with W's

After all, they were best friends who were GROUNDED AT THE SAME TIME.

[K. F. Gibbons]

4. CNN convinced Hodges that his memories are not real.

This guy is backing down because the Bush Strategy to discredit the memo left Hodges all alone as the reliable source.

This is the same way the Mob Intimidates people.

What an awful world we live in.

[librechik]

6. "Rove got to him"

to quote another post. Hodges proably finally figured out that HE was the accessory to all these Shrubya shenannigans; HE would be the fall guy if the Dems win this round.

[leesa]

5. Always the right wing slant. Thanks Ronald Reagan for destroying

our free press.

Always the big headline slanting the news for the Bush Crime Family no matter what the actual article says.

[MasonJar]

7. E-mail, write, call CBS and congratulate them and Dan Rather.

He needs our support. I have called ABC three times to complain about their coverage of the CBS story. They whore for the Bush mafia. I am waiting to see the Lauer interview of Kitty before I call them; however, with Matt doing the interview I'd be willing to bet that it will be slanted pro-Bush. George Stepinhorse_hit should be tarred and feathered. He is such a traitor.

[dogtag]

8. This has probably already been brought up,

but - has anyone checked the documents released by the WH against the CBS versions to see it they are identical. If the WH had copies for days before the broadcast the Rovians had time to play around with them. I would also assume that they are pretty good at hacking into sites displaying the CBS docs. Just a thought.

[Prodemsouth]

9. Why do they mention Marcel B. Matley as a "San Francisco document

examiner. Maj Gen Hodges is not described as a Bush Supporter that change his story is not mentioned.

[Sugarbleus]

10. I've stayed out of the "document" debates, but it occured to me..what if

the people who flip flop on their testimony or the people who have died--their families adamantly denying reports...what IF they have all been THREATENED????

Remember the fight in the House over the Medicare Bill..the voting that went on for what, three hours? The story was that Delay and company twisted some arms, in no uncertain terms. Threats were made on congressmen who were about to vote against the republicans view...threats were made regarding persons' futures, careers..etc....

It ISN'T beneath the Bush Cartel to do this type of shit. Dan Rather knows it too. He needs to watch his back. Perhaps bushco has put the "heat" on those that would rat out the "family"..hmmmm

[EST]

11. If some jerks threatened to do horror to my special buddy,

my five-year-old grand daughter, and were in a position to do so, I expect I would sing any damned tune they asked for.

[Sugarbleus]

14. Awww, you take care of that little "buddy" of yours...she sounds

wonderful!! She's a lucky little sweetie too for having a grandpa like you to steer her into the right paths...

May there be peace in her time~~ O8)

[EST]

15. The very apple of my eye...

The reason I do this-if I needed a reason.

(takes off glasses, wipes away silent tears)

[Judi Lynn]

12. No, it's NOT below these people to apply grotesque pressure.

Just look at the things they have done in broad daylight.....

I believe they are capable of EVERYTHING abominable. In spades.

[Sugarbleus]

13. Yeah.......I really really believe it's true. That is the

scariest thing of all! And in addition to that, heaping injury upon insult, a corrupt government can't provide security for a damned thing. :scared:

[Democat]

16. Screw the LA Times sucking up to Bush

Rumors against Kerry are facts. Facts against Bush are rumors.

Thanks LA Times!

[Name removed]

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