Rather ROCKS! A REAL journalist at work . . .

mbali

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Fri Sep-10-04 05:05 PM
Original message

Rather ROCKS! A REAL journalist at work . . .

Edited on Fri Sep-10-04 05:31 PM by mbali

Here's the transcript of Rather's "on the street" interview with CNN:

Rather: The story is true. And the questions raised in the story are serious and legitimate questions.

The questions are: Did Lt. Bush refuse a direct order from a military superior in time of war? That's Question One. Question Two: was he suspended for failure to perform up tothe standards of the U.S. Air Force and the Texas National Guard? That's Number Two.

Three. Did he ever take the physical he was ordered to take by his military superior? Or if he didn't take that physical, why didn't he take that physical?

I want to emphasize that I stand behind my president. We're in a time of war and I stand behind my president. There's no joy in reporting such a story, but my job as a journalist is not to be afraid and when we come up with facts and legitimate questions that are supported by witnesses and documents which we believe to be authentic, to raise those questions no matter how unpleasant they are.

I do want to underscore with you that the White House took their shots at us today. The Bush Cheney campaign took their shots at us. They have not answered the question: did or did not the president obey a direct order from his military superior while he was a lieutenant, was he or was he not suspended for failure to meet performance standard of the Air Force and TANG, if he didn't take the physical, why didn't he take the physical? Also, one of the questions that's out there, where is the efficiency report every officer, particularly a flying officer, is supposed to have a yearly efficiency report. There is no such report for the last year. I emphasize again that there is no joy in asking these questions, but I think these are legitimate questions and I stand by the story.

Q. I wonder how you feel about the whole investigation

Rather: What investigation?

Q. We read that CBS is doing an internal investigation.

Rather: Where did you read that?

Q. Unintelligible

Rather: You should stay away from rumor mills. Where did you read that?

Q. The Washington Post article

Rather: No. They didn't say that in the Washington Post article. I don't want to argue with you. You were asking about a rumor. You know the internet is filled with all kinds of rumors. I like a rumor as much as the next fella. But it's umportant to recognize what's a rumor and what's a fact. Sometimes the rumors are true. In this case they're not. There's no internal investigation. I'm happy in my work, as you can see. I'm proud of our story. I'm proud of CBS News I'm proud of the team I work with and stand with them completely. I appreciate the sources who took risks to authenticate our story. One - there's no internal investigation Two - someone may be shellshocked but it is not I and not anybody at CBS news. And you can tell who's shellshocked by the ferocity of people who are spreading these rumors.

Q. When there's significant evidence that those documents may have been forged or created at a later date, do you think there's any requirement or are you considering any kind of apology or retraction"?

Rather: Number One. I know that this story is true. I believe the witnesses and documents are authentic. We wouldn't have gone to air if they had not been. There isn't going to be an apology . . . hasn't even been discussed, nor should there be.

I want to make clear to you this story is true. And more important questions than how we got the story which is where those who don't like the story would like to put the emphasis. The more important question is what are the answers to the questions raised in the story.

Wow!