CBS anchor Dan Rather:
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.
3 comments:
It happens on all the networks. I watch cable and there are mistatements and mistakes on all. They are really making a bigger fuss over this one because it is the President. Somebody played with Dan Rather's head. After 50 years as a journalist, it's sad to have his career ruined as well.
Hope Dan doesn't have a heart attack over this. I remember watching him when I was little. Politics sucks!
Open your minds folks! I used to think that Dan Rather walked on water. Lying to get your point of view across, to boost ratings or even help a candidate is WRONG! If I did any of this to my company's customers, I'd be fired - as well I should be. Once is a mistake, but Rather has done this on more than once. Please see my next entry.
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